CWRU Athletics

Thomas W. Cooper played both football and basketball for theWestern Reserve University Red Cats back in the 1950s. He earnedthree varsity letters on the gridiron (1948, 1949 and 1950) and twoon the hardwood (1948-1949 and 1949-1950).  The Red Catsopponents while he played football included the likes of WestVirginia University, Brown University and University ofPittsburgh and in basketball, Reserve faced University of Iowa,Purdue University, Michigan State University and Universityof Nebraska.  The 1949 Rough Cat football teamplayed 5-of-10 games at one of Cleveland’s historiclandmarks, League Park.  Predominately used for baseball, the1920 World Series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the ClevelandIndians was played at League Park. Cooper was named to theCleveland News’ All-Big Four Team at defensive end in1950. On January 1, 1950 Reserve defeated Michigan State in abasketball game in Michigan by a score of 57-54.