Nov. 1, 1999
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COLUMBIA, Mo. - Tigers Head To Oklahoma With Momentum For Stretch Drive-
The Missouri Tigers, 4-4 overall, 1-4 in the Big 12, hit the road this week hoping to build on the momentum they established in their win over Texas Tech on Saturday, when they played their most complete game of the season.
Their destination is Norman, Okla., where they'll face the Oklahoma Sooners (4-3, 2-2). Game time at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is 2 p.m., Central Time. The game will not be televised.
Missouri needs at least two victories in its final three games if it is to post its third consecutive winning season and make itself bowl eligible. Beating the Sooners in Norman, though, has proven to be a chore for the Tigers. Missouri hasn't won there since 1966.
And the Tigers have dropped their last two road games : at Colorado and Kansas : after winning 27-17 at Memphis on October 2.
Missouri snapped a three-game losing streak with its dominating 34-7 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday. MU rolled up 403 total yards and a 41:42-18:18 time of possession edge while holding the Red Raiders to just nine yards rushing. Tech's only score came on a first-quarter fumble return.
Mizzou's last three defeats are its only losses in its last 24 regular-season games that didn't come at the hands of a team ranked among the nation's top-seven teams.
The other six losses came against two No. 1 teams - the 1997 Nebraska unit and last year's Ohio State Buckeyes - and also in 1998 to No. 2 Kansas State, No. 6 Texas A&M, and No. 7 Nebraska, in addition to this year's No. 6 Nebraska unit.
Missouri has held the halftime lead in 23 of its last 26 games, and since Larry Smith came to Columbia, in 1994, the Tigers are 28-9 when leading at the half and 29-4 when leading after three quarters.
Over a longer period of time, MU has won 21 of its last 33 games, and 25 of its last 43 (including bowl games).
Missouri is 8-8 the last two years in games decided by eight points or less.
Game #9 - Nov. 6, 1999 - 2:00 p.m. CST - Memorial Stadium/Owen Field - Norman, OK
GAME AT A GLANCE
KICKOFF: 2:00 p.m. CST
SITE: Norman, Okla., Memorial Stadium/Owen Field (capacity 75,004 : grass).
RADIO: Tiger Network (Mike Kelly/John Kadlec/Vic Faust/Chris Gervino), on nearly 60 stations, and the Internet at www.mutigers.com.
TV: none.
RANKINGS: none
RECORDS: Missouri is 4-4, 1-4 in the Big 12, Oklahoma is 4-3, 2-2 in the Big 12.
SERIES RECORD: Oklahoma leads it, 59-23-5, including a 29-8-5 advantage in Norman where MU has not won since 1966. The Tigers won last year's game in Columbia, 20-6. Missouri has not won two in a row over OU since 1965 and '66.
HEAD COACHES:
Missouri: Larry Smith, 30-35-1 at MU (6th season), 140-115-7 overall (23rd season). He's 3-2 vs. Oklahoma, including two wins while he was at USC.
Oklahoma: Bob Stoops, 4-3 at Oklahoma and overall (1st season).
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets ($30 adult, $15 youth) are available by calling the MU Athletic Ticket Office (1-800-CAT PAWS, or 884-PAWS in Columbia), or the Oklahoma Ticket Office (1-800-456-4668).
The Missouri-Oklahoma Series
Oklahoma leads it, 59-23-5, but Missouri handled the Sooners, 20-6, in Columbia last year for its first win over Oklahoma since 1983.
The two teams haven't met in Norman since 1994, when OU beat Larry Smith's first Missouri team, 30-13. Missouri has dropped 14 straight games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium/Owen Field since 1966, and the last time the Tigers beat the Sooners in two consecutive years was in 1965-66, when MU won 30-0 in Columbia and 10-7 in Norman, respectively.
Missouri is in the middle of a three-game stretch against teams from the Big 12's South Division. They host Texas A&M next week. Since the Big 12 began in 1996, Missouri is 8-2 against teams from the South, with losses only at Texas (1996) and A&M (1998).
Oklahoma is 3-0 at home this season, and has won five straight in Norman since falling to Colorado, last year, 27-25.
Scouting The Sooners
Oklahoma has a new personality under first-year Coach Bob Stoops. No longer the run-happy Sooners of the wishbone days, Oklahoma now is one of the nation's top passing attacks.
OU leads the Big 12 in passing offense : 342 yards per game : and are scoring at nearly a 40-point-a-game clip.
Junior college transfer quarterback Josh Heupel has completed 207-of-332 pass attempts for 2,369 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. He's thrown 13 interceptions.
The Sooners have two of the league's top-five receivers in Jarrail Jackson and former QB Brandon Daniels, who've caught 30 and 29 passes, respectively.
When they do run the ball, they've relied on senior Michael Thornton, who has carried 78 times for 383 yards.
Since rolling to lopsided victories over Indiana State and Baylor in the season's first two games, Oklahoma has allowed 27 points per game, but stifled Texas A&M two weeks ago to the tune of a stunning 51-6 victory.
Oklahoma ranks ninth in the league in total defense, allowing 382 yards per game (147 rushing, 235 passing), and the Sooners are last in the Big 12 in turnover margin. OU has turned the ball over 19 times this season while taking the ball from its opponents 14 times.
Sophomore linebacker Rocky Calmus is the Sooners' top tackler, with 77, followed closely by defensive back Rodney Rideau (69) and linebacker Torrance Marshall (60). Marshall leads Oklahoma with 13 tackles for loss, including a team-high four quarterback sacks.
Daniels is the Big 12's top kickoff return man, averaging 37 yards per return. As a team, Oklahoma averages 27 yards on kick returns ... the league's best figure.
