I think I hate this Missouri football team. I'm not certain because I've never had strong feelings for the Tigers before this season, but I've found myself actually thinking a lot about the Missouri-Nebraska bell this summer.
It's not like some rivalries (OU-Texas, Alabama-Auburn, et al.) where the football is just the physical manifestation of some deep-seated regional tension. I feel no ill will towards the Show-Me State as a whole. In fact, my family tree has some pretty deep roots there.
I do hate the 2008 Missouri Tigers...and the Cardinals...and Budweiser now that it's Belgian (as if they didn't have enough beer)—but beyond those three things I'm perfectly fine with Missouri.
Now, this is uncharted territory for me, this sudden hatred, and I think that's because this is uncharted territory for the University of Missouri football program as well. They're supposed to be good this year, really good, and that raises two very interesting questions: 1) Who likes a favorite? and 2) How will Missouri respond to their new status as reyes del norte?
Like every Nebraska fan who grew up with two conference daddies in the Big 8, and then the Big 12, I followed pretty conventional hating guidelines. Oklahoma was the first rival, and then there was...not Oklahoma.
When my Big 12 daddy made Christmas a triennial affair and replaced it with Easter—"It's still happening at the same time each year," he would scream—I tried to play along, but truth be told I liked a lot of things Colorado had to offer as well (Coors Original, Rockmount shirts, the idea of snow-shoeing).
And if Colorado was like replacing Christmas with Easter, then Missouri was like the 4th of July, a stand-alone holiday where all you hoped for was to see something entertaining and not have to work too hard to do it.
Today's Must Reads
Now, of course, that's all completely different. Nebraska can't go down to Columbia these days without giving up 41 points. The Tigers are the defending Big 12 North champions and a unanimous preseason pick to repeat as such.
They're the consensus No. 6 team in the nation to start the season. They might have a Heisman trophy winner in their backfield. Jeremy Maclin is as volatile and lethal as nitroglycerin.
Suffice to say, these are heady times for the Missouri Tigers.
And that's why I hate them. Because while Gary Pinkel was taking the Tigers to unparalleled heights in 2007, Bill Callahan was pushing Nebraska to can't-be-believed lows—and that disparity has me coveting that damn bell like never before.
But I think this is good, this hatred. The metaphorical backed into a corner, swing from the heels attitude will be useful come October 4—and it's not all Nebraska has going for it.
As the most heralded Missouri team in the school's history, the '08 Tigers will have to deal with something that's mostly foreign to the Missouri football program: national expectations.
In 2007, Missouri finished No. 4 in the AP poll, the highest end of the season ranking in their history—but they started the season unranked. In 1960 the Tigers started the season unranked before ascending to the top spot in the polls, a ranking that wouldn't be reached again until last year, and finishing at No. 5.
Note specifically the "unranked" connection in those previous two sentences.
The only good comparison for what this 2008 team is attempting to do—replicate or best the winningest season in school history while, and here's the key here, being expected to replicate or best the winningest season in school history—are the '68 and '69 squads.
The 1968 Missouri team finished ninth in the AP poll at 8-3, then climbed to sixth at the end of 1969 by going 9-2.
But I have a feeling that Tigers fans are looking for a little more than a two-loss season and top 10 ranking this season. They could be favored in every game they play—at Texas on October 18 seems like the only possible exception—and they have a lofty ranking that will only be bolstered by a deceptively "tough" season opener against Illinois.
Regardless of what Nebraska does against Virginia Tech, the first real test for the Tigers looks like their trip to Lincoln, where they haven't won since 1978 (a span that encompasses my entire life). Think that will be a big game?
Honestly, I like our chances. I'm not sure what bearing the Missouri teams from '78, '88, or '98 have on this current iteration, but I do know that none of them were expected to win in Lincoln. This team is—and I like that.
Are historical advantages real or just psychological? If it is just psychological, isn't that almost as good as being real?
Either way, I like where we're at 73 days away from homecoming.
