A Closer Look At Terrapin Jason Cropley
11/4/1999 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 4, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, MD.-- - Senior Jason Cropley (La Canada, Calif.) was an only child until last summer. In June, Cropley became a step-brother when his father remarried. With that came the new responsibility of being a role model. This fall, Cropley returned to College Park for his senior year to a similar change with soccer. This time, all eyes were on him again. One of two seniors, Cropley would need to help guide the young, but extremely talented team Maryland would field this year.
It was a fun change becoming the older-brother type, commented Cropley on his change at home. "Having him around the house has been fun and sometimes he just needs someone that he can look up to and that person is you," says Cropley. "Sometimes you do things or you say things and you have to be careful because you're pretty much kind of a role model to him."
His step-brother loves to come to Cropley's games and sometimes even tries dressing like him. A big adjustment for the only child. "I try to be a good role model to him and I never had to do something like that before because I was always the only child," explains Cropley. "I was always the one that had to look up to someone but now, I'm someone that is looked up to. It's kind of like a reversal, but I'm enjoying it."
The other role reversal came when training began. One of two seniors, young eyes were watching Cropley's example. "Its tough, sometimes because the younger guys, maybe the balls are flat or the cones are not out there and they forgot," says Cropley. "Maybe they did not know it was their responsibility. Sometimes its tough because you think maybe Jamie (Eichmann) and I were supposed to be the two that were responsible for making sure they're doing their job, making sure that everything's going fine as a team together, connected. Before I never had to worry about any of these problems because we always had all the other seniors."
Through the changes, Cropley is still a part of one of the most deadly forward combinations in the country with sophomore Taylor Twellman (St. Louis, Mo.). Together, the two pace the Terps' offense. With one game remaining in the regular season, Cropley is fresh off being named ACC Player of the Week as well as being selected to the Soccer America Team of the Week for his two-goal effort against Clemson.
Cropley is the Terps' second-leading scorer this season and has accumulated seven goals and seven assists for 21 points. A senior, he is on every career top ten list at Maryland. He is ninth in career goals (29), fifth in career assists (18) and sixth in career points (76).
Cropley Unplugged
Person you most admire: My Father
Athlete you most admire: Dennis Bergkamp
Your favorite athletic moment of your career. Winning the ACC Tournament in 1996.
What CD is in your stereo right now? Live.
If I were given free tickets to see any athletic event I wanted, what event would it be? A soccer game between Man. U and Inter
The famous athlete you would most like to meet: Pele
One thing people may not know about me is that... I speak Thai.
If you were given round trip tickets to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Thailand, my homeland.
If you could travel back in time and meet any famous person, who would it be and why? John F. Kennedy, Jr.
What do you most enjoy about playing soccer at Maryland? The people around me.
What do you respect most about Sasho? His passion to win.
The best piece of advice anyone ever gave you is...You need to get bigger, so hit the gym.
The one word the best describes you is... Funny.
If I could change on thing in the world, it would be... Take away guns..
If I lost all my possessions except for one, I'd want to keep... My life.
My ambition after soccer is to... Be a coach.
My favorite TV show ever is... The Simpsons.
My favorite movie is... Top Gun.
Outside of soccer, I enjoy... Sleeping, going out with friends.
If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? Invest.
My craziest ambition is to... Be a movie star.
Since coming to Maryland, I have learned to... Be on time.
My favorite class at Maryland has been... Bowling.
