The University of Miami's Glenn Cook could be taking his final bows as his career winds down
Glenn Williams-Cook had a lot to be thankful for Thursday.
She has her health, a good job as an administrative assistant at an all-boys charter school in Miami Gardens and, for the first time in several years, she had Thanksgiving dinner with all three of her sons.
But what she was most thankful for was that her eldest son, a 23-year-old starting middle linebacker at the University of Miami who shares her first name, has gotten the chance to complete his playing career as a Hurricane.
"Being at the final home game a couple weeks ago and seeing Glenn run through the smoke that last time was real emotional for me,"
said Williams-Cook, who cried last spring when her son learned he had been granted a rare sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, allowing him to come back from a foot injury that cost him the 2007 season.
"As a mother, I'm so proud of the man he's become. I know his time [at UM] hasn't always been easy, but it's been a great opportunity and that's what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving."
RELIABLE DEFENDER
Glenn Cook's teammates and coaches are just as happy he is back. In a season full of ups and downs for the defense, Cook has been the most steady hand for a unit ravaged by injuries to key players, hampered by inconsistency and dependent on many freshmen to play larger-than-expected roles.
Through 11 games, this former Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna standout leads the Hurricanes with 69 tackles and has played mentor to several freshmen. Sean Spence, who said he looks up to Cook, spends several extra hours each week studying film with Cook. Coincidentally, Spence is the Canes' second-leading tackler.
"He's like the glue,"
said defensive tackle Antonio Dixon, a fifth-year senior who refers to Cook as Granddaddy Cook.
"If we didn't have Glenn, I don't know where we would be -- especially without Colin [McCarthy], Eric [Moncur] and Randy [Phillips]. I don't think our defense would be that good because Glenn knows everything everybody has to do. He tells us all where we need to be."
UM's defense looked out of place last week at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets' triple-option system totaled 472 yards rushing in a 41-23 victory.
Cook's mother was there. She made the 10-hour drive to Atlanta hoping to see her son lock up a trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game in Tampa. Instead, she saw the Canes' ACC title hopes vanish.
When she returned home, she spent hours reading fan message boards on the Internet and had to turn away in anger because so many were criticizing her son.
"Out of all the years he's been playing, I've only typed a response once,"
Williams-Cook said.
"Sometimes, fans can really get down on them, say really mean things. This game was hard because they were really harping on Glenn and Romeo [Davis]."
'I just wish people would see how hard they work, how they deal with more than the average person. Yes, he has overrun some plays and missed some tackles. But I feel like telling them, `Look at the stats. Who leads the team in tackles?' ''
WON'T MAKE EXCUSES
Much like the team armbands he created before the season that read, "No Excuses,"
Cook didn't make any for UM's poor play.
"We didn't do our job,"
he said Wednesday. "But with the kind of guys we got, we'll bounce back. We know the next game is real important. We want to go to a good bowl game."
The challenge Saturday when UM (7-4) plays at North Carolina State (5-6) will be to slow Ronnie Wilson, the ACC's top quarterback. Wilson, whom Florida State coach Bobby Bowden referred to as "the mother of all running quarterbacks,"
has thrown 14 touchdown passes this year. He leads the ACC in passing efficiency and has one interception in 229 attempts.
A victory Saturday could mean UM will stay in Florida for a bowl game, either the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville or the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. That is driving distance for Cook's mother, who doesn't like to fly.
At 6-0 and 228 pounds, Cook isn't considered a likely NFL prospect; more like an overachiever who gets by on his smarts and leadership. UM's bowl game could be the last time Williams-Cook will watch her son play.
She said she is just grateful her prayers were answered before this season. Her son has not only gotten a chance to play one more year of football, but also has his marketing degree and will eventually have a master's degree in sports administration (one he is working on) to fall back on.
"I just pray whatever it is he is looking for comes to pass for him,"
Williams-Cook said. "It certainly has for me. I couldn't be prouder of him."
NOTABLE
• Receiver Travis Benjamin (ankle) and safety Jojo Nicholas (arm) are listed as doubtful for Saturday's game. Benjamin had started as the primary kick returner in seven consecutive games and will be replaced by freshman Brandon Harris. Nicholas likely be replaced by junior Ryan Hill.
Romeo Davis, who had made three consecutive starts at strong-side linebacker, has a leg injury and will be replaced by Daryl Sharpton.
