Missouri's win against LSU has breathed an amazing amount of life into its fanbase. It has also elevated opinions of some topics to the threshold of ridiculous and that is actually great fun. To borrow Gabe's stream of thought 'Ten Thoughts' here are my Three Thoughts after the LSU victory.
Never apologize for winning. This is just not for Power Mizzou folks, there are quite a few people sharing 'qualifiers' on this Missouri victory. When teams step onto the field, anything can happen. Football fans can generalize that there is usually a better team and the outcome is expected, but don't tell that to anyone who has played or coached. Teams take the field expecting to win. When an underdog fails at the upset they may often fall back on effort, games breaks and even officiating for explanation of a loss. But never apologize for winning.
Missouri was trying to win this game from the start, preparing all week for the game and witnessing the payoff on the last defensive play of the game. Bob Gibson, after hitting a home run during a Cardinal victory, was asked if he was surprised at the outcome of the at bat. Gibby said, "hell no, that's what I was trying to do." I think Missouri was trying to LSU and they did.
Regarding the biggest upsets, like beauty they are in the eye of the beholder. What could be the biggest upset in Missouri history? It probably wasn't against LSU but who knows? Missouri trouncing Alabama 35-10 in the Gator Bowl? Missouri beating Notre Dame 30-28? Missouri 22-21 over Ohio State or Missouri 46-25 at Southern Cal and 34-24 in Lincoln against Nebraska? All good choices. Personally I liked the 2011 upset of Texas in Columbia. It was a game where neither team was undefeated or playing for championships and in the game Henry Josie sustained a terrible knee injury. But Missouri, as Kendial Lawrence rushed for 100+ yards in relief of Josey, totally shut down #12 Texas winning 17-5. A very satisfying win considering the result shut down the Longhorn braggadocio machine.
Best Missouri Teams? The best Missouri teams that I had the opportunity to witness were ...
The 1969 Tigers went into the Orange Bowl as co-Big 8 Champions (tied with Nebraska, a team they beat 17-7 during the season) and subsequently lost 10-3 to Penn State. Missouri was ranked as high as #5 and finished at #6.
The 2007 Tigers were Big 12 North Champions and ranked #1 going into the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma. Missouri lost that game but trounced Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl to finish ranked #4.
Finally, the undefeated (11-0) and unclaimed National Championship Missouri team of 1960. The Tigers actually finished a theoretical 10-1 and ranked #5 in the nation but the AP votes during that time were submitted prior to the bowl season as final rankings. Missouri beat #4 Navy 21-14. BTW, the 'recognized' National Champion for 1960? The Minnesota Gophers with a record of 8-2
Future Missouri Is probably going to look a lot like the Missouri past. Flashes of greatness. long periods of competitiveness as a second tier contender (think Iowa, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Texas A&M and California) with that dreaded poo-poo season or period. An excellent Missouri team CAN WIN the SEC and advance to the College Playoff, but probably not on a regular basis. Remember that at one time, Souther California was a team that simply reloaded and played for national prominence, not anymore. Clemson was much like Missouri history-wise, now an annual national power, so things an change.
For the immediate future under Coach Drink, I can see a rise in talent level by getting hit 3* and 4* talent to commit to the Tigers, but that will most likely be the ceiling. Missouri could morph into the historical plane of say a team like Penn State where Drink coaches here for 20 years and seriously develops an outstanding program like Joe Paterno. But is Coach Drink likely to anchor down here, much less anywhere? The SEC coaching carousel is brutal and loaded with deep pocket boosters that are unashamed to poach successful leaders from other programs.
Never apologize for winning. This is just not for Power Mizzou folks, there are quite a few people sharing 'qualifiers' on this Missouri victory. When teams step onto the field, anything can happen. Football fans can generalize that there is usually a better team and the outcome is expected, but don't tell that to anyone who has played or coached. Teams take the field expecting to win. When an underdog fails at the upset they may often fall back on effort, games breaks and even officiating for explanation of a loss. But never apologize for winning.
Missouri was trying to win this game from the start, preparing all week for the game and witnessing the payoff on the last defensive play of the game. Bob Gibson, after hitting a home run during a Cardinal victory, was asked if he was surprised at the outcome of the at bat. Gibby said, "hell no, that's what I was trying to do." I think Missouri was trying to LSU and they did.
Regarding the biggest upsets, like beauty they are in the eye of the beholder. What could be the biggest upset in Missouri history? It probably wasn't against LSU but who knows? Missouri trouncing Alabama 35-10 in the Gator Bowl? Missouri beating Notre Dame 30-28? Missouri 22-21 over Ohio State or Missouri 46-25 at Southern Cal and 34-24 in Lincoln against Nebraska? All good choices. Personally I liked the 2011 upset of Texas in Columbia. It was a game where neither team was undefeated or playing for championships and in the game Henry Josie sustained a terrible knee injury. But Missouri, as Kendial Lawrence rushed for 100+ yards in relief of Josey, totally shut down #12 Texas winning 17-5. A very satisfying win considering the result shut down the Longhorn braggadocio machine.
Best Missouri Teams? The best Missouri teams that I had the opportunity to witness were ...
The 1969 Tigers went into the Orange Bowl as co-Big 8 Champions (tied with Nebraska, a team they beat 17-7 during the season) and subsequently lost 10-3 to Penn State. Missouri was ranked as high as #5 and finished at #6.
The 2007 Tigers were Big 12 North Champions and ranked #1 going into the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma. Missouri lost that game but trounced Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl to finish ranked #4.
Finally, the undefeated (11-0) and unclaimed National Championship Missouri team of 1960. The Tigers actually finished a theoretical 10-1 and ranked #5 in the nation but the AP votes during that time were submitted prior to the bowl season as final rankings. Missouri beat #4 Navy 21-14. BTW, the 'recognized' National Champion for 1960? The Minnesota Gophers with a record of 8-2
Future Missouri Is probably going to look a lot like the Missouri past. Flashes of greatness. long periods of competitiveness as a second tier contender (think Iowa, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Texas A&M and California) with that dreaded poo-poo season or period. An excellent Missouri team CAN WIN the SEC and advance to the College Playoff, but probably not on a regular basis. Remember that at one time, Souther California was a team that simply reloaded and played for national prominence, not anymore. Clemson was much like Missouri history-wise, now an annual national power, so things an change.
For the immediate future under Coach Drink, I can see a rise in talent level by getting hit 3* and 4* talent to commit to the Tigers, but that will most likely be the ceiling. Missouri could morph into the historical plane of say a team like Penn State where Drink coaches here for 20 years and seriously develops an outstanding program like Joe Paterno. But is Coach Drink likely to anchor down here, much less anywhere? The SEC coaching carousel is brutal and loaded with deep pocket boosters that are unashamed to poach successful leaders from other programs.
