Bleacher Report - Articles by Ryan Faller

Missouri Tigers Guard Kim English Not Surprised By Hot Start

Ryan Faller — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:12:41 -0500

If only for Missouri fans, it very well may be one of the more enduring photos of last season's NCAA Tournament.

Hand-picked off the bench by head coach Mike Anderson to replace the injured J.T. Tiller on the free-throw line, freshman guard Kim English coolly stepped to the stripe and knocked down each of his two shots to seal the Tigers' second-round victory over Marquette.

So coolly, in fact, that English was captured standing at the line with his shooting arm extended skyward while his left arm rested harmlessly at his side.

It was the kind of posture more befitting of a senior who had been there and done that—not a freshman playing in his second tournament game. But, considering what English had done earlier, perhaps he deserved the right to strike a pose.

With MU down by six midway through the first half against the sixth-seeded Golden Eagles, English awaited his call on the bench. When it came, the native of Kansas City didn't disappoint, knocking down three three-pointers en route to 15 points in a stretch of four and a half minutes to give the Tigers a commanding lead that would set the tone for the victory.

It was a breakout performance that caught the attention of players and coaches on both sides, not to mention the country. But larger challenges would lie ahead for English.

With its top three leading scorers from last season—seniors DeMarre Carroll, Leo Lyons, and Matt Lawrence—embarking on journeys elsewhere, Missouri (4-2) needed to tap new sources of production heading into 2009-10.

English was an obvious choice. And, just like he did during the madness of March, he's taken advantage of his opportunity.

At first, it seemed as if English wasn't ready for his new-found role as one of MU's premiere scorers. In the season opener, the sophomore sniper made only one of his nine shots from the field—including a dismal 0-for-5 from beyond the arc—to finish with a modest six points. He also turned the ball over five times.

Consider it a wake-up call.

In the five games since his inauspicious shooting debut to the season, English has averaged 19.2 points, including career-highs of 25 and 26 points against Texas Pan-American and Chattanooga in back-to-back games, and hasn't surrendered the ball more than twice in any one game.

For the season, English is leading the Tigers with 17 points a game and has scored 44 more points than any other MU player. Guard Zaire Taylor and forward Laurence Bowers have each scored 58 points this season.

Even in defeat, English has flashed brilliance while budding into an offensive star. In MU's losses to Richmond and Vanderbilt, English lead the Tigers in scoring, registering 14 and 20 points against the Spiders and Commodores, respectively.

To English, his hot start is no surprise.

"It hadn't been bothering me," English said of the early shooting woes that precluded his recent scoring barrage. "I think I'm always shooting well even if it's not going in."

English carries himself with the quiet confidence you want in a leading scorer, but his success has been bred by work ethic and is not lost on some sort of offensive arrogance.

In his brief time in the MU program, English has received a reputation for literally living at the gym, often choosing to sleep at Mizzou Arena when he wasn't on the floor perfecting his array of shots.

Still, despite his noticeable contributions and increased role in the offense, English insists this Missouri team's greatest attribute may be its depth. Eight different players have started a game this season, while seven, not including English, have averaged at least six points.

"We don't have any starters," said English, who has started twice while earning many of his 22.3 minutes per game off the bench. "We have 13 guys that go out there and play. Coach always changes it up in practice, so we can all play with anyone."

Each member of this MU roster will tell that no player is above the team, and that includes English, who currently leads the Tigers in eight different offensive statistical categories.

But next to senior defensive specialist J.T. Tiller , who is the undisputed heartbeat of the squad, English appears to be getting closer to fulfilling roles that go beyond being Missouri's top offensive threat.

But, then again, that's something that may have begun in March.

Photo credit: Getty Images

You can find this article and more at my page at Examiner.com .

Alleged Tiger Woods Mistresses Need to Shoulder Some of the Blame

Ryan Faller — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:09:45 -0500

A hundred or so years from now, when the annals of golf history are scoured, how will the game remember Tiger Woods?

Already renowned as the universe's best golfer, at age 33, Woods has ample time remaining in his career to capture the five major championships needed to surpass Jack Nicklaus and cement his legacy as the best of all time.

Since it all began, we have followed alongside step for step. We were enthralled when, as a gawky and awkward-looking pre-twentysomething, Woods became the first player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship three consecutive times. Heck, he is the only player to win the tournament more than once.

Several years, two pulsating pectorals, and a pair of noticeably more pronounced biceps later, we became downright inebriated by the dominance of this man.

Weaving victories within the game's already rich tapestry with unnatural frequency and ease, Woods became a larger-than-life figure.

First there was the 1997 Masters, where he broke down barriers and called out the stuffiness of the Augusta National Golf Club by becoming the first non-Caucasian to win the prestigious tournament.

Then came the unforgettable four-year period spanning 1999-2002, during which Woods won seven of his 14 major titles and established himself not only as an international superstar and pop culture cash cow, but a loving husband and an aspiring family man as well.

In 2001, fellow PGA star Jesper Parnevik introduced Woods to a young au pair named Elin Nordegren. In fairy tales, the wholesome Swedish former cover girl and well-versed black role model would work, but the union would be far from ideal. In reality, however, the pair meshed beautifully.

Less than three years after meeting, the couple wed. In 2007, Elin gave birth to their first child. Soon after that, Woods and Nordegren welcomed their first son. Now with two healthy children, the sports world's "it" couple seemed complete.

When Woods won his third-career U.S. Open despite hobbling around Torrey Pines on that knee seemingly void of sufficient cartilage and working ligaments, we all thought it couldn't get more perfect.

Chances are it won't—unless Woods overcomes this grave tragedy which he has created for himself.

The reason this scandal is so bitterly hard to swallow is the fact that Woods seemed to be every bit the perfect gentleman as his wife seems to be the girl next door.

He's handsome, intelligent, well-spoken, and a savvy handler of his multiple business ventures, and endorsers have traditionally drooled over obtaining the right to harness his reputation as a beacon of inspiration for not only African-American youth, but all children and young adults.

Despite his missteps, Woods' legacy as a professional golfer will and should remain untarnished. There will be no asterisks next to his name whether he claims the outright lead in major championship victories or fails to win another tournament.

From a business standpoint, his relationships appear as strong as they were the day they were forged.

Nike and Gatorade have already released statements expressing their support for Woods. AT&T may soon follow suit, as may others.

Woods' association with their products will only enhance these advertisers' efforts, if only in some kind of backwards way that can only be described as purely American.

Record books and public relations arms of Fortune 500 companies may not discriminate for one's transgressions as a human being, but the public certainly does. Only time will tell whether our country will accept Woods as the next great comeback story.

Woods only need do the right things to begin to regain his healthy image. It appears he is on the right track.

Woods' lengthy, introspective apology on his personal Web site helped, and he and Nordegren have reportedly entered therapy amid reworking their prenuptial agreement.

Woods' crime against the sanctity of marriage is egregious. Not that adultery is ever acceptable, but when children are involved, the severity of the act skyrockets.

But on a moral level—the one level upon which the greatest amount of emphasis in this case should be placed—I can't help but think Woods is bearing the brunt of more than his half of the blame.

Not unlike the tango, it takes two participate in a prolonged, clandestine, and illicit affair. Or, in the case of Woods, it takes up to four.

So then why is no one expressing equal disgust toward the three women who are each presumed to have had relations with Woods, as well as their complete lack of moral fiber?

Is their complicity in all of this simply nonexistent because they are not celebrities and thus are not held to a higher standard? Some would argue yes, but that still doesn't excuse the lack of remorse for their actions, nor does it pardon their failure to say no.

If these women have anything in common other than that each has covertly philandered around town with Woods, it's that each seems mutually content to milk her unlawful affiliation with the PGA star for the sake of advancing her own pathetic agenda—financial or otherwise.

Rachel Uchitel, the 33-year-old socialite and club promoter from New York City, is working hard to uphold her reputation as a woman who dates married celebrities.

In the process, she has perpetuated the hush-hush nature of the mistress persona by initially denying her alleged relationship with Woods, which supposedly lasted six months and reached its crescendo when the golfer paid for Uchitel's travel expenses so she could join him in Australia for last month's Australian Masters.

It's even being reported that it was Uchitel's text messages to Woods that triggered the events leading up to and surrounding the single-car accident in front of the star's Windermere, Fla., mansion.

But Uchitel is about to set the record straight—sort of. According to TMZ, famed celebrity attorney Gloria Allred is expected to speak on Uchitel's behalf at a news conference Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

(UPDATE: Said news conference has since been canceled by Uchitel, as of 1:30 ET Thursday afternoon, according to a report on ESPN.)

Jaimee Grubbs, 24, surfaced next. A Los Angeles cocktail waitress and former reality television star, Grubbs claims to have had an on-again, off-again relationship with Woods that lasted 31 months.

During that time, Grubbs insists Woods offered her a job and free access to a Las Vegas condo and engaged her in a number of salacious text messages.

But that all pales in comparison to the recently released smoking gun of a voicemail between the two, although it has not been confirmed that the man's voice on the recording is that of Woods.

Grubbs, an aspiring model, denies she has spoken with Nordegren, which contradicts earlier reports that an irate Nordegren attempted to contact Grubbs shortly after Woods left the now infamous voicemail.

I would be remiss in failing to mention Kalika Moquin, a 27-year-old marketing manager in Las Vegas who, according to an unidentified source, has been intimately involved with Woods on a number of occasions.

Moquin is Woods' third alleged mistress, and she has been tight-lipped about the situation, telling the press that she'd rather focus on work than any allegations of an affair.

This trio is not alone, as I'm sure names of more attention-starved femme fatales will begin to grace the Web and overtake Google's search rankings.

This is an extremely hard story to piece together. It's currently held together by tabloid sleaze and faceless sources, and any dignified news organization will think twice about dipping its toe in what has become a media cesspool.

As such, I'm not so sure we actually know much more now than we did in the wake of Woods' Nov. 27 car accident.

One thing is for sure: Each of the women currently linked to Woods has a lot to gain and very, very little to lose—if anything at all. That alone would be force enough to make any one of them ditch her moral compass in the blink of an eye.

If you don't think a wannabe model and a pair of promoters at swanky hotspots don't have an opportunity to prosper from all this, then the inner workings of our MTV-like culture is surely foreign to you.

I understand that Woods is the public figure on trial here, and he rightfully deserves the negative attention. But what of the accomplices? Should we not look at them with a furrowed brow and a piercing glance just because less may be expected of them?

Or should we expect more? What does it say for the state of our society's sense of morality if we don't put as much blame on these women as we have on Woods?

At some point or another during their association with Woods, all three women knew damn well he was married and a father of two children.

Indeed, there are two sides to every story, but until every unreasonable doubt in this case is waived, both sides should be equally accountable.

Suppose for a minute that every report we have heard up to his point is false and Woods is exonerated from any and all charges of infidelity.

After all, Woods never used the words "cheated" or "adultery" in his personal statement, nor did he indicate the manner of his "transgressions."

Should these women then not be scolded for their outrageous accusations?

We as the public have the right to determine the answer to that question. But because Woods used to be this squeaky-clean golden boy who could possibly do no wrong, especially when it came to hurting his immediate family, his is the more compelling side of the tale.

Regardless of what transpires, Woods will forever be hailed as one of the top two golfers of all time, and his clout as a revenue-generating machine will not diminish.

When all the turmoil has settled, he may even be viewed as a provider to his children and a compassionate, though perhaps not loyal, husband to his wife.

But for now, Woods has possibly put the third part of that equation in jeopardy. It's just a shame no one else is accepting responsibility along with him.

You can find this story and more at my page at Examiner.com.

Bleacher Report's All-Big 12 Team Features Names Familiar To Missouri Fans

Ryan Faller — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:31:14 -0500

'Tis the season for postseason accolades.

As the college football regular season comes to a close and teams await their bowl invitations, it's merely customary to roll out the recognition for those who have performed so brilliantly at their respective positions. And in the Big 12, which will likely only send one participant to a BCS game to cap an otherwise unpredictable season, there's plenty of praise to be had.

Without further ado, here's my Bleacher Report First Team All-Big 12 ballot for 2009:

Offense

QB Colt McCoy (Texas)

The numbers (3,696 combined yards, 27 TDs) are there, but McCoy likely solidified this spot, as well as a Heisman Trophy, with his consistent leadership and graceful piloting of arguably the nation's best team—both of which are becoming of college football's winningest quarterback.

RB Daniel Thomas (Kansas State)

The former Florida recruit turned junior college transfer nearly single-handedly pioneered the resurgence in Manhattan, as his 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground highlighted the nation's 31st-ranked ground attack and was crucial to the Wildcats' surprise ascension in the Big 12 North.

RB Keith Toston (Oklahoma State)

The senior from Angleton, Texas, was a driving force for Pokes' offense when his fellow playmakers were dropping like flies, rushing for 1,177 yards and 11 scores to nearly match his output from the previous three seasons combined and soften the blow of the absences of starting running back Kendall Hunter and wide receiver/return man Dez Bryant.

FB Bryant Ward (Oklahoma State)

If you insist on honoring a player from this antiquated position, let's go with someone who played a significant role on a team that featured one of the nation's most-feared running games. A key cog in the Cowboys' 21st-ranked rushing attack, the 5'11", 233-pound Ward also shined in Oklahoma State's pass-protection schemes, which surrendered only nine sacks all season.

WR Jordan Shipley (Texas)

Let's not discount all the skill and impact he brings to the Texas return game, but Shipley makes his living at the wide receiver position, where he caught 80-plus balls for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season. And it's not only his talent that makes him a threat on every play. Shipley seems to share some kind of creepy ESP-like connection with quarterback—and roommate—Colt McCoy that makes the Longhorn offense one of the country's best.

WR Danario Alexander (Missouri)

Not much to say here, other than the fact Alexander was hands-down the NCAA's most potent receiving option the second half of the season. In his final five games, the senior racked up 943 yards (188.6 per game) and eight touchdowns en route to shattering MU's single-season receiving mark of 1,260, which was set by Jeremy Maclin in 2008, by nearly 400 yards.

Alexander's absence from the list of candidates for the Biletnikoff Award should go down as one of college football's all-time biggest snubs.

WR Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas)

Kansas fans may have seen the last of Briscoe, but you could argue to the death that he gave the faithful in Lawrence two of the best receiving seasons in school history. After posting more than 1,400 yards in 2008, Briscoe nearly outdid himself this season, totaling 1,337 on 84 receptions. And Briscoe, a junior who is heavily considering entering the 2010 NFL draft, potentially ended his career at KU in style, catching 14 passes for a career-high 242 yards in the season finale versus Missouri.

TE Riar Greer (Colorado)

One of the few glimmers of hope amid a tumultuous season in Boulder, Greer enjoyed what was easily the most productive year of his career. Finishing the season with 36 catches for 402 yards and four scores, Greer lead all Big 12 tight ends in receiving yards, receptions, and yards per game, and tied for the conference lead in touchdowns.

OL Nick Stringer (Kansas State)

Veteran KSU left tackle served as the lone senior on an offensive line that helped the program obtain bowl eligibility for the first time since 2006.

OL Adam Ulatoski (Texas)

Three-year starter and former two-time All-Big 12 selection started all 12 games at left tackle in 2009 and was entrusted with protecting quarterback Colt McCoy's blind side.

OL Brandon Carter (Texas Tech)

Mammoth right guard backed up preseason All-American hype as one of the key elements of the Red Raiders running game, which amassed 22 touchdowns, the fifth-best total in Lubbock since 1990.

OL Trent Williams (Oklahoma)

Versatile senior lineman provided leadership and stability to young and inexperienced OU offensive line, starting all but one game at left tackle.

OL Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)

Arguably the nation's most talented offensive lineman, Okung helped the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in rushing for the fourth season in a row and did not surrender a sack all season long from his left tackle position.

PK Grant Ressel (Missouri)

Easy call here. Given the unenviable task of succeeding Jeff Wolfert, the most accurate placekicker in NCAA history, Ressel drilled 24 of 25 field goals to lead the nation in accuracy. The Lou Groza semifinalist also made all 38 of his extra points.

KR/PR Brandon Banks (Kansas State)

Any time a player returns four kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season, the competition is non-existent.

Defense

DL Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

The 6'4", 300-pound tackle epitomized the toughness and grit of Nebraska's defensive unit, which ranked as the third-best in all of college football, surrendering just 11 points a game. A unanimous selection, Suh led the Huskers with 70 tackles, including 7.5 sacks.

DL Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)

Though slightly less praised than Suh, McCoy once again made a name for himself as a disruptive force in the middle of the OU defense. A junior, McCoy started all 12 games in 2009 to boost his streak to a team-high 39, and tallied 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

DL Von Miller (Texas A&M)

Playing a number of roles for the Aggie defense, Miller excelled mostly as a pass-rushing specialist, posting 17 sacks to lead the nation. Just three sacks shy of the school record, the junior defender, who plays the defensive end/linebacker hybrid position, also forced a team-high four fumbles and defended five passes.

DL Jared Crick (Nebraska)

Partnering with Suh along the Nebraska defensive line, Crick benefited from the extra attention his All-American teammate received from opposing offenses. In 12 games, the sophomore registered a team-high nine sacks to give the Huskers one of the most effective one-two punches at defensive tackle in the country.

DL Brandon Sharpe (Texas Tech)

The senior defensive end and first-year starter recorded 15 of Tech's school-record 40 sacks to finish second in the nation. Sharpe was also named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice this season.

LB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)

The undisputed heart and soul of the Mizzou defense, Weatherspoon continued to refine his reputation as one of the Big 12's premiere linebackers. A senior, Weatherspoon finished the regular season with 104 tackles, marking the third consecutive season he has eclipsed the century mark.

LB Jesse Smith (Iowa State)

The understated Smith was one of the conference's top defensive players. The leading tackler in the Big 12, Smith tallied nearly 70 percent (91) of his 128 total tackles in conference games to lead a Cyclone defense that aided Iowa State in earning bowl eligibility for the first time in four seasons.

LB Travis Lewis (Oklahoma)

The sophomore linebacker proved his impressive freshman campaign was no fluke. Named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2008, Lewis finished the 2009 regular season with a team-high 100 tackles to headline an OU defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring average, rushing yards allowed, and total yards allowed.

DB Earl Thomas (Texas)

Presumably the frontrunner for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the country's top defensive back, this sophomore safety is as good as it gets. Not only does Thomas quarterback the Texas secondary, but he finished the regular season second on the team in tackles (66) and ranks second nationally with eight interceptions.

DB Perrish Cox (Oklahoma State)

An ultra-athletic and ballhawking corner, Cox is arguably OSU's best defender, but he provides further value as a dangerous return man. In 11 games this season, Cox averaged 20.9 yards per kickoff and returned one punt for a touchdown.

DB Brian Jackson (Oklahoma)

A second-year member of the OU secondary, Jackson experienced unprecedented success all across the board in 2009. And though many will clamor for Dominique Franks in this slot, Jackson had more tackles (47), interceptions (4), and pass breakups (8) than his senior teammate, as well as lead the Sooners in the latter two categories.

DB Jordan Lake (Baylor)

There's probably more electrifying and overall athletic defensive backs in the Big 12 than Lake that got left off this list, but few are more active than the Bears' free safety. Lake was Baylor's second-leading tackler behind linebacker Joe Pawelek, but he averaged nine tackles per game in Big 12 play, second most in the conference.

DB Larry Asante (Nebraska)

Often lost in the shuffle on a defense loaded with stars up front, Asante enjoyed a stellar senior season as the unsung leader of the Nebraska defensive backfield. Asante tied for the team lead with 70 tackles and also nabbed two interceptions.

P Tress Way (Oklahoma)

My initial instinct was to go with Missouri's Jake Harry, especially after his barrage of punts that found their way inside the 20 against Kansas, but Way gets the nod. Not only did Way churn out the conference's biggest punt this season (74 yards), but his average of 45.5 was nearly two full yards more than the next closest player, Derek Epperson of Baylor.

Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year : Danario Alexander (Missouri)

Alexander's gaudy numbers (107 rec., 1,644 yards, 13 TDs) win out over those of Colt McCoy

Defensive Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

Close call between Suh and Earl Thomas, but Suh was consistently the conference's most intimidating defensive presence

Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Daniel Thomas (Kansas State)

The guy came out of nowhere to lead the conference in rushing yards

Defensive Newcomer of the Year: David Sims (Iowa State)

The former Oklahoma DB signee has flourished after arriving in Ames on the heels of a successful stint in junior college

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)

Sure-fire NFL first round pick often looked like a man among boys as the anchor of the OSU offensive line

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Ndamukong Suh

No explanation necessary

Offensive Freshman of the Year: Christine Michael (Texas A&M)

Why he only started three games is beyond me, but his team-leading 767 rushing yards suggest superstardom isn't far off

Defensive Freshman of the Year: Aldon Smith (Missouri)

Stated his case by tying MU's single-season record with 11 sacks and leading all freshman in the nation with his 18.5 tackles for loss

Special Teams Player of the Year: Brandon Banks (Kansas State)

No player was more explosive or feared on kickoff and punt returns

Coach of the Year: Paul Rhoads (Iowa State)

Because a program like Texas is expected to do great things, Mack Brown makes absolutely no sense here. Meanwhile, Rhoads has made football at Iowa State relevant again, and his fundamental approach to the game has the Cyclones bowling one season after the program endured a 2-10 debacle.

