The next year we played on the day that President Kennedy was assassinated and almost the same thing happened again. This time, Cooper tried for a late conversion and came up short and lost 21-20. Cooper had winning streaks of 15 and eight over the Eagles. I think once you get a winning streak started it always has a psychological effect. Winning carries momentum and that's hard to break, but we didn't overplay that always.
Rivalries bring out deep-hidden emotions in everyone.
For Abilene High, despite what coaches and players might sometimes say, playing Cooper isn't the same as playing San Angelo Central or Lubbock Coronado. For Cooper, squaring off against the Eagles brings out more intensity than a Waco High, a Killeen Ellison, or a North Mesquite. It's a great game that gets everybody in the community involved in choosing sides for bragging rights. And the community of Abilene does get involved. You've got parents who went to one school and their kids are going to another, or you have brothers and sisters that are on opposite campuses.