Punter Jeff Ferguson is averaging 43 yards per kick, while placekicker Tim Duncan is a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals.
MU Head Coach Larry Smith
Larry Smith is in his sixth season at Missouri (23rd overall) with a record of 30-35-1. He became Mizzou's 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 23-year career record of 140-115-7, 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 one of only two active coaches who have taken four schools to bowl games, along with Lou Holtz (S. Carolina), and one of only four who've ever done it (Earle Bruce and Bill Mallory). Smith ranks 11th 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.
He's 1-2 against Oklahoma since coming to Missouri, and beat the Sooners twice while he was the head coach at Southern California.
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 8-4 6
MISSOURI COACHES IN THEIR 6th SEASON
COACH 6th SEASON W-L TOT. SEASONS Gwinn Henry 1928 4-4 9 Don Faurot 1940 6-3 19 Dan Devine 1965 8-2-1 13 Al Onofrio 1976 6-5 7 Warren Powers 1983 7-5 7 LARRY SMITH 1999 4-4 6
Lots Of Missouri-Oklahoma Ties
The connections between Missouri and Oklahoma start at the top.
OU Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione spent 17 years as a member of the athletic administration at the University of Missouri, the last four as the Tigers' AD (1994-98).
His top lieutenant, Bruce Van De Velde, also spent a year-and-a-half at MU as associate athletic director for development.
Castiglione's hiring of Bob Stoops as Oklahoma's new football coach also affected a change in the Missouri coaching staff. When Stoops left Florida as defensive coordinator, Gator's Coach Steve Spurrier sought out MU secondary coach Jon Hoke as his replacement. That brought Brian Stewart to Mizzou to coach defensive backs.
On the field, Missouri has several prominent Oklahoma products, topped by senior linebacker Barry Odom. The Ada, Okla., native was a teammate of OU's Brandon Daniels when Ada won a state championship in 1994. Since Odom became a regular for the Tigers in 1996, MU is 4-0 against Oklahoma schools (2-0 vs. Oklahoma State and 1-0 against both Oklahoma and Tulsa).
Also starting for the Tigers is Midwest City product Julian Jones. The junior leads the Big 12 in pass interceptions with six. Fullback T.J. Leon, who hails from Norman, has started two games this season, and J.R. Romine (Sapulpa) is Mizzou's holder and third-string quarterback. Linebacker Josh O'Neal, also from Ada, is a special teams performer for the Tigers.
Missourian's on the Oklahoma roster include RB Jamar Mozee (Blue Springs), LB Armand Spence (St. Louis: CBC), LB Eric Thunander (Lee's Summit), and LB Torrance Marshall, who attended junior college at Kemper Military in Boonville.
Last Year: MU 20, Oklahoma 6
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Cornerback Wade Perkins started a stellar defensive effort with a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown and Devin West ran for 93 yards and two scores as No. 19 Missouri beat Big 12 Conference foe Oklahoma for the first time in 13 tries, 20-6.
The Tigers beat Oklahoma for the first time since a 10-0 victory in 1983. The defense was similarly prepared for this game, limiting the Sooners to 247 yards of total offense and two field goals.
West carried 26 times as the Tigers were held to only 116 yards on the ground and 210 total yards for the game. But Corby Jones directed scoring drives of 47 yards in the third quarter and 64 in the fourth to put the game away.
Missouri got off to its first 5-1 start since 1981 and went to 3-0 in the conference for the first time since 1980.
Perkins registered the only score of the first half just 84 seconds into the game. Brandon Daniels, the first of three Oklahoma quarterbacks, threw a pass into the right flat and Perkins easily grabbed it at the 36 and rambled untouched down the sideline for a 6-0 lead after a missed conversion kick.
"I was wide open," Perkins said. "It was real nice. It was all slow motion. I was just praying, 'I can't drop it,' because my mom was in the stands."
Daniels completed 3-of-7 passes for 21 yards and was intercepted twice. Patrick Fletcher tried his hand behind center before Eric Moore entered in the third quarter and sparked a couple of field goal drives that got the Sooners within 14-6.
Jones was 8-of-16 for 94 yards and one interception and ran for just six yards on 14 carries. But he got the offense in gear after the second-half kickoff, marching the Tigers 47 yards in nine plays before West scored on a one-yard run 3:40 into the third quarter. Jones passed to Dwayne Blakley for a two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.
The drive was set up when Ricardo Rhodes, who is just 5-6, returned the second-half kickoff to the 47.
"It's just a blessing to finally get an opportunity to show Missouri fans and everybody what I've got," Rhodes said. "You just want to take advantage of opportunities, and that's what I do."
"That was a big momentum changer," said Missouri coach Larry Smith. "It gave us a 14-0 lead."
Moore was 5-of-7 for 107 yards and added 43 yards on 11 carries. He helped the Sooners get within eight points by driving to field goals of 33 and 25 yards by Matt Reeves in a 6:32 span that bridged the final two quarters.
But Jones responded by getting Missouri in position for West's 22-yard scoring burst that made it 20-6 with 6:09 remaining. It capped a drive that took 5:32 off the clock and covered 64 yards in 11 plays.
Odom Could Become No. 4 Against Homestate Sooners
Senior linebacker Barry Odom, who ranks second in the Big 12 Conference with 88 tackles in 1999, could move up to fourth in career tackling history at the University of Missouri this week when the Tigers travel to his home state.
Odom, from Ada, Okla., ranks fifth in school history with 337 tackles, and needs 10 to pass Darryl Major for fourth place.
He was one of four Tigers who made five tackles against Texas Tech : showing the kind of overall dominance MU demonstrated against the Red Raiders.