Follow more of my college football articles at Examiner.com .

Waning Moments of Border Showdown Symbolic of Two Different Big 12 Programs

Ryan Faller — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:32:10 -0500

In a matter of 18 seconds at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, a pair of decisions were made by two coaches leading different programs seemingly heading in completely opposite directions.

His team trailing by three with 3:18 left in a game utterly void of defense, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel took a calculated risk.

Rather than trusting his offense—which had amassed more than 500 yards and scored 23 second-half points to squash rival Kansas' once-commanding lead—to convert a delicate fourth-and-4 at the MU 39, Pinkel called on punter Jake Harry.

MU fans shuddered and cringed. KU fans giggled with devilish delight.

Harry, a rugby-style kicker who has become one of the many unsung heroes of Missouri's topsy-turvy season, rolled his kick inside the KU three-yard line. But the backfire potential of Pinkel's bold decision was still high.

"You look at percentages," Pinkel told reporters later, in defense of his gamble . "And you look at odds."

Nevertheless, after stating his surprise with the attention his decision was receiving, Pinkel admitted relief that everything worked out for the better.

"Wow," he said, "I'm just so glad we won the game."

But the odds Pinkel spoke of weren't exactly in Missouri's favor.

Kansas had already drug MU's defense up and down the field for nearly 600 yards, but it needed only 10 more to seal a second-consecutive win over its rival—and emerge as the victor in what was arguably the most entertaining game between the two sides in the 118-year history of the series.

With 2:45 left on the game clock, and Missouri armed with one harmless timeout, Kansas head coach Mark Mangino countered Pinkel's move with a calculated risk—or three—of his own.

Choosing to pass in the gleam of their own goalpost on first, second, and third down, Mangino and the Jayhawks failed to move the chains and, worse yet, did absolutely nothing to make friends with the clock.

By the time KU quarterback Todd Reesing was taken down in the end zone by two Missouri defenders for a momentum-swinging safety, only 14 seconds had transpired.

What happened next wasn't necessarily unexpected. Given favorable field position off the free kick following the safety, Missouri moved down a short field to set up kicker Grant Ressel 's game-winning chip shot to give the Tigers the 41-39 win .

Afterward, Mangino was as silent about his game management as Pinkel was relieved that his paid off, leaving only his players to give the rest of us a glimpse into what exactly happened .

“We checked out of a run. We definitely saw something,” Kansas right tackle Brad Thorson said, referring to offensive coordinator Ed Warinner's decision to pass on first down. “Our offensive coordinator, he’s spot-on. He knows what the defense is doing, and we took a couple shots.”

Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe , who compensated for two crucial fumbles by racking up a career-high 242 yards and two touchdowns, seemed surprised by the play-calling but nonetheless reluctant to question the decisions that were made.

“In my mind-set, I just thought we’d run the ball, get what we could get, run some clock, make them use their timeouts,” Briscoe said. “But the coaches thought different, so I can’t argue. I’m just a player. I just go out there and run what they tell me to.”

Saturday's Border Showdown was one for the ages. It was a game that wasn't supposed to exceed the excitement of the two previous meetings between the two teams, but it did.

It did so with reckless abandon, as the two offenses, each carried by its superstars, traded blows in an epic battle that highlighted Saturday's full slate of rivalry matchups across the nation.

What's more, not many people expected Kansas (5-7, 1-7) to show up. Many were under the assumption that Missouri (8-4, 4-4), winner of its last three games, would register a double-digit win, blow out of town, and pound the coveted War Drum with ear-to-ear grins all the way back to Columbia.

Well, the latter two parts of that scenario are true. And now the state of the two respective programs, particularly the two head coaches, couldn't be more different.

Thought to have been receding back into also-ran status prior to the season, Missouri dismissed the notion of 2009 being the first phase in a rebuilding project.

Despite inconsistency on both sides of the ball, a gimpy and inexperienced quarterback, and a devastating midseason, three-game losing streak, the young Tigers are going to a bowl game for a school-record fifth season in a row.

With a chance to win nine games—presumably in the Insight Bowl against Minnesota—the Tigers should reap benefits on the recruiting trail.

Talent is beginning to pile up in Columbia, the roster features underclassmen galore, and Pinkel will be the program's guiding force for the foreseeable future, having signed an extension through the 2015 season last November.

In all, the MU program appears to be erected on pillars of strength. On the other hand, in Lawrence, an already shaky foundation may have crumbled on Saturday along with Mangino's last-minute tactics.

Their bowl dreams dashed against the Tigers, the Jayhawks are now officially in a state of flux.

The school's all-time passing leader, Reesing, is now an alum of the program, as is receiver Kerry Meier , Kansas' record-holder for receptions in a single season.

Joining them is fellow cornerstone and senior defensive back Darrell Stuckey , and Briscoe, a junior, is strongly considering entering his name in the NFL draft.

Granted, Kansas has developing talent to act as replacements, but who exactly will coach them?

Fans will call for Mangino's head based on the Jayhawks' final possession on Saturday, but it's likely his fate has been decided for some time now.

The sticky situation involving him and athletic director Lew Perkins over allegations that Mangino mistreated players is not bound to simmer down any time soon, which spells trouble not only for the immediate future of Kansas football but also its long-term reputation.

If suspect play-calling were plausible grounds for termination, Mangino would be on the unemployment line by now.

But because KU owes him nearly $7 million if he's fired without cause, pending a settlement between the two sides, a lawsuit may very well be forthcoming if there's insufficient evidence to validate the allegations.

That scenario would be enough to make any candidate shy away from taking over the reins. And, as a result, recruits will be tentative about considering Kansas.

After the loss, Mangino took to the podium to field questions that targeted on one subject and one subject only.

For KU fans, the postgame press conference was a bittersweet moment that may have signaled the beginning of a transitional period for the program, which is something MU fans likely won't have to experience for a long time.

"I don't have anything to say to any decision-makers or anything," Mangino said. "A friend of mine told me something one time I think is a very good way to go about life. That is: I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."

Photo credit: Parker Eshelman/Columbia Daily Tribune

Missouri Tigers Need to Avoid Stirring Echoes of Last Season vs. Kansas

Ryan Faller — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:32:41 -0500

The agonizing vividness of that photo is still freshly branded in my brain.

Down by two scores to unranked Kansas early in the third quarter of last season's Border Showdown, No. 13 Missouri scored 27 of the game's next 34 points to take a seemingly unconquerable 37-33 lead with less than two minutes remaining.

For a star-laden MU squad, it appeared to be a fitting and satisfying end to a regular season that had sadly gone terribly awry after beginning with darkhorse-ish national championship aspirations.

With a commanding lead in the shaky Big 12 North, the Tigers were assured a spot in the conference championship regardless of its performance against the Jayhawks.

But for MU quarterback Chase Daniel and his fellow seniors, the opportunity to beat their hated neighbors to the West for the third time in four years was the more pressing matter. And here they were, a mere 90 seconds away from their goal.

Yet, for all the heroics of the MU offense to dramatically and courageously overcome a sizable deficit on national television, one image from the 2008 Border Showdown stands above all else: KU receiver Kerry Meier , after breezing by paralyzed MU safety Justin Garrett, hauling in a fourth-down, 26-yard desperation heave from quarterback Todd Reesing to ultimately seal the Jayhawks' 40-37 win .

It was a moment that took your breath away, but only because it felt like someone was mean-spirited enough to punch you in your stomach.

And it was clear, one week later against the Oklahoma, that the Tigers were still shaking out the cobwebs during their 41-point throttling at the hands of the Sooners.

And now, here we are, 364 days later and things don't look all that much different.

After another midseason malaise, Missouri (7-4, 3-4) has righted the ship with a late surge and would like nothing more than to put a stamp on the season with a win over the Jayhawks.

And like 2008, the Tigers, once possessing the look of a team that was down-and-out, now look rejuvenated while arguably playing their best football to date.

And though it has struck in a much larger and more publicized manner this time around, adversity appears to be crippling the KU program late in the season.

In 2008, the Jayhawks, after beginning the season 5-1, lost four of five to limp into the Missouri game at 6-5 and barely bowl-eligible.

However, the last-second theatrics of Reesing and Meier saved a season in peril, as the win over MU generated enough momentum to carry Kansas to an eight-win campaign that ended in a victory over Minnesota in the Insight Bowl.

And if the Jayhawks appeared frail at this time last season, their psyche now is absolutely off the charts .

The only thing that would make this Mark Mangino scandal spicier would be if he would agree to opt out of his $6 million worth of contract money to wrestle athletic director Lew Perkins in a steel-cage, table-ladders-and-chairs match in downtown Lawrence.

For weeks now we have heard every angle of the allegations against Mangino. Players' moms and dads have been called out for their unsavory parental prowess.

Former Jayhawks have spoken out, with some saying their old coach resembles a mean dictator who doesn't shy away from getting in a player's face or doing a little chest-poking.

Even at the deepest level, Kansas (5-6, 1-6) appears to be in shambles. But that's precisely what makes the Jayhawks such a dangerous team at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday. And that's precisely what makes the Tigers so vulnerable at the same time.

This is a game Missouri should win. The Tigers have momentum. They have unity and cohesiveness. You could argue that Missouri is far better than Kansas, with or without the whole Mangino upheaval.

Hit hard by graduation and the NFL in the offseason, the 2009 Tigers are young—but they're not stupid. Upperclassmen have put in the time to lecture younger players on how important the Kansas game is.

What few seniors there are on the MU roster still marvel at how that game got away last season, which is the first step in preventing history from repeating itself.

If it does, the Tigers are in a world of trouble.

Despite the politics and turmoil that are eating away at the program, Kansas will undoubtedly give Missouri its best game.

Much has been said about Mangino's rotund physique, but his heart of gold and devotion to his job have not gone unnoticed by his players, so it's easily dismissive to say the Jayhawks will lie down for the Tigers.

Plus, what of KU's seniors? Do they not want to earn bowl eligibility to prolong their careers, and do so against their biggest rival?

For players like Reesing and Meier, who aren't exactly locks to get selected in next year's draft, this may be their last shot. And what better way to go out than by perhaps replicating last season's memorable pitch-and-catch to win the game?

Not only would a loss drop the Tigers to a murky 7-5, but it would do nothing to ward off those skeptics who insisted prior to the season that the MU program was entering a reconstruction phase and needed some time to ascend back to the top of the Big 12.

A loss to Kansas would be utterly disastrous. In a weird sort of way, it would almost render meaningless everything the Tigers have achieved this season.

Missouri is known for losing games like this. It's happened too many times for it not to be a concern just because Kansas has lost six in a row and is on the potential verge of a nasty lawsuit with its embattled head coach.

This rivalry is the second-oldest in college football and arguably its most competitive, with each team claiming 54 victories.

But if MU head coach Gary Pinkel wants to forge ahead in his task to change the culture in Columbia, the Tigers have to break that deadlock on Saturday.

Furthermore, the Tigers are currently facing a spectrum of possibilities in regards to which bowl invitation they'll receive, with the most prominent being a call to represent the Big 12 in the Cotton Bowl for the second time in three years.

However, with a loss on Saturday, Missouri may be destined for a repeat trip to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl, whereas a win could mean a boarding pass to San Diego to face a high-profile Pac-10 opponent in the more appealing Holiday Bowl.

Missouri's loss to Kansas last season hurt. It hurt a lot. But all things considered, a defeat in Saturday's rival war would be downright excruciating.

Especially if Reesing and Meier decide to play a recurring role.

Photo credit: Associated Press

Nike Attributes Missouri Uniform Decision to Tigers' Bright Future

Ryan Faller — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:40:20 -0500

On Saturday versus rival Kansas, the Missouri Tigers will be decked out in Nike's Pro Combat uniforms , designed to represent the very latest in cutting-edge football apparel technology, sophistication, and performance.

Yeah, big deal. We've all known this for weeks now.

But why Missouri?

In a press release disseminated earlier this month, Nike stated its criteria for selecting the limited number of programs that will have tested the innovative unis by month's end, revealing that company designers "gave a nod to teams' past national championships" and "drew upon the heritage of the universities' traditions."

Once again, why the Tigers? After all, not only has MU not won a national title, but we're talking about a program that has won only two conference championships in the last half-century and has only recently begun to build a reputation as a consistent player on a national stage.

Apparently, Nike has its reasons

"Nike believes Missouri is an up-and-coming program with a bright future—that's why we created such a futuristic-looking uniform," company spokesperson Cindy Hamilton said in a recent email interview. "We consider the school a great partner, and we are honored to have Missouri as one of the 11 elite programs we are working with."

Hamilton also spoke of the process through which Nike initiated talks with several members of the university and football program, including athletic director Mike Alden, director of equipment operations Don Barnes, and head coach Gary Pinkel.

During the discussions, which Hamilton said began last spring, Nike also consulted with other athletic department personnel and members of the Missouri team to receive input that ultimately influenced the overall scheme and aesthetics of the uniforms.

"Nike directed the process to fine-tune the innovations and technical aspects of the product, incorporating feedback from players to make adjustments as necessary," Hamilton said. "In terms of the curation and design aspect, we worked very closely with coaches and players to receive their input."

One the most crucial aspects of the design process, Hamilton added, was somehow incorporating colors symbolic of the B-2 stealth bomber , which is housed at Missouri's Whiteman Air Force Base. In doing so, Nike and MU agreed upon temporarily diverting from the traditional look of the Tigers' helmet.

Arguably the most radical of the uniform's alterations, Missouri's helmets on Saturday will feature the familiar "M," only it will be emblazoned in black and accented by a color named anthracite (don't you dare call it dark gray; you'll sound like an idiot).

Other than the helmet, the detail most tailored to fit the MU program is the phrase "Beast Mode," which often appeared on the front of T-shirts worn by the coaching staff during preseason practices. It will appear on the inside collar of the jersey and on the front of Nike's new Vapor Trail 2.0 glove, which also forms the MU logo when the palms come together.

Once the specifics had been completed, Nike and MU then collaborated to establish a date for the uniform's debut. It didn't take long, as Hamilton said the decision to roll out the Pro Combat uniforms against Kansas was equally beneficial to both parties involved.

"Nike worked with the MU athletic and equipment staff to determine a date to debut the Pro Combat uniforms and arm the players with the lightest uniforms on the market today," Hamilton said, also noting that the company's innovative technology won't sacrifice protection during the bitter rivalry game.

"Plus, Nike has a history of introducing innovations on a grand stage—from Michael Johnson's lightweight gold track spikes at the Olympics to Roger Federer's apparel at the US Open—so it made sense to introduce this latest football uniform during an important, big moment for Missouri."

For those of you cringing at the possibility of Missouri giving up on its current uniforms in favor of the Pro Combat series, don't worry.

According to Hamilton, Nike will make available only the base layer (padded pants and sweat-wicking undershirt) to its affiliate schools in 2010. It will, however, continue to test-wear the uniforms with select universities as the technology evolves.

To view a full slideshow featuring pictures of MU's Pro Combat uniform, visit my page at Examiner.com . Additional photos can be seen at mutigers.com .

Photo credit: Nike.com

Missouri Tigers Enemy Intel: Examining the Kansas Jayhawks

Ryan Faller — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:14:25 -0500

This Saturday's Border Showdown between Missouri and Kansas hardly features the same implications for the teams involved as their 2007 matchup.

Two years ago, quarterback Chase Daniel shredded Kansas on 40-of-49 passing for 361 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 36-28 win that gave the Tigers a No. 1 ranking and left them one victory away from a national championship appearance. Meanwhile, the loss ended Kansas' dreams of a perfect season and a Big 12 Championship but landed the Jayhawks their first Orange Bowl berth in 39 years.

Like I said, Saturday's game doesn't carry nearly as much cache, but the matchup between the 7-4 Tigers and 5-6 Jayhawks certainly possesses some interesting subplots.

A win for head coach Gary Pinkel and the Tigers would result in a fourth consecutive season with at least eight wins, marking the first time in the 110-year history of the MU program that that has happened.

A victory over KU would also go a long way in enhancing Missouri's bowl aspirations, as a combination of a Tiger win and a Texas Tech loss would likely put Missouri in San Diego for the Holiday Bowl and a matchup with a marquee Pac-10 opponent.

On the flip side, a Kansas win over its bitter arch-rival would make the Jayhawks bowl eligible for a school record third straight season, as well as signal an optimistic end to a season otherwise filled with inner turmoil and media distraction.

But one thing a KU win probably won't do is save the hide of Jayhawks head coach Mark Mangino, who continues to be victimized by allegations that he has mistreated players.

With that being said, it is with much pre-holiday joy that I give you my recent discussion with Jesse Newell, online editor at KUSports.com, the main Kansas athletics page at the Lawrence Journal-World & News.

The topics discussed, in addition to Mangino's future at KU, include quarterback Todd Reesing's NFL chances, the current mindset of Kansas players, and what, if any, silver lining exists in Lawrence amid the program's current state of flux.

RF: I hate to beat a dead horse, but what are your immediate thoughts on Mark Mangino's future with the KU program? Is it merely an inevitability that he'll be replaced after the season?

JN: From everything we've heard around here, it is a near-certainty that Mark Mangino will not be the coach of the Kansas Jayhawks next season. Mangino admitted in the Big 12 coaches teleconference Monday, that he has had nearly no contact with KU athletic director Lew Perkins in the last week, and that doesn't bode well for the coach's chances of lasting past this season.

The investigation is still ongoing, but from the looks of things, the university wants to make sure that everything is in order before pulling the trigger, especially because KU can save millions of dollars if it fires Mangino with cause.

My guess is that KU will let Mangino go shortly after the Missouri game. Even if that does happen, you can bet there will be appeals and lawsuits, so this situation might remain in the news for a while.

RF: What, if any, silver lining is Mangino and his players taking from this six-game losing skid?

JN: It's hard to find a silver lining right now for KU's players. The marketing campaign for this team was "History awaits," and with a talented group of seniors returning this year, KU's coaches and players weren't shying away in the preseason from their expectations of winning a Big 12 North title.

Obviously, the Colorado loss started a tailspin, and there have been few positives after that. I would say if there's any silver lining, it's that, even after this disaster of a Big 12 season, KU's seniors still have a chance of making themselves bowl eligible with a win over Missouri.

Last season, when KU's season started to dip, a win over MU and a subsequent bowl victory over Minnesota did a lot to take away any negative feelings fans had toward the coaches and players.

RF: In your mind, what are the chances Todd Reesing gets selected in next year's NFL draft? Do you see him falling into a similar category as Chase Daniel, perhaps landing a deal as an undrafted free agent looking to become a potential backup or third-string QB?

JN: I think the chances of Todd Reesing getting drafted are slim to none. He is a bit like Chase Daniel in that he's a smaller quarterback without many of the attributes that scouts look for at the next level.

Another big problem for Reesing is that, after a great start, he's struggled quite a bit in Big 12 play. During one stretch, he had 10 turnovers in 10 quarters, and truth be told, KU lost winnable games against Colorado and Kansas State mostly because of the QB's turnovers.

Not only that, his accuracy has fallen off in the last six weeks (though he did throw better last week against Texas). We're also not 100 percent sure how injured he's been (he mentioned his groin being hurt earlier this season, but Mangino doesn't give an injury report like MU coach Gary Pinkel).

I'd expect Reesing might get a look in an NFL camp, but at this point, I'd say there are too many questions about him to justify even a late-round draft pick.

RF: These two programs, at least presently, appear to be heading in opposite directions. What sort of mindset do you expect the Jayhawks to be in on Saturday, especially considering they'll be fighting for bowl eligibility against a bitter rival?

JN: I'd expect that you see KU's star seniors (Reesing, Jake Sharp, Kerry Meier, Darrell Stuckey) fighting hard to extend their careers. Whether they like/respect Mangino, I think, more importantly, these guys will be playing for themselves. The four have been a part of the greatest stretch in KU football history, and to end their careers without a bowl game would be a major disappointment to the guys that have given the program so much.

Honestly, I would say that KU has more to play for with bowl eligibility on the line, but if you remember, the last two KU-MU games have been won by the teams with the least to play for.

