@GabeD ... will PFF publish performance grades for the bowl game? There is one grade I am curious about, Drake Heismeyer. It seemed that he had no issues snapping the ball (save for the miscommunication snap on Missouri's first TD, nice reaction from Cook) and it seemed as if the running game improved a bit also.

This seems like a very Mizzou reason to still not have a dedicated OC at this point.

Repeat of Bragging rights game for anyone needing a pick me up after last night.

Don’t think there was ever real interest from Mizzou. Believe that was bad info from the Pitt side

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I had a former account with the name “Mexicojoe”
got this new handle because I could mt remember my password etc

Merry Christmas to all
enjoy the weekend and the whatever is the true meaning of the holidays for you and yours

Terrible job at the 24 second end of 1st half! Failed to spike ball after making first down-no brained!

Quick story on the news: https://missouri.rivals.com/news/steve-wilks-leaving-mizzou-to-return-to-the-nfl

1.) Missouri won third down, fourth down and turnovers (and still lost)

More times than not if a team wins third down, fourth down and the turnover battle then it should win. Missouri went 8 of 19 on third down, converted a couple of fourth downs and both teams had one turnover, but Wake Forest’s turnover led to a touchdown drive. Having nine penalties for 85 yards and allowing four sacks, 10 tackles for loss and fumbling three times (one lost) doesn’t help. The secondary getting ripped to shreds underneath doesn’t either. Usually, it’s details like this that make or break a game. Missouri did the details better and still lost.

2.) Mizzou missed defensive starters

Predictably, Mizzou not having starting defensive ends Isaiah McGuire, DJ Coleman, Trajan Jeffcoat, DJ Coleman and safety Martez Manuel hurt. Missouri did limit Wake Forest to just 20 points even though it came into the game averaging nearly 37 points per game. The defense recorded two sacks and four tackles for loss, but allowed almost 400 yards of total offense.

The secondary was thought to be probably the best position group on this team entering the game and it struggled the most, despite only missing one starter compared to three on the defensive line. The drive after Mizzou took the lead, Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman walked the defense down with three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown on a four-play, 75-yard drive. That would be the go-ahead score. Wake Forest wide receiver AT Perry had 11 receptions for 116 yards and Jahmal Banks had three receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. The quick curls, out routes and drag routes just punished the secondary time and time again.

3.) Offensive line is in rough shape

The offensive line of Javon Foster, Xavier Delgado, Connor Tollison, Connor Wood and Armand Membou had played together in the last three games and they seemed to be playing well, but it wasn’t that way in the first quarter. It didn’t last too much beyond that because Wood was carted off the field towards the end of the first and Tollison was helped to the sideline early in the second quarter. Four first-quarter rushing yards and on six carries is pretty bad. The team rushed for 125 yards for the game. Walters replaced Wood and almost immediately committed a false start and later committed a hold on the first play of the last drive of the first half. He finished the game with three penalties. This offensive line is bad. Really bad. But this game wasn't the game that told you that. It just confirms that the offensive line needs to be revamped in the offseason.

Will any of these guys be eligible to come back next year? If so, are they expected to? It’s my understanding that the covid year doesn’t count against a players eligibility, thus giving most players 5 years in this time period. Maybe I’m wrong on this.

Hodge/Gholston - this is the 3rd year of major college ball for both. Not sure if they played anywhere before that? I know Hodge is older. Maybe they are listed as seniors as they played JUCO.

Kobe, Honor, Mosley & Gomillion are each playing in their 4th seasons of major college ball.

Noah Carter is playing in his 4th year of major college ball, yet is listed as a junior??

Just trying to figure out if Gates is going to have to basically start over next year.

Also on Mosley — no idea what the issue is there (I’ve heard it was an attitude thing…. But then I’ve also heard it’s actually just a personal thing). But if it’s not an attitude thing and Gates likes him — what about just shutting him down and redshirting?

Right about kickoff time, our newest grandson was born--at kU Med.

