By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, October 2, 2008
Tuf Cooper is going to have to update his MySpace page real soon. His bio on the Internet friends site lists earnings of "$45,000-$60,000," and that is just since last summer.
By winning the finals of the tie-down roping in dramatic fashion Saturday at the River City Roundup, Cooper pushed his season earnings to nearly $90,000 and served notice he is ready to go after some really serious cash at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
The Decatur cowboy won the eight-man semifinal round in 8.5 seconds and came back to win the finals in 8.2 by one-tenth of a second faster than Mike Johnson, while making the fourth and final run of the competition.
"Going last gives you every advantage," Cooper said. "You know how fast you have to go. I like to win first. That's cost me a lot in the past, but that's how I rope. I don't rope to place.
"Ever since 2004, I knew what (my goals were). I wanted to turn 18 and make the NFR in the first year that I could."
The youngest son of ProRodeo Hall of Fame roper Roy Cooper has put together a rookie season to rival that of his father's back in 1976, when Roy won the tie-down roping world championship as a rookie. Tuf, 18, moved into fifth place in the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings with his parlay at the Qwest Center, worth $16,875.
"There's a little pressure (being a Cooper), but I try to turn it into a positive. My dad is my best teacher and role model. My brothers (Clint and Clif) and I all practice together and push each other. Being the youngest, I get to learn from all their mistakes."
River City Roundup Omaha, Neb., Sept. 27
Bareback riding: Semifinals: 1. Kelly Timberman, 85 points on Mosbrucker Rodeo's Speckled Moon, $3,750; 2. (tie) Chris Harris and Bobby Mote, 83, $2,344 each; 4. (tie) Will Lowe and Justin McDaniel, 82, $469 each; 6. Royce Ford, 80; 7. Steven Dent, 79; 8. Tim Shirley, 76. Finals: 1. Kelly Timberman, 87 points on Mosbrucker Rodeo's War & Peace, $7,500; 2. (tie) Bobby Mote and Chris Harris, 84, $2,500; 4. Will Lowe, NS. Total money: 1. Kelly Timberman, $11,875; 2. Chris Harris, $9,063; 3. Bobby Mote, $8,125; 4. Steven Dent, $6,563; 5. Will Lowe, $4,531; 6.Tim Shirley, $4,063; 7. Ryan Gray, $3,281; 8. Justin McDaniel, $1,875; 9. Royce Ford, $625.
Steer wrestling: Semifinals: 1. Luke Branquinho, 3.6 seconds, $3,750; 2. Dean Gorsuch, 3.7, $2,813; 3. Cash Myers, 4.1, $1,875; 4. Gabe Ledoux, 4.2, $938; 5. Wade Sumpter, 4.5; 6. Stockton Graves, 4.7; 7. Beau Franzen, 5.0; 8. Ken Lewis, 5.4. Finals: 1. Luke Branquinho, 3.8 seconds, $7,500; 2. Cash Myers, 4.7, $5,000; 3. Dean Gorsuch, 12.5; 4. Gabe Ledoux, NT. Total money: 1. Luke Branquinho, $16,875; 2. Wade Sumpter, $7,969; 3. Cash Myers, $6,875; 4. Dean Gorsuch, $4,688; 5. Les Shepperson, $3,750; 6. (tie) Ken Lewis and Curtis Cassidy, $2,813; 8. Gabe Ledoux, $2,344; 9. Beau Franzen, $1,875.
Team roping: Semifinals: 1. Jojo Lemond/Martin Lucero, 5.1 seconds, $3,750; 2. Colter Todd/Cesar de la Cruz, 5.3, $2,813; 3. Matt Sherwood/Randon Adams, 9.3, $1,875; 4. Speed Williams/Michael Jones, 9.4, $938: 5. Matt Funk/Cory Petska, 14.4; 6. Jake Barnes/Clay O'Brien Cooper, 22.8; 7. (tie) Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Jake Stanley/Marty Becker, NT. Finals: 1. Matt Sherwood/Randon Adams, 4.3 seconds, $7,500; 2. JoJo LeMond/Martin Lucero, 9.3, $5,000; 3. Colter Todd/Cesar de la Cruz, 26.0; 4. Speed Williams/Michael Jones, NT. Total money: 1. JoJo LeMond/Martin Lucero, $13,438; 2. Matt Sherwood/Randon Adams, $10,781; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, $7,500; 4. Colter Todd/Cesar de la Cruz, $6,094; 5. Speed Williams/Michael Jones, $4,219; 6. Travis Tryan/Walt Woodard, $3,281; 7. Jake Barnes/Clay Cooper, $2,813; 8. Jake Stanley/Marty Becker, $1,875.
