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Posted: 10:08 PM- Making his third attempt at the process, Cade Cooper is becoming a veteran in selecting a college program.
But the junior quarterback is doing it for the first time while also planning a wedding.
Cooper was granted his official release from Brigham Young on Monday, and the Lehi native has been busy scheduling meetings with potential coaches and tuxedo fitters.
Cooper is getting married to Chelsy Jensen on July 18, and his future wife is eager to find out where they will begin the next phase of their lives together.
"You can only imagine what she is thinking," Cooper said. "She wants to know where she will be going to school and what she is going to do."
Cooper, who will miss the 2007 season with a foot injury, wants to transfer to another Division I program and has provided BYU with a list of 25 schools he wished to contact.
He did not include any Mountain West Conference schools because conference transfer rules would force him to miss an additional season. He said the only instate school on his list was Utah State, which has six quarterbacks on its roster this season.
"It would be dumb not to consider Utah State," Cooper said. "But wherever I feel like I can show up and have an impact on the program is where I want to be."
Cooper said he didn't wish to disclose which schools have already spoken to him about joining their programs.
"I don't want to jeopardize anything and falsely lead people to think that I am going somewhere and I am not," he said. "And, another thing, I don't want to make the coaches I am talking to mad or offend them. I figured I would just keep it between me and my family."
Cooper transferred to BYU from Snow College, where he led the Badgers to an 11-1 record and No. 2 national ranking in 2006. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Cooper threw for 3,103 yards and 31 touchdowns and was named NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year.
Cooper battled sophomore transfer Max Hall for BYU's starting job during spring practice, but tore a ligament in his left foot in the annual Blue/White spring game. Realizing his future playing time might be limited, Cooper decided to transfer.
"I feel great about the decision," said Cooper, who is out of his walking boot and hopes to begin running again in two months. "I feel like things will work out. It's sad I won't be playing at BYU because they are such great people and great examples and it is a great program. But in the long run, I really just want to play and get on the field."