Can Missouri Move Past the Loss to Oklahoma State?

Saturday and Sunday sucked. It was the worst weekend I've had in a loooong time.

The Oklahoma State loss was nothing short of devastating. It was the toughest loss I've ever seen in person and one of the most disappointing sporting events I've ever witnessed anywhere.

But as Mizzou fans, I think we have a responsibility not to bog down the team with negative residue left over from Oct. 11.

The Tigers have a date with the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns on Saturday and this is shaping up to be the biggest game Gary Pinkel has ever coached. 

I cannot overstate how important this game is going to be. I don't say that to insinuate that if we lose Saturday, the season's over.

Jason Whitlock wrote a column today comparing the Tigers to the '03 K-State Wildcats, who lost three regular season games but went on to win the Big 12 Championship. They were in great shape heading into the Fiesta Bowl before Ell Roberson ran into legal problems. 

But at this point, the season can go one of two ways for the Tigers:

• They can rebound and still have arguably the greatest season in school history and possibly compete for a National Championship; or
• They can fall apart, starting with a loss to Texas, and we could be left with bitter memories of the greatest class in Missouri Tiger history.

So forget about Oct. 11. It's over, and it's not going to change. But a lot of us have waited for most of our lives for a season like this one. And I'm not going to give up on it before I need to. 

If you can afford it, make the 12-hour trek to Austin. And to steal a phrase from HCGP: Come early, stay late, cheer loud, and wear gold. 

MIZZOURAH.