He is in the NICU for now due to his tiny size and evaluation of concerns the high risk OB team has had during our bonus daughter's pregnancy, For several months, we were told he might not survive or he might be deformed. But he is beautiful--a fighter with a strong heart and good breathing. Our family would appreciate your prayers for his continued growth and development. We can't wait to meet him, hold him and hug his mom and dad.

He is a third generation Tiger. His mom, maternal grandmother and grandfather, paternal grandmother, uncle, great uncle and great aunt are all Mizzou grads. So when he's old enough to attend his first game, we will remind that he brought us such joy on his birthday even though our team disappointed us.

Let's discuss.

Personally, I'm not too upset about the outcome. We lost again, but it wasn't unexpected... another game we could've won but didn't. I didn't believe our offense would be any different, even without Lovett - We all know the primary issues. The defensive front outperformed my expectations (because Baker is a good DC) while the DBs did not.

Bonus question... if you could pick one song to describe this season, what would it be? I'm picking Nelly's Over and Over ft. Tugg McGraw Jr. Rationale: what might have been this season (2-5 in games Mizzou could've won with slight changes).

Put all your eggs in this basket. Pack the arena. Embrace this man because without him we are nothing

He seems to have no flow whatsoever in his playcalling.

He gets cute constantly.

We had several 2nd and 2 3 and 3 and 4th and 2—-usually in very good field position.

He constantly calls pass plays instead of something that can very very often be easy picking for such a short distance…. Speed option.

It’s like it isn’t even in our playbook—

I just don’t understand.

The worst call of all was the bomb to LB3 in tight coverage on 4th and 1.

This is maddening.

And I’m a sunshine pumper.

He is awful. I don’t care how much you like his effort.

1. Let’s get this out of the way it is not Peat. He shouldn’t have extended it but then again his kicker just missed a kick from the spot he was at. I am just now recovering and haven’t bother to look at the stats but he played a hell of a game. Worst possible way to finish but he made several plays out of nothing.
2. The Refs. Not on the game ending play they got that right, but man Auburn got every single benefit of the doubt, good spots, no calls on PI’s and so on. So let’s say 5% of the blame because as bad as they were Mizzou could have won 3 different times.
3. The “Thicker” Kicker. You know that nickname means you are fat right? He looks like he has gained 30-40 pounds. He is so fat he can’t clear his hips. He is going to miss a lot more kicks this year. This is not a mental thing, it is physical. He needs to be put on a diet and strenuous work out plan now. Let’s say 30% on Mevis But this issue is also on Drink how did he not see this kid getting so far out of shape?
4. Drink. You can argue about the end of regulation all you want. I always have hated this strategy. You have to trust your RB to wrap the ball up and at least run it up the guy and try to score the TD. If he holds the ball right no chance of fumbling. But this isn’t some quirk that Drink does a lot of coaches subscribe to the strategy. Here is what is on Drink.
A. QB play. I love Brady and his love for Mizzou, but if with 5 minutes left in a tied game Drink does not trust him to throw a forward pass this is a huge problem. Why so many trust that Drink’s assessment of the QB’s skill level is beyond me. Everyone agrees that Drink handled QB last year in the worst way possible but yet we know he has it right this year? Sorry not buying it without seeing it. I want to see Macon and Horn do worse than Brady. Once that happens I will shut up. And saying Horn is running the scout team is a reason he is not capable of playing is just stupid. All the prices is it’s Drinks opinion, which again I have very little faith in at this point. But let’s for a minute say Drink is right and Brady is clearly the best QB then it is still on Drink for not having a better option ready to go.
B. Discipline. I mean come on giving the kicker two free kicks? I am not blaming Peat for stretching the ball out but I will put some blame on Drink for just not instilling doing things the right way in his team, Also as mentioned letting his players get away with being really out of shape.
C play calling. It is mind boggling that you look at Brady’s stats and he is a good QB between 5-15 yards but we never throw it there. It is either a run, screen, and low percentage deep ball. When we throw it 8 yards things work really really well but we just don’t do it. Plus he knows about the OLine problems and he calls play action passes that requires the line to hold their blocks for way longer than they are capable. And how is Burden not returning punts the whole time? Why is he not getting wikdcat snaps? Why is Dom not being targeted way more. Dude is an absolute stud. Give him the fvcking ball. 65% blame.

