Missouri Football Battles Memphis Saturday
9/27/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 27, 1999
MISSOURI TIGERS (2-1)
vs.
MEMPHIS TIGERS (1-3)
Game #4
Oct. 2, 1999
2:30 p.m. CDT
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, TN
GAME AT A GLANCE
KICKOFF: 2:30 p.m. CDTSITE: Memphis, TN, Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (capacity 62,380 ? grass).
RADIO: Tiger Network (Mike Kelly/John Kadlec/Vic Faust/Chris Gervino), on nearly 60 stations, and the Internet at www.mutigers.com. Also available by calling Teamline at 1-800-846-4700, ext. 5755.
TV: Fox Sports Net national cablecast (Paul Kennedy/Trevor Matich).
RANKINGS: None for either team.
RECORDS: Missouri is 2-1, Memphis is 1-3.
SERIES RECORD: Tied, 1-1. This will be the first matchup in Memphis. MU is 9-4-2 against Conference USA members, including a win over UAB in this year?s opener.
HEAD COACHES
Missouri ? Larry Smith, 28-32-1 at MU (6th season), 138-112-7 overall (23rd season). He?s 0-1 against Memphis, while at MU and 1-4 in his career.Memphis ? Rip Scherer, 14-34 at Memphis (5th season), 43-53 overall (9th season).
TICKET INFORMATION: Contact the MU Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS, or the Memphis Ticket Office at 1-888-867-8636.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Missouri will fly via charter aircraft to Memphis on Friday afternoon. Team headquarters will be the Adams Mark Memphis Hotel, 939 Ridgelake Blvd., 901/684-6664.
THIS WEEK AT MU
Sun., S26 Soccer, Loyola (Ill.), 1 p.m.Mon., S27 W. Golf, at Colorado Invitational, Boulder, CO
Tues., S28 Football, Media Luncheon, 11 a.m.
W. Golf, at Colorado Invitational, Boulder, CO
Volleyball, Oklahoma, 7 p.m.
Fri., O1 Soccer, at Texas Tech, Lubbock, TX, 4 p.m.
Cross Country, at Notre Dame Invit., South Bend, IN
Sat., O2 Football, at Memphis, Memphis, TN, 2:30 p.m.
Volleyball, at Baylor, Waco, TX, 7 p.m.
Sun., O3 Soccer, at Baylor, Waco, TX, 1 p.m.
Times listed are Central time.
LAST WEEK?S GAMES
#6 Nebraska 40, Missouri 10
COLUMBIA, Mo. ? It lacked the excitement of the last two victories over Missouri, but Nebraska coach Frank Solich did not mind.
Quarterback Eric Crouch rolled up 235 yards in total offense and accounted for three TDs as fifth-ranked Nebraska cruised to its 21st consecutive win over Big 12 Conference foe Missouri, 40-10.
Crouch rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown and completed 10-of-17 passes for 143 yards, including a 53-yard scoring strike to converted quarterback Bobby Newcombe early in the third quarter that stretched the lead to 26-3.
?There?s no question that Eric played very well today,? Solich said. ?I thought he threw the ball extremely well and ran the options to perfection, so he had a lot to do with us moving the football today both on the ground and in the air.?
The victory was the 100th in the 1990s for Nebraska (4-0, 1-0 Big 12), which won its 25th straight conference opener in convincing fashion. While the Cornhuskers have not lost to Missouri since 1978, their previous two triumphs over the Tigers were thrillers. They pulled out a 20-13 home win last year after rallying for a miraculous 45-38 overtime victory at Columbia in 1997.
Crouch and Nebraska?s defense made sure there would be no drama this time. ?I thought our team performed well in a lot of areas. Particularly our defense continued to play very fine football,? Solich said. ?Missouri struggled to move the ball with any kind of consistency against us.?
A bad punt snap less than two minutes into the first quarter put the Cornhuskers ahead for good, 2-0, before Crouch threw a seven-yard touchdown toss to Matt Davison, who made the tying catch off a deflection in the 1997 game.
