PJ Cooley, an accounting major, is in his fourth year as a pitcher on the baseball team, but plans to stay a fifth year. In 2012 and much of 2013, Cooley sat out with a shoulder injury. Now he is back to full strength and is looking forward to this upcoming season, which will begin on Saturday.
Do you have a player who most inspires you?
It’s going to be pretty cliche, but I guess I’ll say Derek Jeter. Not just as a pitcher but just his work ethic and what he’s put on and off the field in the past. This is his 19th season and he’s now retiring. I think he’s a good guy to look up to for a lot of guys, strictly because he’s got such a good work ethic, he’s such a great athlete, he’s been such a great teammate, they don’t call him a captain for nothing, so I would say he probably inspires me most.
You were injured your sophomore year. What was that year like and how did you make it through?
It was weird. That was the first time I’ve ever had serious pain or injury, so I didn’t know how to handle it. Just staying positive and being there for the team was definitely huge for myself and for everybody else, and just showing them that I’m still supporting them regardless of my injury. I’ve always been optimistic and positive, so just being able to carry that over despite some setbacks has helped me get through the past couple years. I’m 100% now, so now I’ll finally have another full season like my freshman year so I’m pretty excited.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’ve got an internship again this summer with the same company I worked for last summer, and I’m hoping that after this summer I’ll get a full-time offer with that accounting firm after I graduate. I’d love to keep playing baseball if it’s in the cards. Whether it’s softball or an adult rec. league or something further than that, I’d be grateful for whatever competition it is because I love the game so much. Hopefully I’ll grow old but I’ll still be able to have fun and play the game that I grew up playing.
What is the legacy you hope to leave on this team?
I think guys kind of look at me as a jokester. I’m okay with that, but I also hope to be someone guys kind of look up to and come to for advice whether it be on the field or off the field situations. I hope that when I leave guys will look to me as that one teammate who was always there for them.
What activities do you enjoy on campus?
In all honesty, going to practice and playing games. I talk to guys about this all the time. It’s my one getaway from all the stress, whether it’s work or a test I didn’t do well on or a test I have to study for, or volunteer work, or anything that doesn’t have to do with baseball. I really look forward to going to practice. Even though sometimes practices aren’t fun, you have running, you have conditioning, you have weightlifting, and the two or three hours I get to spend with the team kind of just take my mind away from everything. I enjoy that the most. It takes your mind off everything and it’s really relaxing.
Do you have a favorite Charger moment?
Even though I wasn’t there last year when the team was down in Florida and they beat number two-ranked Tampa, I was back here, and I was actually at the Charger basketball game with a couple other guys who didn’t travel due to injury. We were watching the game on our computer in the arena during the basketball game, so we saw it go down and we were all pretty excited. That’s got to be my favorite Charger moment. That’s when I got most excited about the team.
Do you have a favorite winter Olympic sport?
Gotta be hockey. I’m a big hockey fan, a big Redwings fan. I grew up watching hockey with my parents. I don’t know how to skate, but I love watching hockey. It’s on at our house all the time.
-Compiled by Daniel Slonim
