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MORGANTOWN Zac Cooper grew up closer to the campus of the University of Pittsburgh than that of West Virginia University,being from the steel town of Weirton. But he never, ever considered himself a Panther fan.

"I wasn't even a Steelers fan," the senior linebacker recalled, "because all my friends were, and they were annoying."

A highly decorated football player at Weir High School, Cooper was sold on being a Mountaineer after sitting in the student section in a game against Pitt. That feeling became "cemented in stone" when wide receiver John Pennington stretched out in the end zone for a touchdown pass in that game.

Friday's game at Mountaineer Field will be the last time Cooper will run out of the tunnel and through the smoke to the screams of a cheering throng. It's a day that almost nearly didn't come.

Cooper had to battle through some heart problems that could have ended his career last year, but he said, "I always knew I was going to play again."

But now, with the end of the season looming, Cooper knows his playing career is coming to a close. That gold and blue uniform will have to be put away, leaving him with only memories of his days on the turf.

"I don't think words can justify this at the end," he said, adding that he and fellow West Virginians Nate Sowers and Reed Williams were waxing philosophically about being seniors just a few days ago.

"We're starting to talk about life, and how we have to get serious now," Cooper said.

The 23 seniors will get together with the rest of the team on Thursday night to discuss what playing at West Virginia meant to them. Coach Bill Stewart said it is an emotional time, a time when men of strength are brought to tears by mere words.

I don't know how I'm going to hold up Thursday night when our seniors talk," Stewart said. "When they look at you, and tears are coming down their faces, and they say 'Thank you for recruiting me and giving me a shot when no one else did,' it's tough"

Stewart remembered going into the homes of a lot of these seniors, meeting their families and hearing the hopes and dreams. He said he hopes the week slows down because of these departing seniors

"They deserve all of the accolades that can be bestowed on them," Stewart said, then offered some advice to those who will be leaving the program for the next step in life.

"You have to savor each and every day," he said. "I tell them team that each time I talk to them after every game treat every day as if it's a precious jewel, because you do not know what tomorrow brings. I mean that. It's who I am, and that's what I am. If you can't get that out of life, then you need to stop and smell the roses."

Cooper said he can't think of any better team to play his last game at home than arch-rival Pitt. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. Friday, and the Panthers come into the game ranked ninth in the country and yearning for a Big East Conference title. The challenge in stopping an offense that does nothing fancy, Cooper said, will bring football down to its most basic level.

"It's me versus you, so let's see who's better," he said. "It's the way football has always been. It's me against my neighbor let's get into a street fight."