September 8, 1998
GAME AT A GLANCE
KICKOFF: 2:30 p.m. CDT
SITE: Columbia, MO; Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field (capacity 62,000 - grass).
RADIO: Tiger Network (Mike Kelly/John Kadlec/Vic Faust/Chris Gervino). Carried on more than 50 stations statewide, and on the Internet at www.gamecruiser.com. Also available by calling Teamline at 1-800-846-4700, ext. 5755.
TV: ABC Regional (Mark Jones/Dean Blevins).
RANKINGS: Missouri is ranked 25th in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN polls. The Tigers were among "others receiving votes" in both pre-season lists.
1998 RECORDS: Missouri 1-0; Kansas 0-1. The Jayhawks are opening the season with two straight Big 12 Conference games. They lost to Oklahoma State on Saturday, 38-28.
SERIES RECORD: Missouri leads, 49-48-9. The teams play for possession of the Indian War Drum.
HEAD COACHES:
Missouri - Larry Smith, 19-27-1 at MU (5th season); 129-107-7 overall (22nd season). Smith is 1-3 vs. Kansas and 0-1 vs. KU Coach Terry Allen.
Kansas - Terry Allen, 5-7 at KU (2nd season); 80-33 overall (10th season). He is 1-0 against Missouri and Larry Smith.
TICKET INFORMATION: A crowd of 55,000 is expected. Tickets are available at the MU Ticket Office in the Hearnes Center (reserved seats $28, standing room/north hillside - students only until all reserved seats are sold $16.00). By phone, tickets may be ordered by calling 884-PAWS (Columbia area) and 1-800-CAT PAWS (toll free). Ticket office hours are 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday thru Friday, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. On game day, tickets may be purchased at either Hearnes (driveup purchases available on east side of building) or the stadium box office (north side).
Tigers Open Conference Play
Against Traditional Rival Kansas
The Missouri Tigers (1-0) have no time to savor their 37-0 season-opening victory over the Bowling Green State Falcons. Thats because the Kansas Jayhawks (0-1, 0-1) visit Faurot Field on Saturday. Game time is 2:30 p.m. to accommodate a regional telecast on ABC. Mark Jones and former Oklahoma QB Dean Blevins are the announce team.
According to Coach Larry Smith, the Tigers have been "waiting 300-some days for this game." Thats because KU upset the Tigers 15-7 in Lawrence last season in a game in which MU mistakes cost dearly.
Saturdays dominant performance by the Tigers vaulted them into the national rankings. MU is No. 25 in both the USA Today/ESPN and Associated Press polls.
Kansas opened the season with a conference game at home on Saturday against Oklahoma State, and lost 38-28.
The Tigers have won five of their last six regular-season games, 10 of their last 14, and 14 of their last 24. Last season, they had their first winning record at home (4-2) since 1993, and have now won two straight on the Faurot Field grass.
Missouri is 5-3 the last two years in games decided by eight points or less. That puts their mark in such contests to 11-33-5 since 1983.
The MU-Kansas Series
Rooted in the pre-Civil War hostilities of the 1800s, the Missouri-Kansas series is an emotional one. The series began in 1891 and is the most-played series west of the Mississippi River and second only to Minnesota-Wisconsin nationally.
Mizzou leads the series, 49-48-9, but a KU win on Saturday would allow the Jayhawks to draw even in the series for the first time since 1978.
The last 10 years, Kansas holds a 6-4 edge against Mizzou. The Jayhawks lost 42-25 in their last trip to Columbia, in 1996, but won in Columbia 31-14 in Larry Smiths first year with the Tigers - 1994.
In Columbia, Missouri leads the alltime series 26-13-2. From 1891-1910, the series was played in either Kansas City or St. Joseph. The first game played on either campus was in 1911 - Missouris first Homecoming game - and it ended in a 3-3 tie.
For more historical information on the Missouri-Kansas series, see pages 76-77 of the 1998 Missouri Football Media Guide.