RF: How do see this one playing out? Do you expect to see another one go down to the wire, much like we've seen the previous two seasons?

JN: I'd expect a close game, simply because it is a rivalry game and because KU's seniors have so much to play for. Still, after six straight losses, it's hard for me to see KU picking up a win over an MU team that has seemed to find itself in recent weeks.

The Jayhawks' defense, after a midseason surge, has struggled in the last two weeks, and MU's spread offense always seems to give KU fits. Let's go with 38-28 Missouri, as a fourth quarter TD puts the game away for the Tigers.

A 2006 graduate of the University of Kansas, Jesse Newell has been the online editor at KUSports.com since 2008. Prior to his arrival at the Lawrence Journal-World & News, Newell served as a sports reporter at The Emporia Gazette.

Missouri Tigers' Hoops Class Climbing the Rankings

Ryan Faller — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:20:07 -0500

Ask and thou shall receive.

In the wake of the conclusion of the early signing period in college basketball, the question to which everyone sought an answer was this: How high would Missouri's class for 2010 rise in the eyes of recruiting evaluators, particularly considering the supersized splash that was made when the Tigers announced the signing of five-star swingman Tony Mitchell last week?

Propelled by Mitchell's commitment, as well as the September signing of four-star point guard Phil Pressey , Missouri's class for 2010 was recently ranked as the 12th-best in America, according to Rivals.com.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com recruiting service Scouts, Inc. has the Tigers listed at No. 14 , one slot above Big 12 rival Oklahoma.

The Memphis Tigers nabbed the No. 1 spot in both sets of rankings.

Prior to Mitchell's signing, which was made official on Nov. 17 , neither recruiting service had MU ranked in the top 25. However, both Scouts, Inc. and Rivals.com now consider the Tigers' class to be the best in the Big 12 .

The foursome of Mitchell, Pressey, shooting guard Ricky Kreklow , and forward Kadeem Green is Missouri's highest-rated recruiting class since 2004. That year, Marshall Brown, Glen Dandridge, Jason Horton, and Kalen Grimes combined to form a class ranked No. 13 by Rivals.com, although that group turned out to be a rather unproductive and troubled bunch.

As a whole, the 2004 class averaged a modest 4.4 points a game, with two of the four encountering legal turmoil during their tenures at MU.

Horton was suspended by head coach Mike Anderson toward the latter stages of his senior season in 2008 after assault charges were filed against him stemming from an altercation at an on-campus nightclub .

Grimes was dismissed from the program prior to his senior season after similar charges were brought against him for an incident that occurred in his hometown of Florissant, Mo., in July of 2007.

Dandridge, widely regarded as a Top 100 recruit, transferred to Lambuth University in Tennessee following his junior season.

With four players signed for next season, Missouri—barring a decommitment from a recruit or defection of a current player—does not have a scholarship available for the spring signing period, which begins on April 15.

Missouri Tigers' Jerrell Jackson Beginning to Emerge From the Shadows

Ryan Faller — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:14:13 -0500

You'll have to excuse Jerrell Jackson for being a bit of a late-bloomer.

After all, it's taken him nearly 18 months to morph from one of the country's lightest recruited wideout prospects into Missouri's most potent emerging receiving threat.

And it's not as if Jackson's journey is well-documented with drama, personal anguish, or a mess of tribulations worthy of a made-for-TV movie or tell-all book. But it is nonetheless intriguing.

When Jackson arrived on campus at Missouri prior to the 2008 season, he needed only take a glance at the Tigers' two-deep rotation at wide receiver to realize the monumental task that awaited him his freshman season.

Jeremy Maclin. Chase Coffman. Tommy Saunders. The noteworthy names ahead of him were many, so it goes without saying that Jackson instantly got lost in the wash. Missouri's corps of wide receivers was a sea of talent and Jackson was drowning in it.

But his challenges extended beyond cracking MU's roster.

Upon beginning his first season in BCS-caliber football, the 6-1 Jackson looked every bit of his listed weight of 170 pounds. He needed to add bulk, but he also needed to adjust to the intricacies and subtle nuances of the spread offense, which can be a dizzying experience for a young receiver.

The odds seemed stacked against a player that wasn't exactly counting his blue chips or five-star ratings out of high school.

A gangly ball of athleticism, Jackson garnered little attention during his recruiting process , receiving offers from only TCU among Texas' gaggle of high-profile programs. He also drew interest from Oklahoma State and Arkansas, but for the most part, it seemed as if no one wanted the former three-sport athlete from Houston.

Fortunately for Jackson, Missouri saw something all the others missed .

"We don't ever look at how many stars somebody has by their name," MU head coach Gary Pinkel said last season of Jackson, who earned all-district honors in football, basketball and track at Jefferson Davis High School. "And we also recruit a lot on athleticism. We feel we can teach him how to be a good football player."

But due to circumstances beyond his control, Jackson didn't get much of chance to justify the decision of Pinkel and his staff.

Buried under loads of experienced talent on the depth chart, Jackson was a prime candidate for a redshirt season. However, he impressed enough during preseason practices to earn playing time in all 14 games as a true freshman, often entering the game when the Tigers were afforded the luxury of pulling their stars in a blowout.

In all, Jackson finished 2008 with nine receptions for 98 yards, though a majority of that production came via a six-catch, 70-yard performance against Southeast Missouri State in a 52-3 MU win.

Fast forward to 2009, a season in which a Missouri team in transition would presumably lean heavily upon its receivers to compensate for a new quarterback and a retooled defense. And despite his meager production the prior season, that group included Jackson, a player the MU coaching staff held in high regard.

Yet, one season did not a difference make. And it seemed that many of the obstacles that prevented Jackson from making an impact as a freshman were now impeding his progress as a sophomore.

Jackson has spent most of this season listed second on the MU depth chart, but it's been a mixture of the heroics of those around him and his own inconsistencies, not his role as a backup, that has had coaches and fans alike pleading for a breakthrough performance.

Through the first nine games of this season, Jackson registered only 18 receptions for 184 yards and one touchdown. In fact, on eight separate occasions, he caught three or fewer passes. Add to that the exploits of Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year candidate Danario Alexander and fellow senior Jared Perry , and it's easy to see why frustration would mount as Jackson once again got lost in the shuffle.

“He’s kind of had spurts in games where we’ve seen what he’s capable of doing,” Jackson's offensive coordinator, David Yost, said. “But there’s been times where he’s kind of disappeared.”

That is until one man's tragedy became another's opportunity for triumph.

Though perhaps regrettably, Jackson would acknowledge that the complexion of his season was altered dramatically when Perry suffered a season-ending leg fracture Nov. 14 at Kansas State. Thrust into the starting lineup, Jackson wasted no time flashing his promise, finishing MU's win with six catches and 78 yards, both career-highs. He also rushed for a personal-best 24 yards on three carries.

But his onlookers wanted more, so much so that Pinkel made it a point to approach Jackson after his breakout game in an attempt to coax some consistency from his budding receiver.

“I grabbed him and said, ‘You played a heck of a game. But you know what? You can be better,’ ” Pinkel said. “Because he can be better. He’s a young guy that can really, really do a lot of good things.”

Consider the message received.

Starting a game for the fifth time this season, Jackson put his newfound abundance of playing time to good use, setting a new pair of career-highs with eight catches and 142 yards in Missouri's 34-24 win over Iowa State on Saturday.

Even Alexander, who set an MU single-season record for receiving yards with 173 of his own against the Cyclones, was impressed.

“We knew we needed a guy to step up because Perry went down, and he stepped up big-time today,” said Alexander, who is third in the nation with 1,411 receiving yards.

And Jackson didn't just put up empty stats on Saturday. In scoring the second touchdown of his career, he caught a Blaine Gabbert pass and streaked down the sideline 70 yards to tie the game at 17 early in the third quarter and give the Tigers a timely boost.

For the season, Jackson now has 32 receptions for 404 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, though, he is beginning to fulfill the expectations the Tigers had for him the second they nabbed him out of high school.

“As he continues to mature, you can see how good he’s going to be,” Pinkel said after the win against Iowa State.

Jackson's moment in the sun may not be now, but it's rapidly approaching. Soon the players he now emulates will be gone and he'll be counted upon to build upon his recent surge to become the next great receiver at Missouri.

Not that he minds. He's paid his dues and put in his time while learning from the best, although it seems like yesterday he was that lonely recruit looking for a home.

“They really expect big things out of me,” said Jackson, who will headline a Missouri receiving corps virtually void of seniors in 2010. “Just them telling me that, I know that they’re going to be looking forward to me making big plays like Danario has been doing this year and like Jeremy Maclin was doing last year.

"It makes me think that next year’s going to be my time.”

Photo credit: Parker Eshelman/Columbia Daily Tribune

Missouri Tigers Enemy Intel: Examining the Iowa State Cyclones

Ryan Faller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:23:53 -0500

For a number of reasons I won't bore you with, it's been entirely too long since the last installment of Enemy Intel.

But, as the Missouri Tigers head into their 2009 home finale, I'm proud to announce that EI is back.

This week, I enlisted the help of Bobby La Gesse, sports editor over at the Ames Tribune . On the docket is La Gesse's thoughts on Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads, the matchup between the Cyclones' efficient running attack and Missouri's stiff run defense, and the overflow of optimism taking place in Ames amid ISU's first bowl-eligible season in four years.

RF: How would you describe the impact Paul Rhoads has made on this ISU program in his first season? How does he differ from Gene Chizik, and are you surprised by his early success?

BLG: Paul Rhoads has made Iowa State football relevant again in the Big 12. He differs from Gene Chizik in the fact that he emphasizes teaching a lot more. ISU has made huge strides in tackling this season because of the emphasis the coaching staff has put on it.

RF: In your mind, how has Austen Arnaud progressed in his second full season as the Cyclones' starting quarterback?

BLG: Arnaud has had an up-and-down season. He has had great games, like against Kansas, and has had games where he has struggled, like against Kansas State. The Cyclones will need Arnaud to be sharp this weekend if they are to have a shot at beating Missouri.

RF: Looking back, ISU is potentially a blocked extra point [against Kansas State] and an overthrown pass [at Kansas] away from currently being 8-3. I realize Rhoads may not be into looking back at what may have been, but how encouraging is it that ISU is a pair of slim losses from being a major player in the Big 12 North?

BLG: The big thing with the ISU football team is that they are bowl eligible. The team hasn't been to a bowl game since 2005. Getting six wins was a big deal in Ames. Fans would love it if the Cyclones had eight wins and a chance to play in a January bowl game, but this year has been all about progress in Ames.

Losing those two games doesn't change the fact that a lot of progress has been made in 2009 and that the future around the program is bright.

RF: How much success do you anticipate the Cyclones and running back Alexander Robinson having on the ground against MU's 17th-ranked run defense? Or do you think Rhoads will choose to air it out with Arnaud, who set a school record with 36 completions against the Tigers a season ago?

BLG: The running game is the heart and soul of the ISU offense. They will try to establish it early and stick with it throughout the game. The ISU rushing attack versus the Missouri rush defense is one of the best matchups to follow on Saturday.

RF: Like Missouri, Iowa State has been inconsistent from week to week this season. What Cyclone team do you expect to show up this week? And how do you see this one playing out?

BLG: Winning last week seemed to re-energize the Cyclones. There has been an added bounce in the step of players I've talked to this week. ISU has had problems stopping spread offenses. If the Cyclones are to win, they will have to do a better job defending the spread than they've done in the last few seasons.

The foremost source for everything Iowa State athletics, Ames Tribune sports editor Bobby La Gesse doubles as a reporter covering ISU football and men's basketball. He contributes regularly to the paper's Iowa State page, GoCyclones.com .

And be sure to check back at GoCyclones.com as the MU-ISU game draws closer, as La Gesse and the Tribune crew were nice enough to invite me to participate in some weekend predictions and a brief Q&A session for their Gameday preview section.

Missouri Tigers, Tony Mitchell Put Official Stamp on Commitment

Ryan Faller — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:35:59 -0500

I have not seen Tony Mitchell play a second of basketball, nor am I at liberty to question his stature as one of America's top recruits.

But let's assume for a second that Mitchell—a 6'8", 220-pound forward from Dallas who is currently ranked by Rivals.com as the 15th-best prep player in the country—is every bit as good as the recruiting services and crystal balls say he is and can be at the college level.

What does his recent pledge do for the immediate future of the Missouri Tigers program? For that matter, what impact will his decision to come to Columbia have on future recruiting and head coach Mike Anderson's quest to sustain success and turn MU into a national power?

If you believe the hype—in other words, trust the rankings—then it means an awful lot.

A five-star prospect and McDonald's All-American candidate, Mitchell is arguably one of the most heralded recruits ever to enter the MU program. In the past 15 years, Mitchell is MU's highest-rated recruit, surpassing former forward Linas Kleiza, who was rated as the nation's 17th-best player in 2003.

If nothing else, Mitchell should provide the Tigers with a needed athletic presence and powerful force up front, as well as on the perimeter, when he arrives on campus sometime next summer. More specifically, he'll undoubtedly become part of the equation Missouri is attempting to piece together to help fill the frontcourt void left by former players DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons.

As part of MU's 2010 class, which already includes coveted point guard Phil Pressey and three-star forward Kadeem Green , Mitchell is yet another indicator that Anderson is building something special in Columbia, a basketball-rich town that was starved for success on the hardwood prior to his arrival.

In just his fourth season, Anderson, who inherited the mess left behind by his predecessor, Quin Snyder, continues to bring in talented players from all corners of the college basketball landscape.

And now, with a platform of success to work with—the foundation of which was constructed during last season's school-record 31 wins and run to the Elite Eight—Anderson is able to target recruits of Mitchell's caliber as a means to continue that success.

And the trickle-down effect produced by Mitchell's decision, which speaks to the notion of good players wanting to play with other good players, may be significant in regards to Anderson's future recruiting efforts.

Of the first 10 players listed on Rivals.com's Top 150 for 2011, two are reported as to having expressed interest in Missouri, including St. Louis (Chaminade High) point guard Bradley Beal , who is considered the seventh-best player in the class.

Recruited by a host of schools that included Georgetown, Marquette, and Cincinnati, Mitchell officially gave the Tigers his verbal commitment following his visit to Columbia over the weekend. For him, it wasn't so much about the sport as it was the unity of the MU program.

"As soon as I stepped on campus, it was a family atmosphere," Mitchell told Rivals.com. "The team really embraced me. This is more than just about basketball, it's more about my future."

Mitchell attended MU's final exhibition game against Northwest Missouri State Friday evening, but he left Columbia giving Anderson and the Tigers nothing more than his verbal commitment, which is non-binding. However, Missouri's official athletics web site reported late Tuesday that Mitchell has indeed signed his official letter of intent, becoming the fourth member of the 2010 class.

Had Mitchell not signed before the Nov. 18 deadline, which ends the early signing period, he would have been forced to wait until early April—a scenario that potentially could have reopened his recruitment.

On Tuesday, Anderson spoke about the newest member of his program.

"Tony is excited to be a Missouri Tiger and we are elated that he is joining our family," Anderson said. "Tony is one of the best forwards in the country and he certainly fits the Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball. He is very versatile, skilled, has toughness and great instincts for the game.

"He's an elite athlete who loves to win. And as talented as Tony is, he's an even better person."

Mitchell, who is considered the No. 2 prospect in the state of Texas, joins Pressey (the third-best player in Texas), Green, and Columbia native Rick Kreklow as part of a class that is quickly becoming one of the finest in the country.

Notes

For those living under a rock, the Tigers begin their 2009-10 season against Tennessee-Martin in a matter of minutes. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. central time. The Tigers are 4-0 all-time against the Skyhawks, including a 86-63 win in the last meeting in 2001.

Photo credit: Columbia Daily Tribune

Missouri Tigers' Win Over Kansas State Means Question Marks Remain

Ryan Faller — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:23:26 -0500

I'm done trying to figure this team out.

Attempting to accurately assess the value of this Tiger squad is a futile practice. Because as thoroughly impressive as Missouri's 38-12 victory on the road at Kansas State was, I'm not so sure many questions were answered on Saturday in Manhattan.

Instead, we'll have to wait and see what happens next weekend against Iowa State. We'll have to see exactly what Missouri team shows up to its home finale. We'll have to see whether the Tigers can put together a complete game in consecutive weeks for the first time in two months.

We'll have to see if, after this shot in the arm, the Tigers are capable of dropping the Jekyll-and-Hyde act to finish the season.

What we do know, as a result of yesterday's dominant win, is that the Tigers put a serious damper on Kansas State's chances of a Big 12 North title. Never mind the fact that MU's own hopes of securing a division crown—although mathematically slim—were officially terminated when Nebraska beat Kansas hours later.

The Tigers earned a crucial win at Kansas State—and did so in a fashion far easier and more well-rounded than expected.

Playing defense more reminiscent of its efforts two weeks prior at Colorado, Missouri (6-4, 2-4) at least temporarily exorcised the demons unleashed by its collapse versus Baylor. The Tigers held Kansas State, which boasted the conference's second-best running attack, to a mere 112 yards on the ground, almost 80 yards below their season average.

The key was putting the clamps on the Wildcats' best offensive player.

MU did an excellent of filling gaps and pursuing down the line of scrimmage to shut down tailback Daniel Thomas , who came in leading the Big 12 with 108.7 yards per game. In total, the Tigers' unheralded run defense held Thomas to an average of 3.4 yards per carry, his lowest of the season, and just 79 yards on 23 attempts.

With KSU's most potent weapon rendered ineffective, the Tigers' defense was able to force the one-dimensional Wildcats into throwing the ball with unfamiliar frequency, while the MU offense finally managed to shake off its much-publicized second-half malaise.

The performance the Missouri offense put on during the first 30 minutes against Kansas State (6-5, 4-3) was nothing out of the ordinary. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert blistered the KSU secondary with scoring strikes of 54 and 16 yards to receiver and security blanket Danario Alexander to give the Tigers a 17-6 advantage heading into the half.

For MU fans and coaches alike, however, the commanding lead was no more fulfilling than the prospect of the Tigers giving it away just as quickly in the final two quarters was a distinct possibility. The fears were nearing much too close to reality when KSU kicker Josh Cherry kicked the last of his four field goals to cut the Missouri lead to five with less than a minute left in the third.

"I was thinking what you were thinking," head coach Gary Pinkel told reporters later.

But for the first time in five conference games, the Tigers summoned the intestinal fortitude to counter the second-half punches of the opposition, beginning with the third scoring hook-up between Gabbert and Alexander.

Whatever wind the 80-yard pass-and-catch didn't take from Kansas State's sails was surely eliminated by a pair of fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns by running back Derrick Washington to put the game out of reach.

After the utterly disheartening loss to Baylor, this was a game the Tigers had to have. In the days prior to their departure for Manhattan, fan and media dissension and internal unrest were only worsening a season already on the brink.

Yet Missouri went on the road and conquered a team that had much more to play for—and the Tigers did so with gusto, playing arguably their best and most inspired game to date.

In the process, Missouri ruined the Wildcats' attempt at an undefeated season at home. Previously unbeaten in five games at Bill Snyder Stadium this season, Kansas State was vying for its first spotless campaign at home since 1999, when the Wildcats and head Bill Snyder rode an 11-1 record to a No. 7 ranking to end the season.

Saturday also marked a number of other noteworthy accomplishments. With the win, the Tigers, although not yet guaranteed a place in the postseason, earned bowl eligibility for a school-record fifth consecutive season.

Pinkel, once a whipping post for a number of fellow Big 12 coaches, gained his first win in six tries over Kansas State head coach Snyder. Prior to his retirement in 2006, Snyder had beaten Missouri 13 straight times dating back to 1993.

With two games remaining, Missouri now has a chance to finish with a flurry. Two very winnable games remain, and if the Tigers can topple a solid Iowa State team at home and then conclude with a win over floundering rival Kansas in Kansas City, this program will have won eight or more games for the fourth season in a row. In the 120-year history of Missouri football, that has never been achieved.

But before the Tigers can celebrate any school firsts, they would be well-advised not to make too much of their win over the favored Wildcats. Though another Big 12 North title is no longer available, there's plenty left to play for, which means there's ample time for Missouri to pull another 180.

An 8-4 record in 2009 would certainly qualify as having exceeded the expectations of those who insisted MU would have to rebuild this season. But to reach that point, the Tigers need to shed the inconsistency that has plagued the conference portion of the season and soured those who drank the Kool-Aid after Missouri's 4-0 start.

"Coach Pinkel told us we saved Missouri football, pretty much," revealed Alexander, who compiled 200 yards on 10 catches against Kansas State in his push to become the Big 12's offensive player of the year. "We saved the integrity of our program."

