Can Coop Hit 1,000 Yards?

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

Here we go again.

It seems like each and every season since Willis McGahee ripped Big East and SEC defenses for over 1,700 yards in 2002 -- two of McGahee's biggest games that season were against Florida and Tennessee -- every year, around this time, we lament the loss of a consistent Miami power running game and wonder if our current starting back can reach 1,000 yards.

Well, here we go again: Graig Cooper needs to average about 90 yards in the three remaining ACC games, plus a potential bowl game, to make 1,000 yards.

Should Cooper make it, he would become the first UM back since McGahee to reach what has become an elusive target.

Between 1995 and 2002, Miami had a 1,000 yard rusher in six of eight seasons.

But since 2002, no Miami back has reached the summit.

Jarret Payton fell only yards short in 2003, and Frank Gore flirted with 1,000 yards a year later. In 2005, Tyrone Moss was going to reach the mark with some breathing room until a devastating ACL injury ended his season early and sent Miami's running game into a free fall which it has -- quite honestly -- still not recovered from.

In 2006, Javarris James had several 100 games but also showed a lack of durability that has dogged him since.

In 2007, Miami ran the ball well at times and at other times abandoned the run early in games and became pass happy.

Now, in 2008, Miami has repeated its 2007 pattern of chucking the running game early in many games.

However, Miami's passing game in 2008 is much better than 2007, which has made the need to run the ball seemingly less critical. Or has it?

Miami doesn't win on the road Saturday without Graig Cooper's contributions.

What's even more striking, is that for weeks Randy Shannon and Pat Nix have been worried of wearing Cooper down by giving him 10-plus carries a game. Cooper's touches have hovered around 10 a game since he wore down late against North Carolina.

But, this week, Cooper carried the ball 24 times and seemed to get quicker, smarter and stronger as the game went on.

Despite his small frame, Cooper showed the impact of his increased weight after adding pounds during the off season and a better understanding of which openings to choose in the O-line.

With this in mind, I sincerely hope Cooper can keep up his stellar play and perhaps reach 1,000 yards this season.

Miami's remaining ACC opponents have averaged close to 135 yards per game allowed on the ground.

With Cooper getting the bulk of carries, and showing a durability like this past weekend, he has a very good shot of getting there.