Scouting the Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks went 5-6 in Coach Terry Allens first season in Lawrence, a year ago. They won their first three games, including 15-7 over Mizzou, and were 4-1 after five weeks. The rest of the way, though, KU could manage only a 34-24 victory over Iowa State. Kansas has lost its last six road games, since beating Iowa State, 34-31, in Ames, in 1996.
The Jayhawks expect to be greatly improved on offense after ranking 112th nationally a year ago with an average of just 241.4 total yards per game.
Senior quarterback Zac Wegner leads the offense, and was 17-of-31 passint against Oklahoma State for 228 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two critical interceptions, though.
Kansas rushed for only 49 yards, mainly due to five quarterback sacks, but has two quick tailbacks in Mitch Bowles and David Winbush.
The Jayhawks return only four starters on defense, but limited Oklahoma State to 340 total yards on Saturday. Linebacker Patrick Brown made 86 tackles a year ago, with three sacks and three pass interceptions.
Head Coach Larry Smith Larry Smith is in his fifth season at Missouri (22nd overall) with a record of 19-27-1. He became Mizzous 30th head football coach on Dec. 15, 1993. With 17 years as a head coach in NCAA Division I before coming to MU, Smith was the most experienced coach ever hired by a Big Eight Conference school. He has a 22-year career record of 129-107-7, and coached previously at Tulane (18-27, 1976-79), Arizona (48-28-3, 1980-86), and Southern California (44-25-3, 1987-92). He was out of coaching in 1993.
Smith is the only active coach who has taken four different teams to bowl games, and one of only four whove ever done it (Earle Bruce, Lou Holtz and Bill Mallory are the others). Smith ranks 12th among active coaches in career victories. A native of Van Wert, Ohio, Smith is a 1962 graduate of Bowling Green State University. He served as a collegiate assistant coach at Miami (Ohio), Michigan and Arizona before beginning his head coaching career.
MISSOURI COACHES IN THEIR 5th SEASON COACH 5th SEASON W-L TOT. SEASONS Gwinn Henry 1927 7-2 9 Don Faurot 1939 8-2 19 Dan Devine 1964 6-3-1 13 Al Onofrio 1975 6-5 7 Warren Powers 1982 5-4-2 7 Bob Stull 1993 3-7-1 5 LARRY SMITH 1998 1-0 5 & countingTigers Score Against Hunger Again this year, MU Head Coach Larry Smith and the Tigers have teamed up with the Central Missouri Food Bank to stop hunger in its tracks. Interested persons can pledge money for every point the Tigers score in 1998. The proceeds help the Central Missouri Food Bank and more than 120 charities in its 29-county region provide free food to soup kitchens, shelters and food pantries. For more information, call 1-800-764-3663, or 573-474-1020. Last years campaign, thanks to the record 368 points scored by the Tigers, netted nearly $250,000.
Last Week: Missouri 37, Bowling Green 0 (in Columbia)
Corby Jones ran for two touch-downs and threw for one Saturday as Missouri, scoring on its first five possessions, beat Bowling Green 37-0 in the opener for both teams.
It was Missouris first shutout since a 16-0 victory over Houston in 1994. The 37-point margin was the largest since a 55-17 defeat of Kansas in 1988.
Jones, an All-Big 12 selection last season, was 9-of-15 for 187 yards and ran 13 times for 58 yards in just over two quarters.
Tailback Devin West also had a huge night, rushing for 125 yards on 16 carries and scoring twice. The Tigers gained 544 yards to the Falcons 56. Missouris defense allowed 30.2 points per game in last years 7-5 season. It was expected to be better this season, and it certainly was Saturday. On the first play from scrimmage, safety Harold Piersey knocked the ball loose from Falcons tailback Godfrey Lewis. Linebacker Barry Odom recovered at the Bowling Green 24, setting up a 27-yard field goal by Tim Geiger. The Tigers scored touchdowns on their next four possessions. Jones and wide receiver Kent Layman connected on a 62-yard pass and Jones scored from six yards out to make it 16-0 after one quarter. West ran in from the 1, and Jones added an 8-yard run in the second quarter. Missouri was finally forced to punt with less than two minutes to go in the first half. Missouri added a third-quarter score on Wests 14-yard run, before the Tigers pulled most of their starters.