Prior to that, he was averaging 12 tackles per game. Against Iowa State, he made 14 tackles : two of them for losses. At Colorado, he was the Tigers' defensive player-of-the-week for the second time this season when he tallied 17 tackles : one off his career high. To go with that total, (12 of which were unassisted), one was for a three-yard loss, two came on third downs and forced CU punts, and he broke up a pass.
Odom also caught a blocked punt against the Buffs (by Julian Jones) and returned it five yards to set up a Missouri touchdown.
And he's been playing with a cast on his left hand to protect the ligaments he tore in his thumb at Memphis.
Fox Sports' Drew Goodman likes to call Odom "a throw-back." Some have said he's Missouri's defensive version of former Tiger tailback Brock Olivo.
Coach Larry Smith concurs. "He's just a football player. The kind of guy who every coach would want on his team. He won't be an All-American, but for him the team always comes first. He's been a tremendous leader for us."
Odom recently announced his engagement to Tritia Lynn Trump of Kahoka, Mo. The wedding is planned for July 1, 2000.
Julian Jones Closes In On Missouri Interception Record
Junior free safety Julian Jones, in his first year as a starter for the Tigers, intercepted his sixth pass of the season against Texas Tech on Saturday, and is now just one away from the Missouri season record of seven, set in 1968 by all-American Roger Wehrli.
The Midwest City, Okla., native leads the Big 12 Conference in pass interceptions and is tied for third in the nation.
He's fourth on the MU team in tackles (58), has broken up three passes, forced a fumble and blocked a punt.
MU Sack Pack Hits Stride At The Right Time
Missouri picked the right time to find its pass rush, as the Tigers prepare this week to meet the Big 12's best passing attack.
The last two weeks, Missouri has dumped enemy quarterbacks 11 times, giving the Tigers 20 sacks for the season.
Senior nose tackle Jeff Marriott had the first two-sack game of his career against Texas Tech.
Sophomore defensive end Justin Smith had three quarterback sacks last week against Kansas : one off the school record of four by Bobby Bell in the 1983 Holiday Bowl against BYU (and Steve Young).
Smith has six sacks this season which is just two shy of the school record of eight : co-held by five players.
In just 20 games as a Tiger, Smith has 9-and-a-half sacks. One more will move him into 10th place on Missouri's career stat list. The career record is 18 by Rick Lyle, now a starting defensive end for the New York Jets.
Gilmore Has A 'Happy' Birthday
MU sophomore tailback Zain Gilmore, known by his teammates as "Happy," celebrated his 20th birthday in style on Saturday.
In helping Missouri break a three-game losing streak, he rushed a school-record 45 times for career-highs of 165 yards and three touchdowns.
The old record for carries was 42 by Darrell Wallace against Kansas State in 1985.
Gilmore entered the game on Mizzou's second possession after senior starter DeVaughn Black coughed up a fumble at the Tech 14-yard line that was returned 86 yards for a touchdown by Kevin Curtis.
He went the rest of the way, and got 17 of his carries on MU's final possession of the game, when the Tigers monopolized the ball on a 19-play drive that ate up 10:23. It culminated with Gilmore's final TD of the game. He gained 58 yards on that drive.
Gilmore's 165 yards represented the ninth best rushing performance during Larry Smith's six years as the MU head coach, and was his second 100-yard day of the season. He gained 139 yards against Western Michigan.
With 593 yards rushing this season, Gilmore has jumped to sixth in the Big 12 Conference, and he's Mizzou's top touchdown producer with six.
Missouri's Defensive Resurgence
In the last five games (three of which were on the road), Missouri's defense has limited its opponents to an average of 284 total yards per game, and just 106.2 on the ground. The Tigers held Texas Tech to just nine yards rushing : the best mark of the Smith era at MU. And the 169 total yards amassed by the Red Raiders was the second lowest of the last six seasons.
They've still given up too many big plays, though. For the season, MU has allowed 32 scrimmage plays of 20-or-more yards. Last year, the opposition managed only 24 long plays all season, including just 10 in the final seven games.
Last week at Kansas, Missouri failed to force a turnover for only the seventh time since Larry Smith became the Tigers' head coach in 1994. Last season, Missouri turned six turnovers into defensive touchdowns. The Tigers are still looking for their first defensive score of 1999.
Layman Rebounds After Streak Ender
Senior wide receiver Kent Layman failed to catch a pass at Kansas, ending his school-record streak of 28 consecutive games with at least one pass reception.
But he snared four passes for 39 yards against Texas Tech and moved up to eighth place in career receiving yardage at MU.
Against Colorado, he caught three passes for a career-high 127 yards, which upped his career total against the Buffaloes to 11 receptions for 333 yards and boosted him into MU's career top-ten for receiving yardage.
He's caught 61 career passes for 1,294 yards, and his career average receiving gain of 21.2 yards is right on the school record held by Mel Gray.
Layman has had five 100-yard receiving games in his career : just two shy of the school record held by Victor Bailey.
Garvin Becomes The Go-To Guy But Others Are Starring Too
Freshman wide receiver Travis Garvin has caught 15 passes for 307 yards the last three weeks and has taken over the Missouri receiving lead.
He now has caught 24 passes for 475 yards (19.8 yards per catch) and two touchdowns.
Garvin's 166 yards against Iowa State were the second most by a Tiger receiver under Smith, trailing the 169 yards John Dausman had against Kansas State last season.
Sophomore Eric Spencer and senior Kareem Wise are also starring in Mizzou's four-receiver rotation. Spencer caught four passes against Texas Tech and is now second on the MU receiving list with 22 receptions this season. Wise has doubled his production of a year ago with 20 catches for 225 yards.
