Vol. 120, No. 30 Dec. 12-15, 2019 Mo’s Minions Backed by her baseball family, Mo Cooper battles breast cancer By Matthew Knaub THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Aug. 27 was the second day of classes, and coach Rob Cooper gave his team the day off. Cooper, along with his wife, Maureen, better known as Mo, and two sons, Jake and Tyson, headed home early for a relaxing afternoon. Little did Cooper know, his day was about to become anything but normal. “All of the sudden the door opened at 4:30 and she walks in and she just lost it [and] start- ed crying,” Rob said. “I knew something was up.” Mo had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. While previous medical tests had hinted that something may be wrong, the diagnosis was now official. “Oh my God, I have cancer,” Mo said she thought as the doc- tor delivered the news. “I have a family.” The first few weeks were ex- tremely tough following the diagnosis. “Mo is scared when you hear that word, I’m scared when you hear that word,” Rob said. Photo courtesy of Rob Cooper While further medical tests were conducted to study Mo’s From left, Tyson, Mo, Rob and Jake Cooper pose for a family photo. condition over the next several weeks, Rob felt an anxiousness occupied by Rob, Tyson, Jake taking me under their wing and human beings in the world,” Mo encouragement on social media a for his wife to be cured. and two male dogs, Mo plays making sure I’m okay.” said. “It touched me in that they week later. “You just feel helpless,” Rob an important role in the Cooper Shortly after Rob delivered the were so thoughtful, I cried.” Using the hashtag #MosMin- said. “You want to be able to take household. news to his team, pitcher Kyle Through both of these recog- ions, support for Mo poured in it out of her or just say, ‘Hey, ev- “Obviously, it’s scary,” Rob said Virbitsky told Matt Neri, senior nitions, Rob was amazed by his from all over the country. erything is going to be okay.’ You “She is the one that makes all of sports turf manager at Medlar team’s thoughtfulness to recog- The support on social media just want finality to it, and that’s us feel like everything’s great. Field at Lubrano Park, that the nize his wife. from outside the State College just not how it works right now.” She’s the one that tells us that ev- team should honor Mo with pink While Rob has created a family community is something that the The couple waited to gather erything’s going to be fine.” ribbons on the field. atmosphere in the program, this Coopers don’t take for granted. as much information as possible Neri and the rest of the Nittany was finally his players’ chance to “My wife and family and I are from the doctors before telling *** Lions agreed, painting a pink rib- give back. incredibly thankful to everybody their sons the news. While Mo was thinking about bon in front of each dugout. “Having that personal connec- here at Penn State and in the “Right when they told me, I was her husband, sons and relatives “Everything tion, it makes State College community that just in shock,” Tyson, a freshman in that moment, her entire “fam- that [Rob] does “[Mo] is the one what they’re have reached out, [and] coaches at Penn State, said. “I didn’t know ily” was about to show its true for us, I feel like going through in college baseball that have what to think, what to do.” size and passion. it’s only right to that makes all of us that much more reached out offering support,” From a father’s perspective, Going into his 16th season as get behind him feel like personal for Rob said. Rob said telling his sons their a Division I head baseball coach, and support us,” Virbitsky While an outpouring of love and mom had been diagnosed with one aspect of Cooper’s teams him,” Virbitsky everything’s great. said. “We’re in a willingness to help was a result cancer was the most trying con- have never changed. said. “It’s noth- She’s the one that the locker room of going public with the informa- versation he’s ever had with the The importance of family has ing that’s going playing to win tion, Rob and Mo took to Twitter pair. been a hallmark of both pro- to help cure her, tells us everything’s baseball games in the first place for the opposite “The second worst day was tell- grams Cooper helmed, previously but it’s some- going to be fine.” for Penn State, reason. ing the boys,” Rob said. “They’ve at Wright State and now at Penn thing that when but he’s fighting The couple wanted to help any- been great, their friends have State. we come out Rob Cooper a bigger fight one else that is also battling the been great, everybody around “I’d like to think that I’ve al- here every day Penn State baseball manager with his wife, disease, making sure they do not them has been great, but it’s still ways been somebody that’s been we can see, we and we’re right feel alone. their mom and that scares them, really open with my team about can get behind there for him “If it helps anybody realize but they’re in a great place.” my family. My family has always and know that for that as well. that there’s somebody else going In hindsight, Rob feels there is been a part of any team that I’ve there are bigger He’s as much through it — that’s probably the no “perfect” way to handle such a ever coached,” he said. “We’ve things out there than baseball.” of family to us as he thinks we’re biggest reason why we did it,” situation. On that night, he left his always tried to make them a part The support didn’t stop there, family to him.” Rob said. sons with a simple, yet important of our family, and always tried as the players got together to sur- The unfortunate circumstanc- message. to make our family part of the prise Mo at practice. *** es have brought the husband “If you’re scared, mad, angry, program.” The Nittany Lions recognized The support from the rest of and wife of 21 years even closer whatever, you have to come talk This personal connection be- Mo and presented her with a the Penn State, State College together. to us,” he said. “Don’t not ask tween the Nittany Lions and the sympathy card on the field, which community and beyond has been Rob takes Mo to Hershey, mom something because you Coopers have never been more was also a surprise to Rob, who huge. Pennsylvania, for most of her ap- think that’s going to bother her or evident — since Rob told his play- was on the field setting up for People from all over, including pointments and has provided lots she’s going to worry about it.” ers the diagnosis, they have been practice. fellow college baseball coaches of encouragement along the way. Mo was diagnosed with a com- nothing but supportive. “There was no doubt about it from across the country, have “It certainly makes me appre- mon form of breast cancer which, Rob’s oldest son, Tyson, is now that the guys were going to get reached out to offer words of en- ciate my husband, who is my big- according to what the doctors a freshman on the team. together and do something,” Vir- couragement. gest supporter,” Mo said. have told the Coopers, is one of While adjusting to life as a colle- bitsky said. “I think it was pretty “The support from the Penn “If it wasn’t for him, I think I the more treatable forms of the giate student-athlete has its own important to her and important State and State College commu- would’ve pulled the blankets over disease. challenges, Tyson’s new team- for us to get together sign some- nity has been almost overwhelm- my head and called it a month.” “She reassured me that every- mates have helped him through thing, and at least let her know ing,” Mo said. thing was going to be fine and this especially difficult time. that we’re always thinking about But Rob was never surprised *** there’s nothing to worry about,” “Everybody on the team has her.” at how the Penn State community Cancer has changed the way Tyson said. “I feel like from that made me sure that I know that The kind gesture showed just responded. both Mo and Rob view their lives. point on I was pretty confident I can go to them for whatever, how close the Nittany Lions are “It’s been pretty awesome, it’s Mo now appreciates her fam- that she was going to be okay.” whenever,” Tyson said. “I feel like with the Cooper family. been pretty emotional,” Rob said. ily, friends and the State College The lone woman in a home they’ve done a really good job of “They’re just the sweetest “I knew that I worked at an unbe- community even more and feels lievable place with unbelievable it is important to let them know. people.” “My family has always been Rob and Mo decided to make one to verbalize their love on a the news public on social media daily basis,” Mo said.