Perhaps that is true; perhaps it isn't. But who's to say that integrity won't need to be restored at this time next week, after another disappointing performance at home? If we've learned anything about these Missouri Tigers, it's that they can look like the division's best team just as easily as they can its worst.

Next Saturday, the Tigers could play as well as they did in Manhattan. On the other hand, a performance similar to the one against Texas is a possibility. Missouri is inconsistent on both sides of the ball, and it's likely the best solution out there is a 3-0 conclusion to the season.

Yes, Missouri played well against Kansas State, but it's anybody's guess as to how that will translate over the season's final two weeks. With this team, nothing is a given, and Saturday—however pleasant the outcome may have been—did nothing to disprove that.

That much we know for sure.

Photo credit: Parker Eshelman/Columbia Daily Tribune

Fragile Missouri Tigers Defense Needs To Lead Charge Against Wildcats

Ryan Faller — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:12:50 -0500

The members of the Missouri defense will tell you that whatever frustration mounts on the field from week to week is better left on the field, so as to not interfere with preparation for the next opponent's offense.

But you still have to wonder how many times the wounds have been licked, in an effort to do nothing more than temporarily soothe the pain inflicted by the Baylor Bears.

The sort of sting that accompanied the Tigers' loss last Saturday doesn't subside without a fight. It brought about the ensuing week's worth of incessant media scrutiny and speculation, which was nicely fueled by head coach Gary Pinkel's reportedly intense closed-door "conversation" with his team the day following the collapse to the previously lifeless Bears.

But Pinkel wasn't alone. Senior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon , unanimously considered to be the vocal leader of the MU defense, asserted his leadership by initiating some in-house tongue-lashing of his own.

Refraining from naming names, Weatherspoon called out several of his younger defensive mates for not emulating the preparation methods and work ethic of Missouri's more experienced players. He also cited a noticeably lax mindset as one of the contributors to a disturbing "loosey-goosey" attitude on the eve of the Baylor game.

"We know that we got young guys on this team and it's our job to get those guys moving in the right direction," Weatherspoon said Monday, referring to the duties of the defense's elder statesmen. "It's kind of odd to me, because when I came in, I looked at the older guys and wanted to be just like them. Whatever they were doing to be on that field, that's something I wanted to do.

"Right now, we're not seeing that. I can't put my finger on it, but I can tell you this—we're still going to keep preparing and go out there and practice hard."

Potential cohesiveness issues aside, Missouri's defensive preparation for its next opponent, Kansas State, began with putting the Baylor game in the rear view mirror, but it presumably included focusing on a number of troublesome areas.

Other than correcting the fundamental breakdowns that led to nearly 20 missed tackles against Baylor, the Tigers must also plug up a leaky pass defense that allowed two passes of 50 yards or more, and could arguably be to blame for this week's unflattering chatter surrounding the defense.

"Giving up that many yards in a game is unacceptable," cornerback Kevin Rutland said at MU's recent media session. "I think the only way to go is up right now."

Maybe so. But in order to heal its bruised psyche and restore morale against the Wildcats, the MU defense will have to first and foremost excel at what it has done well for most of this season: stopping the run.

The ying to Baylor's yang, Kansas State takes pride in running the ball right at opponents—nearly to the point at which the game plan defies the dominant aerial mentality of Big 12 offenses.

Unlike the Bears, who were content to substitute their running game for a horizontal, screen-based passing game en route to record-setting day through the air, Kansas State won't deviate from trying to pick up huge chunks of yards on the ground.

Terribly one-dimensional, the Wildcats, led by their old-school mentor, Bill Snyder, have run the ball 427 times, nearly twice as much as they have thrown it (234). More so, only seven teams in the country have attempted to run the ball more than KSU. The Wildcats, with 1,097 yards for the season, have the NCAA's 16th-best running attack.

"They've got a tough running game," Weatherspoon said. "They're going to come out and run the ball at you—that's just what they do...they're going to try to run the ball down our throat, and as the front seven, you live for those games."

As Weatherspoon said, KSU does run the ball, and they do it through tailback Daniel Thomas . The former Florida commit and journeyman Juco player is quietly becoming one of college football's premiere ball-carriers , despite never having played the position before in his life. In 10 games this season, Thomas has run for 1,087 yards and 11 scores to lead the Big 12 in both categories.

What's more though, is the fact he is the undisputed lifeblood of the Kansas State offense. You stop Daniel Thomas, you stop the Wildcats, who are 106th in the country with 164.1 yards per game via the pass.

As potentially frail as it may be heading into Manhattan, the Tigers' defense is rather stout when it comes to defending against the run.

Save for the occasional hiccup here and there, MU's run defense has been lost in a shuffle of inconsistency. For the season, the Tigers rank just fifth in the Big 12, allowing 102 yards per game on the ground, but that number is good enough for 19th-best in all of college football.

But each of those statistics improves when you isolate Missouri's five games against conference opponents , putting the Tigers behind only Texas and Oklahoma State for the right to claim the Big 12's stingiest D against the run.

It appears to be a matchup of strengths: KSU's dedicated running game versus MU's sneaky-good run defense. The other half of the equation—the MU offense against the KSU defense—is irrelevant. After all, you never know if the Missouri offense will come out for the second half, while the Wildcats' defense has been nothing better than pedestrian.

If the Tigers are to put a damper on Kansas State's hopes of winning a division crown while earning bowl eligibility for a fifth consecutive season, the defense will have to claim responsibility.

With or without the wounds.

Missouri Tigers Invade SEC Territory for Latest Recruit

Ryan Faller — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:17:01 -0500

I'll say this for Darvin Ruise : He should be commended for refusing to let Missouri's disturbing loss to Baylor play a role in his recruitment.

The 6'2", 218-pound athlete from Glen St. Mary, Florida, became the 16th member of MU's 2010 recruiting class on Sunday, pledging less than 24 hours after his official visit, Power Mizzou reported yesterday afternoon.

Ruise, who held more than 20 offers, is currently leading Baker County High School's option running attack as a quarterback, but most recruiting services are calling for him to switch positions at the next level, to either linebacker or safety.

Ruise's decision has to be considered somewhat of a surprise—and I'm not referring to the fact he chose to commit after presumably witnessing the Tigers' second-half collapse on Saturday.

Focusing a majority of their recruiting efforts in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, and a host of midwestern states, head coach Gary Pinkel and his staff defied convention a bit in landing Ruise, who passed up offers from several SEC powers, including LSU, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

But it should perhaps come as no shock that the Tigers are widening their recruiting scope and attempting to build pipelines that run into Florida and other south-eastern states, where arguably the nation's richest reserve of college football talent resides.

Co-offensive line coach Josh Henson, who served as LSU's tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator prior to coming to MU earlier this year, is working hard to rekindle his southern connections to give the Tigers a fighting chance at obtaining players who typically pledge their allegiance to SEC programs.

According to ESPN.com, Missouri is currently being considered by three other players from the state of Florida. Outside linebacker Kyle Wallace , offensive lineman Justin Wilson , and defensive tackle Alton Bailey , list MU among their potential suitors, along with defensive end Mike Douglas , who is reportedly preparing to set a date on an official visit to Columbia.

When he enters the program next season, Ruise will be one of only three Floridians on the MU roster, joining offensive tackle Elvis Fisher (St. Petersburg), and safety Jasper Simmons (Pensacola).

Notes

Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel reported at his Monday teleconference that senior safety Hardy Ricks will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Ricks, who began the season as the starter at strong safety before being replaced by JuCo transfer Jasper Simmons , has played in eight games, totaling eight tackles and one interception.

The school announced Monday that Grant Ressel has been named as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award , given annually to college football's top placekicker.

Ressel, a sophomore in his first season as a starter, has been nothing short of spectacular in replacing the departed Jeff Wolfert, who left MU as the most accurate kicker in NCAA history. A former walk-on, Ressel has connected on 43 of his 44 attempts this season, including a near-perfect 17-of-18 on field goals.

Gary Pinkel, Missouri Tigers Struggle for Answers After Latest Collapse

Ryan Faller — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:00:07 -0500

In retrospect, I can think of endless ways in which I could have better spent my Saturday afternoon.

It was the perfect late spring, er, I mean early autumn, day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Faurot Field was soaked in mid-afternoon sunshine. Tailgaters littered every crevice of the Missouri campus.

And the unseasonably beautiful conditions in Columbia had more than 65,000 at Memorial Stadium feeling it.

The setting for my first game since leaving MU as a graduate some seven years ago couldn't be beat.

The mood seemed so jovial and carefree. And when kickoff between Missouri and the hapless Baylor Bears commenced shortly after 1 p.m., an easy Tigers win seemed all but imminent.

Nearly four hours, infinite official reviews, and an early November sunburn later, I was sorry I hadn't chosen to pour bleach into my eyes instead.

After all, when compared to what I saw take place on the field, it would've achieved roughly the same goal, only it could be argued the lingering effects would be less painful.

Teams, good teams—heck, even mediocre teams—just don't lose to Baylor at home. The Bears have won just two Big 12 road games since 2005.

Even better, prior to Saturday, Baylor had racked up a mere 10 total conference victories over the past eight-plus seasons—and only 13 since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996.

And a team like Missouri—one that looked dominant a week prior in an attempt to jumpstart its season—certainly doesn't go down to the current edition of the perennial cellar-dwelling Bears.

Injured quarterback Robert Griffin III , without doubt the best player on the team, was a spectator on the sidelines. In each of its three previous conference games, all losses, the Bears had failed to score more than 10 points. Baylor was ranked at or near the bottom of the Big 12 in almost every major statistical category.

To boot, the Tigers had beaten Baylor the previous seven meetings by an average of 15 points.

When you think about it, this should have been a mismatch. And for a half, it surely was. But those stats and history were all thrown out the window during the final 30 minutes.

Plus, anyone who follows Missouri football is well aware of the program's penchant for falling apart at the seams in second halves of games.

The 2009 Tigers are certainly no exception. And at no other point this season was that clearer than in Saturday afternoon's inexplicable and demoralizing 40-32 loss to Baylor .

In fact, the only thing more preposterous than the Tigers' latest second-half collapse was the weather, which reached a sometimes uncomfortable 80 degrees some three weeks before Thanksgiving.

Two weeks ago, I fired off some unbridled anger in a rant following Missouri's lopsided loss to Texas. However, given the inferiority that had characterized Baylor's season through its first eight games, this game may register more so on my bitch-o-meter.

And for good reason.

Before I begin, I certainly don't want to discount the Tigers' offensive proficiency in the first half, which was impressive despite another sad performance from the running game.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert looked as good as he has all season, completing 11 of his first 12 passes for an awesome first two quarters that produced 322 yards, including 84 alone on a touchdown toss to receiver Danario Alexander .

Alexander piled up 171 first-half yards en route to a career-high 214 yards on 13 catches.

Speaking of Alexander, the senior continues to make his case for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Through nine games, Alexander is third in the conference in catches (71) and second in receiving yards (1,038), trailing only Jordan Shipley of Texas, and he is on pace to blow by Jeremy Maclin's single-season yardage record (1,260) set last season.

And then there was the duo of Jared Perry (7 rec., 145 yards) and Wes Kemp , who combined to form a worthy complement to Alexander.

And when Kemp's nifty end zone dance in the waning seconds of the half was upheld for a score to build MU's lead to 11, it appeared the Tigers would be heading into next weekend's showdown with Kansas State with a chance to grab a share of the Big 12 North lead.

Instead, Missouri (5-4, 1-4) turned in another lethargic and uninspiring second half that, for all intents and purposes, ended its pursuit of a third straight division title. And the manner in which the choke job transpired is quickly becoming all too familiar.

For the fifth consecutive game, the MU offense did not score a touchdown in the second half.

As was the case the previous four weeks, offensive coordinator David Yost failed miserably at adapting to the defense's adjustments, leaving Gabbert and the rest of his unit the ability to do nothing but succumb to the weight of poor play-calling and even poorer execution.

All told, in their five conference games, the Tigers have produced nine points in the second half—all coming on field goals by Grant Ressel.

The last second-half touchdown scored by the MU offense occurred more than six weeks ago, against Nevada on Sept. 25.

But it's not like the offense had a lot of support. The schizophrenic MU defense apparently forgot to take its meds, because save for a few OK moments in the first half, coordinator Dave Steckel's group once again showed crippling inconsistency.

After holding the Bears to a modest 16 points in the first half Saturday, the Tigers permitted Baylor to march 67 yards in nine plays to begin the third quarter.

It was the fourth time this season the MU defense has surrendered a score on the opponent's opening possession of the second half.

And the final two quarters were really a comedy of errors for the defense as much as they were for the offense. Coverage errors abounded. The pass rush, which produced eight sacks against Colorado last weekend, was sluggish at best.

And though Baylor's Nick Florence is arguably a better pure passer than the fleet-footed Griffin, the Tigers made the freshman quarterback look like Peyton Manning.

In just his fifth collegiate start, Florence completed 32 of 43 passes for a school-record 427 yards, giving Baylor its first 300-yard passing performance in the last 26 games.

As far as I'm concerned, once Baylor (4-5, 1-4) trimmed the lead to four to open the half, Missouri's fate was sealed. With MU's offense pulling its usual disappearing act, Baylor was busy scoring on three of its next five drives to seize the lead and take control of the game.

Afterward, MU head coach Gary Pinkel showed some disturbing insight regarding his team's perspective when it reaches the intermission.

“I don’t know if we feel too good about ourselves at halftime. I don’t know,” Pinkel said. “And I know ‘I don’t know’ is not a good enough answer.”

Indeed, it's not. Especially considering the ineptitude with which Pinkel, Yost, and Steckel have tailored the game plan upon emerging from the locker room.

This staff's inability to counter the adjustments being made on the other side of the field is getting old. And it's getting old fast.

Excluding the blowout against Texas, Missouri has led at half time in three of its last four games. The game in which it has trailed after two quarters was the loss against Oklahoma State, when the deficit was only seven points.

However, MU has lost two of those three games, with the lone exception being the win at Boulder that was aided by a huge 33-point lead at the half.

While not mathematically restricted from winning the North division, the Tigers are now certainly on the brink of elimination and missed a golden opportunity at bowl eligibility.

I suppose you could say the season is still plenty salvageable, but wishful thinking may not be enough to straighten out this team's woes in the second halves of games.

What say you, Gary Pinkel?

"One thing that is important when you have problems in this business from week to week is that you fix them," he said. "But as we came out in the second half, regardless of what we do in practice, regardless of what we're emphasizing, we're not doing enough in the second half to win football games."

Well, sure, but what about a solution?

"We'll talk about it as a staff," Pinkel continued. "But we're running out of time."

While you're at it, see if you can't squeeze in an effort to get me a refund for my ticket.

Photo credit: Associated Press

Missouri Tigers News and Notes: Baylor Still Confident Amid Struggles

Ryan Faller — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:38:15 -0500

Let's put a nice, little ribbon on Missouri's road win over Colorado, as well as look ahead to the Baylor Bears, with a few notes of interest:

1) Fans finally got the performance out of the MU running game they've been clamoring for all season long. The Tigers gained 184 rushing yards on a season-high 45 carries. The last time Missouri put the ball in the gut of a running back with that much frequency was against Texas Tech in 2007 , when seven different players, including quarterback Chase Daniel, carried the ball at least three times en route to a 203-yard day on 49 attempts.

2) Running back Derrick Washington narrowly missed his second 100-yard game of the season against the Buffs. The junior produced 99 yards on 22 carries, one shy of his career-high. Washington is on pace to finish the season with 825 yards on 197 carries, which would be more than 200 yards fewer than his output a season ago. In 2008, Washington carried the ball 177 times for 1,036 yards.

3) Perhaps the most impressive aspect of MU's dominating defensive performance in Boulder was the way in which the Tigers held CU running back Rodney Stewart in check. In fact, "in check" may not be the proper phrase.

As a team, Colorado backpedaled for -14 yards on 24 attempts, and Stewart produced only three yards on 10 carries. This is the same Stewart, who is the centerpiece of CU's run-oriented offense, that singed West Virginia's No. 9-ranked run defense for 105 yards .

4) It was refreshing to see some disruption caused by the Missouri defense for once. I've thought all along that this unit had adequate athletic ability. Granted, the talent level is not up to par with, say, a Texas or Alabama, but the Tigers certainly have the playmakers necessary to generate turnovers, which is something they had been horrible at the first seven games of the season.

I understand that guarding against the big play was the mindset of defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, but how great was it to see him turn CU's offense into a junior varsity squad with his willingness to bring the blitz from all angles?

I'm not saying the Tigers will employ the same mentality for the rest of the season, because the remaining opposing offenses will dictate otherwise, but the eight sacks—and the chaos that ensued—were definitely a sight for sore eyes.

5) In case you were too enthralled with the sudden mobility of quarterback Blaine Gabbert to notice, kickoff specialist Tanner Mills did not make the trip to Colorado.

Mills was suspended by head coach Gary Pinkel for violating an undisclosed team policy . Field-goal kicker Grant Ressel took over the duties, dropping several kicks in the end zone in addition to putting together a perfect 6-for-6 day on field goals and PATs.

Now on to this Saturday's opponent, the Baylor Bears:

1) It's been a rough go of it for head coach Art Briles and the Bears (3-5, 0-4), who were expected to make a minor push in the Big 12 South behind sophomore phenom quarterback Robert Griffin III .

But as soon as Griffin went down for the season with a torn ACL on Sept. 26 , the Bears' season started to crumble. And they haven't recovered, winning just once since the star quarterback's injury (against Kent State) and losing each of their first four Big 12 games.

2) A quick look at the numbers certainly tells the story of the 2009 Baylor Bears. Through four conference games, the Bears rank no better than fifth in the Big 12 in every major statistical category , including dead last in scoring offense (8.5 pts/game), rushing offense (48), rush defense (194.2), and total defense (439.5).

But it doesn't end there. Baylor also brings up the rear in time of possession (25:46 per game) and is one of the more heavily flagged teams in the conference, having incurred an average of nearly eight penalties through four Big 12 games.

3) If this piece by Waco Tribune-Herald columnist John Werner on Monday is any indication, though, the Bears appear to be upbeat as they make the trek to Columbia this Saturday. Stay tuned this week as I hope to contact Mr. Werner for an edition of Enemy Intel leading up to the game.

Other notes

1) Middle linebacker Luke Lambert has opted to undergo surgery on his dislocated shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. Lambert, a junior who will be replaced by sophomore Will Ebner , is scheduled to have the procedure performed on Friday.

Lambert, who began the season as a starter before being supplanted by Ebner because of a nagging ankle problem, suffered the injury on the first play against Texas on Oct. 24, and an MRI later revealed a tear in the shoulder's labrum.

2) Backup cornerback Munir Prince, who has been hobbled by a bad hamstring the past few weeks, is listed as probable for Saturday.

3) Saturday's game against Baylor will not be televised. It was announced on Monday that Missouri's Nov. 14 meeting with Kansas State will be aired on Versus at 11:30 am CT.

Photo credit: Waco Tribune-Herald

Missouri Tigers Receive Commitment From Prized Recruit Kony Ealy

Ryan Faller — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:13:01 -0500

Less than 48 hours after they captured a huge win over Colorado on the road, head coach Gary Pinkel and the Missouri Tigers scored another victory—this time on the recruiting trail.

Power Mizzou is reporting that according to an unidentified source close to the situation, New Madrid (MO) defensive end recruit Kony Ealy pledged his verbal commitment to the Tigers Monday morning.

If the reports hold true, Ealy would be MU's seventh defensive prospect of the 2010 class and the 15th member overall.

As per NCAA rules, verbal commitments are non-binding, meaning Ealy is free to change his mind until National Signing Day on Feb. 3.

The 6'5", 230-pound Ealy, who doubles as a basketball star (look for the alley-oop) at New Madrid County Central High School, is rated by Rivals.com as the third-best player in the state , as well as the nation's No. 11 weakside defensive end .

According to Rivals.com, Wentzville offensive lineman Nick Demien , who committed to Missouri in August, is the No. 1-rated player in Missouri, followed by Liberty wide receiver Marcus Lucas , who currently has the Tigers at the top of his crowded list of potential suitors.

Though recruiting services have been blamed for excessively glorifying the college football recruiting process with their seemingly unreliable rating process, Ealy—who was bestowed with four stars by at least one service—looks to be quite the land for Missouri.

In addition to the Tigers, Ealy was coveted by rivals Illinois, Kansas, and Nebraska, as well as several SEC schools, including Mississippi, Auburn, and Arkansas.

Assuming he fulfills projections as a defensive end at the college level, Ealy will join a talented rotation at the position at Missouri. Backed by a corps of promising freshmen that includes 2009 class members Michael Sam and Brayden Burnett , Missouri's current group of defensive ends is led by starters Jacquies Smith , a sophomore, and red-shirt freshman Aldon Smith , who is just four sacks shy of surpassing Justin Smith (11) to become MU's single-season record-holder.