Young Tigers Score The Points
With the exception of two touchdown runs by DeVaughn Black against Western Michigan, and a TD reception by Kent Layman against Memphis, 192 of MU's 210 points this season have been scored by freshmen and sophomores.
Sophomore Zain Gilmore has scored six touchdowns, while Dwayne Blakley has scored five. Sophomore kicker Brad Hammerich has kicked nine field goals and 23 PATs. Mizzou's other TDs have come from sophomores Jim Dougherty and Eric Spencer, and freshmen Kirk Farmer, John McPherson, Joe Chirumbolo, and Travis Garvin.
If It Goes to Overtime
Missouri has a 3-2 record in overtime but has lost its last two games that required extra innings. The latest was at Colorado, when the Tigers went down, 46-39. In 1997, MU suffered an overtime defeat to Nebraska, 45-38, in the now infamous "Flea-Kicker" game.
Mizzou's overtime victories came in 1996 over Oklahoma State in Columbia, 35-28, and, over Baylor, in Waco, 49-42 (three overtimes), and at Oklahoma State 51-50 (2 OT) in 1997.
Homegrown Tigers
Missouri's depth chart reveals that 28 members of the two-deep roster are from the State of Missouri : 17 on offense and 11 on defense.
Dougherty Bounces Back
Sophomore quarterback Jimmie Dougherty bounced back from his tough day at Kansas with a solid performance against Texas Tech. He completed 17-of-30 passes for 216 yards, and also ran for the first touchdown of his career.
He guided a Missouri offense that held the ball for 41:42 : the second highest time of possession figure of the last six years. Missouri held the ball for 42:20 in a win at Colorado in 1997.
Dougherty is now the Tigers' lone experienced signal caller after redshirt freshman Kirk Farmer broke his right leg in the second quarter of the Iowa State game. The two had split time before Farmer's injury.
True freshman Justin "12" Gage is now Missouri's backup, and nearly got into the fray each of the last two weeks. But he hasn't played yet, and still maintains his redshirt status.
Missouri's number-three quarterback is now sophomore J.R. Romine, who is the Tigers' holder on place kicks. A versatile athlete, he has also played at wide receiver and defensive back since arriving at MU last year out of Sapulpa, Okla.
Tigers Get Their Kicks
Missouri's Carlos Posey blocked an extra point against Kansas, giving the Tigers four blocked kicks this season and 27 since Larry Smith became the MU head coach in 1994. That breaks down to 13 PATs, nine punts and five field goals.
No Happy Returns
When Colorado's Ben Kelly raced 100 yards with the opening kickoff against the Tigers, it was the first kickoff return for a touchdown against Missouri since 1983 (Oklahoma State's Harry Roberts, 90 yards, also on the game's opening play).
It was also the longest return ever against Missouri. The previous long was 95 yards by Nebraska's Herman Rohrig in 1938.
Black Has Had 3 100-Yd. Games
Senior tailback DeVaughn Black had his third 100-yard day of the season against Memphis, a team that ranked 21st nationally in total defense. Under Larry Smith, the Tigers are 22-8 when they have a 100-yard rusher, including a 15-2 mark the last three seasons.
But the last three games have been tough ones for the St. Louisan. He had just nine carries for four yards against Kansas, and has lost a fumble in each of the last three contests.
Black rushed for a career-high 205 yards and two touchdowns against Western Michigan. It was the sixth-best rushing day in Missouri history.
Five of the seven 200-yard rushing efforts by Missouri Tigers have come since Larry Smith became MU's head coach in 1994 (two by Devin West, two by Brock Olivo, one by Black).
Sophomore Zain Gilmore gained 139 yards against Western Michigan, the sixth time under Smith that Mizzou has had two backs gain 100-or-more yards in the same game. The Tigers are 5-1 in those contests.
Tigers Turn Turnovers into Points
Missouri has scored 54 points following turnovers by its opponents this season, while the opposition has tallied 42 following MU mistakes.
Last year, MU scored 108 points off of 25 turnovers, while MU opponents tallied just 23 following Tiger miscues.
All of this opportunistic play continues the trend that Mizzou began in 1997 when the Tigers scored 93 points as a result of 21 turnovers by the opposition, while MU foes managed just 20 points off of Tiger mistakes. In 1996, MU gave up 136 points following its own turnovers.
Since Larry Smith came to Missouri, the Tigers have forced 124 turnovers and committed 111. They've forced at least one turnover in 58 of 65 games since Smith became the head coach. And the Tigers have scored 13 defensive touchdowns during the Smith era, including six last season.
Missouri is 9-2-1 since 1994 when its defense finds the end zone:
1994 @ Iowa State (MU wins, 34-20)
Damon Simon pass interception for a TD
1994 @ Hawaii (MU ties, 32-32)
Damon Simon fumble recovery for a TD
Marc Pedrotti pass interception for a TD
1995 vs. Iowa State at home (MU wins, 45-31)
Caldrinoff Easter pass interception for a TD
1996 @ Baylor (MU wins, 49-42)
Harold Piersey pass interception for a TD
1997 vs. Baylor at home (MU wins, 42-24)
Justin Wyatt pass interception for a TD
1998 @ Ohio State (MU loses, 35-14)
Carlos Posey fumble return for a TD
1998 @ Texas Tech (MU wins, 28-26)
Terrell Jurineack fumble recovery for a TD
1998 vs. Oklahoma at home (MU wins, 20-6)
Wade Perkins pass interception for a TD
1998 vs. Colorado at home (MU wins, 38-14)
Carlos Posey pass interception for a TD
1998 @ Nebraska at home (MU losses, 20-13)
Steve Erickson fumble recovery for a TD
1998 vs. West Virginia (MU wins, 34-31)
Carlos Posey blocked field goal return for a TD
1999 vs. UAB (MU wins, 31-28)
John McPherson blocked punt return for a TD
Mizzou Hit High-Water Marks In Win Over Western Michigan
Missouri rolled up 560 yards of total offense against Western Michigan (a team that is now 7-2 and poised for a MAC showdown with Marshall on Nov. 13) : its best figure of the Larry Smith era. That equated to 48 points : the most Mizzou has scored under Smith in regulation.