The Falcons, by contrast, didnt cross midfield and could muster just four first downs. Bowling Green quarterbacks Bob Niemet and Ricky Schneider combined to go 5-of-14 for 39 yards and an interception, and were sacked three times. Lewis, the Falcons leading rusher, gained just 32 yards on nine carries. Layman caught four passes for 121 yards before spraining his knee late in the second quarter. He did not play in the second half.
The only downside for Missouri was penalties. The Tigers were penalized nine times for 86 yards, and penalties negated two scores - an 11-yard run by Jones in the first quarter, and a 76-yard punt return by Randy Potter in the third quarter. Bowling Greens lone bright spot was punter Andy Pollock, who averaged 50 yards on eight kicks, but had one blocked by MUs Julian Jones.
Last Week: Oklahoma State 38, Kansas 28 (in Lawrence)
Troy West made two interceptions, running one back for a touchdown, and quarterback Tony Lindsay ran for two scores Saturday as Oklahoma State pulled away in the closing minutes to beat Kansas 38-28 in a Big 12 opener.
Tim Sydnes 44-yard field goal with 2:01 left broke a 28-all tie. West intercepted Zac Wegners pass on Kansas ensuing play, setting up Lindsays second touchdown on a 6-yard run.
It was the first meeting between the two former Big Eight schools since 1995, the season before the Big 12 Conference was formed.
The Cowboys went up 21-14 when Jamaal Fobbs scored on a 4-yard run on their first drive of the second half. Wegners 35-yard touchdown pass to Byron Gasaway tied it at 28 with 9:22 left in the game. Gasaway made the catch at the Oklahoma State 18, tight-roped down the left sideline and dragged cornerback J.B. Flowers the last eight yards into the endzone.
Kansas missed its first chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter, when Mitch Bowles fumbled at the Oklahoma State 3 and Taber LeBlanc recovered for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State led 14-13 after a wild first quarter in which each team quickly followed an offensive touchdown with a defensive score. Kansas took a 13-0 lead on Wegners 48-yard pass to Bowles, followed 30 seconds later by Jamie Harris 23-yard fumble recovery on the first play of Oklahoma States next possession. The Cowboys struck back on Lindsays 51-yard touchdown scramble and Wests 30-yard interception return. West fumbled as he entered the end zone, and replays appeared to show him losing possession at about the Kansas 1. But officials ruled he still had possession when he crossed the goal line. Another favorable ruling on a possible fumble helped Oklahoma State tie the game in the second quarter after Kansas had gone up 21-14 on David Winbushs 4-yard run. Lindsay lost the ball while being tackled at the Jayhawks 12, and Kansas recovered. But the play went as an incomplete pass, officials ruling that Lindsays arm was moving forward when he lost the ball, and three plays later fullback Jeremy Halferty scored on a 1-yard run.
The Last Time: Kansas 15, Missouri 7 (9/13/97)
This was a game of big plays. Unfortunately for Missouri, the Tigers didnt make one.
A blocked punt by the special teams, three forced turnovers by the defense inside its own ten, and a 29-yard touchdown run by Eric Vann in the midst of a career day were about all the big plays KU needed to wrap up this installment of the Border War.
The Tiger offense struggled all day long. Outside of one 80-yard drive, on which Brock Olivo gained 37 of his 62 yards, the Missouri running game was mostly grounded.
And when the Tigers fell behind and had to go to the air, things didnt get a lot better. Corby Jones threw an interception at the Kansas six to end the first half, and spent most of the rest of the day scrambling away from a furious rush by the Kansas defensive line that simply did not give him time. On Mizzous last drive, in the waning minutes of the fourth, Jones looked like he might find some magic. He scrambled for eight yards on third and seven. He found Eddie Brooks for 14 on fourth-and-five. He hit Kent Layman for 17 more. The Tigers were perched on the KU 10 with 44 seconds left. They were a couple of plays and a two-point conversion from overtime. Nobody told defensive end Ron Warner. Warner rushed furiously past Mizzou lineman Chris Meredith. He drilled Jones square in the back with a hit Corby never knew was coming. The ball fluttered on the field. Kansas picked it up. The game was over.
