Oct. 22, 2000
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PRACTICES: Missouri practices usually begin at 3:30 p.m. and end around 5:30 p.m. Practices on Monday and Tuesday are open to the media. Practices on Wednesday, Thursday and the walk-through on Friday are CLOSED to all media.
Photographers and TV crews that need to shoot practices will be allowed to do so for the first 20 minutes of practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. They are asked to stay off of the playing field, including the end zones.
A member of the media relations staff will be on hand at each practice from start to finish.
MEDIA LUNCHEON: Larry Smith hosts a media luncheon each Tuesday in the Athletic Dining Hall. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m., and Smith's interview session begins at 12 p.m. It is available via teleconference through the services of Premiere Conferencing. Call 719/457-2664 to access the teleconference.
COACH LARRY SMITH: Appears at 10:40 a.m. each Monday on the Big 12 coaches briefing. Call 913/981-5507 to be connected. Smith is also available following each practice Monday though Thursday.
Out-of-town reporters may schedule interviews with Smith on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 1:30-2:30 p.m. by contacting SID Jeremy McNeive in advance. Coach Smith will return phone calls during that period.
PLAYERS: Available at the Tuesday media luncheons and Wednesday during the lunch hour, 11:30-1:00 p.m. Player requests for the Tuesday luncheon must be submitted to the Media Relations Office by NOON on Monday. Out-of-town reporters may arrange intereviews with MU players by contacting the Media Relations Office. Players will return phone calls during the lunch hour on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
VIDEO SERVICES: Coach Smith's Tuesday press luncheon is available "live" on satellite. The coordinates are Telstar 5, Transponder 25. Please credit Tiger Vision. Missouri highlights are available as part of the Big 12 satellite feed from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. The coordinates are Galaxy 3, Transponder 3.
MISSOURI TRAVELS NORTH TO FACE IOWA STATE
The Missouri Tigers (2-5, 1-3) will travel to Ames, Iowa on Saturday to take on the Iowa State Cyclones (5-2, 2-2) in a crucial Big 12 matchup. The Tigers have dropped two straight games and must win their last four to become bowl eligible.
As for Iowa State, the Cyclones will be looking to clinch their first bowl appearance since 1978 on Saturday evening. Iowa State has lost two of its last three, including two consecutive home games.
Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. on Fox Sports Net.
THE MISSOURI-IOWA STATE SERIES
Missouri leads the all-time series 53-30-9 over Iowa State. In the 1990's, the series was split 5-5 with the Cyclones coming out on top in the last meeting, 24-21 in Columbia on the Tigers Homecoming last season. Missouri has won two of the last three meetings in Ames.
Last year, Missouri got out to a 14-0 second quarter lead until the wind was knocked out of the Tigers when quarterback Kirk Farmer broke his leg midway through the second stanza. Iowa State scored 24 unanswered points and held off a late Mizzou rally to win the game.
The Missouri offense faltered following the loss of Farmer as Iowa State controlled the ball in the second quarter and scored two touchdowns on 2 and 3-yard rushes by Darren Davis (29 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD).
A third quarter touchdown by quarterback Sage Rosenfels and an early fourth quarter field goal by Mike McKnight saw the Cyclones take a 24-14 advantage.
Missouri fought back. Forced to throw the football facing a 10-point deficit, quarterback Jimmie Dougherty did just that, completing 22 of 33 passes for 303 yards. The Tigers put together a 13-play, 74-yard scoring drive that included three rushes and eight passes. The drive was capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run by Zain Gilmore to cut the lead to 24-21.
The Tigers stopped ISU on their next possession giving themselves a chance to win the game late. Dougherty led the Tigers into the red zone, only to have a fourth-down pass to a wide open Rob West dropped in the end zone that would have given Missouri the lead.
TIGERS HOPE TO CANCEL CYCLONES CELEBRATION PLANS
The Iowa State Cyclones were hoping to celebrate their first bowl birth since 1978 this past Saturday in Ames with a win over Texas A&M. It didn't happen. The Aggies spoiled ISU's party with a 30-7 victory. The Missouri Tigers hope to stall any celebrating for another week this Saturday.
Iowa State ran out to a 4-0 start before losing at home to Nebraska, then defeating Oklahoma State in Stillwater, and then dropping last weekend's game to Texas A&M.
The Cyclones last played in a bowl game in 1978. They met last week's opponent, Texas A&M, in the Hall of Fame Bowl and lost 28-12. Iowa State went 8-4 that season under head coach Earle Bruce.
