Tigers Prepare for Northwestern State
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 28, 1998
Pregame Football Release
MISSOURI TIGERS (2-1) vs. NORTHWESTERN ST. DEMONS (4-0)
GAME AT A GLANCE
Kickoff: 1 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: none.
Rankings: Missouri is ranked 21st in the USA Today/ESPN poll and was 25th by AP last week. Northwestern State was #8 in last weeks NCAA Division I-AA poll. 1998 RECORDS: Missouri 2-1, 1-0 Big 12; Northwestern State 4-0.
Series Record: first meeting.
HEAD COACHES:
Missouri - Larry Smith, 20-28-1 at MU (5th season); 130-108-7 overall (22nd season).
Northwestern State - Sam Goodwin, 91-78-3 at NSU (16th season); 92-86-4 overall (18th season).
TICKET INFORMATION: A crowd of 50,000 is expected. Tickets are available at the MU Ticket Office in the Hearnes Center (reserved seats $24, 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).
CONFERENCE STANDINGS
North Division League Overall Kansas State 1-0 4-0 Colorado 1-0 4-0 MISSOURI 1-0 2-1 Nebraska 0-0 4-0 Iowa State 0-1 2-2 Kansas 0-2 2-2South Division League Overall Oklahoma State 1-0 2-1 Texas Tech 1-0 4-0 Oklahoma 0-0 2-1 Texas A&M 0-0 *3-1 Baylor 0-1 1-2 Texas 0-1 2-2
MU Non-Conference Opponents Overall Bowling Green 0-3 Ohio State 3-0 Northwestern State 4-0 * -Later forfeited win over Louisiana Tech. Sat., Oct. 3 Texas A&M at Kansas, 11:30 a.m.(Fox syndication) Northwestern State at Missouri, 1 p.m. Colorado at Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. (ABC) Nebraska-Oklahoma St. at KC, 6 p.m. (Fox Sports Net) Baylor at Texas Tech, 6 p.m. Iowa State at Texas, tba
MU Non-Conference Opponents Ohio at Bowling Green Penn State at Ohio State Sat., Oct. 10 Missouri at Iowa State, 1 p.m. Nebraska at Texas A&M, 1 p.m. Oklahoma-Texas at Dallas, 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, 6 p.m. Kansas at Baylor, 6 p.m. Kansas State at Colorado, tba
MU Non-Conference Opponents Bowling Green at Miami (Ohio) Ohio State at Illinois Northwestern State - idle All times listed are Central time.
Tigers Close Non-Conference Schedule Against I-AA Opponent
The No. 25 Missouri Tigers (2-1, 1-0) begin the second phase of the 1998 season on Saturday. Following an open date, the Tigers will play the next eight consecutive Saturdays, beginning with this weeks game against NCAA I-AA power Northwestern State (4-0). Then Mizzou gets back into Big 12 Conference play, Oct. 10, at Iowa State.
Game time on Saturday at MUs Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field is 1 p.m.
Its Parents Weekend in Columbia, as well as Band Day. More than 2,400 high school band members are expected to be in attendance. The Tigers have won six of their last eight regular-season games, 11 of their last 16, and 15 of their last 26. Last season, they had their first winning record at home (4-2) since 1993, and have now won three straight on the Faurot Field grass.
MU will also be seeking to post a 2-1 non-conference record for the third consecutive year. Missouri hasnt had three straight winning non-league marks since they had five straight from 1978-82. Missouri is 5-3 the last two years in games decided by eight points or less. That puts their mark in such "close" contests to 11-33-5 since 1983. Saturdays game will be MUs first 1 p.m. kickoff this season.
Security Will Have Greater Presence at Future Football Games
To combat isolated incidents of unruly behavior at football games at MUs Memorial Stadium, the University Police have enlisted assistance from the Columbia Police Department and the Boone County Sheriffs Department to staff the events with more manpower. Additional efforts will be made to prevent persons from bringing alcoholic beverages into the stadium, and persons who throw objects into the crowd and onto the field will be targeted. Persons apprehended will be ejected from the stadium and arrested. Persons coming onto the playing field will also be arrested.
The MU-Northwestern St. Series
There isnt one.
This is the first meeting between the two schools. Northwestern State, though, is familiar to new Tiger Athletic Director Michael Alden. He spent the last two years as the AD at Southwest Texas State, which like Northwestern State, is a member of the Southland Conference, and was the conference-opening opponent for Northwestern State on Saturday.