Crouch dashed 31 yards for another score on the final play of the period, following a Missouri interception, opening a 16-0 lead.
After the teams traded field goals in the second quarter, the Huskers broke it open in the third. Crouch and Newcombe connected for a 53-yard TD and Correll Buckhalter went in from 10 yards to make it 33-3. Buckhalter led the Huskers with 132 yards on only 14 carries.
The Tigers (2-1, 0-1) had led at halftime of their last 20 games. But they never got untracked and suffered their 36th straight loss to a top-10 team. ?We stunk,? said Missouri coach Larry Smith. ?It was embarrassing and we were all responsible for it. Offense, defense, special teams all stunk. You can?t play Nebraska like that.?
The Cornhuskers rolled up 333 rushing yards, totaling 476 yards of total offense. Missouri was held to 25 yards on the ground, while Kirk Farmer and Jim Dougherty combined to go 9-of-26 for 149 yards with an interception and four sacks.
Nebraska also benefited from exceptional field position, scoring on five drives of 41 yards or less.
?(Their offense) didn?t do anything confusing. We just had to play on a 30-yard field,? Smith said. ?They ran the option. Our defense acted like they?d never seen the option before.?
#7 Tennessee 17, Memphis 16
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ? Seventh-ranked Tennessee avoided the embarrassment of another loss to Memphis, pulling out a 17-16 victory over its intrastate rival on Tee Martin?s 15-yard touchdown pass to Cedrick Wilson with one minute remaining.
Although a letdown was to be expected after last week?s 23-21 loss at No. 3 Florida, the defending national champion Volunteers (2-1) were forced to drive 78 yards in the waning moments to pull out the victory and keep their slim title hopes alive.
Martin and Bobby Graham set up the score by hooking up on a 53-yard completion that moved the Vols to the Memphis 6-yard line. It was Graham?s second career catch.
After a holding penalty, Martin found Wilson on slant at the 3 and the Memphis native broke two tackles before getting into the end zone. Wilson caught a career-high 10 passes for 88 yards, while Martin connected on 15-of-28 passes for 172 yards and was intercepted once.
Tennessee holds a 16-1 lead in the all-time series but the loss came in 1996, when the Tigers stunned the Vols with a 21-17 victory. Memphis (1-3) was the last unranked team to beat Tennessee.
?Memphis had a good defensive effort and a tough scheme,? said Tennessee Coach Philip Fulmer.
?These guys gave a hell of an effort,? said Memphis coach Rip Scherer. ?They weren?t given a chance by any one of you (the media). I was proud of the effort and the heart our team showed. I?m proud of the way these guys played.?
The game started well for Tennessee. Late in the first quarter, wide receiver Eric Parker fielded a punt at his own 31 and put a few fakes on the Tigers before racing down the center of the field untouched for a 69-yard score.
While Parker?s return was pleasing to the 107,261 in attendance at Neyland Stadium, the offense remained stagnant, going without a point in the first half. Ryan White?s 32-yard field goal early in the second quarter left Memphis with a 7-3 halftime deficit.
Tennessee?s offense finally helped its defense in the third quarter when Alex Walls connected on a 37-yard field goal midway through the period. But on the ensuing possession, Neil Suber and Ken Coutain hooked up on an 82-yard score that tied it 10-10.
Suber was 9-of-23 for 22 yards and was picked off once. Coutain totaled 116 yards on three receptions.
Neither team was able to manage much on the ground. Tennessee netted only 44 yards and Memphis tallying 62. Tennessee?s Jamal Lewis was held to 45 yards on 16 carries.
The Volunteers held Memphis to just 12 first downs and 290 total yards. ?I don?t know if we played our best football except on defense,? Fulmer added. ?The defense wouldn?t let us lose. There was no finger-pointing or griping at the toughest times.?