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
The Iowa State Cyclones enter Saturday's game having lost two of their last three. The Cyclones were defeated by Texas A&M last week at Jack Trice Stadium 30-7.
Iowa State owns one of the top offenses in the country, ranked 23rd overall. The Cyclones are averaging 417 total yards per game and own the 26th top rushing offense in the nation (180 yards per game).
The ISU offense is led by junior running back Ennis Haywood. Haywood is averaging 102.4 yards per game and has put up 717 yards and four touchdowns on the season.
Quarterback Sage Rosenfels has thrown for 1,595 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He is averaging 227.9 yards through the air this season and seven touchdowns. His main target is senior wide out J.J. Moses who has 39 catches for 564 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, ISU gives up 26.3 points per game. Opponents have rushed for 181 yards per contest and are averaging 237 passing yards per game. The Cyclones are led by All-Big 12 defensive end Reggie Hayward. Hayward has 58 tackles on the season and 6 quarterback sacks.
MISSOURI'S GAGE, IOWA STATE'S JOHNSON MEET AGAIN ON DIFFERENT TURF
Missouri wide receiver Justin Gage and Iowa State linebacker Stevie Johnson have battled before, but this will be the first on the gridiron. Gage and Johnson matched up twice last season on the basketball court.
Gage, a reserve forward on Mizzou's basketball team, played sparingly in two contests against Iowa State last season. In Ames, Gage did not score, but pulled down three rebounds. Later in the season in Columbia, he scored 1 point and recorded 1 rebound.
Johnson, who started on Iowa State's Elite Eight basketball team last season, averaged 9.1 ppg. and 6.1 rpg. The Tigers hope Johnson doesn't repeat his performance on the basketball court on the football field on Saturday. He netted two double-doubles against Missouri last season (20 points, 10 rebounds in Ames, 10 points and 10 rebounds in Columbia).
So far this season, Johnson has played a backup roll for Iowa State. He has played in five games and has notched five tackles.
TIGERS HOPE TO SOLVE ROAD WOES
The Missouri Tigers will look to hault a seven-game road losing streak on Saturday in Ames, Iowa. Mizzou's last road win was back on Oct. 2 of last season when the Tigers defeated Memphis 27-17 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn.
Since that game, Missouri has been outscored 321-84 during the its seven-game road losing streak. In three road losses this season, Mizzou has been outscored 151-45.
MISSOURI HEAD COACH LARRY SMITH
Larry Smith is in his seventh season at Missouri (24th overall) He has a record of 32-43-1 at Missouri. He became Mizzou's 30th head football coach on Dec. 15, 1993. With 18 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 24-year career record of 142-123-7, 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 (South 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.
WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACHES
| COACH, SCHOOL | WON | |
| 1. | Joe Paterno, PennState | 320 |
| 2. | Bobby Bowden, Florida State | 309 |
| 3. | LaVell Edwards, BYU | 254 |
| 4. | Lou Holtz, South Carolina | 223 |
| 5. | Don Nehlen, West Virginia | 198 |
| 6. | John Cooper, Ohio State | 190 |
| 7. | George Welch, Virginia | 186 |
| 8. | Jackie Sherrill, Mississippi State | 168 |
| 9. | Dick Tomey, Arizona | 158 |
| 10. | Ken Hatfield, Rice | 146 |
| 11. | LARRY SMITH, MISSOURI | 142 |
THREE NEW OFFENSIVE COACHES AT MISSOURI
Much was made in the preseason about Missouri's new offensive system. The Tigers have three new offensive coaches in 2000 that have opened up the Missouri offense.
Co-offensive coordinator Bill Cubit and offensive line coach Sam Pittman coached at Western Michigan University last year and led an offensive attack that was ranked 11th nationally in passing offense (311.8 yards per game) and 23rd in scoring offense (31.1 ppg).
Cubit spent three seasons at Western Michigan and helped the Broncos to a top-25 ranking in passing offense all three seasons behind quarterback Tim Lester. Last season, Cubit's offense broke 26 school and conference records. In 1998, Western Michigan became just the 14th school to have a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard runner and 1,000-yard receiver. The Broncos repeated that feat last season.
Pittman is no stranger to Big 12 football. Before his stint at Western Michigan, the El Reno, Okla. native spent two seasons as the offensive line coach at Oklahoma. His offensive line helped produce the nation's 18th and 34th best rushing attacks in 1997 and 1998.
Missouri's third addition to the offensive coaching staff is no stranger to the Tigers. Chris Tabor, who spent the last three seasons as the offensive graduate assistant, takes over as the Tigers' running backs coach. Tabor worked mainly with the offensive line and scout teams while a graduate assistant. He spent the 1994 season coaching running backs at Hutchinson Community College under current MU Co-Offensive Coordinator Andy Hill.
