Don't let the seniors down

*I remember watching the Heisman Trophy ceremony last season. I knew Chase Daniel wasn't going to win it. But that didn't even matter. I'd watched that show every year since I was old enough to be interested in sports. There had never been a Missouri Tiger sitting in that room. Personally, I thought that was pretty cool. He's probably not going to get back there this season. But the publicity and the attention Daniel has brought to this program is unmatched. To a generation of Tiger fans, Chase Daniel IS Missouri football. You may never get to see another one this good.

*As good as he's been, I don't know that Daniel is even the best player named Chase in his own class. I can't pick out a play that summarizes my memories of watching Chase Coffman. He gives you a new one every single week. He's caught more passes than any tight end in Division One history. He has the Missouri record for receptions and touchdowns. He has the best hands I've ever seen. Ever. You want a kid that's impossible to replace? I don't know where you find another Chase Coffman.

*My last memories don't take place on the football field. Maybe we're not supposed to have favorites when we're in the media. Maybe we're supposed to remain completely unbiased. But sometimes, there are stories that change that.

I remember meeting Rich Weber, the grandfather of Tommy Saunders. He'd come by the radio show I did at the North end of the stadium every Saturday just to say hello. More and more, you could sense the pride he had in his grandson. Last season, I decided I should write a story about that bond. I spent about 25 minutes on the phone with Mr. Weber. The Saturday before, Tommy had scored a touchdown and raised a finger in the air, saluting Sir Papa. I'm glad I got a chance to write that story, and to know that man. A few months later, Rich Weber died. I've never cried at the death of anyone outside my family. I cried that night.

If you'll allow me to tell two stories about the same kid, Tommy Saunders may not have the statistics of some of his classmates. He won't make an all-conference team, much less an all-American team. But he's the glue of this class, and of this team. Last week, I was sitting at the Black and Gold basketball game. Tommy walked by with two kids I've never seen. I'd guess they were around eight and 11 years old. Saunders volunteers his time with Big Brothers, Big Sisters giving these boys a male mentor. Twenty-two years old and he's doing more for these kids than some fathers do for their own. It has absolutely nothing to do with what he does on the field, but Tommy Saunders is everything that's good about college football.

Missouri football will move on. The records set by Daniel and Coffman and Moore and others may be broken. Other teams may win more games, may bring home the national championship trophy that it appears this group will not. But it is tough to imagine that any class will ever do more for Mizzou football.

Enjoy Saturday. Stay till the end. Say goodbye. But more importantly, say thanks. This class deserves it.

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