Doc inquired why I hadn't posted on the Mizzou loss to the Beavers of OSU. Yes, I was disappointed, and not just because the loss ruined my plans to somehow write a post filled with witty, vulgar comments on Mizzou beating the South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2005 Independence Bowl and the Oregon State Beavers in the 2006 Sun Bowl (maybe that's for the better - this blog is rated G (unlike some blogs I know)). But that's not why I didn't post.
The main reason I didn't post soon until now is that the PowerFamily and I were leaving for the in-laws house for the annual Christmas bash after the game. Since the game ran long, I was already in deep doo doo with the PowerWife (like the endless commercials were my fault!). But, bless her heart, she let me watch it from start to finish with just a little bit of flak. We left right after OSU won the game and the potential post got pushed to the farthest reaches of the PowerMind.
Back to the game. Take away the David vs. Goliath theme of the Oklahoma - Boise State game, and the MU - OSU Sun Bowl was every bit as exciting. Mizzou's offense scored on big play after big play - yielding an 8.6 yards per play average for the game, but OSU won it with a late touchdown and a successful 2-point conversion, the same thing that killed OU in the Fiesta Bowl.
You can argue that Mizzou had three huge officiating miscues go against them. The first was the batted ball in the first half looked to be a lateral. Had it been called, IMHO, correctly, MU would have returned it for a TD. The second was the non-call of the fumble at the goal line (why didn't coach Pinkel have the replay officials review that?). The third officiating miscue was the second-half on-sides kick that Mizzou recovered but that the refs blew off because an MU player touched it early. All three were critical.
Still, with Mizzou up 14 midway through the 4th, one expects them to win. But they didn't because the Tiger defense was suspect throughout the game, the Beaver coaching staff called gutsy plays that caught the Tigers off guard, and the Beaver players executed well. The refs didn't decide this one although they had a hand in how it got to that point.
There were many things that should cause excitement for Tiger fans. Tony Temple had, by far, his best game as a Tiger. He showed great vision and made quick decisions. The burst of speed he showed was surprising. Let's hope he keeps showing that next year.
I'm going to go out on a limb, but barring injuries, Chase Daniel is going to be remembered as the greatest Tiger QB ever. That's saying a lot considering who he replaced. Chase has poise in the pocket and throws really well. His deep passes got better as the season progressed and he's got lots of weapons to work with. Chase Coffman will be back and if his partner in crime, Martin Rucker, decides to try his luck in the NFL draft, Chase is going to earn All-American honors. If Rucker comes back for his senior season, expect more of the same from those two (the best TE duo in NCAA D1 football). William Franklin, Jared Perry, and Danario Alexander give Mr. Daniel 3 speedy breakaway WR threats. And if Jeremy Maclin rounds nicely into shape after his knee heels, not only will MU have a solid D-line, but the receiving corps could be top notch.
The big losses in terms of the number of players lost come from the defense. But given how poorly that unit played in big games, I'm not sure that's such a big loss. The biggest loss from the defense was the loss of Brian Smith from a broken hip suffered in the Kansas State game. After his season ended, there was a hole in D-line that never got filled. Xavie Jackson and Stryker Sulak tried, but they just coouldn't replace what got lost with Brian's injury. But I really like the cornerbacks Darnell Terrel and Dominique Johnson.
Last, but not least, Jeff Wolfort was a godsend in the kicking game. No missed extra points may seem like nothing to point out, but it's not. He may not have the powerful leg of Nathan Crosby, but his accuracy was like Linus' security blanket. Now let's try and find someone who can score on kickoffs and punts.
So things are looking up, and not just for the football team. Since the firing of Quin Snyder, things have been looking up for many Mizzou sports. The Wrestling team is #1 in the nation. The women's basketball team is 12-1 at this point. The football team had a decent year and were oh-so close to being 11-2. The 2-5 finish is a cause for concern, and most of that comes from the defensive side of the ball. The baseall team upset Pepperdine in Malibu to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals, only to get squished by the Titans of Cal St. Fullerton. The volleyball squad is now officially a national power and the men's basketball program is now back at 11-2, one win shy of last year's total of 12. And Mike Anderson's cagers are a fun team to watch (unlike many of Quinn's teams who were overmatched in the coaching boxes of their opponents' benches).
So even with the bowl loss, things are looking up.