Nebraska forward/defender Jenna Cooper was shot in the throat at a party lastnight in Lincoln. She's in critical condition right now. Jenna is one of the top players in the Big 12 and has played with the U.S. U-21 national team. Send your support towards the Big Red. I'll keep this updated.
There are words we could use but none here can reveal how bad I feel. This girl was robbed and her family and friends need our prayers, real prayers.
My prayers go out to Jenna's family and her extended family there at Nebraska. What a horrible tragedy.
I now you're never supposed to speak ill of the dead, which leads to even the worst of people being praised. However, with Jenna, I couldn't even if I had to. I knew Jenna fairly well here in Louisville before she left to attend Nebraska and had seen her a few times since she left. I knew her mostly through a mutual friend, but what I do know is that she was a tremendous person. She was a mechanical engineering major and a heck of a soccer player, but she was also extremely kind and generous with her time, regulalry volunteering at elementary schools. Everyone who knows her feels robbed that she is gone, but it was Jenna who was truly robbed. I just want to give my condolences to her family and friends, especially her parents and her brother Billy. RIP Jenna.
This is incredibly sad. My heart goes out to Jenna's family and her teammates and coaches and friends. May God bless them all.
Terrible news. Here's the scumbag who shot her, unless there's another Lucky Iromuanya in Nebraska. He's the dude with the big afro and the large cross hanging from his neck. Congrats Lucky, you now get to be someone's girlfriend for the rest of your life.
No words. Sympathy to the family, friends, team, everybody. I know it's ridiculous to feel some connection just because I'm a native Nebraskan, so I won't claim any special connection. What an absolute waste.
What to say, what to say, what to say... Jenna was my 2nd favorite Husker of all time, behind Christine Latham, and my favorite on the current team. She was one of the most underrated players in America. Although she was fairly small framed, she was gritty, with excellent technical skills, and free kicks and corner kicks of the HIGHEST level. Jenna always played balls to the wall. She was the competitive soul of the Huskers last season, especially after Christy Harms went out with her ACL tear. My favorite memory will be of the Nebraska-Wisconsin match in Madison, WI last season. A Badger player pushed Jenna down after the ball went out of bounds. Jenna retaliated, and the ref only saw her actions. She was given a yellow card, and I yelled something that I care not to repeat. Jenna looked up and me and said "thank you!". The Huskers won that game, 2-1. Cooper was named the Defensive MVP of the tournament. Now she's gone. It's one thing if you lose a young person in an accident. To lose your favorite player to murder? Let's just say I hope it never happens again in the women's college soccer community. If I feel this bad, I can't even imagine how the players, and the family of Jenna must feel. Jenna was a giver. She led the team in assists last year from her defensive position. She tutored at elementary schools, and she spent a lot of time helping John Walker coach his youth clinics. Her organs were donated today. Hopefully some families are experiencing joy from her final gift. Thanks for the memories Jenna. Rest in peace.
As a Heeligan I would like to extend my condolences to the the Nebraska Soccer Family after the death of Jenna Cooper and would ask that if you are ever in Chapel Hill we would be honored to have you visit with us and let us extend to you the finest of Southern Hospitality toward you and your friends and family. We grieve with you.