College Blitz: Tide's Cooper working hard to have more fun

There has been a unique relationship developing on Alabama's practice fields this month.

Junior receiver Amari Cooper keeps impressing new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin with his work ethic, while Kiffin keeps Cooper highly entertained. It's a dynamic that seems to be working on both fronts.

"Coach Kiffin is a great coach, and he is great to be around," Cooper said. "He brings that sense of frivolity to the team. When you're constantly competing for a championship, things can get serious all the time, and he's a pretty joyful person, and that's what I like about him.

"He wants each person to execute his job and do well, but he also wants you to have fun playing football."

Kiffin was hired by Nick Saban in January and didn't need long to notice that Cooper, a 6-foot-1, 190-pounder from Miami, could always be found working on his skills.

"We would have workouts when we first got here, and Amari would sometimes get here two hours before we would start," Kiffin said. "These were really hard workouts, and we were joking the other day about off-the-field stuff. With Amari, there is really not any off-the-field stuff."

Cooper in 2012 was the first freshman receiver in Alabama history with 1,000 yards during a season, capping his debut year by catching six passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the 42-14 trampling of Notre Dame for the BCS championship. His 59 receptions that season also set a Crimson Tide freshman record, and 41 of his catches resulted in first downs.

Entering last season with All-America projections, Cooper instead had to deal with foot and toe injuries that nagged him for the first several weeks. He took a screen pass 54 yards for a touchdown on the second play against Tennessee but was at his best in Alabama's two losses - compiling a career-high 178 yards at Auburn and a career-high nine receptions for 121 yards against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.

"Last season was definitely a season that was not up to par for my standards," Cooper said. "There were some extenuating circumstances like injuries and things of that sort, but at the same time I'm never looking back and I'm never trying to look too far in front of me. I'm trying to be where my feet are and take care of each day.

"If I'm great today and I'm great tomorrow, then I'll be great in the future."

Cooper believes his teammates are taking the same attitude and leaving behind last season, when an 11-0 start and No. 1 ranking gave way to some uncharacteristic mistakes against energized opponents.

"We're not a losing team, and we used last year as our impetus to be great this year," he said. "Our leaders are trying to be great leaders, and we're trying to get everybody to stay positive."

Saban has been praising the "culture" Cooper has helped orchestrate this month at his position. Seniors DeAndrew White and Christion Jones have helped take the reins in aiding younger receivers such as Chris Black, Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart.

The receivers have been building relationships all year with different quarterbacks, of course, with Jacob Coker and Blake Sims keeping Cooper busy this preseason.

"It's been kind of unique," Cooper said. "Everybody throws the ball a little bit differently, and I think all our quarterbacks are capable of playing winning football at Alabama. We just want to execute and give the fans what they want, which is another championship."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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