TIGERS LOOK TO REVIVE THE RUN
After struggling with the running game through the first four weeks of the season, the Tigers chalked up 182 yards on the ground against the 8th ranked rushing defense in the country, Oklahoma State, three weeks ago. Other than that performance, Missouri has struggled with the running game. The Tigers are ranked 77th in the country in rushing offense, averaging 124.1 yards on the ground.
Two weeks ago against Kansas, Mizzou managed only 10 yards net rushing. The Tigers put up 145 yards on the ground at Texas last week, with 102 of those yards coming from running back Zack Abron (64 yards) and quarterback Darius Outlaw (48 yards).
History shows that Missouri must run the football successfully to win. The Tigers are just 7-24-1 in the last seven years under Larry Smith when they pass for more yards than they rush for. The validity of that stat can be questioned though in 2000 since in both of Mizzou's wins, the Tigers threw for more yards than they rushed for.
JUSTIN SMITH CHALLENGING FOR BRONKO NAGURSKI AWARD
In 29 games, junior defensive end Justin Smith has become one of the most dominant defensive players in MU history. Smith has recorded 236 tackles and 16 1/2 quarterback sacks, which puts him two sacks away from breaking the career record held by current New York Jets defensive tackle Rick Lyle. Smith tied Lyle and three other players for the single-season sack record last season with eight.
"Smitty" has impressed national audiences the last month against No. 8 Clemson, No. 25 Michigan State and No. 1 Nebraska. Smith chalked up 13 tackles (11 solo) against the high-powered Clemson Tigers in Death Valley.
Against Michigan State, Smith had freshman quarterback Jeff Smoker seeing No. 96 in his sleep. Smith hit Smoker four times, forced him to fumble it once and batted down a pass that he almost picked off. Smith also had a quarterback sack on Smoker that was called back for a penalty.
Against No. 1 Nebraska, Smith was at it again. He racked up seven tackles, three for loss, and sacked quarterback Eric Crouch twice. Smith also got a number of licks in on Crouch on option plays.
Smith added ? tackles and two quarterback sacks of quarterback Major Applewhite against Texas.
On the season, "Smitty" is Missouri's leading tackler with 58. Twelve of those tackles are for 61 yards in losses.
Smith, who is playing at 270 pounds this season, bench presses and power cleans 500 pounds. He possesses amazing quickness with 4.5 speed and has a vertical leap of 30.5 inches.
The accolades have begun to mount for the Holts Summit, Mo. native. As a freshman, Smith was tabbed the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and was named first team All-Big 12 last season. Already in 2000, "Smitty" has earned preseason first team All-America honors from Playboy, College Football News, and Football News. Athlon and The Sporting News have chosen Smith to the second team.
"Smitty" was featured in the Aug. 21 issue of ESPN The Magazine in an article by Gene Wojciechowski.
Off the field, Smith was a second team District VII GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American as well as a first team Academic All-Big 12 selection.
OPPONENTS WANT NO PART OF "SMITTY"
Smith's stats are extremely impressive when considering that no team has run the ball to his side all season long. Missouri has seen the rolling pocket go away from Smith all season long, particularly by Western Illinois, Clemson, Oklahoma State and Kansas. Nebraska ran the option at Smith a small number of times in the second half against the Tigers.
Against Kansas, the tape will show that Smith was dealing with three, sometimes four, defenders on every play.
TIGERS TURN TO THE OUTLAW
With injuries to last year's starting quarterbacks Jim Dougherty and Kirk Farmer, the Tigers have turned to redshirt freshman quarterback Darius Outlaw to lead the offense.
Outlaw is 1-2 as Missouri's starting quarterback. He led Mizzou to a 24-10 victory over Oklahoma State when he threw for 191 yards and rushed for 22. He rushed for his first career touchdown and threw one touchdown pass.
His second starting assignment wasn't so good Kansas, despite throwing for a career-best 237 yards which included a 60-yard TD pass to Eric Spencer. Outlaw was sacked three times in the game and threw four interceptions.
The young quarterback had his ups and downs against Texas. Outlaw rushed for a career-best 48 yards, but was just 12-for-33 passing for 176 yards. He was sacked three times and threw one interception that was returned for a touchdown.
The Powder Springs, Ga. native, who sat out last season as a partial qualifier, saw limited time against Western Illinois and Clemson before being forced into the game at Nebraska mid-way through the third quarter. In that game, Outlaw went 5-for-11 passing and rushed for 29 yards including a 27-yard scramble.