That being said I definitely am not saying it is time to fire Drink. I do feel like he has done some learning this year from previous mistakes. He is the youngest coach in the league and somewhat learning in the job. Going to a Bowl game in the middle of nowhere on December 20th means nothing anyway. I will call this game progress because the team played with passion after getting down big. The defense was elite. Not good, Elite. If they play like that we will be in most games this year. The OLine was not great or even good but they were passable. Auburn sucks but they do have a lot of talent in the front 7. Drinks recruiting is still really good. I know the class ranking is not high right now but that is because of low size of class. Average stars have us in the top 20 I believe. He needs to start to develop the talent he is getting. He has been saying for a long time that 2023 is the year they will be ready to compete like they want to. I am bought in to give him that time as long as the losses are not like kstate. Miz

We arrived early last night for the Bragging Rights game. As we talking a woman approached us and started a converstation. Quickly realized it was Desiree Reed-Francois. She talked to my son Caleb & I. The most impressive thing was her conversations with my grandsons Matthias & Jaren. She really connected with 11 and 9 year olds. She went on to strike up multiple conmversations with Mizzou fans. She definitely has the "it" factor!!!

@GabeD you guys please post a link to Drink's full postgame press conference?

Hold up a sign that “five level 1 violations?”

Why isn’t he playing?

Is he entering the portal after tonight’s game?

Seriously, why would Schrader and Peat be the rotation in this game?

Jones, Young, Harris, Butts………are any of them coming back next season?

The good thing about this loss is I think we can all now agree that Cook is not good enough to play for this team and we need to replace him. Now we don’t have to waste the next nine months debating this fact. It’s totally settled now.

I grew up in CoMo and had to witness that carnage first hand every weekend like it or not. You could try to turn a blind eye, but could still hear the groans from the stadium in my neighborhood. You could still see the Nub fans taking over the whole town to toast another 55-10 belting. Bless Norm Stewart for existing and making us a basketball school then and easing the pain.

But the fact is that time period set the bar pretty simply. We all did cartwheels and jizzed all over the place just for making it to a bowl game - any bowl game of any kind - in 1997 because it had been 13 freaking years. And back then, yes, .500 teams in major conferences did go to bowls. We just sucked too bad to even make it to 6-6 for 13 years.

Drink has scraped together 6-6 regular seasons for two straight years now and gone to bowl games. We declined to play ku so as to play a harder opponent in Wake. Turns out, yes, they were harder. Not world beaters, but you alll need to Wake up (I slay me) to the fact that the Demon Deacons have been to 7 straight bowl games. Their program name brand is horrendous, worse than Mizzou's, so losing to them always looks bad no matter who you are. But they have been good for several years now, good coach, good program. Ask Clemson how fun they are to have to play against.

Was screwing around with this or the Armed Forces Bowl mecca? No. But it beats freezing your rear off watching 3-8 Mizzou do battle with 4-7 Iowa State in November in 1989 while the college football world isn't even aware enough of your program's existence to laugh at you. Been there, done that. Is it a low bar? Yeah. But it happened. And I ain't gonna take bowl game seasons for granted ever again. Not after 13 straight years of that hell. No.

Illy offense was terrible, but they have a top 15 defense. I was just happy to see our guys score in the 90s against a great defense and take care of the ball. Especially after ku, ucf, and wsu where we only got above the 70s once(and needed OT to do it.)

I think this was important because our d gives up tons of open shots so MU will need to score 80-90 most games to win.

I’ll be cooking some steak and shrimp tonight for Christmas dinner. Merry Christmas boys!