Quarterbacks Kirk Farmer (3) and Jim Dougherty (1) combined to throw four touchdown passes, tying the school record of four accomplished four other times, most recently vs. Oklahoma State in 1991.
Sophomore Dwayne Blakley caught three TD passes, tying the school record for touchdown receptions previously set by Victor Bailey against Kansas in 1991.
Blakley has now caught 21 passes in his career at Mizzou and six have gone for touchdowns. Tiger All-American Kellen Winslow (1976-78) had 10 TD receptions during his collegiate career.
Tiger Tales
- After being stopped without scoring points in the "red zone" five times during their three-game losing streak, MU was five-of-six against Texas Tech.
- After Kirk Farmer went down with a broken leg against Iowa State, Missouri was outscored 45-7 in the next six quarters before busting loose with 34 points against Texas Tech.
- Missouri has passed for 1,003 yards in its last four games.
- MU quarterbacks have thrown 13 touchdown passes in 1999, four more than the Tigers managed all of last season.
- CNNSI picked a mid-season All-America team. One of the three defensive linemen selected to the 11-man squad was Missouri sophomore DE Justin Smith.
- Missouri's 3-0 record against non-conference opponents this season was its best since MU went 4-0 in 1981. Since Larry Smith came to MU as its head coach in 1994, the Tigers are 12-8-1 outside the conference, including a 9-3 mark since the Big 12 began operations in 1996. Next year's non-league slate finds the Tigers hosting Western Illinois and Michigan State and playing at Clemson.
- Sophomore Brad Hammerich kicked a pair of field goals against Texas Tech, leaving his field goal accuracy mark for the season at 9-of-13. He's a perfect 23-for-23 on PATs. In fact, he's never missed an extra point. Going back through his high school days, he's a lifetime 86-of-86. He is 5-of-8 from 40-49 yards. The 48-yard FG he kicked against Western Michigan was the longest by a Tiger since Kyle Pooler hit from 49 yards against Kansas State in 1994.
- Redshirt freshman Cedric Harden got his first career starts at defensive guard against Iowa State and at Kansas in place of Pat Mingucci, who was injured. He returned, though, to start against Texas Tech.
- Sophomore tight end Brandon Ford missed several days of practice prior to the Memphis game while attending his mother's funeral in Texas, but played in that week's game. Debra Ford passed away Sept. 22 after a long battle with cancer.
- In the first two games, Missouri started a freshman at fullback, and both debuted in similar fashion. Redshirt freshman T.J. Leon started against UAB and true freshman Joe Chirumbolo got the nod against Western Michigan. The first carry for each of them was a seven-yard gain. Returning starter, senior Rob West, returned the last five games. He missed the opener with a broken foot suffered during two-a-days. He got his first carry of the season at Colorado, and doubled up his young mates, gaining 14 yards right up the gut.
- At the conclusion of two-a-day workouts, Coach Larry Smith rewarded four players who came to Mizzou as walkons. Now on full scholarship are seniors Brad Smith (OT), DeVaughn Black (TB) and Arty Johnson (WR), and sophomore Ben Davidson (deep snapper).
- The St. Petersburg Times this summer picked an alltime list of the top-100 high school football players in Hillsborough County. Checking in at No. 6 was Missouri sophomore tailback Zain Gilmore.
- Five true freshmen have played this season : LB Sean Doyle, FS Gary Anthony, CB Terrence Curry (who has started twice), WR Travis Garvin, and FB Joe Chirumbolo. Curry was the first true freshman to start in the defensive backfield in a season-opening game for Missouri since Adrian Jones did so in 1986. The only other Missouri freshman to start an opener since 1986 was DE Justin Smith last season.
- The Iowa State game marked the first time that the Tigers' Homecoming game had been played at night, and the first time that MU has had three night games at home in the same season. Mizzou also played under the lights against Western Michigan and Nebraska.
- On October 15, Missouri unveiled and dedicated a statue to honor legendary football coach and athletic director Don Faurot. The 9-foot statue stands atop a pedestal outside Gate #1 at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field's north end. The statue was crafted by noted sculptor Harry Weber. Among his other works are the bronze statues that honor a number of St. Louis Cardinals' legends outside Busch Stadium.
- In the 1999 NCAA Football Records Book, former MU quarterback Corby Jones was mistakenly omitted on page 28 from the list of alltime quarterbacks with the most career yards gained rushing. Jones' total of 2,533 yards ranks 11th in NCAA history.
Tigers 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 1999. The proceeds help the 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.
Since the program began five years ago, more than $750,000 has been raised and more than 11 million meals have been provided to Missourians in need.
MU Athletics Hall Of Fame Dinner Moved To January 28, 2000
To avoid conflicts with other University of Missouri activities the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has moved its annual Hall of Fame induction banquet to Fri., Jan. 28, 2000.
The dinner will be held at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center in Columbia. A reception will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and induction ceremonies at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $35.00 per person and may be purchased by contacting Brenda Baker in the Tiger Development Office, at 573/884-0742. The class will be further honored during halftime ceremonies at the next day's basketball game, Jan. 29, against Texas A&M. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m.