Former MU assistant baseball coach John Cohen is now in his second year as the head baseball coach at Northwestern State. There are two prominent Missouri pro football connections to Northwestern State. The late Joe Delaney was the AFC Rookie of the Year with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1982, and competed at NSU from 1977-80. St. Louis Cardinals tight end Jackie Smith, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played at NSU from 1960-63. His son, Greg, played at MU in 1993-94 before completing his career at Brown University. MU assistant track coach Natasha Kaiser-Brown is married to former NSU all-America high jumper Brian Brown, who last year was ranked No. 2 in the U.S. Scouting the Demons Coach Sam Goodwins Northwestern State Demons have jumped to a 4-0 record - their best start since 1980 - and last week were ranked 8th in the NCAA I-AA poll.
NSU has beaten Southern (28-7), Southwestern Louisiana (24-22), Henderson State (53-7) and Southwest Texas State (34-10). The Demons are 6-8 against NCAA Division I-A opponents, including this years win against Southwestern Louisiana. But NSU has never played against a I-A opponent that was nationally ranked.
In Saturdays Southland Conference win over Southwest Texas, Northwestern State had only 273 yards of total offense and controlled the ball for only 20:43, but relied on its defense to win its league opener, and its fourth straight regular-season road game. The Demons limited the Bobcats to just 147 total yards, including just 36 on the ground, and scored a defensive touchdown on a 74-yard fumble return by Jermaine Jones. NSU has allowed only 230 rushing yards in four games, and has sacked enemy quarterbacks 21 times for 166 yards in losses. The Demons sacked Southwest Texas QBs seven times on Saturday.
Against the Bobcats, running back Ronnie Powell scored on a one-yard run and a 38-yard pass from quarterback Warren Patterson, and also had a 65-yard kickoff return. Powell is the Demons leading rusher with 53 carries for 347 yards on five TDs. Patterson, who tossed three touchdown passes on Saturday, has completed 31-of-66 passes for 637 yards and eight scores. Hes thrown two interceptions.
Eric Granger caught three passes for 130 yards against SW Texas, including a 46-yard TD and another 74-yarder. Hes caught seven passes for 226 yards this season (32.3 yards per catch). The defense returns eight starters from last years 8-4 unit, headed by DE Robert Daniel, a professional prospect.
Missouri Has Enjoyed Success Against Teams from Louisiana Missouri is 2-0-2 alltime against teams from Louisiana. The Tigers posted back-to-back ties against Tulane in 1925 (6-6) and 26 (0-0). That game in 1926 was the debut game for Memorial Stadium. Since then, Mizzou beat LSU, 20-15, in the 1978 Liberty Bowl, and toppled Northeast Louisiana, 31-22, here in Columbia, in 1995. That was the last time the Tigers won in a seasons fourth game.
Missouri Following Open Weeks The Tigers didnt have an open date, last season, playing 11 straight weeks before closing the regular season the earliest ever - on Nov. 15. But Ol Mizzou had a bye week in Larry Smiths first three seasons at MU, and even had two in 1996. In 1994, MU came off a 16-0 win at Houston, broke for a week, then lost at home to West Virginia, 34-10. In 95, the Tigers followed up a 31-22 win over NE Louisiana with a 30-0 loss at No. 13 Kansas State after the extra week. In 96, MU lost its opener at Texas, 40-10, had an open date, then lost its home opener, 19-16 to Memphis. Later in the same season, after falling to No. 22 Kansas State, 35-10, the Tigers used the bye week to recover for a 35-28 overtime win over Oklahoma State. The Tigers closed that season winning three of their final five games.
Head Coach Larry Smith
Larry Smith is in his fifth season at Missouri (22nd overall) with a record of 20-28-1. 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 130-108-7, 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
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 2-1 5 & counting 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 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 Game: Ohio State 35, Missouri 14 (in Columbus)
Michael Wiley rushed for a career-high 210 yards and two touchdowns and top-ranked Ohio State took advantage of a key third-quarter fumble by Corby Jones to outlast No. 19 Missouri, 35-14. Wiley carried 24 times and scored on runs of 21 and 11 yards for Ohio State (3-0). He has established career highs in rushing yardage in every game the Buckeyes haved played this season, totaling 140 yards on 17 carries against West Virginia and 151 on 13 vs. Toledo.
"Im really proud of our football team," said Ohio State coach John Cooper. "We didnt play our best game, especially in the first half. The credit goes to their offensive team. Its a great victory for us. That was a good old rock em, sock em football game."
Missouri (2-1) trailed 21-14 late in the third quarter and was driving deep into Ohio State territory. But Jones, who was limited to just 111 all-purpose yards, was stripped and the Buckeyes recovered. Ohio State drove the field and cashed in on Wileys 11-yard scamper 3:30 into the fourth quarter. A nine-yard TD run by Derek Combs, the first score of his career, with just under four minutes to play sealed the win. Jones completed 6-of-11 passes for a meager 20 yards and rushed 20 times for 91 yards for the Tigers, who were playing the nations top team for the second straight season.