White booted field goals of 34 and 21 yards in the final period, the second coming with just 3:20 left and giving Memphis a 16-10 lead.
?My hats off to Tennessee,? added Scherer. ?They are a champion and a champion finds a way to win and they did.?
For Mizzou, Defense Never Rests
The Tiger defense got a wake-up call in the season opener against UAB, but the numbers were a bit deceiving. Half of the Blazer?s 28 points were scored against the MU special teams, and 69 of UAB?s 292 yards came on one draw play late in the fourth quarter when the game had already been decided.
There are high expectations for the Missouri defense in 1999, and not just because the group was the team?s third leading scorer a year ago when the Tigers scored six defensive touchdowns.
Coach Larry Smith has said it many times ? that this is the most experienced and deepest defensive unit with which he?s been blessed in six season?s at Missouri.
Missouri didn?t have to outscore many teams to win in last year unlike in ?97 when the Tigers averaged 33.5 points per game but gave up 30.2.
Last season, Defensive Coordinator Moe Ankney?s unit cut its touchdowns allowed from 45 to 21, and its total defense mark from 386.5 yards per game to 313.4. The 205 points allowed by the defense (down from 332 in 1997) was Missouri?s best figure since 1983 when the Tigers? Bobby Bell/Jay Wilson-led-defense allowed just 181.
Maligned in ?97 for giving up big plays ? 51 for 20-or-more yards ? the Tigers were stingy in ?98. Missouri opponents managed only 24 plays of 20-plus yards, and only 11 of those came in the season?s final seven games.
More unpredictable and mixing their pass coverage more, the Tigers saw their quarterback sacks total jump from 17 to 30.
Here?s a look at Missouri?s defensive statistical categories and how they ranked nationally in 1997 and 1998:
1997 1998 CATEGORY STAT RANK STAT RANK Scoring Defense 30.2 84th 18.6 22nd Rushing Defense 193.7 93rd 160.1 63rd Pass Eff. Defense 118.9 47th 110.0 27th Total Defense 386.5 76th 313.4 21st
In Missouri?s first game, the defense allowed only one play of more than 20 yards and had two quarterback sacks.
MISSOURI PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS
1992 Iowa State, 28, MU 14 @ Ames Bill Clinton
1988 Nebraska, 26, MU 18 @ Lincoln George Bush
1984 Oklahoma, 49, MU 7 @ Norman Ronald Reagan
1980 Nebraska, 38, MU 16 @ Lincoln Ronald Reagan
1976 Oklahoma St., 20, MU 19 @ Stillwater Jimmy Carter
1972 MU 31, Kansas St. 14 @ Manhattan Richard Nixon
1968 MU 42, Oklahoma St. 7 @ Columbia Richard Nixon
1964 Nebraska 9, MU 0 @ Lincoln Lyndon Johnson
1960 Colorado 7, MU 6 @ Boulder John Kennedy
1956 Nebraska 15, MU 14 @ Lincoln Dwight Eisenhower
1952 MU 10, Nebraska 6 @ Lincoln Dwight Eisenhower
1948 MU 49, Kansas St. 7 @ Manhattan Harry Truman
1944 MU 13, Michigan St. 7 @ Columbia Franklin Roosevelt
1940 MU 33, NYU 0 @ New York Franklin Roosevelt
1936 Nebraska 20, MU 0 @ Lincoln Franklin Roosevelt
1932 Wash. U. (Mo.) 14, MU 6 @ Columbia Franklin Roosevelt
1928 Drake 6, MU 0 @ Columbia Herbert Hoover
1924 Nebraska 14, MU 6 @ Lincoln Calvin Coolidge
1920 Oklahoma 28, MU 7 @ Columbia Warren Harding
1916 MU 3, Texas 0 @ Columbia Woodrow Wilson
1912 Nebraska 7, MU 0 @ Columbia Woodrow Wilson
1908 Iowa State 16, MU 0 @ Columbia William Taft
1904 Purdue 11, MU 0 @ St. Louis Theodore Roosevelt
1900 MU 12, Missouri-Rolla 5 @ Rolla Theodore Roosevelt
Tiger Texans
Missouri has 12 players from the state of Texas, the most from any state other than Missouri. That total includes two defensive starters ? DT Steve Erickson (Dallas) and SS Caldrinoff Easter (Houston). Mizzou?s regular punter, Vince Sebo, is also a Texan (Spring).