The Hall of Fame began in 1990, and this year's 10-person group represents its 10th class of inductees.
Those being inducted are:
PIONEER ERA
Woody Hatfield, football, basketball, track & field, 1931-33
Conrad Hitchler, football, 1960-62
Clair "Butch" Houston, football, baseball, track & field, 1931-35
MODERN ERA
Kim Anderson, basketball, 1974-77
Melvin Booker, basketball, 1991-94 Rosalyn Dunlap, track and field, 1980-84
Ricky Frazier, basketball, 1980-82
Shaon Fry, wrestling, 1991-94
Gene McArtor, baseball, 1961-63, asst. baseball coach, 1969-73, head baseball coach, 1974-94
Kris Schmidt, softball, 1985-88
Another Big Crowd At Faurot
With season ticket sales having reached 35,000, Missouri is well on its way to reaching its goal of a 1999 attendance average of 60,000 fans per game.
The Nebraska game was MU's second sellout in a span of four home games. The crowd of 61,052 that attended Saturday's Homecoming game vs. Iowa State boosted Missouri's season attendance average to 59,947. The Tigers have one home game remaining against Texas A&M (next week).
The crowd of 60,206 that witnessed the Western Michigan game was the biggest for a non-league game in Smith's tenure.
Fourteen of the top 20 home crowds Mizzou has had since 1984 have come with Smith at the helm.
BIG CROWDS SINCE 1984
09/29/84 70,915 Notre Dame 16, Missouri 14 10/19/85 62,733 Nebraska 28, Missouri 20 11/09/85 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 24ARRIVAL OF LARRY SMITH
09/03/94 55,263 Tulsa 20, Missouri 17 10/22/94 50,537 Nebraska 42, Missouri 7 09/06/97 52,514 MISSOURI 44, E. Michigan 24 09/27/97 58,882 Ohio State 31, Missouri 10 11/08/97 66,846 Nebraska 45, Missouri 38 (ot) 09/12/98 59,720 MISSOURI 41, Kansas 23 10/17/98 61,586 MISSOURI 20, Oklahoma 6 11/08/98 57,261 MISSOURI 38, Colorado 14 11/21/98 68,174 Kansas State 31, Missouri 25 09/04/99 50,356 MISSOURI 31, UAB 28 09/18/99 60,206 MISSOURI 48, W. Michigan 34 09/25/99 68,174 Nebraska 40, Missouri 10 10/16/99 61,052 Iowa State 24, Missouri 21 10/30/99 52,982 MISSOURI 34, TEXAS TECH 7
MISSOURI HIGHS & LOWS UNDER LARRY SMITH, 1994-present
MU TEAM RUSHING YARDAGE HIGHS 1. 473 vs. Iowa State 1995 2. 412 vs. Kansas 1996 3. 401 vs. Kansas 1998 4. 382 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996 382 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997 6. 377 vs. Oklahoma St. (ot) 1996 7. 375 vs. Western Michigan 1999 8. 357 at Tulsa 1997 9. 353 at Colorado 1997 10.348 vs. North Texas 1995 11.341 vs. Baylor 1997 12.340 vs. Bowling Green 1998 13.314 vs. Colo. St. (Holiday Bowl) 1997 14.292 vs. Clemson 1996 15.290 at Iowa State 1998 16.289 at Iowa State 1996 17.288 vs. Iowa State 1997MU TEAM RUSHING YARDAGE LOWS 1. 22 at Illinois 1994 2. 25 vs. Nebraska 1999 3. 39 at Nebraska 1995 4. 40 vs. West Virginia 1994 5. 44 at Kansas 1999 6. 47 at Nebraska 1996 7. 48 vs. Nebraska 1994 8. 51 vs. Colorado 1994 9. 61 at Kansas State 1995 10.71 at Texas Tech 1995 11.77 at Nebraska 1998 12.84 at Hawaii 1994 13.98 vs. Tulsa 1994 14.99 at Oklahoma 1994
MU TEAM PASSING YARDAGE HIGHS 1. 320 at Iowa State 1994 2. 311 at Colorado 1999 3. 303 vs. Iowa State 1999 4. 299 vs. Colorado 1994 5. 273 at Hawaii 1994 6. 266 vs. Texas 1997 7. 256 vs. Tulsa 1994 8. 249 vs. Kansas State 1998 9. 248 at Texas Tech 1995 10.243 vs. West Virginia 1994 11.233 vs. Nebraska (ot) 1997 12.231 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997 13.216 vs. Texas Tech 1999 14.213 vs. Iowa State 1997 15.204 vs. Bowling Green 1998
MU TEAM PASSING YARDAGE LOWS 1. 18 vs. Iowa State 1995 2. 20 at Ohio State 1998 3. 24 at Illinois 1994 4. 38 at Colorado 1995 5. 48 vs. Oklahoma 1995 6. 52 at Baylor 1996 7. 54 at Texas Tech 1998 8. 57 at Kansas State 1995 9. 58 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997 10.68 vs. Colo. St. (Holiday Bowl) 1997 11.65 vs. Baylor 1997 12.65 vs. Kansas 1998
MU TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE HIGHS 1. 560 vs. Western Michigan 1999 2. 544 vs. Bowling Green 1998 3. 542 vs. Kansas 1996 4. 527 at Colorado 1999 5. 518 vs. Texas 1997 6. 517 at Colorado 1997 7. 501 vs. Iowa State 1997 8. 498 at Iowa State 1994 9. 497 at Tulsa 1997 10.491 vs. Iowa State 1995 11.466 vs. Kansas 1998 466 at Iowa State 1998 13.461 vs. Oklahoma State (ot) 1996 461 vs. Iowa State 1999 15.459 at Iowa State 1996 16.452 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997 17.445 vs. Clemson 1996 18.440 vs. Kansas State 1998 440 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997 20.438 vs. North Texas 1995 21.434 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996 22.429 vs. Colorado 1998 23.411 at SMU 1996 24.406 vs. Baylor 1997 25.403 vs. Texas Tech 1999
