Q &A with Stephen Cooper
Position: Inside Linebacker
Number: 54
Birthplace: Warehem, Mass.
Residence: Scripps Ranch
Stephen Cooper was an undrafted free agent in 2003 out of Maine, and is now a starting inside linebacker for the returning AFC West Champions.Do you like San Diego? I love San Diego. The weather’s great year-round and you don’t have to deal with all that snow like I did in Maine.
What’s a typical weekend like for Mr. Cooper? Mostly hanging out at my house with family and friends. Or sometimes you can catch me downtown at the clubs.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals on game days? If I go out and have a good game, I make sure I don’t do anything different for the next game such as wearing the same exact stuff. If I have a bad game, I make sure I change everything up.
What training did you focus on this past off-season? I mostly worked out and trimmed down so I’ll be a lot faster on the field this season.
What’s your favorite bar or club in San Diego? I like Stingaree, Sidebar and Bar West in Pacific Beach.
What’s your drink of choice? I usually drink Goose or Patron.
What are your favorite places to eat in San Diego? I like P.F. Changs and Cheesecake Factory.
In your opinion what’s going to be biggest game for the Chargers this season? I would say the home opener against Chicago.
You’re from Massachusetts, so were you a Patriots fan growing up? No, I rooted for the Eagles.
If you didn’t play football in the NFL, what would you be doing? I’d probably be back home in Massachusetts, and I love kids, so I’d be working with them somehow.
Let’s talk about goals and predictions for this upcoming season. I put money on the Chargers to win it all this year up in Tahoe a couple weeks back. I got 6/1 odds, which I think is easy money. What are your predictions for the Chargers this season? I see us winning the AFC and going on to win the Super Bowl.
I’m feeling confident now. What are your individual goals? I feel that I’m doing my job if the team is winning.
And finally, any shout-outs? Yeah…my family, friends, teammates, and the Four Horsemen.
Photos by Kirby Lee/ Image of Sport