Photo credit: David Jenkins/Sikeston Standard Democrat

Missouri Tiger Defense Guards Against Potential Second-Half Implosion

Ryan Faller — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:07:37 -0500

As Colorado cornerback Benjamin Burney sprinted 78 yards for a touchdown, you couldn't help but shudder at the possibility that the Missouri Tigers were letting a sure victory slip from their grasp.

Starving for their first Big 12 win of the season, Missouri (5-3, 1-3) had sprinted out to a dominating 33-0 halftime lead over a Colorado Buffaloes team that it had utterly dominated in the two previous meetings. And, at least for a while, it appeared as if nothing would prevent Saturday's contest from becoming another one-sided affair.

Looking healthier and more mobile than in any game since spraining his right ankle against Nebraska more than three weeks ago, Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert received plenty of time to throw and, as a result, rediscovered the poise and calm he exhibited prior to MU's three-game losing streak.

With Gabbert, who received accelerated treatment on the ankle during the week, operating at near-maximum efficiency, Missouri's other offensive stars were allowed to have a field day against Colorado's pedestrian defense.

Receiver Danario Alexander , who finished with 123 yards on eight receptions, caught both of his two touchdowns in the first half, and MU's maligned running game, which had not produced a 100-yard performance since Sept. 19 against Furman, re-emerged as the Tigers' offense scored on five of its first seven possessions.

“We came out motivated,” said junior tailback Derrick Washington, who produced 99 of MU's 184 rushing yards on 22 carries. “We lost three in a row and a lot of guys were like, ‘It’s time to win. It’s time to get this victory. It’s time to come on.’ ”

For the better part of 30 minutes, the Tigers could do no wrong. The offense was churning away, and the defense was spending its day wreaking havoc on the sluggish CU offense. It seemed as if nothing would stop Missouri from beating Colorado for the fifth time in its last six attempts.

Unfortunately, one half does not make for an entire game.

As was the case the previous three games, the MU offense failed to score a touchdown in the second half, all but leaving the outcome in the hands of a defense that was still trying to recover from last week's beating versus Texas.

Through its first four conference games this season, Missouri has scored just six points in the second half.

“We really slowed up in the second half,” said Gabbert, who threw for 192 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. “And that cannot happen. That falls on me.”

By no means does Gabbert need to shoulder 100 percent of the blame for MU's second-half disappearing acts, but his third-quarter mistake on Saturday allowed Colorado (2-6, 1-3) back in the game, if only momentarily.

After the Buffs had cut the Missouri lead to 23 with a scoring drive to open the second half, Gabbert and the Tigers drove back down the field and looked primed to regain their four-score advantage.

That is until Gabbert unloaded an ill-fated pass that landed in the arms of Burney, who ran untouched from his own 22-yard line to trim the lead to 33-17, as well as create some panic on the Missouri sideline.

"It’s amazing when that momentum changes,” head coach Gary Pinkel said. “It’s remarkable. You can feel it, man, especially on the road. I think our defense took over at that point.”

Indeed, it did.

Seven days after getting ripped to shreds by the No. 3 Longhorns, the MU defense played arguably its best game all season. Led by senior All-American linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who tallied a game-high 12 tackles, the Tigers held the Buffs to 176 yards of total offense, including a season-low -14 yards on the ground.

But for as impressive as the defense's showing was over the course of all four quarters, it's what the unit did following Gabbert's second pick of the game that ultimately made the difference. In Colorado's five possessions following Burney's pick-six, the Buffaloes gained 77 yards on 24 plays, including just 10 on their final 11 snaps.

And defensive coordinator Dave Steckel made sure each one of his players shared in the fun. Utilizing the blitz on more occasions than they have perhaps in the season's other six games combined, the Tigers ravaged the Buffs' offensive line and quarterback Tyler Hansen en route to a season-high eight sacks, including three by redshirt freshman Aldon Smith and one that accounted for a safety.

Yet, despite the heroics of Smith and his pass-rushing cohorts, it was Weatherspoon, the undisputed leader of the defense, who was responsible for the biggest defensive play of MU's 36-17 road win.

With Colorado driving while down by only two scores early in the fourth quarter, Weatherspoon exploded through the CU offensive line and stuffed running back Rodney Stewart for a loss on a fourth-and-inches play from the Missouri 13-yard line.

“It was big to see the crowd’s reaction,” said Weatherspoon, who is zeroing in on MU's all-time tackles mark. “It kind of took the wind out of their sails.”

For all intents and purposes, with Weatherspoon's momentum-turning play, the victory was preserved. Colorado never threatened again, and the Tigers cruised the rest of the way en route to a much-needed win that suddenly has the team feeling a renewed sense of optimism that was previously shattered by an 0-3 start to the Big 12 schedule.

"We’re looking at this like a whole new season," said Smith, who needs only four more sacks to overcome Justin Smith (11) as MU's single-season leader.

The three-game losing streak is now over, so maybe this is a whole new season for the Tigers. The win Saturday in Boulder wasn't always pretty, but its importance cannot be understated, even if some may have left Colorado unfulfilled.

Like those on the Missouri offense.

“We’re not satisfied, but we’re happy we got this win,” Washington said. “We’ve been trying to fight for a win for three weeks and finally got one. It was destined to happen.”

Photo credit: Nick King/Columbia Daily Tribune

Gary Pinkel, Missouri Tigers Well Aware of Large Task Ahead

Ryan Faller — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:54:53 -0400

When the Missouri Tigers travel to Boulder, Colo., this weekend, they'll embark on what is figuratively the beginning of the second half of the season.

Snarky mathematician types will tell you that the latter part of Missouri's 12-game schedule officially began with a demoralizing 41-7 loss to Texas on Oct. 24, but considering the circumstances this team now finds itself in, the final five games of 2009 have somewhat become a completely separate season.

Once basking in the glow of an unexpected 4-0 start, Missouri (4-3, 0-3) has lost three in a row to fall into the cellar of the Big 12 North with a noticeable thud. During their current three-game skid, Missouri's first such losing streak since 2006, the Tigers have been outscored 101-36 and have managed just three second-half points.

Now the Tigers are facing the prospect of having to win out just to have the chance to contend for a division many thought they would win for a third consecutive season.

"It’s a pivotal point in the season, obviously," head coach Gary Pinkel said moments after the loss to Texas . "It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. The sense of urgency has got to be here. But if we don’t start playing better, you’re never going to win a game."

Considering what has happened over the past three weeks, Pinkel and Missouri will take a win any way they can get it. And though this week's opponent, the Colorado Buffaloes (2-5, 1-2), presumably will pose a lesser challenge than any of MU's three previous foes (No. 3 Texas, No. 13 Oklahoma State, and Nebraska), the Tigers can ill afford to take any game for granted.

Missouri has won the last three meetings and has outscored Colorado by the astronomical margin of 113-10 during the past two. However, due to the sometimes comedic nature of the Big 12 North, the Buffaloes are a win away from potentially climbing to within one spot of division-leading Kansas State with a .500 record.

A loss at Boulder would all but bury Missouri, but a win over the Buffaloes would be a promising start to a five-game stretch that doesn't seem that daunting when placed next to the Tigers' recent three-game gauntlet.

Missouri's five remaining opponents, two of which have losing records, have posted a combined mark of 20-17. By comparison, the Longhorns, Cowboys, and Cornhuskers have teamed to register a record of 17-4.

The Tigers may be winless in conference play, but Pinkel and his players know a favorable remaining schedule means they have a fighting chance at resurrecting a season gone awry and conquering a division no one seems to want to win.

"We’ve got to win these next Big 12 games that we have because other than that, we really have no choice because we want to get the Big 12 North championship," junior running back Derrick Washington said. "We’ve got to win the North and continue to win...It’s crazy, but it’s still possible. Everyone has to get that mindset that we can still do it. Once everyone gets on the same page, I think we’ll be fine."

And when will that be? Forget five games in a row. If the Tigers have hopes of mounting a charge, they'll have to improve several weaknesses that have all been exposed during the losing streak.

The running game, currently ranked 10th (115 yards per game) in the Big 12, will have to sustain the success it showed at times against Texas' top-ranked rush defense. To avoid costly penalties, Pinkel needs to reiterate the importance of mental focus. And then there's the defense, which, with a rash of recent breakdowns, has conjured up nightmares of 2008 after a solid start to the season.

But perhaps the most vital piece to MU's aspirations for the rest of the season is wounded quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who, in conjunction with the medical staff, insists he's fit to play against Colorado.

Gabbert was assured he can do no further damage to his sprained right ankle, but he'll need to be the player that threw 11 touchdowns versus zero interceptions through the team's first four games; not the one that has tossed five picks in three games since.

Whether the Tigers will recover from their current skid remains to be seen. But, if the Tigers are to run through the rest of the schedule unblemished en route to a third straight appearance in the Big 12 championship, they'll also have to cheat history in order to do so.

Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996, no team has lost its first three conference games and finished with a winning record, let alone a division title. And even though there's a real possibility the winner of the North will post a 4-4 record, the Tigers cannot afford to fall any further behind.

Missouri's season thus far has been equal parts good and bad, but the struggles have left the Tigers with absolutely no margin for error. The players know it. The coaches know it. The time for a resurgence is now, during a remaining schedule that has suddenly taken on a life of its own.

And it begins on Saturday against Colorado. But, then again, the Tigers don't really have an alternative.

"I don’t think there’s much choice," Pinkel said. "If a guy has to decide how he’s going to react to this, he shouldn’t be in that locker room. There’s no, there’s no…the time’s out. We’ve run out of time. There’s no time left. I can’t be more blunt than that."

Missouri Tigers News and Notes: Defenders Admit to Confusion Vs. Texas

Ryan Faller — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:15:02 -0400

There's not much to break down in the wake of Missouri's epic no-show against No. 3 Texas on Saturday night.

The Tigers were dominated equally in all three phases of the game. Plus, I exerted too much energy letting things fly in my last article. There's no need to rehash all the pain.

Here now, while the Tigers pull their heads from their rear ends, is a brief list of the slivers of good, as well as all the bad.

What went right

Kendial Lawrence: The true freshman, who sparked MU's lone scoring drive with 30 yards on three carries, appears to be a real find and a budding star.

Aldon Smith: The redshirt freshman was all over the field, racking up two sacks and a game-high 11 tackles from his defensive end position, which is just absurd. Consistently praised by commentators Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit, Smith is going to be a joy to watch over the next few seasons.

Sadly, that's it.

All that went wrong

The secondary

I can't be the only one that had flashbacks to last season while watching the avalanche of coverage breakdowns and mishaps with communication. With frustration mounting, the you-know-what finally hit the fan when defensive coordinator Dave Steckel and oft-beaten cornerback Carl Gettis took part in a nationally televised sparring session.

The offensive line

Save for a few impressively large holes that were opened up in Texas' top-ranked run defense on the scoring drive, the boys up front were overmatched again. But the writing on the wall occurred early, when right guard Austin Wuebbels was flagged for a false start on Missouri's first play from scrimmage.

Offensive coordinator David Yost

I realize that Yost is perhaps still feeling things out after only seven games as an offensive coordinator, but he is not exactly a stranger to calling a game, which is a duty he shared with former coordinator Dave Christensen in past seasons.

With Missouri down by 28 at halftime and an injured Blaine Gabbert still in the game, why continue to air it out? You have no chance of winning the game, so why not at least attempt to get a feel for where the running game could go in the future?

And what was up with that laughable decision to run a throwback between Gabbert and Derrick Washington that had absolutely no chance of working and nearly ended in Gabbert getting his head taken off? Sorry, Yost: Trick plays do not work against defenses as fast and as smart as Texas'.

Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel

Apparently, Missouri's defensive gameplan didn't account for receiver Jordan Shipley making the plane ride to Columbia.

Most will argue that other than Colt McCoy, the one player you have to stop on Texas' offense is Shipley, who was inexplicably given all sorts of room to roam the field thanks to MU's lax coverage and confusion in the secondary. After one play, when McCoy hit Shipley down the middle for a 31-yard gain to open the game, it was clear what kind of night it would be for MU's defense.

Head coach Gary Pinkel

Yes, coaches often bear too much of the blame for a loss, but can't a significant portion be placed on Pinkel and his staff for this one?

As is his customary postgame routine after a loss, Pinkel accepted blame for poor preparation, but he also repeatedly confessed disappointment in his players. I have no problem with that. But how many more times will we have to hear the same schtick? It makes you wonder what's going on with this team between Saturdays.

Referring to Missouri's defensive miscues against the Longhorns, sophomore middle linebacker Will Ebner gave a most interesting quote following the game.

"Most games, we have a drawing board and whenever the defense comes to the sideline we’ll draw up adjustments for what we need to change to stop them," Ebner told reporters. "We didn’t draw up something on the board one time. We were beating ourselves. We weren’t communicating on coverages. Most of their scores, we had one side of the field running one coverage and the other side running another coverage."

Huh? You mean to tell us fans that no adjustments were made, even though Texas was scoring on every possession? The communication problems were obvious, but you can't tell me that Missouri would have stopped the Longhorns otherwise. Sorry, not buying it.

Oh, but it gets better. Ebner would go on to say that he was surprised at the problems between sideline and field, especially considering every defensive player is required to learn the signals, not to mention the fact that players who see the field all wear wristbands with the defensive calls plastered on them.

But fellow linebacker Andrew Gachkar took it up a notch, admitting that at some points during the game, one half of the defense was running one call while the other half was running another. "I haven’t seen errors like that since last year," Gachkar said. "Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. At points, the crowd was so loud that people weren’t getting the same calls.

"Some people might have been running a zone while some people were running a blitz. It was just a mess."

I'm not even going to touch this one, other than to guess that the 71,000 in attendance at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night were actually a detriment.

Notes

Middle linebacker Luke Lambert suffered a dislocated shoulder on the first play from scrimmage against Texas, head coach Gary Pinkel reported at his Monday teleconference this morning. Pinkel said that Lambert has the choice to either continue to play or undergo surgery to repair what is suspected to be a labrum tear. Results of an MRI are expected to be released Monday afternoon.

A junior, Lambert began the season as the starter at middle linebacker, but he has since been splitting snaps with Ebner, who started against Furman while Lambert was nursing a sore ankle.

The crowd of 71,004 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night was the 10th-largest in school history and the highest attendance for a Missouri game since the venue was reconfigured in 1995.

Missouri amassed 173 yards of offense against the Longhorns, marking the lowest total since Pinkel took over in 2001. But that pales in comparison to the season finale of 1999, when MU scrapped together only 116 yards in a 66-0 loss to Kansas State.

Photo credit: Gerik Parmele/Columbia Daily Tribune

Missouri Tigers' Lopsided Loss to Texas Worthy of Anger, Speculation

Ryan Faller — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:16:00 -0400

There were a few fleeting seconds this week when I actually thought the Missouri Tigers would pull a miracle over third-ranked Texas on Saturday night.

What a fool I can be.

I should have known better. After all, it's a well-known fact that a program like Missouri simply doesn't sneak up on a program like Texas. Especially when history suggests the two don't even reside in the same stratosphere.

With 839 victories all-time, Texas is the nation's second-winningest program, behind only Michigan. The Longhorns have won four national titles. Nearly 100 different Texas players have been All-American selections, two have won the Heisman Trophy, and 13 have won one or more national awards.

And when graduation and the NFL draft threaten to pick away at that traditional luster, the Longhorns routinely dip into their bottomless reserve of in-state talent, allowing for the cycle to begin anew and the winning to continue.

Since Missouri football was born in 1890, the program has struggled keep its head above mediocrity, often resorting to periods of utter futility. Save for 1960 and 2007, the two most successful seasons in school history, Missouri hasn't come close to competing for a national championship. It's been 40 years since the Tigers last laid claim to a conference title. Inexplicable losses to inferior opponents have been upstaged only by massive-sized slaughters at the hands of superior opponents.

And when the Tigers haven't been raked over the coals by ranked teams, they've had landmark victories vaporized by moments of maddening misfortune, like the Fifth Down and the Flea Kicker. And then there's the whole matter of Texas treating Missouri like a disobedient red-headed stepchild for a quarter-century, having won 14 of the past 15 meetings, dating back to 1931.

But, of course, due to the topsy-turvy nature of college football, Missouri (4-3, 0-3) still had reason to believe it could register its second win over a top five team since 1978—and only its 10th in the last 70 years.

Upsets have been a weekly theme in 2009. A top 10 team has lost in each of the first seven weeks of the season; a top five team has gone down on six occasions. Hours before Missouri and Texas kicked off, a .500 Tennessee team was done in by a blocked field goal in an attempt to knock off No. 2 Alabama. And by the time the game had begun, perennial SEC whipping-boy Mississippi State was exchanging blows with top-ranked Florida.

Heck, even Iowa State, a team that had won five games the previous two seasons, took down heavily favored Nebraska for its first win in Lincoln since 1977.

Though it may have been a bit of wishful thinking on my part, it seemed as if the conditions were ripe for a one-of-a-kind performance from the Tigers.

If trap games do indeed exist, this was one for Texas. The Longhorns (7-0, 4-0) were a week removed from an emotionally draining win over archrival Oklahoma. And although Texas has never lost the week following the Red River Rivalry, it wasn't foolish to think the Horns weren't looking ahead to a Halloween matchup with Oklahoma State. Plus, Colt McCoy was nursing an injured thumb and the lingering effects of a week-long bout with the flu.

And, how fitting would it be if Missouri, in danger of falling into an inescapable 0-3 hole in the Big 12 North, would capture its first conference win of the season and end its two-game losing streak all in the same night, against the No. 3 team in the country?

Given all this, imagine my disappointment when it took all of one play for all my hopes and reasoning to be rendered meaningless, completely asinine, and idiotic. For as far as I am concerned, the second McCoy hooked up with his roommate and wide receiver, Jordan Shipley, for a 31-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage, the game was decided.

As frustrating as this loss is, it's simply par for the course as far as Missouri lifers are concerned. When the Tigers are heavy underdogs, they simply don't show up. And that goes for the past two seasons, when Missouri was winning the Big 12 North but laying eggs against teams that offered up the stiffest competition.

A Missouri win on Saturday night would have been arguably the biggest in school history. Instead, the Tigers whimpered their way to another lopsided loss against a dominant opponent that now has me slinging expletives and perhaps unjust criticism, as well as counting a lot more questions than answers.

It's plain to see this Missouri team is one in transition, and I have been adamant in proclaiming to the fan base it's important to exercise patience with the Tigers' abundance of youth. But I can hold my tongue only so long. There's a number of other teams out there that are getting along just fine with as many, if not more, underclassmen than Missouri.

In the aftermath of the 41-7 debacle against Texas, head coach Gary Pinkel offered up a tired summation, chalking up the one-sided loss to an exorbitant amount of mistakes.

How long do we have to hear the same excuse? The same mistakes were made against Oklahoma State. The same mistakes were made against Nebraska. And you could argue those same mistakes were made during Missouri's breezy non-conference schedule.

In a perfect world, Pinkel's postgame thoughts would have sounded like this: "I would like to apologize to all Missouri fans for this loss, the first of which being the 71,004 in attendance tonight, as well as the countless alumni who have stuck by this program despite having to endure too many performances like this one.

"My coaching staff and I were out-classed tonight, but I will be the first to acknowledge that tough stretches like the one we are experiencing now are necessary when building a team that challenges for a Big 12 title every four or five years."

A bit harsh, I know, but my point is this: If these same mistakes keep creeping up, why aren't they being corrected? What the hell is taking place during the week in practice? Are the coaches missing something, or are Missouri's players really that less talented than those who suit up for Texas? What exactly is hampering this Missouri football program from taking the next step?

During their current three-game losing streak, the Tigers have been dominated in all phases of the game. The offense has looked anemic. After a strong start, the defense has become pedestrian. And stupid penalties continue to cripple special teams play. On top of that, Missouri has scored all of three points in the second half during the streak.

Blame is certainly widespread. And while I never like to refrain from pointing fingers at the players, in my fit of rage, I'll reserve a majority of my ridicule for the coaching staff. I understand that Missouri may never possess the collection of athletes that a Texas, Alabama, or USC does, but it seems to me that this coaching staff is doing a noticeably horrible job of putting these players in a position to win.

The gameplan against Texas was terrible. It's one thing to lose to the third-ranked team, but it's an entirely different animal to get blown out in front of a record crowd on homecoming.

The Tigers, with 74 yards rushing, managed to penetrate Texas' top-ranked run defense, but offensive coordinator David Yost had no answer for the Longhorns' blitz packages, which eventually forced Blaine Gabbert to leave the game. The more I witness Yost run this offense, the more I wonder whether he is flexible and/or smart enough to make the deft in-game adjustments that so often characterize the country's first-rate coordinators.

