Sherman Oaks Notre Dame students and faculty were in mourning Tuesday after learning that Davis Cooper, who played football for the Knights last season and was a freshman player at Grinnell College, was struck and killed while walking along Interstate 80 near Altoona, Iowa.
Notre Dame’s football team held a meeting on Tuesday morning and players were informed of Cooper’s death. His brother is a sophomore on the team.
“It’s awful,” Notre Dame coach Joe McNab said. “He was a great kid, a good leader, super smart. Everyone on campus liked him.”
School counselors were made available. A school-wide Mass previously scheduled for All Saints’ Day will include a eulogy for Cooper, 18.
Initial reports of the accident did not include a reason why Cooper was walking along the interstate.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker had 15 solo tackles and seven assists as well as 3.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks.