Other Tigers from Texas include: C Michael Valadez (Corpus Christi), CB Antoine Duncan (Denison), TE Brandon Ford (Galveston), OT Paul Carrizal (Grand Prairie), LB Michael Clay, OG Adrian Cole, CB Andre Roberson and WR Eric Spencer (Houston), and NG Cedric Harden (Humble).
Tigers Look To Go Undefeated
In Non-Conference Play
The Missouri Tigers, 2-1 overall, 0-1 in the Big 12 Conference, make their first road trip of the season this week, and they?ll be out to post an undefeated non-conference record for the first time since 1981.
Their chore, though, is a stern one, coming off Saturday?s disappointing 40-10 defeat at the hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and considering they square off this week against a Memphis Tigers (1-3) unit that took defending national champion Tennessee to the wire Saturday before falling 17-16.
Game time at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally by Fox Sports Net, with Paul Kennedy and Trevor Matich calling the action.
Standing 2-0 against non-conference opponents in 1999, the Tigers have a chance to go undefeated in non-league play for the first time since 1981 (4-0), and to win three out-of-conference games for the first time since 1982 (3-1). Mizzou has won 13 consecutive games against unranked teams.
Missouri was 2-3 on the road last season, but the first road trip of the season has not been kind to the Tigers who have lost 17 straight years on their first trip out of Columbia. The last time Missouri won its first road game was in 1981, when MU beat Mississippi State, 14-3, in Jackson, Miss.
The Tigers have won 13 of their last 19 regular-season games ? with the six losses coming at the hands of 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 had held the halftime lead in 20 consecutive games before yesterday, and since Larry Smith came to Columbia, in 1994, the Tigers are 26-8 when leading at the half and 27-3 when leading after three quarters.
Overall, MU has won 19 of its last 28 games, and 23 of its last 38. Missouri is 8-6 the last two years in games decided by eight points or less.
The Missouri-Memphis Series
It?s tied, 1-1, with both previous games having been played in Columbia, Mo.
Mizzou tripped Memphis, 31-21 in 1991, and lost to the visiting Tigers, 19-16 in 1996.
In that most recent meeting, Mizzou?s Mark Norris missed an extra point in the fourth quarter that would have tied the score, 17-17. When MU got the ball back with 1:04 to play, quarterback Kent Skornia was sacked in the endzone to decide the final margin.
Mizzou managed just 225 yards of total offense and was victimized by Memphis QB Quadry Anderson, who rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown and also passed for 160 yards.
Missouri is 9-4-2 alltime against teams that are now members of Conference USA, and owns one victory over a CUSA team this season, 31-28 over UAB.
Mizzou Has Been To Memphis
Missouri played in the Liberty Bowl in 1978 and 1980, and went 1-1. In ?78, the Tigers beat LSU, 20-15, and in 1980, lost to Purdue, 28-25.
Scouting The Other Tigers
Memphis stands just 1-3, but the three defeats were by a total of seven points and came against three SEC members ? Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Tennessee ? that each played in bowl games in 1998.
The Tigers rank 21st in the nation in total defense, allowing 280.5 yards per game, and they are tied for 20th in scoring defense, giving up just 14.8 points per contest.
The defensive leader for Coach Rip Scherer is inside linebacker Kamal Shakir, who has registered 45 tackles this season, nearly double that of his closest competitors, DB Idrees Bashir and NT Marcus Bell, who each have 23.
The Tigers have won the turnover battle with four pass interceptions and seven fumble recoveries, while giving the ball up themselves just eight tiems.
