Omar Cooper Jr.’s family reflects on ‘surreal’ season with Hoosiers INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis native Omar Cooper Jr. heads to the Peach Bowl as the Hoosiers’ top receiver. The Lawrence North grad has helped cement this team into IU history with his spectacular catches every we ek, and his family has been there to witness it all. “It’s an amazing feeling. I can’t really put it in words of just the grandness of it. I don’t think everything has hit me yet,” Cooper’s mother Vnemina said. So far, Cooper’s racked up a team-best 849 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns. Now, he looks to help send the Hoosiers to the National Championship game. “It’s been excitement every game, every step of the way,” Omar Cooper Sr. said. “We look forward to (the Peach Bowl). Just hoping that he gets out there and is himself. You don’t have to be Superman. Just who you are is enough. So we’re just excited and look forward to it, and can’t wait to see him play.” The whole family will be in attendance in Atlanta, hoping to see a Hoosiers win. Either way, it’s been a surreal season filled with tons of emotion for Cooper’s family. “It’s just a proud time, proud moment. It just makes you smile,” mom Vnemina said. “Makes my heart just so warm because he’s an amazing, he’s an amazing kid.” “Just seeing everything he’s accomplished just makes me proud,” Cooper’s younger sister Tia said tearfully. “I’m happy he gets to shine and be him, and he doesn’t let fame change him. Just happy for him.” So is Hoosier Nation. Ever since Cooper’s game-winning touchdown at Penn State, his jersey has shown up even more among the fans. “Probably the most surreal part is seeing my baby’s name on somebody in jersey form,” his mom said. “That was the part where it was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ People are starting to really love what he does on the football field and show their appreciation by buying his jersey. So every time we see one, I take a picture… because that is just an amazing experience.” Before Cooper was helping break records and scoring touchdowns for the Hoosiers, he was doing all of that at Lawrence North for the Wildcats. The four-star recruit was a two time Indiana all-state selection. His time with the Wildcats foundational to the success he has now. “He made so many exciting plays while we were here,” Cooper Sr. said. “A lot of times on the sidelines I try to be unbiased dad, but every now and then he’d have moments and I’d just be like ‘Wow!’ Like, he’s impressing me even as my son.” Cooper keeps impressing as he and the Hoosiers are just one win away from the National Championship game. “I asked some of the other coaches, ‘Have any of y’all coached anybody that’s been in the national championship?’ And I said, ‘And we’re not far from that!’ This is amazing just to think about that,” Cooper Sr. said. “If they win the national championship, I told them, I said, ‘When I come to work, don’t nobody talk to me for like three days because I’m going to feel like I’m right about everything.’ It’s just amazing that we can get this far.” Two more wins and that dream becomes reality. ...read more read less