So why do I hate this Missouri team with an unusual breadth and depth this season? Because Missouri is better than they've ever been and, right now, they're better than Nebraska.
For that reason, going forward I am completely focused on loathing Missouri.
And the Cardinals.
And Belgian Budweiser.
But that's it.
comments (8) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
o well that was nice to know. and your right, i mean what the hell budweiser
about 1 month ago
C'mon, Jason - hate a team which hasn't won in Lincoln since the Carter administration? That's like hating Santa for not bringing you enough presents! How's about some love - er, I mean hate - for my Buffs!
about 1 month ago
Mad at Budweiser? Why? They got taken over against their wishes. Coors is Canadian, Miller is South African but Bud is still in St. Louis, at least nationally. And it still employs Missourians and puts food on their tables and puts their kids in school. Be mad at the almighty dollar if anything it ain't worth much anymore.
about 1 month ago
if this is your way of starting up a rivalry between my Mizzou & your Nebraska teams....it just doesnt cut it men we have enough bitter rivals(Kansas, Kansas,Kansas...and ofcourse after last season Oklahoma) but this is the beauty of this sport...rivalries rivalries rivalries so even though we cannot accord your team the status of a bitter rival(read hated rival), we still cannot ignore the fact that we havent won in Lincoln since 1978 however my soon to be rival this is our time(as Obama says) this is our time to break such barriers, this is our time to prove that we can win the Big 12, and win it all...sorry i got carries away there with this Obama Speak, but back to my point YES my Tigers are the consensus no.6, a very high ranking which comes with as you say "national expectations" and i believe we are going to live up to those expectations. Thanks for aknowledging Mizzou has an unusual breadth & depth and that we are better than your Nebraska however this does not mean we have a blank check to beat on your team and the other 11 on our schedule this season and i predict that the Mizzou/Nebraska game might be close since your new head coach Bo Pelini is a defensive guru. Do not mistake my confidence for overconfidence and arrogance...im just a proud Mizzou fan who thinks we have more to prove, last season was great season this season we hope for an excellent season.
You are more than welcome to hate on my Mizzou, you wont be the first nor the last but why the cards i mean Nebraska doesnt have a baseball team so who do you root for if you hate the cards? the closest Nebraska state comes to a baseball team is when Omaha hosts the CWS, about InBev i actually have to agree with you i also dont like it that a Belgian company has now taken ove A-B but business is business be happy Mizzou cannot come over to Lincoln and buy your Nebraska team which we would get for a dime based on your 2007 season
about 1 month ago
Hate away, Jason. Mizzou is going to spank your teams ass in Lincoln this year. Then the hate is really going to begin. Don't think for a minute your hollow hate will make any difference. Mizzou has years and years of payback to dish out to Nebraska. Your going to take your ass whippin and enjoy it, boy!
about 1 month ago
That article, while appearing complimentary, is really a very good attempt at sabotaging the psyche of Mizzou fans and football players. It lulls you in with its self-loathing, then strikes like a snake at the end to plant a seed in our mind about losing in Lincoln, that germinates into self-doubt, which is undoubtedly the authors goal. The article is poison, and born of hate,and her twin sister envy, which can never be a good thing. Read it Mizzou fans and players, and laugh at the little worm who wrote it who I suspect lives in his parent's basement--columnist or no columnist. The thought of Mizzou coming into Lincoln and humiliating the Cornhuskers, like we did last year, strikes sheer terror into their minds. This is the year that we drive the stake through the vampires heart in Lincoln and be done with them. And don't think they won't go down kicking and screaming, either. Extinguishing someones dreams can be a messy affair. Then they'll be an afterthought and we can move on to Texas with blood on our hands.
about 1 month ago
Hey Tiger before you start bragging how about winning something which the tigers have NEVER done. You must have forgot all the ASS whipping your Missery team has received from the huskers. Your team will soon be average again and i wouldnt be suprised you loose more than a few this year. So keep braggin .
about 1 month ago
OK
write a new comment