The Memphis offense is averaging just 250 yards and 14 points per game. The leading rusher is TB Gerald Arnold, who has carried 53 times for 163 yards. He was a 1,000-yard rusher a year ago. FB Teofilo Riley has run 34 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
The Memphis running backs coach is Charlie Coe, who was an assistant for Woody Widenhofer at Mizzou from 1985-88. Among the back he coached at MU were Darrell Wallace, Robert Delpino and Tommie Stowers.
Sophomore QB Neil Suber has completed nearly 50 percent of his passes ? 44-of-91 ? for 539 yards and one touchdown. The score was an 82-yarder to flanker Ken Coutain against Tennessee. Coutain has caught 12 passes this season for 197 yards, while split end Damien Dodson has snared 11 passes for 173 yards.
Memphis has a potent place kicking weapon in sophomore Ryan White, who is five-of-seven this season. Last year he was a perfect 16-for-16 on field goals and nailed all 22 of his extra point attempts.
MU Head Coach Larry Smith
Larry Smith is in his sixth season at Missouri (23rd overall) with a record of 28-32-1. 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 138-112-7, 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.
Smith has a personal record against Memphis of 1-4. He was 1-2 against the Tigers while at Tulane, and has also seen his USC (1991) and Missouri teams (1996) fall to Memphis.
MISSOURI COACHES IN THEIR 5th SEASON
OACH 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 2-1 6
Young Tigers Score The Points
With the exception of two touchdown runs by DeVaughn Black against Western Michigan, all of Missouri?s points this season have been scored by freshmen and sophomores.
Sophomore Dwayne Blakley has scored four touchdowns. Sophomore kicker Brad Hammerich has kicked four field goals and 11 PATs. Mizzou?s other TDs have come from sophomores Zain Gilmore and Eric Spencer, and freshmen John McPherson, Joe Chirumbolo, and Travis Garvin.
Hammer Time
Sophomore Brad Hammerich continues to do a fine job in his first year as Missouri?s placekicker. He kicked a 47-yard field goal against Nebraska, and another PAT. He?s been perfect in 1999, kicking four field goals (three of them over 40 yards) and 11 extra points.
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.
With 23 points in three games, Hammerich has already tied Missouri?s leading kick scorer of a year ago ? Tim Geiger.
He?s also been effective on kickoffs. His booming kickoffs have helped the Tiger coverage team limit opponents? average returns to 18.3 yards.
Layman Ties Record
Senior wide receiver Kent Layman caught one pass for 14 yards against Nebraska, giving him at least one reception in 25 consecutive games. That ties the school record established by Kenny Holly from 1991-93.
He?s also closing in on Missouri?s career top-10 for receiving yardage. He?s gained 1,072 yards in his career and needs 74 to pass Harold Burnine to 10th place.
He enters this week?s game having nabbed 51 career passes.
Odom Can Reach Top 10
Senior linebacker Barry Odom needs just four tackles this week at Memphis to move into Missouri?s career tackling top ten.
He had 12 tackles against Nebraska, upping his career total to 280 and vaulting him past Harold Piersey (268, 1995-98) and Chris Garlich (276, 1975-78) into 11th place on the MU charts.
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) in 1997. MU?s first OT defeat came on Faurot Field, in ?97, when Nebraska prevailed, 45-38, in the ?Flea-Kicker? game.
Tigers Get Their Kicks
After blocking a punt for a TD against UAB (and deflecting another), and snuffing an extra point against Western Michigan MU has blocked kicks in five of its last nine games (including the Insight.com Bowl).
That gives Mizzou 25 blocked kicks since Larry Smith took over at MU ? 12 PATs, eight punts and five field goals.
Homegrown Tigers
Missouri?s depth chart reveals that 29 members of the two-deep roster are from the State of Missouri ? 19 on offense and 10 on defense.