MU TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE LOWS 1. 46 at Illinois 1994 2. 118 at Kansas State 1995 3. 122 at Nebraska 1995 4. 153 vs. Oklahoma 1995 5. 166 at Nebraska 1998 6. 170 at Nebraska 1996 7. 174 vs. Nebraska 1999 8. 198 vs. Nebraska 1994 9. 211 at Ohio State 1998 10.210 vs. Oklahoma 1998 11.217 at Kansas 1999 12.225 vs. Memphis 1996
MU TEAM SCORING HIGHS 1. 51 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997 2. 49 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996 3. 48 vs. Western Michigan 1999 4. 45 vs. Iowa State 1995 45 vs. Iowa State 1997 6. 44 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997 7. 42 vs. Kansas 1996 42 at Tulsa 1997 42 vs. Baylor 1997 10.41 at Colorado 1997 41 vs. Kansas 1998 12.39 at Colorado (ot) 1999 13.38 vs. Colorado 1998 38 vs. Nebraska (ot) 1997 38 vs. Clemson 1996 16.37 vs. Bowling Green 1998 37 vs. Texas 1997 18.35 vs. Northwestern State 1998 35 at Iowa State 1998 35 vs. Oklahoma State (ot) 1996 21.34 at Iowa State 1994 34 at West Virginia (Insight.com Bowl)1998 34 vs. Texas Tech 1999 23.32 at Hawaii 1994 24.31 vs. NE Louisiana 1995 31 at Iowa State 1996 31 vs. Alabama-Birmingham 1999
MU TEAM SCORING LOWS 1. 0 at Illinois 1994 0 at Kansas State 1995 0 at Nebraska 1995 0 at Colorado 1995 0 at Kansas 1999 6. 7 vs. Nebraska 1994 7 at Nebraska 1996 8. 7 at Kansas 1997 9. 9 vs. Oklahoma 1995 10.10 vs. West Virginia 1994 10 vs. Bowling Green 1995 10 at Texas 1996 10 vs. Kansas State 1996 10 vs. Ohio State 1997 10 vs. Nebraska 1999
MU INDIVIDUAL RUSHING HIGHS 1. 319 Devin West vs. Kansas, 1998 2. 252 Devin Wset at Iowa State, 1998 3. 222 Brock Olivo vs. NE Louisiana, 1995 4. 205 DeVaughn Black vs. W. Mich., 1999 5. 201 Brock Olivo vs. Iowa St., 1995 6. 193 Corby Jones vs. Oklahoma St., 1996 7. 176 Devin West vs. Northwestern St., 1998 8. 166 Brock Olivo vs. Kansas, 1996 9. 165 Zain Gilmore vs. Texas Tech, 1999 10.159 Corby Jones vs. Kansas, 1996 11.151 Brock Olivo vs. Kansas St., 1994 12.146 Devin West vs. Colorado, 1998 13.140 DeVaughn Black vs. UAB, 1999 14.139 Zain Gilmore vs. W. Michigan, 1999 15.136 Corby Jones vs. Iowa St., 1995 16.135 Corby Jones at Iowa St., 1996 17.133 Devin West at Texas Tech, 1998 18.132 Corby Jones vs. Colo. St., 1997 19.131 Joe Freeman at Houston, 1994 20.129 Brock Olivo vs. North Texas, 1995 21.126 Corby Jones at Tulsa, 1997 126 Corby Jones vs. Baylor, 1997 23.125 Devin West vs. B. Green, 1998 125 Devin West vs. W. Virginia, 1998 25.118 Devin West at Baylor, 1996 26.116 Ernest Blackwell vs. EMU, 1997 27.114 Devin West vs. Iowa State, 1997 28.113 Devin West at Texas A&M, 1998 29.111 DeVaughn Black at Memphis, 1999 30.110 Joe Freeman vs. Tulsa, 1994
MU INDIVIDUAL PASSING HIGHS 1. 320 Jeff Handy at Iowa St., 1994 2. 303 Jim Dougherty vs. Iowa State, 1999 3. 273 Jeff Handy at Hawaii, 1994 4. 256 Jeff Handy vs. Tulsa, 1994 5. 249 Corby Jones vs. Kansas State, 1998 6. 233 Corby Jones vs. Nebraska, 1997 7. 231 Corby Jones at Okla. State, 1997 8. 221 Jeff Handy vs. Colorado, 1994 9. 220 Corby Jones vs. Texas, 1997 10.216 Jim Dougherty vs. Texas Tech, 1999 11.213 Corby Jones vs. Iowa State, 1997 12.189 Jeff Handy at Oklahoma St., 1994 13.187 Corby Jones vs. B. Green, 1998 14.184 Jeff Handy at Houston, 1994 15.182 Kirk Farmer at Colorado, 1999 16.179 Jeff Handy vs. West Virginia, 1994 17.176 Corby Jones at Iowa State, 1998
MU IND. RECEIVING YARDAGE HIGHS 1. 169 John Dausman vs. Kansas State, 1998 2. 166 Travis Garvin vs. Iowa State, 1999 3. 136 Rahsetnu Jenkins at Iowa St., 1994 4. 127 Kent Layman at Colorado, 1999 5. 121 Kent Layman vs. B. Green, 1998 6. 119 Kent Layman at Colorado, 1997 7. 115 Kent Layman vs. Iowa St., 1997 8. 103 Kent Layman vs. Texas, 1997 9. 90 R. Jenkins vs. Nebraska, 1994 90 Rahsetnu Jenkins at SMU, 1996
OPPONENT TEAM RUSHING HIGHS 1. 407 at Iowa State 1996 2. 365 vs. Kansas 1994 3. 359 at Illinois 1994 4. 353 vs. Nebraska(ot) 1997 5. 342 at Nebraska 1995 6. 339 at Kansas State 1997 7. 333 vs. Nebraska 1999 8. 330 vs. Nebraska 1994 9. 320 at Ohio State 1998 10.305 at Texas Tech 1995 11.300 at Hawaii 1994