There were plenty of heroes on this day for the Jayhawks. Larry Smith praised Warner and his fellow defensive end Patrick Brown for the pressure they put on Missouri. Vann had more yards rushing (144) than on any day in his career. Heroes were tough to come by for the Tigers. Other than Donnell Jones, who rushed up the middle to block two extra points to single-handedly keep the Tigers in the game, there were few bright spots. Jones, at times, was brilliant, like on an eight-yard scramble on the closing drive when he picked up the first down without a single block; or the fourth down completion to Brooks. But then there was the interception and the two fumbles inside the Jayhawk 10. Olivo looked fabulous, for one possession.
And in the end it came down to this: with its back against the wall, Missouri had to find someone to step up and make a play. Someone did. Unfortunately for the Tigers, he was wearing crimson and blue.
MU-KU Will Mark Television Milestones for the Tigers
Saturdays game will be Missouris 50th alltime television appearance, and 30th on ABC. MU has a 20-28-1 TV record, which includes a 12-17 mark on ABC.
Its the third consecutive season in which the Missouri-Kansas football game is being televised. Fox televised the last two Missouri-Kansas games on its syndicated package. This will be the first time ABC has televised a MU-KU game. In fact, a national network has televised the border rivalry only twice - when NBC aired the 1957 and 1965 contests.
ABC made two visits to Missouris remodeled Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field last season. Brent Musburger and Dan Fouts called the action of both the Ohio State and Nebraska affairs. Missouri will grace the ABC airwaves again next week when they take on top-ranked Ohio State in Columbus.
An Early Date for MU-KU
Although the Missouri-Kansas rivalry has traditionally been a season-ending affair (88 times), the last two seasons its been played in the second week of the season.
This weeks game - on Sept. 12 - is the earliest date ever for the rivalry game. Last years game was played on Sept. 13.
The previous earliest date for the game was the very first played in the series - Oct. 31, 1891. The other 104 meetings were played in either November or December.
Recruiting Pays Off ...
Missouris 1998 recruiting class has been heralded as Larry Smiths best. The opening game bore that out - eight true freshmen saw action (most since Smiths been at MU), including DE Justin Smith (no relation to the coach) who started. He was the first true freshman to start a season opener at MU since Adrian Jones in 1986 (Utah State). Jones went on to start all 11 games that season and was the Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
Smith made three tackles against Bowling Green, including a 10-yard sack on which he combined with another rookie - LB Jamonte Robinson. He had four tackles.
Other freshmen who played were J.R. Romine (kicked off and was MUs holder), Clarence Jones (kick coverage teams), Eric Spencer (caught one pass for 15 yards and a first down), Alexander St. Peter (kicked one PAT), Zain Gilmore (rushed 12 times for 48 yards), and Justin Bland (placed at offensive tackle with second unit).
... And Experience Counts
In the season opener, Coach Larry Smith started the most veteran lineup hes had in his five years at Ol Mizzou.
Only three players started for the first time - WR Kareem Wise, OT Chris Meredith, and DE Justin Smith.
If It Goes to Overtime
Missouri has a 3-1 record in overtime, having beaten Oklahoma State in Columbia, 35-28, and, Baylor, in Waco, 49-42 (three overtimes) in 1996, and Oklahoma State 51-50 (2 OT) last season. MUs first OT defeat came on Faurot Field, last year, when Nebraska prevailed, 45-38.
Turnover Margin Still A Key
Last season, Missouri scored 93 points as a result of 21 turnovers by the opposition, while MU foes managed just 20 points off of Tiger mistakes. That was a far cry from 1996, when MU gave up 136 points following its own turnovers.
Since Larry Smith came to Missouri, the Tigers have forced 84 turnovers and committed 76. Theyve forced at least one turnover in 40 of 46 games since Smith became the head coach. And the Tigers have scored six defensive touchdowns during the Smith era, the most recent coming in last years regular-season finale when defensive guard Justin Wyatt ran 92 yards with a pass interception vs. Baylor.