Black Rings Up 200
Senior tailback DeVaughn Black rushed for a career-high 205 yards and two touchdowns against Western Michigan. It was the sixth-best rushing day in Missouri history.
Against Nebraska, though, he could manage only 39 yards on 13 carries. Still, he ranks third in the Big 12 Conference and 13th nationally averaging 128 yards per game.
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).
His sidekick, 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.
Missouri dropped from fourth in the nation to 16th in rushing offense after netting just 25 yards against Nebraska ? the second lowest rushing day by Mizzou during the Larry Smith era. Four quarterback sacks and a 35-yard loss on a ?wild pass from center? greatly affected that figure.
Mizzou About To Top Last Year?s Touchdown Pass Total
The Tigers are making the most of their talented receiving corps, having tossed seven touchdown passes in 1999?s first three games.
That?s just two shy of last year?s total when Corby Jones threw nine scoring strikes.
Redshirt freshman Kirk Farmer has thrown six TD passes and sophomore Jim Dougherty one.
On the receiving end have been TE Dwayne Blakley (4), WRs Eric Spencer and Travis Garvin (1), and FB Joe Chirumbolo (1).
Tigers Turn Turnovers into Points
Missouri turned the ball over twice against Nebraska and the Cornhuskers became the first team this season to score after a Tiger miscue.
Nebraska tallied 14 points off of Missouri turnovers, while MU notched a field goal after a Cornhusker fumble.
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 began in 1997 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. In 1996, MU gave up 136 points following its own turnovers.
Since Larry Smith came to Missouri, the Tigers have forced 113 turnovers and committed 100. They?ve forced at least one turnover in 54 of 60 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 Hits High-Water Marks
In Win Over Western Michigan
Missouri rolled up 560 yards of total offense against Western Michigan ? 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 13 passes in his career at Mizzou and five have gone for touchdowns.
Tiger all-American Kellen Winslow (1976-78) had 10 touchdown receptions during his collegiate career.
Justin Smith Has Career-High
13 Tackles Against Nebraska
Missouri sophomore defensive end Justin Smith was all over the field against Nebraska and had a career-high 13 tackles. He had 11 three times as a freshman.
He also had three tackles for 12 yards in losses, recovered a fumble to set up a field goal, and had his first sack of the season.
He reached the century mark in career tackles against Western Michigan. In just 14 games as a Tiger, the sophomore has registered 115 tackles, including 20 for 49 yards in losses. In the opener against UAB, he blocked a punt for a touchdown.
He was featured in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated in an article written by reporter B.J. Schecter.
For the story, Smith endured a three-hour photo session. One of the poses for Smith was a weight-lifting scene on The Quad in front of MU?s historic Columns.
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 68,174 boosted Missouri?s season attendance average to 59,579.
The crowd of 60,206 that witnessed the Western Michigan game was the biggest for a non-league game in Smith?s tenure.
Twelve of the top 18 home crowds Mizzou has had since ?84 have come with Smith at the helm.
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
ARRIVAL OF LARRY SMITH
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
10/17/98 61,586 MISSOURI 20, Oklahoma 6
11/8/98 57,261 MISSOURI 38, Colorado 14
11/21/98 68,174 Kansas State 31, Missouri 25
9/4/99 50,356 MISSOURI 31, UAB 28
9/18/99 60,206 MISSOURI 48, W. Michigan 34
9/25/99 68,174 Nebraska 40, Missouri 10
Tiger Tales
Returning starter, senior Rob West, returned the last two games. He missed the opener with a broken foot suffered during two-a-days. He started against Nebraska but did not carry the ball.
Curry is 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.
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.
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.