OPPONENT TEAM RUSHING LOWS 1. 9 vs. Texas Tech 1999 2. 17 vs. Bowling Green 1998 3. 36 vs. North Texas 1995 4. 39 at West Virginia (Insight.com Bowl) 1998 5. 50 at Tulsa 1997 6. 54 at Memphis 1999 7. 58 at Houston 1994 8. 77 vs. Northwestern State 1998 9. 85 vs. Colorado 1998 10.93 vs. Oklahoma 1995 11.96 vs. Kansas 1996 12.97 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997 13.98 vs. Ohio State 1997
OPPONENT TEAM PASSING HIGHS 1. 457 vs. Colorado 1996 2. 452 at West Virginia (Insight.com Bowl) 1998 3. 320 at Western Michigan 1999 4. 319 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997 5. 314 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996 6. 306 at Colorado 1999 7. 297 vs. West Virginia 1994 8. 295 at Tulsa 1997 9. 288 vs. NE Louisiana 1995 10.269 vs. Ohio State 1997 11.267 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997 12.255 vs. Tulsa 1994 13.243 vs. Oklahoma State (ot) 1996 14.232 vs. Colorado 1998 15.228 vs. Colorado 1994
OPPONENT TEAM PASSING LOWS 1. 39 vs. Bowling Green 1998 2. 59 at Iowa State 1996 3. 72 at Nebraska 1998 4. 82 at Kansas State 1997 5. 87 at Texas A&M 1998 6. 91 vs. Oklahoma State 1995 7. 111 vs. Iowa State 1997 8. 112 vs. Kansas 1994 9. 113 at Houston 1994 10.114 at Nebraska 1996 11.124 vs. Alabama-Birmingham 1999 12.123 at SMU 1996 13.128 vs. Oklahoma 1998
OPPONENT TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE HIGHS 1. 562 vs. Colorado 1996 2. 543 vs. West Virginia 1994 3. 540 at Illinois 1994 4. 531 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997 5. 531 at Ohio State 1998 6. 528 vs. Nebraska (ot) 1997 7. 502 vs. Colorado 1994 8. 491 at West Virginia (Insight.com Bowl) 1998 9. 484 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996 10.482 vs. Nebraska 1994 11.477 vs. Kansas 1994 12.476 vs. Nebraska 1999 13.475 at Nebraska 1995 14.473 at Kansas 1995 15.466 at Iowa State 1996
OPPONENT TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE LOWS 1. 56 vs. Bowling Green 1998 2. 169 vs. Texas Tech 1999 3. 171 at Houston 1994 4. 200 vs. North Texas 1995 5. 205 at Memphis 1999 6. 215 at Texas A&M 1998 7. 246 vs. Oklahoma 1995 8. 247 vs. Oklahoma 1998 9. 278 vs. Kansas State 1994 10.279 vs. Bowling Green 1995
OPPONENT SCORING HIGHS 1. 57 at Nebraska 1995 2. 51 at Nebraska 1996 3. 50 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997 4. 46 at Colorado (ot) 1999 5. 45 vs. Nebraska (ot) 1997 45 at Iowa State 1996 7. 42 at Illinois 1994 42 vs. Nebraska 1994 42 at Kansas 1995 42 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996 11.41 at Texas Tech 1995 41 vs. Colorado 1996 41 at Kansas State 1997 14.40 at Texas 1996 15.40 vs. Nebraska 1999
OPPONENT SCORING LOWS 1. 0 at Houston 1994 0 vs. Bowling Green 1998 3. 6 vs. Oklahoma 1998 4. 7 vs. North Texas 1995 7 vs. Texas Tech 1999 5. 13 vs. Oklahoma 1995 6. 14 vs. Colorado 1998 14 vs. Northwestern State 1998 8. 15 at Oklahoma State 1994 15 at Kansas 1997
Big Crowds Necessitate New Traffic Patterns
As soon as the 1998 season was completed, Missouri officials began revising the parking and traffic patterns at Memorial Stadium to accommodate the big crowds that have become commonplace the last two seasons.
Patrons are reminded that most parking lots in the immediate vicinity of the stadium are reserved for donors to the Tiger Scholarship Fund. General public parking may be found on the east side of Hearnes Center and at the Maryland Ave. Parking Garage.
In 1999, Mick Deaver Drive (which runs between Hearnes Center and Memorial Stadium) and South Hearnes Drive (south of the stadium) will be accessible pre-game only to those persons who have permits to park in Tiger Scholarship Fund lots.
Post-game, traffic exiting most lots will be required to turn right for the first 30-45 minutes to clear the stadium area as quickly as possible.
New Media Parking Lot
A new parking lot has been constructed for the media and game officials. It is located at the southwest corner of Providence Road and Carrie Francke Drive, just south and west of its previous location in Lot C.
Two media shuttle vans will run continuously from the new lot to the Memorial Stadium press box. Shuttle service will begin three hours prior to kickoff, and will run until four hours after the game's conclusion.