Against Bowling Green, Missouri recovered a fumble (and turned it into a FG), and intercepted a pass while making no miscues of its own.
CURTIS JONES
In memory of former Missouri assistant coach Curtis W. Jones Sr., the Tigers this season will wear a gold sticker on their helmets. Jones, the father of MU quarterback Corby Jones, died of a heart attack July 26.
The Bowling Green program cover was also dedicated to his memory.
Jones, a Tiger player in the 1960s, coached 11 years at Mizzou under three different head coaches.
Go West Young Men
Missouri debuted its "Wild, Wild West" backfield against Bowling Green - tailback Devin West (#32) and fullback Rob West (#30).
Devin served notice that hes ready to carry the load, rushing for a career-high 125 yards on 16 carries and scoring two touchdowns. It was the fourth 100-yard game of his career and his second straight - following his 104-yard effort against Colorado State in last years Holiday Bowl.
He now has 1,501 career rushing yards and needs 310 yards to reach the Missouri career top-ten.
Rob, while not trying to make people forget about the now-graduated tandem of Ron Janes and Ernest Blackwell, demonstrated that he can become a force for the Tigers - both blocking and rushing. He carried the ball six times for 45 yards and also caught a pass for a 25-yard gain.
Jones Has His Best Opener
He exited the dressing room with tears in his eyes, a sign of his longing to share the moment with his late father, MU assistant coach Curtis Jones who died of a heart attack in July.
But when the game began, quarterback Corby Jones gave another demonstration of his all-around excellence.
He ran for two touchdowns, giving him the Missouri career record for rushing TDs - 29. He also moved to No. 5 in career scoring with 174 points. He upped his career rushing total to 2,055 yards - sixth place in school annals. And, he showed his passing prowess, connecting on 9-of-15 passes for 187 yards including the longest completion of his career - a 62-yard TD strike to speedy Kent Layman.
Hes already the only player in MU history to rank in the career top-10s in rushing, passing, total offense and scoring. He needs to run for just 23 yards this week to become the No. 5 rusher.
In 29 career games as a Tiger, Jones has accounted for 47 touchdowns (scored 29, passed for 18), and hes posted five of the top 10 rushing days ever recorded by a Missouri signal caller. In fact, hes the only quarterback to appear in that top-10 list more than once.
Hes seven TDs away from the MU career record for touchdowns produced.
Homegrown Tigers
Missouris depth chart reveals that 32 members of the two-deep roster are from the State of Missouri - 21 on offense and 11 on defense.
Missouris Attendance
Increase Was Big 12s Biggest
Missouri averaged 52,484 fans per home game last season. That was up from 39,171 in 1996 giving MU the largest increase in the Big 12 Conference and the fifth largest jump in the nation.
Five of the top 11 home crowds Mizzou has had since 84 have come since Larry Smith became Missouris head coach in 1994. The 66,846 who attended the Nebraska game represented MUs biggest home crowd since 1984.
Just in case, the biggest crowd ever to witness a Missouri-Kansas game in Columbia is 64,356 in 1980 (a 31-6 MU victory).
BIG CROWDS SINCE 1984
9/29/84 70,915 Notre Dame 16, Missouri 14 10/19/85 62,733 Nebraska 28, Missouri 20 11/9/85 50,321 Oklahoma 51, Missouri 6 10/31/87 55,594 Nebraska 42, Missouri 7 10/14/89 55,620 Nebraska 50, Missouri 7 10/24/92 53,337 Nebraska 34, Missouri 24 9/3/94 55,263 Tulsa 20, Missouri 17 10/22/94 50,537 Nebraska 42, Missouri 7 9/6/97 52,514 MISSOURI 44, E. Michigan 24 9/27/97 58,882 Ohio State 31, Missouri 10 11/8/97 66,846 Nebraska 45, Missouri 38 (ot)
Tiger Tales
- Freshman running back Zain Gilmores name is of African origin. His first name is actually pronounced Zah-een, but he gave up on the pronunciation years ago because no one ever got it right. It means: "beautiful and nice." His middle name is Jabbaar, which means "huge and powerful."
