“I definitely think it had an effect,” he said. "I don’t think it was the only thing that had an effect on it of course, but I do think it was a part of it.
“If it didn’t end up having the effect, I don’t really care because at the end of the day we all got what we wanted, and that was the opportunity to play. So I was really just trying to do whatever I could to get the season back, not only for me but for my teammates, coaches and players because I know how bad we’ve wanted to play, and I know how hard we worked on in the offseason.”
Fields and Cooper both represented Ohio State in nationally televised interviews after the initial decision was announced in early August.
“Just seeing how much I can do as an individual has really just made me realize how much of an impact I can make,” Fields said. "So just seeing the change that I’ve made and that our teammates have made and that our coaches have made in just our whole organization gives me and our team more confidence to step into that leadership role and become more vocal, and I think it’s pretty much given me confidence over time to take full control over this team or the offense and just become one of the main leaders of the team, for sure.”
Cooper was among Big Ten athletes to take part in video conferences commissioner Kevin Warren held with players from around the league.
The Buckeye senior said he used those to express his belief Ohio State had created a safe environment for the players and that he believed a conference-wide shutdown was not appropriate.
“Everybody’s situation is different,” Cooper said. “I feel like if the risk of it was too high for some players during everything and they didn’t feel safe, they could take that choice to opt out, but for players like me and a lot of other players across the country and like Justin who wants to play, worked for it and felt safe, we wanted to play.”
Fields and Cooper both had something to lose if there were no fall season.
Even if the Big Ten tried to play in the winter or spring, that was viewed as a questionable opportunity for would-be draftees who might have been better off just working out to prepare for the NFL Draft in April.
Fields was a five-star prospect coming out of Harrison High School in Georgia two years ago, and he turned in stellar numbers in his first season as a starter last year (3,273 yards passing, 41 touchdown passes and just three interceptions).
He wanted to get the Buckeyes past the College Football Playoff semifinals in what is likely to be his last collegiate season, and another year of experience could solidify him as a candidate to be taken in the first couple fo picks in the 2021 NFL Draft rather than someone on whom teams have to weigh potential and inexperience.
Big Ten: Buckeyes grateful for return of football #B1G https://t.co/GvjqFDPhPM
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) September 16, 2020
For Cooper, the stakes were likely bigger.
Once a five-star recruit himself, he was hoping to go out with a bang last year but saw his true senior season marred by a preseason injury.
That inspired him to take a medical redshirt in hopes of impressing scouts this fall, a decision that appeared to have backfired when the season was “postponed.”
ESPN chose to highlight him as a player national college football fans might not be aware of who was left out in the cold by the Big Ten’s decision.
“It was tough,” Cooper said. "It was hard because I couldn’t control my injuries that happened last year. I came back another year because I wanted to be able to prove the player that I was and show that to everyone and to come back and be a leader for my team.
“Knowing that it was almost taken away from me really sucks and it hurts, but we’re over that now, and I’m just happy that we got it back. Thanks to our coaches and everybody who fought for our season so we’re here right now. All those feelings that I had before are gone.”
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