Last year, Missouri fell to Nebraska in overtime after a miracle TD catch in the final seconds by Nebraska sent the game to the extra session.
"I think overall our football team played very hard and played very determined," said Missouri coach Larry Smith. "I thought that in the first half, we were able to make plays on defense which got us on the scoreboard."
Tigers running back Devin West, who last week rushed for a school-record 319 yards in a victory over Kansas, was held to just 86 yards on 21 carries. Wileys 21-yard burst just under 10 minutes into the game put Ohio State on top, but Missouri tied the game, 7-7, when Jones scored on a 10-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.
"Michael is having a great year for us," added Cooper. "Hes an explosive back. I thought he was going to hit a home run a couple of times today. If you talk to Michael today, Im sure hell give credit to the offensive line."
Dan Stultz converted a 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter to give the Buckeyes a 10-7 lead and they were driving on their next possession. But quarterback Joe Germaine fumbled and cornerback Carlos Posey returned it 65 yards for a score to put Missouri on top. Stultzs 36-yarder with 40 seconds to play in the half pulled Ohio State within a point. The Buckeyes then took the lead for good midway through the third quarter on Joe Montgomerys TD run of six yards and an ensuing two-point conversion pass from Germaine to David Boston.
"I told them after the game that they played hard and went all out and one thing that they have to take from this game and learn is that Ohio State is a very fine football team," added Smith.
Germaine completed 19-of-25 for 211 yards while being sacked once. Boston, who has a reception in 23 straight games, hauled in nine passes for 112 yards. Ohio State star linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer set a career high with 12 tackles.
"We beat a good football team today," stated Cooper. "We took their best shot, and I dont think we played our best game. Were going to have to go out there and earn these victories."
Robinson Could Get 1st Start During the open week, freshman linebacker Jamonte Robinson (his first name is pronounced juh-MONT-ay) spent more and more time with the first defensive unit and could get his first career start this week. He would join DE Justin Smith as MU true freshmen who have started this year. Robinson is Mizzous leading tackler with 22 (13 unassisted). He has three tackles for 18 yards in losses, which includes two quarterback sacks. Freshman wide receiver Cam Ankele has also returned to practice after breaking a collarbone back in August. If he plays this week, hell become the 10th true freshman to see action for MU this season.
Tigers Lead the Nation in Rushing
Missouri continues to lead the nation in rushing offense, averaging 310.7 ground yards per game. The last time MU was the nations top rushing team was 1941, the year that Don Faurot debuted his Split-T formation (the birth of option football). The Tigers are one of four Big 12 Conference teams in the nations Top 10. Nebraska is second (303.3); Texas Tech is sixth (258.5); and Oklahoma is ninth (248.7).
The only group that can rival the Big 12 for having an outstanding infantry is the nations service academies. Navy, Air Force and Army rank 3-4-7 with rushing averages of 292.3, 290.3 and 254.3. West Can Reach 2,000 Devin West enters Saturdays game needing 94 yards to become the eighth 2,000-yard rusher in Missouri history. He has 1,906. He ranks third in the Big 12 and 4th nationally averaging 176.7 yards per game. Hes also 4th in the league, and 12th in the nation in all-purpose running (182 yards per game). At his rushing pace, West will shatter Mizzous season rushing record of 1,312 by Joe Moore in 1969. After three games, West would project to a season total of 1,954 yards. A total like that would also enable him to set the MU career rushing record. He began the year with 1,376. He would project to 3,330 career yards, which would top the record of 3,027 set by Brock Olivo last year.
After breaking one of the longest-standing records in Missouri history with his 319 rushing yards against Kansas, senior tailback Devin West led the nation in rushing for a week, becoming the first Tiger to occupy that lofty position since Moore led after four weeks in 1970 before suffering an injury in a 21-7 loss at Nebraska. For that effort, West was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Week - the first Tiger running back to win the offensive weekly award since Joe Freeman was similarly honored by the Big Eight Conference for his performance vs. Iowa State in 1993.
Wests total against KU came on a career-high 33 carries, and broke the record of 240 yards that was set by Harry "Slippery" Ice on eight attempts at Kansas in 1941. That was the year that Don Faurot debuted his Split-T formation (the birth of option football) and Mizzou led the nation in rushing that season. Wests 9.7 per-carry average was also a school record for a minimum of 20 carries, topping the old mark of 8.7 by Moore vs. Illinois in 1969. He also caught a 14-yard pass that gave him 333 yards of all-purpose running - another MU record, bettering the old mark of 299 by Darrell Wallace s. California in 1985.