- Missouris special teams included a lot of new faces on Saturday. Tim Geiger and Alexander St. Peter handled the placement duties for the first time, J.R. Romine was the new kickoff man and holder, Michael Valadez (FGs and PATs) and Ben Davidson (punts) were the new deep snappers, and Arty Johnson returned punts for the first time.
- It was a good first week of competition for new athletic director Mike Alden. The soccer Tigers won their first game, 7-0; the volleyball team went undefeated it its first tournament of the season, and the football team shutout an opponent in the season opener for the first time since 1973.
- Under Larry Smith, Missouri has blocked 17 kicks - 11 extra points, four punts and three field goals. The latest came Saturday when Julian Jones blocked a punt.
- Missouris shutout victory in the opener was its first at home since 1986, its first in a season opener since 1973, and just the second of the Larry Smith era at MU.
"THIS WEEK IN MU FOOTBALL"
Hosted by KOMU-TV Sports Director Brian Neuner, "This Week in Mizzou Football" airs on TV stations across the state each week. The show, with Coach Larry Smith, previews the upcoming game, takes a look back at the previous game, includes special features, Big 12 highlights and more. The show begins Sun., Sept. 6, and runs for 12 consecutive weeks. It airs on these stations:
Station City Time, Day KOMU Columbia 10:30 a.m., Sundays KMBC/KCWB Kansas City 5 p.m., Sundays KBSI Cape Girardeau 10 p.m., Sundays KYOU Kirksville/Ottumwa 11:30 p.m., Sundays KGCS Joplin 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays KYTV Springfield 11:30 a.m., Sundays American Cablevision, Kansas City 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays Fox Sports Midwest, St. Louis 9:30 a.m., Sundays St. Joseph Cablevision 9:30 p.m., Tuesdays/Thursdays"TIGER TALK"
Coach Larry Smith takes calls from fans around the country each TUESDAY night, along with host Mike Kelly. The show is broadcast "live" from Harpos (10th & Cherry in Columbia), beginning at 7:08 p.m. "Tiger Talk" may be heard on many of the Tiger Network stations, and on the Internet at www.gamecruiser.com.
Bethany, KAAN-AM, 870 Bethany, KAAN-FM, 95.5 Buffalo, KBFL-FM, 99.9 Cameron, KNOZ-FM, 100.1 Cape Girardeau, KGIR-AM, 1220 Clinton, KDKD-FM, 95.3 Columbia, KFRU-AM, 1400 Farmington, KREI-AM, 800 Festus, KJCF-AM, 1400 Hannibal, KHMO-AM, 1070 Jeff City/Columbia, KOQL-FM, 106.1 Joplin, WMBH-AM, 1450 Kansas City, KCMO-AM, 710 Kennett, KBOA-FM, 105.5 Kirksville, KTUF-FM, 93.7 Lebanon, KLWT-AM, 1230 Mansfield, KTRI-FM, 95.5 Marshall, KMMO-AM, 1330 Marshall, KMMO-FM, 102.9 Memphis, KMEM-FM, 96.7 Mexico, KXEO-AM, 1340 Moberly, KWIX-AM, 1230 Monett, KRMO-AM, 990 Mountain Grove, KELE-AM, 1360 Mountain Grove, KELE-FM, 106.5 Neosho, KBTN-AM, 1420 Nevada, KNEM-AM, 1240 Osage Beach, KRMS-AM, 1150 Poplar Bluff, KWOC-AM, 930 Rolla, KTTR-AM, 1490 Rolla, KTTR-FM, 99.7 Salem, KSMO-AM, 1340 Sedalia, KDRO-AM, 1490 Sikeston, KSIM-AM, 1400 Springfield, KWTO-AM, 560 St. Joseph, KFEQ-AM, 680 St. Louis, KTRS-AM, 550 Sullivan, KTUI-AM, 1560 Thayer, KALM-AM, 1290 Trenton, KTTN-FM, 92.3 Washington, KSLQ-AM, 1350 Washington, KSLQ-FM, 104.5 Waynesville, KOZQ-AM, 1270 Waynesville, KFBD-FM, 97.7 West Plains, KWPM-AM, 1450