MISSOURI 0 13 0 0 ? 13 NEBRASKA 3 3 7 7 ? 20
N ? FG Brown 38
M ? Erickson 41 fumble recovery (kick failed)
M ? C. Jones 1 run (Long kick)
N ? FG Brown 30
N ? Christo 1 run (Brown kick)
N ? Christo 3 run (Brown kick)
ATT ? 76,425
TEAM STATISTICS
MU NU First downs 10 22 Rushes-yards 37-77 61-256 Passing yards 89 72 Sacked-yards lost 3-19 1-6 Return yards 96 66 Passes 8-20-0 8-16-0 Punts-average 8-45.1 4-49.3 Fumbles-lost 2-1 4-2 Penalties-yards 5-41 4-26 Time of possession 27:06 32:54
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 1997
MU 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. 47 at Nebraska 1996
6. 48 vs. Nebraska 1994
7. 51 vs. Colorado 1994
8. 61 at Kansas State 1995
9. 71 at Texas Tech 1995
10. 77 at Nebraska 1998
11. 84 at Hawaii 1994
12. 98 vs. Tulsa 1994
13. 99 at Oklahoma 1994
MU TEAM PASSING YARDAGE HIGHS
1. 320 at Iowa State 1994
2. 299 vs. Colorado 1994
3. 273 at Hawaii 1994
4. 266 vs. Texas 1997
5. 256 vs. Tulsa 1994
6. 249 vs. Kansas State 1998
7. 248 at Texas Tech 1995
8. 243 vs. West Virginia 1994
9. 233 vs. Nebraska (ot) 1997
10. 231 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997
11. 213 vs. Iowa State 1997
12. 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. 518 vs. Texas 1997
5. 517 at Colorado 1997
6. 501 vs. Iowa State 1997
7. 498 at Iowa State 1994
8. 497 at Tulsa 1997
9. 491 vs. Iowa State 1995
10. 466 vs. Kansas 1998
466 at Iowa State 1998
11. 461 vs. Oklahoma State (ot) 1996
12. 459 at Iowa State 1996
13. 452 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997
14. 445 vs. Clemson 1996
15. 440 vs. Kansas State 1998
440 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997
17. 438 vs. North Texas 1995
18. 434 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996
19. 429 vs. Colorado 1998
20. 411 at SMU 1996
21. 406 vs. Baylor 1997
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. 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. 38 vs. Colorado 1998
38 vs. Nebraska (ot) 1997
38 vs. Clemson 1996
15. 37 vs. Bowling Green 1998
37 vs. Texas 1997
17. 35 vs. Northwestern State 1998
35 at Iowa State 1998
35 vs. Oklahoma State (ot) 1996
20. 34 at Iowa State 1994
34 West Virginia (Insight.com Bowl) 1998
22. 32 at Hawaii 1994
23. 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
5. 7 vs. Nebraska 1994
7 at Nebraska 1996
7. 7 at Kansas 1997
8. 9 vs. Oklahoma 1995
9. 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. 159 Corby Jones vs. Kansas, 1996
10. 151 Brock Olivo vs. Kansas St., 1994
11. 146 Devin West vs. Colorado, 1998
12. 140 DeVaughn Black vs. UAB, 1999
13. 139 Zain Gilmore vs. W. Michigan, 1999
14. 136 Corby Jones vs. Iowa St., 1995
15. 135 Corby Jones at Iowa St., 1996
16. 133 Devin West at Texas Tech, 1998
17. 132 Corby Jones vs. Colo. St., 1997
18. 131 Joe Freeman at Houston, 1994
19. 129 Brock Olivo vs. North Texas, 1995
20. 126 Corby Jones at Tulsa, 1997
126 Corby Jones vs. Baylor, 1997
22. 125 Devin West vs. B. Green, 1998
125 Devin West vs. W. Virginia, 1998
24. 118 Devin West at Baylor, 1996
25. 116 Ernest Blackwell vs. EMU, 1997
