Rush remains positive despite setting CMU all-time interception record


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Charolette junior Cooper Rush attempts to pass the ball during the Chippewas' game against Eastern Michigan University on Nov. 27 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Monica Bradburn | Assistant Photo Editor

Cooper Rush still remembers the first mistake he made as the starting quarterback for the Central Michigan football team.

In his first start against UNLV in 2013, the then-freshman had former receiver Titus Davis open for a touchdown, but under threw him which resulted in an interception. The Chippewas lost 31-21, and Rush finished the game with one touchdown and two interceptions.

During last weekend’s 34-28 triple overtime victory against Northern Illinois, Rush, now a senior, threw two interceptions — which broke a tie with Ryan Radcliff for the most in CMU history.

Rush said he was unaware of the record, but isn’t fazed by it either.

“When you play for a long time it happens,” he said. “You make some mistakes, but it’s about how you come back from those.”

Whether it’s a good play or a bad play, the Charlotte native said he doesn’t let the outcome of the play affect the next one.

“It’s just a mindset, you have to drop it right away,” he said. “If it’s a completion, incompletion or an interception, you’re on to the next one. It happens to everyone, so you just try to limit (interceptions).”

Junior receiver Corey Willis played quarterback in high school and has seen Rush bounce back after throwing an interception.

“Cooper has been through everything a quarterback in college football can go through,” Willis said. “He takes everything that happens to him during the game in stride. He’s got a next play mentality.”

Offensive coordinator and receivers coach Morris Watts has seen Rush mature from a freshman to where he is now and said the interceptions are not a concern.

“There have been some that are not his fault, but if you throw one, it sticks with you,” he said. “He hasn’t thrown enough that bothers me. He’s way ahead in how many touchdowns he’s thrown versus the interceptions.”

According to cbssports.com, Rush is a projected to be selected between the third and fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Rush’s ability to regroup after interceptions and bad plays is all head coach John Bonamego said matters.

“With a passer, you have to be confident,” he said. “You never want a guy back there that’s second guessing himself or hesitant. You look at the number of big plays he’s made, they far outweigh the interceptions, and that’s really how you measure a quarterback.”

This season, Rush has thrown for 18 touchdowns to seven interceptions and is ranked fourth in the Mid-American Conference in passing efficiency, which is a rating that is calculated using a quarterbacks passing attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns and interceptions.

Despite breaking the record for most interceptions thrown in CMU history, Rush is in contention to be CMU’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and passing yards.  

Assuming CMU clinches a bowl berth, Rush would need 18 touchdown more touchdown passes to break Dan LeFevour’s record for the most throw in a career with 102.

That means Rush, who sits at 85 career touchdown passes, would have to throw three touchdowns passes per game in the final six contests to pass LeFevour.

Along with that record, Rush would need to throw for 250 yards per game to pass LeFevour for the most passing yards in CMU history.

“If it happens it’ll be pretty cool to look back on that, and hopefully we’ll be winning,” Rush said.

The Chippewas travel to Toledo on Saturday. The Rockets defense allows 205 yards passing per game.

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