And same goes for defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, whose lone claim to fame thus far this season has been caught arguing with his embattled cornerback (Carl Gettis) on national television.

If anyone can tell me why Steckel insisted on playing his coverage a good 10 yards off the line of scrimmage, I'll gladly listen. If Texas' receivers win the one-on-one matchup, that's fine. But it's odd that Steckel, a man who preaches toughness and physicality, would prefer that his defensive backs sit on a cushion than challenge the opponent at the line. His choice of tactic clearly wasn't working, and that should have been evident after Texas' opening possession.

Despite these deficiencies, I am willing to cut the two first-year coordinators some slack. When it comes to Pinkel, however, the jury should be a little less lenient.

In his eight-plus seasons, Pinkel has carried the program to new heights and restored some legitimacy in the eyes of the national media. Or has he? The Tigers may be good enough to survive from season to season in the pathetic Big 12 North, but under Pinkel's watch, Missouri is 0-11 against Texas and Oklahoma—the two biggest measuring sticks by which this program can gauge its growth and maturity.

To put it bluntly, something's missing.

To ascend to that next level, Missouri has to beat the best teams. This program desperately needs a win over a team that it has no business beating. But judging by Saturday night, the Tigers can't be deemed worthy of being compared to either of those Big 12 South powers or any other national contender.

I always explode when people imply Missouri will never be able to grow into a dominant brand. "Why the hell not?" I argue. But maybe those people are right.

Maybe Pinkel isn't the man for the job. Maybe the Tigers aren't recruiting as well as we thought. Maybe athletic director Mike Alden should ponder shelling out more money for a big-name coach with an impeccable track record in big games and an aura that commands nationwide respect.

Or maybe I should just shut my mouth. It's entirely possible the Tigers could walk into Boulder, Colorado, next weekend and rout the Buffaloes for the third straight season. That would be nice, but I would be left eating only a small portion of crow, not the whole helping. Because Colorado is no Texas.

Plus, after what I was forced to witness Saturday night, Missouri's next game seems light-years away. And, for now, I'd rather focus on my pity and disgust anyway.

Photo credit: Columbia Daily Tribune

Missouri Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns: Breaking Down the Matchups

Ryan Faller — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:37:15 -0400

I don't know exactly what the odds are of Missouri upsetting No. 3 Texas on Saturday night, but, frankly, it may not matter.

If college football has taught us anything, especially recently, it's that no team is immune from getting knocked off. To wit, a top 10 team has gone down each week this season . And with the exception of the season's fifth week—when several of the big boys took a Saturday off—a team within the top 5 has suffered the same fate.

I don't necessarily think the unranked Tigers will beat the Longhorns to become the next giant killer. On top of being 13.5-point underdogs on Saturday, Missouri, since head coach Gary Pinkel took over in 2001, is just 7-22 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 , including a 1-6 mark against the top five.

Plus, dating back to 1916, Missouri has beaten Texas only once in 15 attempts, with the lone win coming in 1997 against a Longhorn team that finished 4-7.

Compound those numbers by the notion that Texas may have a better athlete at nearly every position, and the Tigers' odds of an upset plummet.

Missouri's only chance of winning is playing a perfect game and hoping lightning strikes again. It's happened more than once, and it could certainly happen again. But if the Tigers are to take advantage of college football's volatility once again rearing its head, they have to win the individual matchups, including what I have deemed to be the game's two most crucial.

Missouri offensive tackles Elvis Fisher and Dan Hoch vs. Texas defensive end Sergio Kindle

The broader picture to this matchup is Missouri's beleaguered offensive line against Texas' dominating front four. But Kindle, a candidate for several national awards, is arguably the Longhorns' most talented and electrifying player. On the other side of the coin, Fisher and Hoch, both sophomores, have struggled against speed rushers as a result of poor technique.

To the edge what Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh is to the interior, Kindle, though he has followed up a 10-sack junior season in 2008 with only two sacks thus far in six games, has the ability to change a game.

At 6'4", 255 pounds, Kindle is bulky enough to contribute against the run, but his speed allows defensive coordinator Will Muschamp the luxury of spreading him all over the field, at both linebacker and defensive end, on either side of the formation.

Without losing focus of Texas' other difference-makers up front, Hoch and Fisher, along with MU's guards and center, have to account for Kindle on every play. And, first and foremost, that means on passing downs, where Kindle and Co. should be able to generate pressure on a less-than-healthy Blaine Gabbert , particularly on third-and-long situations.

Both with distinct size advantages, Hoch (6'7", 320) and Fisher (6'5", 300) absolutely have to neutralize Kindle's speed with a quick first step and a solid punch. And perhaps more importantly, the duo has to be able to get their hands inside on the defensive end, which is a matter of technique that has eluded the Missouri offensive line and resulted in a mess of costly holding penalties.

As a whole, Missouri's offensive line has performed well at times, but breakdowns in communication and poor fundamentals have lead to gaps in pass protection and a failure to create seams in the running game.

The Tigers have allowed eight sacks this season, including a modest total of three in games against Nebraska and Oklahoma State, but quarterback Blaine Gabbert has been feeling the heat considerably more often since Big 12 play began.

And he'll likely be under siege again. The Longhorns rank in middle of the Big 12 with 17 sacks, but the defense is one of the nation's most disruptive, forcing 14 fumbles and a league-high 19 turnovers . If the Tigers can't limit mistakes in the trenches, forget about it.

The Tigers' pass-first, run-second mentality is well-documented, but despite offensive coordinator David Yost's sometimes wavering commitment to the run, Missouri may have no choice but to throw.

Texas has allowed only 225 rushing yards all season , or an average of 37.5 per game, and lead the nation in both categories. Factor in Missouri's season-long struggles in the running game, and Kindle may have the opportunity for a field day against a one-dimensional MU offense.

Edge: Texas—Outside of Suh, Kindle is the best defensive player Missouri will see in 2009. In lieu of all the problems Kindle presents all by himself, the bigger conundrum exists when opposing offenses pay him too much attention, immediately allowing Texas' other defensive stars to play unencumbered. It's been a theme for Texas this season, and it's likely to continue against Missouri.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy versus Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon

When Texas has the ball, two of the Big 12's fiercest competitors will be on display. A preseason favorite to capture the Heisman Trophy, Colt McCoy has hardly resembled the quarterback that set an NCAA record for completion percentage a season ago.

McCoy has suffered from a mediocre receiving corps, not to mention a running game that produces nearly 170 yards a game but ranks 49th in the country.

Sean Weatherspoon , by all accounts, is perhaps the conference's best linebacker and without a doubt the heart and soul of the Missouri defense. A preseason All-American selection, the 6'2", 245-pound Weatherspoon is a menacing presence and, as a three-year starter at outside linebacker, is zeroing in on Missouri's all-time tackle total, averaging over eight stops per game this season.

If Missouri's underachieving defensive line can sustain unexpected pressure on McCoy, defensive coordinator Dave Steckel won't feel the need to blitz. However, if the need arises, he'll call Weatherspoon's number as the first linebacker to join the rush.

With his strength and good leverage, Weatherspoon will be able to break Texas' protection scheme, but when he gets there, he needs to take McCoy to the ground, putting Texas in difficult down-and-distance scenarios.

Conversely, if Texas is able to protect in the passing game, McCoy will have ample time to find his targets. The Longhorns' offense won't scare anyone running the football, but if running backs Vondrell McGee , Tre' Newton , and Fozzy Whittaker are able to navigate seams in the Missouri defense, things will open up even further for McCoy, who will start despite battling the flu and an injured thumb on his throwing hand.

Missouri's linebackers are susceptible to misdirection, so anticipate Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis employing plenty of read options. After finishing 2008 as Texas' leading rusher, McCoy has just 91 yards on 48 carries this season, but he should be able to take advantage of the Tigers' over-aggressiveness. And that may include running right at Weatherspoon, who at times struggles to shed blocks against top-tier linemen.

Weatherspoon's linebacking mates, Luke Lambert and Andrew Gachkar, are solid, but all three form a trio that lacks top-end speed and hip fluidity. Texas could take advantage by running McCoy on speed options to the edge and throwing the ball down the middle of the field to receiver Jordan Shipley , who presents a difficult matchup for the Missouri secondary.

Edge: Push—Saturday night will be a 60-minute chess match between two of the conference's most decorated players, but something has to give. With the emergence of some of this peers, Weatherspoon hasn't been as effective as he was in 2008, but he'll still receive an asterisk in Texas' offensive game plan.

Weatherspoon will need plenty of help, but with the Longhorns possibly leaning on the running game a bit more than usual as the result of McCoy's bothersome thumb, the Tigers may be able hold Texas in check by feeding off what could be a near-record crowd in Columbia.

Missouri Tigers Football: Midseason Report Card

Ryan Faller — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:27:08 -0400

It seems like only yesterday the Missouri Tigers were gearing up for their Sept. 5 season opener against Illinois.

Some seven weeks later, however, despite a startling 4-0 beginning to the season, I'm not so sure we know too much more about this team now than when it broke preseason camp in early August.

With 75 percent of the 2009 roster occupied by freshmen and sophomores, it's easy to blame youth for the Tigers' current two-game losing streak that has suddenly brought expectations crashing back down to Earth.

And though overzealous fans may get some kind of morbid joy out of surgically and ruthlessly dissecting this team's flaws on message boards, it's important to exercise patience when a team has experienced as much turnover as the Tigers.

True, Missouri faces a monumental task this weekend against No. 3 Texas to avoid an 0-3 hole in the Big 12 North, but if this team continues to grow weekly like it should; the remaining schedule offers plenty of opportunities for the Tigers to finish with what should be considered a very solid season.

But enough about the future. Let's reflect back on the past, where Missouri experienced its fair share of ups and downs through the first six games of the 2009 season.

Without further ado, here's my midseason report card for the Missouri Tigers:

Offense: B-

It took this green Missouri offense all of four quarters to make us forget the scoreboard-shattering days of Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, and Chase Coffman. But in the wake of its awesome debut against the Illini, the offense spent much of the next five games reminding Tiger faithful that a reloading project is not necessarily completed overnight.

Make no mistake, this is not the same offense as the one Missouri fielded the past two seasons. Blaine Gabbert is a completely different breed of quarterback than Daniel. With the possible exception of Danario Alexander, no one possesses the sheer game-breaking ability of Maclin. And because the staff has implemented subtle changes in scheme, MU doesn't utilize its tight ends nearly as much this season, rendering Coffman's presumed predecessor, Andrew Jones (seven rec., 39 yards), ineffective in the passing game.

For the most part, the Missouri offense has done a respectable job this season, but you'd never know by looking at the numbers. Missouri scores 29.3 points a game, which ranks 46th in the nation, but the Tigers are lagging behind other offenses in the Big 12. If it were not for the conference's fourth-best passing attack (283.2 yards/game), Missouri would rank eighth or worse in the Big 12 in every major offensive statistical category.

But more than anything else, numbers aside, the Tigers' offense has been plagued by inconsistency.

Albeit with a nagging ankle injury, Gabbert is smack dab in the middle of growing pains as a first-year starter, and a number of young receivers are still working to find their footing in an intricate offense. And once considered the offense's one glaring strength, the offensive line has been a huge disappointment, as well as the main culprit for a lackadaisical running game that has been the Achilles heel of this team all season long.

It goes without saying that expectations for the offense were tempered entering 2009, especially given the departure of so many high-profile players from the previous two seasons.

This group has plenty of talent, but a relatively soft non-conference schedule has since given way to a Big 12 slate that offers minimal margin for error. And the young MU offense is paying the price right now for its inexperience, as mental lapses, careless penalties, and turnovers have lead to the team's current two-game skid.

As was the case in the loss at Oklahoma State, the offense tends to show flashes of brilliance for quarters at a time, only to have the switch turned off without notice. The task now is to prevent that from happening consistently. If Missouri can do that, fans may begin to lament the loss of Daniel and his cohorts a little less.

Best player this season so far: Danario Alexander (44 rec., 627 yards)—What else can you say about the senior receiver? Alexander has already set a career-high in yardage three separate times, which goes to show what he's capable of when his troublesome knee is actually healthy.

Player to watch for the second half: De'Vion Moore—This is going out on a limb, because the sophomore tailback has been underutilized this season, partially due to injury. It remains to be seen if Moore, who is averaging just 5.5 carries a game, will begin to see more touches during the second half of the season, but Missouri's offense would be wise to take advantage of his straight-line speed and cutback ability.

Player the offense can least afford to lose: Blaine Gabbert—We know the guy is tough. Though head coach Gary Pinkel repeatedly indicates Gabbert's ankle is 100 percent, any idiot knows otherwise. With that being said, Gabbert seems content to play through the pain, so anything less than a concussion or death won't keep him off the field. And that's a good thing, because nobody really knows what backup Jimmy Costello brings to the table, including maybe himself. Despite being a first-year starter, Gabbert is the heart and soul of this team and an unsung leader. Plus, his early-season dominance keeps the offense's grade from slipping to a C+.

Defense: B

In the same breath, you might struggle to find the proper adjective to describe the defense's performance compared to that of last season, yet even the most optimistic of fans would still manage to conjure a list of ways the Tigers could improve in this area.

Facing the monumental task of cleaning up the rubble left behind by his predecessor, Matt Eberflus, new defensive coordinator Dave Steckel has done an admirable job of simplifying the perplexing coverage schemes that caused so much confusion and chaos in 2008. Using a vanilla game plan that emphasizes discipline and responsibility while preventing the big play, Steckel has taken advantage of Missouri's increased athleticism, particularly in the secondary, to construct a defense that is currently among the nation's best.

Through six games, the Tigers rank 33rd and 35th in the nation in total yards allowed (2,021) and points per game (20.3). To boot, the pass defense, which was one of college football's worst a season ago, is ranked third in the pass-happy Big 12, allowing 209.5 yards per game. After bringing up the rear in the conference in 2008, the pass defense this season ranks behind only Nebraska (174.5) and Oklahoma (189.8).

Of course, there have been moments of deficiency. Nevada had no trouble on the ground, rushing for more than 200 yards. Heck, FCS opponent Furman racked up nearly 400 yards of offense. And including the forgettable fourth quarter against Nebraska, Missouri's lax coverage on the outside has been exploited by Big 12 receivers.

A majority of the Tigers' problems on defense can be traced back to the ineptitude of a defensive line that was being heralded prior to the season. Missouri ranks 51st in the nation (eighth in the Big 12) in rush defense, surrendering 127.3 yards per game, which is a reflection of the line's inability to get a consistent push up front.

Senior nose tackle Jaron Baston has had his moments, but he is hardly dominant, and sophomore tackles Terrell Resonno and Dominique Hamilton have been extremely quiet while learning on the fly and at times look completely overmatched. The result has been a mushy interior defense that puts way too much pressure on the defensive ends to create disruption and forces Steckel to dial up unwanted blitzes.

Speaking of the ends, the interchangeable trio of senior Brian Coulter, sophomore Jacquies Smith, and redshirt freshman Aldon Smith haven't been much better, failing to live up to the ridiculous hype created this preseason by fans and media alike, including this guy.

By Big 12 standards, the Smiths are undersized ends, each tipping the scale at just over 250 pounds, and each has had trouble in conference play against more physical offensive tackles. Aldon Smith registered each of his team-leading three sacks by the Nebraska game, but he has since fallen off. As for Jacquies Smith and Coulter, well, they have combined for one-and-a-half sacks all season.

Aside from the linebacking corps, which has featured not only the steady play of All-American Sean Weatherspoon (8.3 tackles/game) but the emergence of sophomore Will Ebner and junior Andrew Gachkar, the Missouri defense clearly has its holes.

More specifically, this unit spends too much time on the field. Not only are the Tigers dead last in the Big 12 in turnovers (eight) and interceptions (two), but they're tied for last in the conference with only 10 sacks and allow opponents to convert 40 percent of their third downs, which is second to last. And that all starts with the defensive line.

If Missouri is able to improve its defensive line play, those numbers will subsequently get better. Granted, the defense is exceeding expectations, especially after last season's debacle, and the unit has kept the team in a number of games (see games versus Oklahoma State, Nebraska, and Bowling Green). However, if it continues to struggle to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and generate valuable turnovers, how long will it be before this overworked defense starts to collapse?

Best player this season so far: Sean Weatherspoon—You could make a case for cornerback Carl Gettis, but Weatherspoon is not only MU's best defensive player, but he is the unit's most valuable. A sure-fire pick within the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, Weatherspoon needs only 83 tackles to become the school's all-time leader in tackles, surpassing James Kinney's mark of 434 set from 2001-04.

Player to watch for the second half: Andrew Gachkar and/or Will Ebner—My initial thought was to pick Aldon Smith, but he appears to be a year away from becoming a truly good player. Gachkar and Ebner, on the other hand, have each made their mark at linebacker, combining for 64 tackles, including six for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble. And though Ebner may be gimpy for a while following surgery on his right knee, there's no reason he and Gachkar won't improve as the season goes along.

Player the defense can least afford to lose: Sean Weatherspoon—see above.

Special Teams: A-

Let's overlook the fact the Tigers rank in the bottom three of the Big 12 in kickoff return and kickoff coverage because, as a whole, the special teams has been nothing short of a pleasant surprise this season. Replacing two of the greats of college football at their respective duties, Missouri has managed to find worthy replacements.

Cornerback Carl Gettis, although nothing spectacular, has handled the monumental task of replacing Jeremy Maclin quite well on punt returns. With the exception of the one muff against Bowling Green, Gettis is doing exactly what you want from a punt return man: catching the ball and making something happen when given the opportunity. Through 12 returns, the fewest among the conference's top five punt returners, Gettis is averaging eight-and-a-half yards, behind only Texas' Jordan Shipley (16.4) and Nebraska's Niles Paul (9.7).

The player responsible for replacing the other half of the Jeremy Maclin equation, kick returner Jasper Simmons, ranks fifth in the Big 12 with his 22.6-yard average. Simmons has shown a semblance of a Maclin-esque ability to find and accelerate through holes, but it's unfortunate that his contributions to the date will be marred by a faux holding penalty and an incorrect fumble ruling that both proved crucial in the loss to Oklahoma State.

Meanwhile, former walk-on Grant Ressel has been a revelation in his attempt to fill the shoes of the departed Jeff Wolfert, the most successful kicker in NCAA history. Not only is Ressel third in the conference in scoring average, at nine points a game, but he has made 12 of 13 field goals, as well as all 18 of his PATs, and leads the Big 12 with his 92.3 percentage.

Ex-Columbia College soccer star Tanner Mills has been solid on kickoffs, and punter Jake Harry IV, utilizing the increasingly popular rugby style, has been better than expected. Harry IV is fourth in the Big 12 with an average of 42.8 yards per punt and has a long of 69.

Coaching: C

After eight seasons of internal calm, head coach Gary Pinkel encountered a shake-up within his staff at Missouri following the 2008 season. Long-time offensive coordinator Dave Christensen took off for the wide-open pastures of Laramie to become the head coach at Wyoming, and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus received a promotion to coach the linebackers of the Cleveland Browns.

And for the most part, their successors, Dave Steckel and David Yost, have done a commendable job of stepping in.

David Yost: C

Like Steckel, Yost is in charge of leading a unit that's laden with youth and inexperience. Once Christensen's second set of eyes and ears when it came play-calling, Yost—who looks more like a professional surfer than a football mind—is considered to be one of the country's better quarterbacks coaches, so he's definitely the man to tutor Blaine Gabbert and oversee the growth of the MU offense.

But, at times, it seems as if Yost has not bothered to shed the stubbornness that often got his mentor in trouble. In combination with poor execution on the field, there's been a number of instances this season in which Yost's call didn't seem to fit the situation and, therefore, it ended in utter failure.

Most recently, at Yost's behest, Missouri threw on third-and fourth-and-1 from deep within Oklahoma State territory last Saturday, opting to put pressure on Gabbert and his injured ankle instead of trusting a running game that seemed to have rediscovered itself earlier in the game.

On the flip side, you could argue that Yost has taken too much heat for the Tigers' offensive woes, particularly running the ball. Shouldn't most of that blame be reserved for the offensive linemen, if not co-offensive line coaches Bruce Walker and Josh Henson? As far as the formations that don't seem to offer up much variety, the Tigers reportedly run a multitude of different plays from the same alignment. And don't forget that Yost and the coaches have yet to entrust Gabbert with changing the play at the line of scrimmage, which cuts down on the offense's options.

For those of you clamoring for a change in scheme or philosophy, don't bother. Yost has been forthright in defending MU's proven spread offense, and that includes not putting Gabbert under center more regularly. But, to his credit, Yost has also admitted mistakes as a rookie coordinator, which I suppose is the first step to improvement.

