Syracuse Football signee’s unconventional announcement quickly gains buzz

Syracuse Football signee makes heartfelt announcement

Cooper Dawson, a defensive lineman recruit from South Carolina, allows his close friend Kingsley Feinman to share the moment.

Story by Dakota Palmer

Published: December 19, 2018

Cooper Dawson (right with hat) brought his close friend Kingsley Feinman (left with hat) to help him announce what college he planned to sign with.

Over the next two days, hundreds of young men will sign with their college football teams as part of the Early Signing Period. Today, Syracuse Football recruit Cooper Dawson chose an unconventional way to announce where he would spend the next four years.

In the video, which first debuted on Twitter from WCIV Sports Director Scott Eisberg’s account, Dawson is sitting next to his close friend, Kingsley Feinman. Dawson said Feinman, who has cerebral palsy and is paraplegic, helped him overcome a torn ACL during his senior season.

“He taught me that the only disability is a bad attitude, and if he can come around every day with this big old smile on, I can do it just the same,” Dawson said.

Then, he whispers his choice into Feinman’s ear, who announces, “He’s going to Syracuse.”

Dawson places a Syracuse hat on both himself and Feinman and gives Feinman a hug. Dawson, a defensive lineman for Hanahan High School in South Carolina, also received offers from Clemson University and the University at Central Florida.

This is one of the greatest signing days you will ever see. Hanahan’s Cooper Dawson picks Syracuse- but does it by first telling close friend Kingsley Feinman. Kingsley announces the decision- Dawson adds that Kingsley taught him the only disability is a bad attitude. @ABCNews4 pic.twitter.com/3OGJzJmlXg

— Scott Eisberg (@SEisbergWCIV) December 19, 2018

“I’ve got a messed up leg, I’m going to miss my senior year,” Dawson said. “He’s (Feinman) got this cerebral palsy and it affects him greatly, but he goes around with a positive attitude. I figured if I could just resemble that, it’ll be alright.”

Dawson’s announcement has received an overwhelming amount of positive support on social media.

One Twitter user wrote: “No one should ever do another signing day announcement after that one. Cooper Dawson just mic drop’d every kid in America.”

No one should ever do another signing day announcement after that one. Cooper Dawson just mic drop'd every kid in America.

— Lance Fleming (@flemingl17) December 19, 2018

Others are noting the video made them cry: “Proud this young man will be joining #cusenation. Pass the tissues please.”

Proud this young man will be joining #cusenation. Pass the tissues please

— Patty Campbell (@pjoycampbell) December 19, 2018

Dawson joins a class of 16 other signees who signed National Letters of Intent with Syracuse today. The makeup of the class thus far is four defensive backs, four defensive linemen, three linebackers, three offensive lineman, one tight end, one running back and one wide receiver.

At a press conference this afternoon, Syracuse Football Head Coach Dino Babers praised his staff for recruiting quality athletes.

“They’ve done a nice job,” Babers said. “We’re very unique the way we [recruit]. It’s a lot of team recruiting. We go out and evaluate and gather talent individually, but once we bring them back, we evaluate and recruit as a group.

“We do our homework very well, and we bring the right type of student-athletes here to Syracuse.”