26. 114 Devin West vs. Iowa State, 1997
27. 113 Devin West at Texas A&M, 1998
28. 110 Joe Freeman vs. Tulsa, 1994
29. 108 Corby Jones vs. Colorado, 1998
30. 107 Brock Olivo at Oklahoma, 1994
MU INDIVIDUAL PASSING HIGHS
1. 320 Jeff Handy at Iowa St., 1994
2. 273 Jeff Handy at Hawaii, 1994
3. 256 Jeff Handy vs. Tulsa, 1994
4. 249 Corby Jones vs. Kansas State, 1998
5. 233 Corby Jones vs. Nebraska, 1997
6. 231 Corby Jones at Okla. State, 1997
7. 221 Jeff Handy vs. Colorado, 1994
8. 220 Corby Jones vs. Texas, 1997
9. 213 Corby Jones vs. Iowa State, 1997
10. 189 Jeff Handy at Oklahoma St., 1994
11. 187 Corby Jones vs. B. Green, 1998
12. 184 Jeff Handy at Houston, 1994
13. 179 Jeff Handy vs. West Virginia, 1994
14. 176 Corby Jones at Iowa State, 1998
15. 174 Kent Skornia at SMU, 1996
16. 164 Corby Jones at Colorado, 1997
17. 150 Jeff Handy vs. Nebraska, 1994
18. 147 Corby Jones vs. Colorado, 1998
19. 142 Kent Skornia vs. Kansas St., 1996
20. 141 Jeff Handy vs. Kansas, 1994
21. 140 Corby Jones vs. Ohio State, 1997
MU IND. RECEIVING YARDAGE HIGHS
1. 169 John Dausman vs. Kansas State, 1998
2. 136 Rahsetnu Jenkins at Iowa St., 1994
3. 121 Kent Layman vs. B. Green, 1998
4. 119 Kent Layman at Colorado, 1997
5. 115 Kent Layman vs. Iowa St., 1997
6. 103 Kent Layman vs. Texas, 1997
7. 90 R. Jenkins vs. Nebraska, 1994
90 Rahsetnu Jenkins at SMU, 1996
9. 89 Brian Sallee vs. Kansas, 1994
89 Brian Sallee at Hawaii, 1994
11. 88 Brian Sallee at Iowa St., 1994
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. 17 vs. Bowling Green 1998
2. 36 vs. North Texas 1995
3. 39 West Virginia (Insight.com Bowl) 1998
4. 50 at Tulsa 1997
5. 58 at Houston 1994
6. 77 vs. Northwestern State 1998
7. 85 vs. Colorado 1998
8. 93 vs. Oklahoma 1995
9. 96 vs. Kansas 1996
10. 97 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997
11. 98 vs. Ohio State 1997
OPPONENT TEAM PASSING HIGHS
1. 457 vs. Colorado 1996
2. 452 West Virginia (Insight.com Bowl) 1998
3. 320 Western Michigan 1999
4. 319 at Oklahoma State (2 ot) 1997
5. 314 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996
6. 297 vs. West Virginia 1994
7. 295 at Tulsa 1997
8. 288 vs. NE Louisiana 1995
9. 269 vs. Ohio State 1997
10. 267 vs. Eastern Michigan 1997
11. 255 vs. Tulsa 1994
12. 243 vs. Oklahoma State (ot) 1996
13. 232 vs. Colorado 1998
14. 228 vs. Colorado 1994
15. 213 vs. Northwestern State 1998
16. 211 at Ohio State 1998
17. 206 vs. Colo. St. (Holiday Bowl) 1997
18. 204 vs. Iowa State 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 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. 171 at Houston 1994
3. 200 vs. North Texas 1995
4. 215 at Texas A&M 1998
5. 246 vs. Oklahoma 1995
6. 247 vs. Oklahoma 1998
7. 278 vs. Kansas State 1994
8. 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. 45 vs. Nebraska (ot) 1997
45 at Iowa State 1996
6. 42 at Illinois 1994
42 vs. Nebraska 1994
42 at Kansas 1995
42 at Baylor (3 ot) 1996
10. 41 at Texas Tech 1995
41 vs. Colorado 1996
41 at Kansas State 1997
13. 40 at Texas 1996
14. 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
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
