Super-Senior Reflections: Cooper Garcia

AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts football kicker Cooper Garcia is one of the team's redshirt senior student-athletes, alongside Mike Caggiano, Michael Curtis, Kyle Horn, Mike Yerardi and Randall West. Caggiano, Horn, West and Yerardi arrived at UMass as classmates in 2015, while Curtis joined the group as a junior college transfer in Dec., 2016, and Garcia did so from junior college in 2018. Each of the fifth-year team members will reflect on their time at the University of Massachusetts for UMassAthletics.com. Their entries will be posted throughout the week leading up to the season-opener at Rutgers on Fri., Aug. 30, with the finale appearing the weekend following the contest.

Cooper Garcia • Redshirt Senior • Kicker • Ventura, Calif. • Ventura College

On his thoughts entering his 5th year:
"I am bummed I don't have more eligibility; the coaching staff has everyone excited to play for them, to see what everybody can do. I feel confident personally, and, as far as the team goes, I'm really excited to see what everyone has in store. Everybody has worked so hard towards being prepared for this year. I believe we are really sound special teams-wise. This is a diverse group, so many of us can fill so many different positions. (Evan) Deckers can snap and hold, (Mike) Caggiano can snap, hold and kick and I can hold and kick as well. We can do each other's jobs really well and I think that speaks to the strength of the unit. The camaraderie has gotten stronger to - I like how people have become so focused in a short amount of time. It's really cool to see everyone get really close together and it's cool to see everyone stick tight and believe in each other."

On his three-year JUCO journey to get to UMass:
"To say three years makes it sound shorter than it felt like it was. There were so many nights where working two jobs, going to school and trying to get through practice every day, it felt like some days you weren't ever going to get here, but when you finally get that call that you have a full scholarship to an FBS school to get an education, it gives me chills still to say 'I don't have to worry about school anymore, all that working in the dark was actually for something and it was noticed by someone.' It meant a lot honestly, because there were times that I thought nothing was going to happen, working endlessly at a junior college for three years, day-and-night, was definitely a struggle. It made me grow as a person. I know coming out of high school, after I didn't get into my schools of choice, just applying academically, it made me grow as a person, it made me learn a lot. I wasn't ready for it then, hitting my lowest lows, but after three years of JUCO, now I'm ready for any challenge that I'm going to be presented with, because I know I can overcome anything at this point."

How it felt to come in after three years of JUCO and have success immediately:
"It made me feel good just because I know so many people had worked so hard to get me to where I am and I finally proved them right. I finally proved my family right for everything that they have done for me, for everything my family and friends have done for me. I feel like after all their hard work, all the things that they contributed to my success, this is a manifestation of that effort, it's not just for me, it's for them. I am a culmination of everyone that's gotten me here. I'm really glad I was able to represent them in a way that would make them proud, not just that they got me here, but that I was successful."

On how it felt to convert that three-overtime game-winning field goal against Liberty:
"I couldn't have been happier for the senior class. I knew that was their last game on the field and I was looking for any senior to celebrate with. I thought, 'you guys put me here for an easy field goal, you did all the hard work,' and I just needed to tighten the cap on a great game. We got them their Senior Day win, and I was just happy I could contribute to that and help make that happen for them. I know those guys really earned it working hard, those guys definitely wanted to win and they got that last win on their home field. I remember so many of the guys left that field saying 'thank you' and I will never forget that. I would have been devastated if I had missed."

On advice for the future Minutemen who will join the program after he graduates:
"This is a place where they have all the skills that you need to make yourself a better person. If you want to be the best you can be you come to UMass. These guys have every tool that any kid, any student needs to be successful, not only as an student-athlete, but as a human being. They make sure all the little details are right, they make sure everything about the person is correct before you step on the field, because if you do all those little things right off the field it's going to contribute highly to your success on the field. My other advice is never stop working. Always know there is going to be a moment in time where you're going to be able to showcase everything you have worked for and you want to be as prepared for it as possible. You want to do everything in your power to be prepared just because there's going to be a moment in time, maybe two or three seconds, where everyone is looking at you to see if you can do what they expect you to do. You're going to want to be able to showcase what you know you can do, so work for every single day to make it happen."

University of Massachusetts plays its first home game of the year on Sat., Sept. 7 against Southern Illinois at 3:30 p.m. Single game, season, group and Homecoming Weekend tickets for the 2019 season are available now. Tickets can be purchased through the UMass Athletics Ticket Office over the phone at 866-UMASS-TIX, online via UMass Athletics Ticket Central or in-person at the Mullins Center Box Office.

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Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Mike Caggiano

Michael Curtis

Cooper Garcia

Kyle Horn

Randall West

Mike Yerardi

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics