ProRodeo Sports News - October 19, 2018

Cooper said. “The group of steer ropers are such a great group of guys. They are the gentlemen of the sport. They have all been so helpful with my roping.” As impressive as Cooper’s season money total is, the four-time world champion – three in tie-down roping (2011, 2012 and 2014) and one in all- around (2017) – he didn’t set out with a specific money goal for the season. “It is always my goal to be the best that I can be in that situation or that day in all that I do,” Cooper said. A year ago, Cooper qualified for his first ClemMcSpadden NFSR, finishing 10th in the average – clocking a 77.9-second time on six head. He finished 12th in the world standings with $59,107. Cooper was third in Round 1, split second in Round 5, split sixth in Round 6 and was sixth in Round 7.

making his 24th NFSR appearance. “The money is nice, but I like to compete,” said Patterson, who lives in Pratt, Kan., 90 miles fromMulvane. “You’re not going to win every round, but you just want to win as much as you can. I’m just going to try to rope like I rope.” Tuf Cooper has had the benefit of Trevor Brazile – his brother-in-law and 23-time world champion – helping him in steer roping. Brazile is a six-time world champion in steer roping (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013-15). Brazile enters the 2018 NFSR fifth in the world standings with $59,641. “Trevor has really influenced my steer roping,” Cooper said. “We get to practice quite a bit, not as much as the calf roping, but definitely put the time in. Trevor has shown me how to develop that event in the practice pen, compete

HEADED TO 2018 NFSR 1. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas ......................... $89,427 2. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas ........ 70,845 3. Chris Glover, Keenesburg, Colo. .................. 62,295 4. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. ........................ 62,225 5. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas ...................... 59,641 6. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas ..................... 54,968 7. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas ..................... 50,360 8. Garrett Hale, Snyder, Texas .......................... 48,401 9. Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas ......................... 44,717 10. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. .................... 43,786 11. Brodie Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla. ............... 43,624 12. Jarrett Blessing, Paradise, Texas ............... 43,560 13. Will Gasperson, Decatur, Texas .................. 42,636 14. Bryce Davis, Ovalo, Texas .......................... 42,002 15. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas ........................ 41,106

“I think the biggest difference for me this year in steer roping compared to last year is learning how to slow down and catch,” Cooper said. “You have to catch every time you get a chance, and you also have to be aggressive and try and win something. You have to put that together and go for money every time you nod your head.” Cooper is eager to get going at the NFSR. This season in steer roping, Cooper primarily used his horse, Sundance. However, he will be riding a horse he recently purchased fromCody Lee. “The NFSR is so much fun, and it is in a great location inMulvane, Kan.,” Cooper said. “I’m very excited to get back there. This is a huge opportunity. I can’t wait to get up there and give it my best.”

and win at the steer roping.” Cooper and Brazile are battling for the all-around world championship. Cooper is first in the all-around world standings with $216,127 followed by Brazile at $188,678. Both Cooper and Brazile also qualified to compete in tie-down roping at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Dec. 6-15. “Trevor is amazing at what he does, but competing is my favorite thing about rodeo,” Cooper said. “Competing is what I live for. It is what I look forward to every day when I wake up. To be able to compete against the best cowboy who has ever picked up a rope is a blessing and a huge opportunity.”

Cooper will face some tough competition, as he tries to bring home his first steer roping world championship from the likes of three-time world champion Scott Snedecor (2005, 2008 and 2017). Snedecor is second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $70,845. Snedecor also is a three-time NFSR average champ – 2005, 2011 and 2017. The 17-time NFSR qualifier earned $136,419 to win the world title a year ago, $68,336 of that while winning the average crown. The Fredericksburg, Texas, cowboy won the average in 104.1 seconds on nine head in 2017. “My mind-set is the same as it was last year,” Snedecor said. “I’m going to try and win as much as I can and run every steer for every round. Ever since San Antonio, I’ve been on a green horse (Bear, 10). He worked outstanding, but I will be back on the gray horse (Possum, 10) in Mulvane. After San Antonio, Possum had a fractured shin bone, and he had surgery. I did get back on him the first week of October, and it gives me a lot of confidence riding Possum again at the NFSR. Possum is going to be my main choice, and Bear will go along for the ride, as well.” During the 2017 NFSR, Snedecor rode Possum, who was making his NFSR debut. The horse is owned by Stephen Stransky. Chris Glover comes into the NFSR in third place with $62,295. This is the veteran competitor’s secon NFSR appearance. His journey to the NFSR was given a boost by his horse Cooper, who was recently voted PRCA | American Quarter Horse Association Steer Roping Horse of the Year. Rocky Patterson also is in title contention again, sitting fourth in the world standings with $62,225. Patterson, a four- time world champ – 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016 – will be

Trevor Brazile, seen here at the 2017 NFSR, enters this year’s edition of the National Finals Steer Roping in fifth place. PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

ProRodeo Sports News 10/19/2018

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