Saddle bronc riding: Semifinals: 1. Jesse Kruse on Powder River Rodeo's Miss Congeniality and Justin Arnold on Beutler & Son Rodeo's Secret Agent, 88 points, $3,281 each; 3. Chad Ferley, 87, $1,875; 4. Anthony Bello, 84, $938; 5. Cody Wright, 83; 6. Billy Etbauer, 80; 7. (tie) J.J. Elshere and Ben Morrow, NS. Finals: 1. Chad Ferley, 88 points on MJM Rodeo's Little Stone, $7,500; 2. Anthony Bello, 85, $5,000; 3. Justin Arnold, 82; 4. Jesse Kruse, NS. Total money: 1. Chad Ferley, $16,875; 2. Anthony Bello, $11,094; 3. (tie) Justin Arnold and Jesse Kruse, $10,313 each; 5. J.J. Elshere, $1,406.
Tie-down roping: Semifinals: 1. Tuf Cooper, 8.5 seconds, $3,750; 2. Josh Peek, 8.9, $2,813; 3. Jeff Chapman, 9.1, $1,875 ; 4. Mike Johnson, 9.9, $938; 5. Ryan Jarrett, 17.7; 6. Fred Whitfield, 19.0; 7. (tie) Doug Pharr and Hunter Herrin, NT. Finals: 1. Tuf Cooper, 8.2 seconds, $7,500; 2. Mike Johnson, 8.3, $5,000; 3. Josh Peek, 9.2; 4. Jeff Chapman, 17.0. Total money: 1. Tuf Cooper, $16,875; 2. Mike Johnson, $11,094; 3. Josh Peek, $8,438; 4. Jeff Chapman, $4,688; 5. Hunter Herrin, $3,750; 6. Doug Pharr, $3,281; 7. Stran Smith, $1,875.
Barrel racing: Semifinals: 1. Lindsay Sears, 13.70 seconds, $3,750; 2. Brenda Mays, 13.97, $2,813; 3. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, 14.04, $1,875; 4. Christina Richman, 14.06, $938; 5. Annesa Self, 14.12; 6. Maegan Reichert, 14.15; 7. Jill Moody, 18.87; 8. Terra Bynum, 19.52. Finals: 1. Lindsay Sears, 13.81 seconds, $7,500; 2. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, 13.88, $5,000; 3. Christina Richman, 14.11; 4. Brenda Mays, 14.23. Total money: 1. Lindsay Sears, $15,000; 2. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, $9,688; 3. Brenda Mays, $8,438; 4. Jill Moody, $7,500; 5. Annesa Self, $4,219; 6. Mary Burger, $3,750; 7. Christina Richman, $1,406.
Bull riding: Semifinals: 1. Steve Woolsey, 92 points on Silverado Rodeo's Silent Image, $3,750; 2. J.W. Harris, 89, $2,813; 3. (tie) B.J. Schumacher, Stormy Wing, Howdy Cloud, Jake Wade, Kanin Asay, Shawn Proctor, NS. Finals: 1. Stormy Wing, 93 points on D & H Cattle's Ricky Bobby, $7,500; 2. J.W. Harris, 86, $5,000; 3. Steve Woolsey, 83; 4. B.J. Schumacher, NS. Total money: 1. Stormy Wing, $13,594; 2. J.W. Harris, $13,438; 3. B.J. Schumacher, $10,313; 4. Steve Woolsey, $3,750; 5. Shawn Proctor, $2,813; 6. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., $2,344.
