Graig Cooper didn’t play the last time Miami and Ohio State squared off on a football field because, well, he was about 14 years old at the time.
With the first rematch since that January 2003 classic looming on the horizon, there’s a decent chance the Hurricanes running back won’t play in this one either.
According to the Palm Beach Post, head coach Randy Shannon said Tuesday morning that Cooper “probably won’t play” in the huge showdown with the Buckeyes Saturday afternoon.
Cooper, who incurred such a significant injury to his knee in last December’s Champs Sports Bowl that there was talk he’d miss the entire 2010 season, injured his ankle in the season-opening win over Florida A&M. Before getting hurt, Cooper rushed for 11 yards on two carries and caught two passes for 13 yards.
Fortunately for the ‘Canes, they are loaded with a capital “load” at the running back position, so Cooper’s absence should have little impact on the highly-anticipated game.