Included in Wests total were the two longest runs of his career - a 55-yard jaunt that set up Mizzous first touchdown, and a 45-yard TD blast up the middle that ensured the victory. He also recovered a fumble by Jayhawk DE Dion Johnson, who had just picked up a fumble by Tiger WR Eric Spencer, that put MU in business for a touchdown just before halftime. Wests previous career-high was the 125 yards he gained against Bowling Green in the season opener, and he had topped that midway through the second quarter. He had 151 yards at halftime. He gained 86 yards at Ohio State, just missing his fourth straight 100-yard day. Wests 1,906 career rushing yards rank him 8th at Mizzou. His roommate, quarterback Corby Jones, ranks 5th with 2,220. The two of them have combined for 4,126 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns in their parallel MU careers.
Tigers Turn Turnovers into Points Missouri has scored 31 points off of six turnovers this season, while MU opponents have tallied just 10 following Tiger miscues. That continues the trend from last year when Mizzou 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 88 turnovers and committed 80. Theyve forced at least one turnover in 42 of 48 games since Smith became the head coach. And the Tigers have scored seven defensive touchdowns during the Smith era, the most recent coming at Ohio State when Carlos Posey scooped up a Joe Germaine fumble, forced by Barry Odom, and scampered 65 yards for a TD. The Tigers have scored following turnovers in each game this season.
Jones Can Move Up in Career Rushing and Passing Mizzou senior quarterback Corby Jones could climb the school career charts in rushing and passing this week against Northwestern State. He needs just 25 yards rushing to pass Joe Moore for 4th place, and needs to throw for 21 yards to move past Terry McMillan for 8th place in passing. McMillan, MUs quarterback in 1968 and 69, was one of his late fathers closest friends. In the Tigers last outing, at No. 1 Ohio State, Jones rushed 20 times for 91 yards and scored the 32nd touchdown of his career - tying the school mark of Bob Steuber (1940-42). Hes also accounted for 52 scores in his 31 games as a Tiger (32 rushing, 20 passing). Thats just one shy of the school record of 53, set by Marlon Adler from 1982-85.
Hes the only player in MU history to rank in the career top-10s in rushing, passing, total offense and scoring. He ranks third in career scoring with 192 points. Ahead of him are Steuber (222) and kicker Jeff Jacke (225). Jones Wins Big 12 NationsBank Community Champion Award Corby Jones has been honored with the Big 12 Conference Community Champion Award, sponsored by NationsBank. The award is based on community service, academic prowess and athletic excellence. Jones was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremonies of Missouris Show-Me State Games and has worked tirelessly with youth groups throughout Missouri, including the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia.
Posey is One of Three Tigers From Louisiana Junior cornerback Carlos Posey is one of three Missouri starters who call the state of Louisiana home. Posey starred at Ohio State, scoring a touchdown on a 65-yard fumble return, making nine unassisted tackles, forcing a fumble that Mizzou turned into a score, and breaking up two passes. Hes from Baton Rouge, as is starting wide receiver Kareem Wise. Starting fullback Rob West hails from Hammond. Tiger Sack Pack Missouri, which registered just 17 sacks last season, has 10 in the first three games of 1998, including five against Kansas.
Linebackers Jamonte Robinson and Al Sterling and nose tackle Jeff Marriott lead the way with two each. 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 (played 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.
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. 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 at Oklahoma State 51-50 (2 OT) last season. MUs first OT defeat came on Faurot Field, last year, when Nebraska prevailed, 45-38.
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. Six of the top 12 home crowds Mizzou has had since 84 have come since Larry Smith became Missouris head coach in 1994. The 66,846 who attended last years Nebraska game represented MUs biggest home crowd since 1984. After two home games in 98, Missouri is averaging 54,345 fans per home game.
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) 9/12/98 59,720 MISSOURI 41, Kansas 23 Tiger Tales
The crowd of 93,269 for MUs game at Ohio State on Sept. 19 was the second largest ever to see the Tigers play.
Free safety Harold Piersey, all-Big 12 a year ago, has intercepted six passes in Missouris last seven regular-season games. He had five in the last four games of 1997.
Junior nose tackle Pat Mingucci started for the first time against Ohio State.
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." Hes always got a big smile on his face and his teammates have nicknamed him "Happy." [Youll remember, too, the Adam Sandler movie, Happy Gilmore.]
Missouris special teams included a lot of new faces against Bowling Green. 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 irst 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 18 kicks - 11 extra points, five punts and three field goals. Julian Jones blocked a punt against Bowling Green and Marquis Gibson got one vs. Kansas.
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.
John Dausman caught his first pass as a Tiger against Kansas and it went for a touchdown. He slipped the ball to equipment manager Brad Berlin for safe keeping.
