Two Wranglers Get NFL Attention

July 26, 2001

  
Two Oklahoma Wrangler record-breakers captured the attention of the National Football League this season. Now they have the opportunity to capture NFL roster spots.

Offensive specialist/kick returner Lamont Cooper and fullback/linebacker Brian Goolsby earned tryouts with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. The 49ers will look at Cooper as a return specialist while Goolsby will try out at fullback for the Steelers.

“You have mixed emotions as a coach. We’d hate to lose Goolsby or Cooper because they were a strong part of our team and they’re a big part of what we want to build on for next year,” Wranglers’ head coach Bob Cortese said. “But we wish them the best of luck in the NFL and we’re pleased that they got the opportunity. If things don’t work out, we’d be glad to have them back next season.”

Today is the reporting date for 49ers rookies at San Francisco’s University of Pacific training site in Stockton, Calif. Cooper, a six-year AFL veteran from Wayne State (NE), has California ties from his All-America junior college career at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, Calif. Pittsburgh began training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn., on July 19.

Cooper broke five AFL single-season records in the Wranglers’ season-ending 60-42 win over Los Angeles on Sunday. Overall, he set nine new league marks this year, including the single-season all-purpose yards record. His 3,459 all-purpose yards included 1,779 kickoff return yards and 2,008 combined return yards, both new AFL records. He has a league-record 20 return touchdowns in his career, including six for the Wranglers this season.

Cooper, who finished in the league’s top 10 in six different statistical categories this year (all-purpose yards, receptions, receiving yards, missed field goal returns, overall scoring and TD scoring), now has 14 league records to his credit and more than 30 significant Oklahoma team records.

Goolsby, an AFL All-Rookie candidate from Kansas State University, led the league in rushing for much of the year, finishing fifth overall despite missing three games. His team-record 154 rushing yards on the season came at a league-leading clip of 4.7 yards-per-carry. He also set Wranglers’ team records for longest run (35 yards) and most rushing yards in a game (69) against Eastern Division champion Toronto in Week 6.

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