Dave Steckel: B+

If Yost is the laid back, zany hipster whose main identifiable mark is his soul patch/mop hairdo combo, then Steckel is his polar opposite.

A former Marine, Steckel preached discipline while coaching MU's linebackers for the past eight seasons, and he has carried that mantra over into this new position. The word is defensive players love playing for Steckel—and it shows. Steckel brings an intensity to the sideline that can be easily transferred to the field, and this defense has taken on his personality.

Let's face it, Steckel didn't inherit an overabundance of top-notch talent, but his streamlined philosophy has allowed his players to perform without having to bear the burden of all the extra X's and O's that characterized Eberflus' schemes.

Missouri's defense won't be confused for that of Alabama or Florida. The Tigers still lack elite talent in the trenches, and the shortage of turnovers appears to be a concern that may last the rest of the season. With that being said, under Steckel's watch, the Tigers are happy with employing the old bend-but-don't-break mindset on defense, and to this point it's worked OK.

Through six games, Missouri has held each of its opponents to less than 400 yards of offense and has allowed only five plays of 25 yards or more. We couldn't say either of those last season.

Gary Pinkel: C-

In my mind, over the summer, I thought 2009 would be the most telling season thus far in head coach Gary Pinkel's tenure in Columbia. How would he handle mixed expectations? Following back-to-back seasons of at least 10 wins, would the MU program sink back into obscurity like some have predicted, or would Pinkel prove his efforts have elevated MU to the next level?

To be honest, I don't think any of us know yet. It's clear that Pinkel has talent, but that talent is young. But you could say the same thing for a handful of teams across the country that currently have more wins than Missouri. Yes, the 4--0 start was nice, but how much of that was a byproduct of soft scheduling? Judging by MU's last two games, I'd say more than we originally thought.

So, then, the question becomes this: Is Missouri's, let's say, mediocre first half of the season attributed to youth and inexperience, or to Pinkel's weaknesses as a coach?

From what I've read, Pinkel has little influence on play-calling, which is something he entrusts to his coordinators, so we'll leave that one alone. But what about the mental toughness and resiliency—both of which Pinkel preaches ad nauseum—that has eluded Missouri each of the last two weeks? And what should we make of the lifeless fourth quarter at home against Nebraska? After all, dominance during the game's final quarter has always been one of the centerpieces of Pinkel's philosophy for rejuvenating the program.

And then there's the recent string of mindless penalties and fact that Missouri is tied for last in the Big 12 in turnover margin (-0.33), two blemishes Pinkel has accepted blame for but ones that still rock him to the core as a stickler for detail.

Now, with the Tigers staring an 0-3 in-conference record in the face, will Pinkel enable this team to gallantly circle the wagons? Or will a mid-season slide prove that Missouri is nothing but a program that's capable of making a run every four to five years—and that Pinkel is a second-rate coach?

Stay tuned.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Missouri Tigers News and Notes: Gary Pinkel To Stick With Hobbled QB

Ryan Faller — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:18:51 -0400

Suffice it to say that the Tigers' backs are now firmly planted against the wall.

Following two frustrating losses in a row, Missouri (4-2, 0-2) will now prepare for this Saturday evening's Homecoming matchup with the third-ranked Longhorns of Texas (6-0, 3-0), who opened Monday as an early 14-point favorite .

The nationally televised showdown is sold out and will air on ABC at 7 p.m. CT.

Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996, no team that has begun its conference season 0-3 has scrambled to finish with a winning record. In fact, only six percent (3 of 44) of those teams that have lost consecutive games to begin Big 12 play have managed to salvage a winning record.

And as if Missouri's odds against Texas weren't stacked enough, there's this: The Tigers have beaten the Longhorns only once in 15 meetings since 1916—a 37-29 win in Columbia in 1997.

Though unlikely, Missouri is certainly capable of upsetting Texas. For that to happen, the Tigers will have to play their most complete game of the season—and their best game since blowing out Illinois in the season opener.

Missouri's week of preparation began on Sunday, as I'm sure the team wasted no time reviewing the painful film from the Oklahoma State loss. But head coach Gary Pinkel took a timeout Monday morning to answer questions during his weekly Big 12 teleconference .

The hot topic seemed to be the wobbly ankle of quarterback Blaine Gabbert , who Pinkel insisted is fit to start against Texas on Saturday:

“He wants to play,” Pinkel said. “He should play. He’s better right now, this week, without question. He’s battled through it. Chase Daniel never had to do this. Brad Smith never had to do this. It says an awful lot about him.

“I have no regrets playing him and he would want nothing different.”

Texas head coach Mack Brown also fielded questions. Here's what he had to say when asked about the Missouri offense:

"I thought in preseason there’s no way they could be as good losing Dave Christensen and losing a quarterback like they had with Chase Daniel for years. I mean, Chase, they just ran up and down the field on everybody. I think they didn’t have a three-and-out last year until midseason. Then I saw them in the Illinois game and I didn’t think they dropped off at all.

"...But I think they have a chance—Coach Yost has done a great job with the offense and they’re continuing to do exactly what they did last year—I think they have a chance to be just as good as they were last year. Because they already have been at times. Because of that, they scare you to death with us coming to Columbia."

Notes

Sophomore middle linebacker Will Ebner is listed as the backup to starter Luke Lambert on MU's newest depth chart . Fourth on the team with 31 tackles, Ebner received significant playing time while Lambert was nursing a bad ankle against Furman and Nevada. But he missed last Saturday's game against Oklahoma State after tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee the week prior versus Nebraska. Ebner underwent arthroscopic surgery days later and appears likely to play against Texas.

Missouri's game at Colorado on Oct. 31 has been set for a 12:30 p.m. CT kickoff . The game will air on Fox Sports Net. It will be only the seventh time in the past 22 games that Missouri has played during the day.

Missouri Tigers in Historic Hole Thanks to Two-Faced Offense

Ryan Faller — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:44:39 -0400

It was a ball Wes Kemp would probably tell you he catches nine times out of 10. But, for the Missouri sophomore receiver, it was not meant to be.

Not for the Tigers. Not on this night.

Deadlocked in a back-and-forth battle, Missouri was in a position to take the lead heading into the locker room on the road at No. 16 Oklahoma State. After an Oklahoma State field goal tied the score at 17, Missouri, seeking momentum, had possession in the waning moments of the first half.

Instead, what the Tigers got was the beginning of the end.

Faced with a seemingly unmanageable third-and-21 from his own 25, Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert avoided a sack, found Kemp streaking behind the Oklahoma State secondary, and winged a perfect pass off his ailing right ankle. But the ball descended through Kemp's outstretched arms and collided painfully with the turf.

A completion would have given Missouri the ball inside the Oklahoma State 20-yard line and an excellent chance to not only put up seven points, but to run out the clock on the Cowboys.

For all intents and purposes, after Gabbert, Kemp, and the MU offense made their way to the sideline, the game was decided. What ensued after Kemp's drop was a miserable 29-yard punt to set up OSU near midfield, and the Cowboys' offense needed only go 53 yards to seal the Tigers' fate.

A likely seven-point halftime lead transformed into a seven-point deficit, and eventually swelled to a two-touchdown defeat.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not picking on Kemp. Earlier, fellow receiver Jerrell Jackson had a pass deflect off his hands and land in the gut of an Oklahoma State defender, leading to an interception return and score that effectively began turning the tide of a game on which Missouri (4-2, 0-2) seemed to have a grasp.

When evaluating the comedy of errors that was Missouri's 33-17 loss to Oklahoma State (5-1, 2-0), it seems only responsible to dissect each problem area with equal fervor, especially considering the unexpectedly golden opportunity that awaited the Tigers at Boone Pickens Stadium Saturday night.

With Missouri players planted comfortably in front of their hotel room television sets earlier in the afternoon, fellow division contenders Kansas and Nebraska each stumbled to leave the door wide open in the Big 12 North. Once thought to have been nothing more than a minor threat for the division title following its loss to Nebraska nine days prior, all Missouri had to do to pull even in the three-horse race was something it has had no problem doing in Stillwater, Okla., since 1992: win.

Alas, bloodied and battered from a number of torturous blows—some of the self-inflicted nature, some more the work of the officials—the Tigers limped off the field in front of a Homecoming crowd of 55,752, lamenting a failed attempt to capture the most crucial game of what has become a season with potential to go south in a hurry.

A win would have given Missouri a 1-1 record in the Big 12, as well as injected new life into a team arguably still reeling from the Nebraska collapse. As fate would have it, the Tigers are now chasing surprising division leader Kansas State (4-3, 2-1) and occupy the division cellar as they prepare for next weekend's nationally televised contest with the No. 3 Texas Longhorns .

Missouri's ineptitude against Oklahoma State was widespread. But, above all, it was the schizophrenic and sloppy nature of the offense that cost MU the chance to re-establish an identity as a Big 12 contender.

Making his first conference road start, Gabbert was equal parts bionic sensation and true sophomore. Noticeably still hobbled by a gimpy ankle, which only seemed to worsen as the game wore on, he threw for nearly 260 yards in the first half, including three completions of 30 yards or more.

Highlighted by the exploits of Gabbert and receiver Danario Alexander, who caught six passes for a mind-boggling 161 yards, the Missouri spread attack blistered the Cowboys for 313 yards in the opening 30 minutes. Had Gabbert and Kemp connected on the aforementioned pass, that total gets pushed towards the 400-yard mark.

Unfortunately, as spectacular as Gabbert was in the first half, he was as ineffective down the stretch against Oklahoma State's 89th-ranked pass defense.

His completion percentage across both halves remained constant (12-for-24 in the first; 10-for-20 in the second), but Gabbert had trouble adapting to OSU's defensive adjustments, completing just two passes of more than 10 yards and throwing two back-breaking interceptions during the final two quarters.

After having thrown the first 131 passes of his career without incident, Gabbert has now thrown five interceptions in his last 87 passes to coincide with the onset of Big 12 play.

And as Gabbert struggled, the entire MU offense caved, bumbling its way to an 80-yard second half as the defense was doing its part to keep the game close. With the OSU lead only 10, the Tigers gained a paltry 17 yards on three possessions in the third quarter, which had statistically been Missouri's most successful quarter this season.

A maligned and criticized running game that appeared rejuvenated inexplicably vanished. In the second half, backs Derrick Washington and De'Vion Moore produced only 14 yards on five carries after combining for 63 yards on 12 carries during the Tigers' first-half barrage.

Now one-dimensional, the Missouri offense became predictable and Oklahoma State took advantage, forcing the Tigers into their first scoreless second half of the season.

And that predictability can be traced directly to the press box, where offensive coordinator David Yost fought an apparent bout with insanity.

Case in point: Fresh off an abysmal third quarter, the Tigers were deep inside OSU territory and threatening to cut into a 16-point lead, yet Yost called two passes on consecutive short-yardage situations. Both fell incomplete, and a huge opportunity was wasted.

Later, after a nifty reverse on a punt return provided the Tigers with excellent field position, a visibly handicapped Gabbert threw three straight passes to get MU inside the Cowboys' 10-yard line. However, on fourth-and-three, Yost called a dreaded slow-developing read option for Washington, who was stopped for no gain, killing the drive with just over five minutes to play.

It was a curious call to say the least, especially considering Yost had shocked MU faithful everywhere when he put Gabbert under center on consecutive short-yardage plays in the second quarter to cap a scoring drive.

As well as it played on Saturday, some of the blame should be placed on the defense. It held an explosive, albeit undermanned, OSU offense to two touchdowns and just nine points in the second half, but the Missouri defense also failed to produce a turnover for the second time this season and once again featured a feeble and lethargic pass rush.

The Missouri defense also failed to register a sack against Oklahoma State, and has just 10.5 sacks through six games this season.

And when the Tigers were experiencing struggles on both sides of the ball, they couldn't exactly count on a mistake-free game from the officials.

On back-to-back kickoff returns by Missouri's Jasper Simmons , officials made what could surely be argued as the wrong calls. First, it was freshman linebacker Donovan Bonner 's phantom holding infraction that, according to replays, could just as easily be enforced on every return in every college game. As it were, Bonner was flagged and an 88-yard return was nullified.

And then there was Simmons' bogus fumble that lead to Oklahoma State's final points of the night. After several minutes of what turned out to be unnecessary review, the call on the field was upheld, although television replays clearly indicated that Simmons' knee was down before the ball was jarred loose.

It's debatable to what degree these instances impeded Missouri's comeback, but head coach Gary Pinkel won't make any excuses for his team's second straight loss. After the defeat, he preferred to put an asterisk next to the Tigers' offensive gaffes, specifically the 4-0 disadvantage in the turnover battle—and rightfully so.

Since posting a plus-seven turnover ratio during its 4-0 start, Missouri has given the ball away seven times while taking it away just twice.

The result is an 0-2 in-conference record and a remaining schedule during which Missouri will not only face its opponents and attempt to strengthen a frail psyche, but wager war with history. Since the Big 12 was formed in 1996, only three of the 44 teams that have begun the conference schedule with two losses have recovered to post winning records.

And just to top it off, no team has ever finished with a winning conference record after losing its first three.

Bring on Texas.

Mike Anderson, Missouri Tigers Not Bothered By Unflattering Expectations

Ryan Faller — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:24:51 -0400

Apparently, the Missouri Tigers basketball team has much yet to prove.

After narrowly missing the program's first-ever Final Four appearance and posting a school-record in wins a season ago, the Tigers were picked seventh in the Big 12's Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday. But head coach Mike Anderson could care less about the strikingly low expectations for his team.

In fact, he insisted—albeit perhaps with tongue in cheek—the Tigers should have been ranked lower.

"They probably should have ranked us last with all we lost," Anderson said during Missouri's preseason media day on Wednesday. "You know how I feel about the polls. That's just somebody's opinion."

Kansas was selected first for the ninth time in 13 years, followed by Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State to round out the top half of the conference.

What the Tigers lost is not so much measured in terms of quantity as it is quality. Missouri loses only four members of a squad that was picked to finish seventh in the conference last season, but the trio of seniors DeMarre Carroll, Leo Lyons, and Matt Lawrence combined to average 15.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and more than 40 points a game to lead a team that obliterated expectations en route to a Big 12 Tournament title and a spirited run to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.

Missouri finished the season 31-7 and ranked in the top 10 in every major poll.

Still, Anderson knows 2009-10 is a new season. And that means his Tigers will have to prove themselves all over again in what some consider to be the country's most competitive conference —and do so with a fair amount of uncertainty.

"If you look at our basketball team and what we have, there are a lot of question marks," said Anderson, who is entering his fourth season at Missouri. "What's going to take place with our team? That's the fun part as a coach, to put all that together."

With a roster that features eight sophomores and freshmen, Anderson will have few upperclassmen on which to rely, but senior guard J.T. Tiller seems ready to take on the role as the team's undisputed leader. One of only three seniors, Tiller acknowledges the benefit of learning from those who have since departed, but he's anxious to begin paving a new path with his teammates.

"We had some great guys to learn from last year," said Tiller, who scored 8.4 points a game as a junior, in addition to being known as one of the Big 12's most relentless defenders. "Those guys laid the groundwork and set it up for players like Zaire [Taylor], Keith [Ramsey], myself, and Justin [Safford] to lead this year. The things that happened last year are in the past, though.

"We have got to make our own way as a team. It's already a new season."

For sure, this is a young Missouri team, and one that will have to re-establish its up-tempo, defense-first mentality, but the faces are hardly unfamiliar.

Among the 10 players on the roster that return, six averaged at least 11 minutes per game last season, including sophomore guards Kim English , Marcus Denmon , and Miguel Paul , who each saw significant playing time in all 38 games in 2008-09 as reserves.

Factor into the equation those who are expected to join Tiller in a leadership role—senior guard Zaire Taylor , senior forward Keith Ramsey , and junior forward Justin Safford —as well as a solid incoming class that includes prized guard Michael Dixon, Jr. , and this Missouri team has the potential to defy some less-than-favorable expectations.

Anderson said the main goal, above all else, will be to sustain the success that was achieved in the face of skepticism last season. However, if the preseason preparation to this point is any indication, that may not be as big of a problem as the preseason rankings would imply.

"I thought last year you saw a team that started out in one fashion and I think at the end, we were probably playing some of the best basketball of any team I've been associated with as a coach," recalled Anderson, who will attempt to take Missouri to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament in seven seasons.

"This is year four, there's a lot of expectations. But no one expects more than this coach and this team. I'm excited about what's taking place, the kids we have in place, and how hard they're working," Anderson said.

Notes

Missouri was left off the Big 12's preseason all-conference team . Kansas' Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, both Co-Player of the Year picks, are joined by Iowa State forward Craig Brackins, Oklahoma guard Willie Warren, Oklahoma State guard/forward James Anderson, and Texas guard/forward Damion James.

Missouri was selected at No. 29 on Jeff Sagarin's all-time rankings of college basketball programs for ESPN, behind Kansas (No. 3), Oklahoma State (No. 18), Oklahoma (No. 20), and Kansas State (No. 27) among Big 12 schools. Sagarin's rankings do not acknowledge Final Four appearances and national championships , which is why the Tigers outperformed traditional powers Georgetown, Texas, and Arizona. Somehow, St. Louis University ranked No. 53; one spot in front of Connecticut.

Photo credit: Columbia Missourian

Missouri Tigers Enemy Intel: Examining the Oklahoma State Cowboys

Ryan Faller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:34:27 -0400

With that fourth quarter against Nebraska nearly removed from my memory bank, I have begun focusing my attention on the Oklahoma State Cowboys, whom the Missouri Tigers (4-1, 0-1) will take on at newly-refurbished Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. CT..

The game will be carried by ESPN2, giving the Tigers their third consecutive nationally televised primetime appearance.

For reasons other than rebuilding its psyche in the wake of the Nebraska letdown, in my opinion, this is the most crucial game of the season for Missouri. The Tigers could desperately use an impressive road win over a ranked opponent to regain respect and gain some footing in the race for the Big 12 North, but self-assurance trumps either of those two concepts.

Head coach Gary Pinkel and the Tigers need to prove to themselves that they're capable of putting together a complete performance for a full 60 minutes—which is something that hasn't happened since the Illinois game—and a victory over an explosive, albeit depleted, Oklahoma State team would fit the bill. A win restores Missouri's confidence level, but a loss would mean an 0-2 in-conference record and, with Texas looming on Oct. 24, all but end the quest for a third straight North title.

The No. 16 Cowboys (4-1, 1-0) began Big 12 play with a solid road win over Texas A&M last weekend. But the town of Stillwater is abuzz with concern about whether all hands will be on deck against Missouri, whom Oklahoma State hasn't beaten at home in its last four tries.

Running back Kendall Hunter, last season's leading rusher in the Big 12, is considered day-to-day with an ankle/foot injury, and All-American Dez Bryant's status for Saturday is still well up in the air following his plea Tuesday for reinstatement from the NCAA.

But the availability of the Cowboys' offensive stars is only one subject of discussion in this edition of Enemy Intel. This week I enlisted the help of Oklahoma State beat writer Brandon Chatmon, who was generous enough to give his thoughts on the season so far, as well as who Missouri fans should worry about in the potential absence of Hunter and Bryant.

RF: Given the unprecedented expectations for this Oklahoma State team, how would you assess the first half of the season? Has anything really jumped out at you, either negatively or positively?

BC: To be honest, the Cowboys have surprised me in a positive way. If I was told they'd lose Kendall for much of the first half of the year, lose Dez right before Big 12 play opened, and have tons of injuries, I would not expect them to have handled all of it this well. They are 4-1 and one tipped pass away from being undefeated and in the top five. Their mental toughness has been very surprising.

RF: Assuming his meeting with the NCAA went well, is there a chance Dez Bryant gets reinstated at some point this season, if at all? And, if so, how soon could we expect him back on the field? What is the situation with Kendall Hunter's ankle/foot looking like?

BC: I lean towards the thought process that Dez won't return. Maybe the NCAA will surprise me and show some empathy, but I'm not holding my breath. Even if they do, I think Texas [on Oct. 31] would be the earliest we would see Dez back out there.

There are plenty of rumors Kendall is hurt worse than OSU is letting on. He's officially day-to-day, and he's been practicing, but it's a matter of how his ankle/foot responds. I'm to the point where I think he's doubtful until he's playing. I've heard too many times that he will likely play, then he doesn't.

RF: What impact has coordinator Bill Young had on the Oklahoma State defense?

BC: A great impact. They are getting a lot more pressure on the quarterback and they are a lot more aggressive. They force turnovers at a better clip and they have confidence they can develop into a good defense as the season progresses.

