Pregame rituals unique for each JMU player

Amy Paterson / photo editor Junior forward David Cooper drives to the basket during JMU's game against Drexel Saturday. Cooper's pregame routine includes listening to a gospel CD.

Headlights flicker off the interstate and pull into the Convocation Center as the JMU men’s basketball players anxiously await tip-off. Game time approaches and the Dukes get set to take the floor, but what drives their desire of hitting the hard wood?

No two routines are the same. Players can be found watching their big screen TV on a plush, black leather couch before warm-ups. Others can be found reading or getting set with a CD spinning their favorite tracks.

Senior guard John Goodman, junior forward David Cooper and sophomore forward Cavell Johnson all say they look for motivation, inspiration and focus on game days.

"My away game routine is more set this year than the previous two years with the team," Cooper said. "I usually spend some time reading the Bible, take a shower and relax. I do some school work if I need to, get some rest if I need to and basically spend some time in prayer."

To find an adrenaline rush in college athletes, music filled with hard bass beats and rapid melodies comes to mind, but not for Cooper.

"Right before game time, I have a mixed gospel CD I like to listen to that gets me ready," Cooper said.

Goodman also reads the Bible for pre-game preparation, along with some out-of-left field tactics on game day.

"I’ll run a couple errands and clean up my house a bit or just watch some tube," Goodman said.

Goodman’s Mr. Clean ways may be just what he needs to zone in on the contest.

"You also don’t want to get too much sleep the night before games," Goodman said. "Because it will make you really sluggish, but rest is very important."

Goodman awakes from well-rested nights on game day and kicks back with street-ball films such as "He Got Game" or "Above the Rim."

Johnson’s mindset probably won’t have him in front of the TV before game time. He’ll probably be in the locker room sitting on his personalized stool with his headphones turned up.

"I do all I can do to stay focused on the game," Johnson said. "As soon as I wake up on game day, I’m thinking about the game, and all day long it’s just a more intense focus on the game built up from the week."

Johnson can get both pumped up or unwind to multiple music genres.

"It all depends on my mood, whether I want to get hyped or just relax," Johnson said. "I listen to down-South music mostly, but I also listen to West Coast stuff to keep focus."

Johnson’s pre-game routine paid off Saturday afternoon against the Drexel University Dragons, as he led the Dukes in scoring with a career-high 30 points.

"Over the past two years, my pre-game routine really hasn’t changed a whole lot," Johnson said. "I just want to do whatever I can to stay focused on what needs to be done in the game for us to do well."