RF: Even with the likes of Bryant and Hunter on the field, is this OSU team equipped to challenge Texas and Oklahoma for a Big 12 South title? If not, how far away are the Cowboys?

BC: With Bryant and Hunter, the answer is yes. And even without those guys, Texas and Oklahoma aren't exactly running away from the pack right now. I think the fact OSU has Texas at home gives them the chance to knock off the Longhorns. And Oklahoma has plenty of problems of their own. I think OSU has a chance to win the South, but they'll have to play well, and actually get guys back playing and healthy, to knock off both squads.

RF: Can you give Missouri fans a few names to concern themselves with on Saturday, as well as a reason why they might make an impact?

BC: Wide receiver Dameron Fooks: After seeing limited action in the first couple games, Fooks has become a playmaker in the OSU offense.

Safety Markelle Martin: A big, physical safety who also has the talent to match up well with WRs.

Defensive end Richetti Jones: A highly recruited star out of high school, Jones appears to have emerged as a solid pass-rushing threat in the past few games. He had 1.5 sacks against Texas A&M.

RF: These two teams have had a recent history of playing crazy nail-biters, including several that needed overtime. Should we expect the trend to continue? How do you see this one playing out?

BC: Yes. I think it will be a very close game with OSU pulling it out thanks to their special teams play and a turnover or two. With Gabbert at less than 100 percent, I think the Cowboys could get pressure and force him into poor decisions.

Brandon Chatmon is the Oklahoma State football beat writer at The Oklahoman. He also contributes to a blog at the paper, simply named The OSU Cowboys Sports Blog. You can also follow his excellent work via his Twitter page.

Photo credit: Sports Illustrated

Missouri Tigers News and Notes: Status of OSU's Bryant, Hunter Uncertain

Ryan Faller — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:16:34 -0400

Given the sullen and depressing nature of Thursday night's choke against Nebraska, I will refrain from posting a full-blown version of "Under Further Review" this week. Frankly, I would rather look ahead to Oklahoma State than recall all of the obvious ills that defined that historically bad fourth quarter.

The 27 fourth-quarter points MU allowed against Nebraska were the most since 1984, when the Tigers surrendered 28 to Wisconsin in a 35-34 loss.

Here's an abbreviated version of my review of the Nebraska game:

The Good: 1) improved defensive line play, 2) active linebackers (particularly Andrew Gachkar), 3) run defense

The Bad: 1) the invisible offensive linemen, 2) Gabbert showing his youth, 3) fourth quarter play calls

With that out of the way, let's move on. In my last article, I touched on the fact that Missouri has a pair of golden opportunities for atonement ahead, beginning this Saturday in Stillwater, where the Tigers haven't lost since 1992.

Not only would a win over Oklahoma State (ranked No. 16 in AP, No. 14 in Coaches') soothe the sting of the loss to Nebraska, it would thrust Missouri (unranked in the AP) back into the national polls and instantly put the Tigers back into the Big 12 North picture.

And history suggests the game between the Cowboys and the Tigers will be an entertaining one. Though Missouri holds a 27-21 edge in the series—and a 5-2 mark in Big 12 play—six of the last seven meetings have been decided by seven points or less, including three overtime thrillers.

Another interesting note from this matchup: The road team has won each of the last four meetings, the most noteworthy of which being OSU's 28-23 win over then-No. 4 Missouri in 2008 that all but crippled the Tigers' national championship hopes.

A few other notes regarding this weekend's game, which will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 8:15 p.m. CT:

The status of Dez Bryant for Saturday's game versus Missouri is undetermined. The Oklahoma State All-American receiver/return specialist is scheduled to meet with NCAA officials Tuesday in Indianapolis regarding his chances of reinstatement.

Bryant, a junior who intends to enter the NFL Draft next year, was declared ineligible for the remainder of the season last Wednesday for lying to the NCAA about his visit to the home of former NFL star Deion Sanders.

Had he told the truth about his relationship and meeting with Sanders, which is currently being investigated for potential improprieties, Bryant would not have been punished.

"Once it’s explained, I think there’s some other factors that will hopefully come out and help with this situation,” Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said of Bryant, who violated NCAA Bylaw 10.1.

"I would hope that anyone who would listen to the whole story and would feel him, kinda as a human being, and would listen to his side of it would at least have some empathy for what happened to him."

As far as Sanders is concerned, he told the NFL Network on Sunday that his former agent was not present at the house at the time of Bryant's visit; had the agent been present, Bryant would have been guilty of an NCAA infraction.

Sanders, who said he talks to Bryant about "three times a week," reiterated in the interview that he was asked to mentor Bryant and that he even sought permission from an OSU official to do so.

Moving from one OSU star to another, junior running back Kendall Hunter may be a game-time decision. Hunter, who scorched the Tigers for 154 yards last season, has missed the last three games since suffering an ankle/foot injury in the second half against Houston on Sept. 12.

Hunter's injury was initially diagnosed as a sprain, but now the fear is that a fracture may be more likely, leaving the return of the Big 12's leading rusher in 2008 uncertain.

When asked if he would seek a medical redshirt for Hunter, head coach Mike Gundy said he would wait a bit longer before making that determination, as Hunter has been able to handle some light drills over the last few weeks and could possibly be fit to play later this week.

Hunter's two main replacements, Keith Toston and Beau Johnson, have combined for 566 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

During his Monday teleconference, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel said quarterback Blaine Gabbert suffered a "slight sprain" of his right ankle against Nebraska and that he looked fine during practice on Sunday. Pinkel sounded optimistic Gabbert could be back at 100 percent in time for Saturday.

Looking a bit further into the future, Missouri's homecoming contest against Texas on Oct. 24 will be televised on ABC either at 2:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. The Big 12 and ABC will make a determination next Monday. The game between Oklahoma and Kansas in Lawrence will occupy whichever slot is left vacant.

**UPDATE 10/12, 9:45 p.m.** The injury news regarding sophomore linebacker Will Ebner is just as favorable. Columbia Daily Tribune beat writer Dave Matter reported Monday evening that Ebner has undergone arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee and has already begun rehab. Ebner, who tore the meniscus late in the game against Nebraska, had half of the tendon removed and may return as early as the Texas game.

Meanwhile, cornerback Munir Prince (hamstring) is expected to play against Oklahoma State after sitting out against Nebraska.

A couple of interesting tidbits: Matter reported that according to Pinkel's estimation, Missouri offensive linemen were flagged for only 10 holding penalties all of last season—or six more than they were in four quarters against the Cornhuskers on Thursday. Also, senior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon told Matter that Dez Bryant is the cousin of Gilbert Moye, Missouri's No. 4 running back.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Missouri Tigers' Late Collapse Against Nebraska Doesn't Have to Linger

Ryan Faller — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:19:06 -0400

The backdrop was ominous. An all-day dreariness had befallen Columbia, Mo., bringing dark, thunderous clouds that would part only to give way to the unrelenting sheet of rain that pelted Faurot Field and caused spotty power outages across town.

But none of that seemed to bother the water-logged crowd of nearly 66,000, which sported everything from waterproof body paint to childish flotation devices to keep the precipitation at bay.

Energized by their raucous army of supporters, the Missouri Tigers also withstood the elements, sloshing their way to a 12-0 lead through three quarters against Nebraska Thursday night.

It wasn't always pretty, as a frustrating number of absent-minded penalties halted progress, but a dominating Missouri defense received just enough help from its offensive counterparts to give a national audience an unexpected performance.

Regardless of the conditions, Nebraska—a three-point favorite—was largely expected to exploit the unbeaten Tigers en route to a win that would not only place the Huskers in the Big 12 North driver's seat, but put them one step closer to re-establishing dominance on a national scale.

But here were the Tigers, a team thought to have been too busy rebuilding to compete, gambling on a last-second fourth-and-goal situation and riding a surprisingly stout defensive performance to carry a commanding two-score advantage into the late stages of a game deprived of offense.

But the No. 21 Cornhuskers, which had been outscored by 70 points over its past two meetings with Missouri and had not won in Columbia since 2001, weren't content on letting three lackluster quarters diminish the opportunity of dominating the fourth.

"We just kept fighting," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said of his team's 27-12 come-from-behind win. "In conditions like that you have take advantage of your opportunities. They took advantage in the first half, and we were able to get that done in the fourth quarter."

Ah yes, the fourth quarter. The most important quarter of all. And the one in which games are won or lost on more occasions than any other.

Despite a number of deficiencies that were exposed after being shrouded by a mostly non-threatening first four games, Missouri stayed afloat for the first 45 minutes Thursday. Over the final 15, however, the Tigers finally succumbed to the weight of their flaws.

After cruising through non-conference play mistake-free, sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert, facing his most talented opponent to date, panicked under a fierce Nebraska pass rush and seemed zapped off the calm and poise with which he guided Missouri to four consecutive wins.

When it was all said and done, the Big 12's leader in passing efficiency had completed just 39 percent of its passes and thrown a pair of devastating interceptions—on consecutive throws— in the game's final quarter that generously aided Nebraska's furious comeback.

Behind a work-in-progress offensive line, the Missouri running game once again stalled. And, once again, the Tigers' inability to run the ball effectively, instead of helping milk the clock, allowed the opponent to grind away at the Missouri lead.

An overmatched line failed to win the battle at the line of scrimmage, often getting blown up in the process, and creases in the defense were virtually non-existent.

Junior running back Derrick Washington amassed 80 yards, his second-highest total of the season, but he touched the ball only four times in the fourth quarter, including a 23-yard scamper that came in the game's waning seconds.

When Nebraska's lead began to swell, the Tigers didn't all together abandon the run—as some, including myself, had originally thought. Down by only eight points with less than 10 minutes remaining, Missouri made a push to the tie the game with an 11-play drive that featured six runs versus five passes, resorting to splitting carries between No. 2 running back De'Vion Moore and Gabbert, who appeared somewhat dazed after tossing his first interceptions of the season.

All things considered, though, 91 yards on 35 carries and a 2.6-yard average won't get it done—no matter the opponent.

Granted, Gabbert's untimely interceptions put the unit in a pair of seemingly inescapable holes, but Missouri's defense didn't produce a stop when it needed one the most. After imposing its will on Nebraska with numerous blitzes and solid showings from the secondary and defensive line, the defense fell victim to a blown coverage that so crippled the 2008 unit and failed to generate a takeaway in the fourth quarter for the fourth time this season.

And with the game still in the balance, the front seven wasn't able to produce enough push up front to stop Nebraska on a number of critical third-and-short situations.

Blaine Gabbert reacts after spraining an ankle Thursday

And there's the intangibles, or lack thereof. Previously the least penalized team in the Big 12, at five per game, Missouri committed several infractions that can be chalked up to nothing but sheer stupidity, including a number of ill-timed holding and personal foul penalties that routinely killed scoring drives and reversed momentum.

Compounding the frustration was head coach Gary Pinkel's inferior leadership on the sidelines after halftime. Not exactly a master of making adjustments, Pinkel, in conjunction with offensive coordinator David Yost, did admirably stay devoted to the running game—however inept it may have.

But after a crippling holding penalty stalled a crucial fourth-quarter drive that was fueled by a number of successful runs, Pinkel curiously rolled the dice on a desperate 4th-and-20 call from the Nebraska 32 yard line. Rather than attempt a 50-yard field goal or pin the Huskers deep with a punt, Pinkel put pressure on his struggling young quarterback and a beleaguered offensive line to pull off the low-percentage conversion, playing right into the hands of Pelini and the Huskers.

Keeping a team as balanced as Nebraska down for three-fourths of the game was impressive to say the least, but the fact that Pinkel and his staff were so thoroughly outcoached in the fourth quarter was disturbing, particularly when considering how much emphasis Pinkel puts on finishing a with conviction.

Miscues are to be expected from a team as young as Missouri, but getting outscored 27-0 in the fourth quarter at home against a conference rival is inexcusable.

After the dust (or should I say rain) had subsided a bit, no one lamented this point more than Pinkel.

"There were a lot of opportunities the first three quarters," he said. "If we had done a better job of executing on both sides of the ball, it might not have gotten like that in the fourth. This is a tough loss."

In the wake of Thursday night's nationally televised implosion, Missouri is currently learning a harsh lesson that will only benefit its future.

And though the darkness that filled the sky overlooking Faurot Field still lingers a day later, bright days lie ahead for the Tigers—if they choose to take advantage.

It's true that Missouri is now facing an uphill battle for the Big 12 North title, but the weeks to come are filled with chances at redemption and the opportunity to crawl back into the race.

On Oct. 17, the Tigers will travel to Stillwater to take on a wounded Oklahoma State team that hardly resembles the one that ascended to No. 5 in the polls with a season-opening win over Georgia.

With a multitude of questions defensively, the Cowboys are made even weaker with the injured ankle of running back Kendall Hunter and the absence of All-American wide receiver/return man Dez Bryant, who was suspended by the school for the rest of the season for lying to the NCAA regarding a visit to the home of former NFL star Deion Sanders.

An impressive road win over Oklahoma State would give Missouri the jolt it needs to re-enter the polls, as well as serve as a confidence-builder the week prior to a Oct. 24 showdown at home versus No. 2 Texas.

Needless to say, a win over the Longhorns is a long shot, but don't discount the possibility that Missouri will be a proverbial trap game for Texas, having the Tigers sandwiched in-between games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

And then there's the remaining schedules for Nebraska and fellow North favorite Kansas. If Missouri can negotiate an even mark against Oklahoma State and Texas, the Tigers can put some pressure on their divisional rivals.

Currently in the middle of their schedule's most daunting stretch, the Tigers spend most of late October and the month of November playing lesser conference opponents while the Huskers and Jayhawks each have to deal with the Big 12's best, in addition to playing one another.

After playing Texas Tech next week, Nebraska will get Oklahoma at home and Baylor on the road before meeting Kansas on Nov. 14 in Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Kansas plays the Sooners at home in two weeks, before traveling to Austin to face Texas and Kansas City to clash with Missouri in the season finale.

Nebraska, from this point forward, will and should be seen as the Big 12 North favorite, but by no means is the division decided.

The Huskers own a crucial tiebreaker over the Tigers, but with two games yet to be played between the three contenders, many things can happen.

And though vast improvement is needed, Missouri can re-enter the conference picture and regain respect as quickly as it was washed away in a matter of 15 minutes Thursday.

No pun intended.

Notes

Sophomore linebacker Will Ebner is scheduled to undergo a scope of his right knee Monday. Ebner tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee in the fourth quarter against Nebraska.

Ebner is currently considered to be out indefinitely, but the scope will determine the severity of the injury and his timetable.

The injury to Blaine Gabbert's right ankle is being classified as nothing more than a sprain right now. Gabbert's ankle was placed in a protective boot after Thursday's game, and head coach Gary Pinkel will update his condition on Monday.

Photo credit: Nick King/Columbia Daily Tribune

Missouri-Nebraska Predictions Span the Web

Ryan Faller — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:36:42 -0400

Seeing that the game is less than nine hours away, it's probably almost time to let up on all the chest-puffing and mouth-running and let Missouri and Nebraska decide it on the field already.

Almost time.

Because what good would a historically bitter rivalry be without a few little last-minute projections that are sure to inflate the egos of both sides?

Here are a few predictions to chew on for tonight's game while Tiger and Husker fans continue to compare cup sizes:

I’m guessing fans will see Missouri make its share of big plays on offense, even if it’s pouring rain. But I’m guessing Nebraska, for the most part, will control the game, much in the manner it did at Virginia Tech. This time, however, I predict the Huskers will snare a grand road triumph, at last, something along the lines of 35-28 — sort of like the good ol’ days.

— Lincoln Journal-Star writer Steven M. Sipple

If the Tigers give quarterback Blaine Gabbert enough time to throw, he should carve up a suspect Nebraska linebacking corps. If that does not happen, Missouri could be in trouble. Missouri gets up early, and that helps negate the Nebraska running game, forcing the Cornhuskers' Zac Lee to match passes with Blaine Gabbert. Pick: Missouri, 31-24

— Kansas City Star writer Mike DeArmond

Missouri has more firepower and has the ability to score quicker and from anywhere on the field better than Nebraska can, but the Huskers should be able to power away to keep control of the game, and QB Zac Lee should be ultra-efficient and should keep the chains moving. Missouri will have some impressive moments on offense, but there won't be enough of them. Pick: Nebraska, 29-24

— College Football News staff

Blaine Gabbert has been outstanding so far, with a terrific 11-0 TD-INT ratio, but now he faces his stiffest test. NU's D is holding opposing QBs to just 50 percent on their passes. Mizzou has dominated this series the past two years, outscoring NU 93-23. I'm tempted to go with the Huskers, but I think Gabbert will respond well to the prime-time stage. Pick: Missouri 24-14

— ESPN.com writer Bruce Feldman

Feldman goes on to add: I do want to add a caveat, though: The Huskers have held all four opponents to an aggregate 50.4 completion percentage, second-best in the Big 12. Among all FBS teams, only USC has yet to give up a passing touchdown. Nebraska's given up one, to Virginia Tech. Other than the 81-yard catch and run by the Hokies in the closing minutes of Tech's comeback win three weeks ago, the Huskers have given up seven completions of 20 yards or more, including four that gained 32 yards or more.

It's a highly important, pressure-packed clash in the Big 12 North. ESPN's carrying the matchup nationally, and whether you want to characterize the Nebraska-Missouri game as a rivalry or not, it's clear that emotions will be heightened. Big plays and unexpected momentum shifts are expected as a couple of talented quarterbacks will make their conference debuts. But ultimately, the game will be determined by the big-bodied mammoths up front. And NU's lines, both offensively and defensively, seem better equipped to physically control their counterparts. Pick: Nebraska, 31-24

— Omaha World-Herald writer Jon Nyatawa

I always go with what my stats tell me, and in this case, they're projecting an extremely tight Missouri win. Since the weather doesn't give an obvious advantage to one team or the other, we will go with that. Pick: Missouri by 1.

— Rock M Nation's Bill Connelly, via Newsday

To be objective, I would favor Missouri in this game. I think Nebraska is very limited offensively and overrated a bit on defense. They did well against an anemic Virginia Tech offense and still managed to lose the game. I think Missouri has dynamic receivers and a much better offense than Nebraska has faced this year. Playing in Columbia, Nebraska will get rattled. Lee is not that great of a quarterback quite yet and I think Mizzou can successfully put 8 in the box and stop them and force Lee to beat them. I like Mizzou's receivers a lot and their QB will likely get it done when push comes to shove. I think 31-17 Mizzou.

— BornJHawk, an apparent KU fan, practicing some surprising objectivity on the Inside Mizzou message board

According to the Associated Press poll, it's No. 21 Nebraska at No. 24 Missouri. For USA Today, it's No. 22 Nebraska at No. 18 Missouri. Basically what that means is nobody knows what the hell to make of this game. Nobody knows how good these two teams are. And I don't know what to tell you. I don't have much more of a clue than anyone else. But let's just entertain the idea that I'm right, for my sake. I have two predictions. It will be Missouri 38-6 or Nebraska 41-17.

— The Maneater (Mizzou student paper) writer Matt Gerstner, playing the conservative card

The Cornhuskers have been waiting for their shot at the Tigers for a long time, particularly after losing the last two games to the Tigers by a combined margin of 93-23. That hasn’t gone down smoothly for the Cornhuskers and particularly Bo Pelini, who has never beaten Missouri after also losing to them as Nebraska's defensive coordinator in 2003. I think that trend changes Thursday night in the slop in Columbia, Mo., where I look for the Cornhuskers to dominate in the trenches. If the weather is nasty, as expected, I think the running of Roy Helu Jr. becomes even more effective. Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert will have his moments with his talented crew of athletic receivers. But I just don’t think the Missouri offensive line can keep Ndamukong Suh, Barry Turner, Pierre Allen and Jared Crick away for the whole game. Pick: Nebraska, 38-31

— ESPN.com Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin

The Tigers are playing at home and boast an air attack that’s one of the best in the nation, but the defense has been susceptible. The Huskers defense has proven its mettle and its offense has also been productive. Both teams are coming off of bye weeks and will be rested and ready to roll this Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. EDT. The Big Red will be able to rely on their strong running game to control the clock and the game. They will prove they’re ready to contend for the Big 12 championship with a breakout win against Mizzou. Pick: Nebraska, 37-21

— Betfirms.com writer Hector Garza

From 1979 to 2002, Nebraska won 24 straight in the series, frequently mopping the floor with the Tigers. Since 2003, Missouri has won four of six scoring 41, 41, 41 and 52 points against the Huskers. The Pelinis showed a lot of stones at Virginia Tech but Missouri actually has a quarterback. Pick: Missouri, 27-20

— CBSSports.com senior writer Dennis Dodd

Photo credit: Lincoln Journal-Star