BAD BREAK FOR FARMER
Quarterback Kirk Farmer enjoyed the best game of his career despite a 46-39 overtime loss at Colorado in game five in 1999. He threw for a career-high 182 yards, rushed for 31 yards, including a gutsy 21-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter.
The following week, Farmer broke his leg along the visiting sideline in the second quarter against Iowa State at Faurot Field in a game the Tigers lost 24-21.
In week four against Nebraska, it happened again. Farmer arrived as a big-time collegiate quarterback, putting up career-highs in passing (13-for-25, 214 yards, 1 TD), rushing (9-for-83, 1 TD) and even receiving (1-for-35) ... and then it happened again. With just over seven minutes to play in the third quarter, Farmer broke loose for a 33-yard run and then fell on his shoulder as he was tackled. He suffered a broken clavicle in his left arm and will be sidelined for at least three weeks.
EVERY TEAM NEEDS A DOYLE
If there is one individual on the Missouri roster that describes a football player, it is sophomore linebacker Sean Doyle. Twice this season, Doyle has fought through a painful injury to put up huge numbers for the Tigers from his inside linebacker position.
Extremely questionable heading into the Michigan State game with a high ankle sprain, Doyle racked up 12 tackles and was named co-defensive player of the week. He repeated that performance against Kansas. After missing the Oklahoma State game with a badly pulled hamstring, Doyle started against Kansas after just two full days of practice and led the team with 17 tackles.
A legitimate All-Big 12 candidate, Doyle has 53 tackles on the season in six games.
HEART OF A SENIOR
Senior nose tackle Pat Mingucci earned his fifth year of football back. A partial qualifier in 1996, the Jefferson City native did what he had to in the classroom to earn his fifth year of eligibility. Now, Mingucci is getting it done on the gridiron.
While Texas' Casey Hampton is getting all of the attention, Mingucci's performance this season has been outstanding. He has 38 tackles from his nose position and five for loss.
He has played his best games against the top running backs. Michigan State's T.J. Duckett got most of his yards running over the tackles instead of going up the middle against Mingucci. Nebraska's Dan Alexander had 13 carries for 34 yards, mainly because of the play of Mingucci. He racked up a career-high 12 tackles against the Huskers.
WALK-ON SCOTT GETS HIS SHOT
The Missouri injury bug has spilled into the kicking game. Junior Brad Hammerich injured his left shoulder making a tackle in the second quarter at Texas last Saturday. The severity of the injury was not known at press time.
The injury opens the door for freshman walk-on Justin Scott. The St. Louis University High School graduate has just two years of football experience, but has a big-time left leg.
He tried out this summer for a couple of Missouri assistant coaches and was invited to freshman camp in August. Scott impressed Larry Smith enough to earn a trip to Mexico, Mo. as part of the Tigers' 105-man roster.
After camp, Scott had earned the No. 2 spot behind Hammerich and on Saturday, he found himself taking the field for the first time in front of 80,000 fans in Austin, Texas. He successfully converted a squib kick late in the second quarter, and then boomed the opening second half kickoff through the end zone.
HAMMER-TIME
Junior place-kicker Brad Hammerich is hoping to get plenty of opportunites to kick the football this season. Hammerich led the Tigers in scoring last season with 52 points, a number surely Mizzou hopes to see increase in 2000.
When breaking down Hammerich's numbers from a year ago, it is easy tell why Missouri feels that he is one of the best in the conference. Despite missing his first PAT of his career against Clemson, Hammerich is 39-for-40 in his career. He is 16-for-23 in field goal attempts - 10-of-11 from inside 40 yards, 6-for-10 from 40 to 49 yards and 0-for-2 from beyond 50 yards. Hammerich pushed a 50-yard attempt against Michigan State about two-feet left and had the distance.
MONROE AND REVARD STEP UP FOR MIZZOU DEFENSE
Depth at linebacker has payed off for the Missouri Tigers this season. Juniors David Monroe and Duke Revard have played very well with constant injuries to starters Sean Doyle and Jamonte Robinson.
Both Monroe and Revard have started two games each this season. Monroe collected a career-high eight tackles on Saturday against Texas and has been a big-play guy. On the season, Monroe has forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles.
Revard has three quarterback sacks on the season and has been a solid performer when called upon. Against Oklahoma State, Revard recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
FUMMMMBLE!!!!
The Missouri defense has been opportunistic in the fumble department so far this season. The Tigers are one of 19 teams inthe country to have recovered at least 10 fumbles this season. Mizzou has forced 11 of them.
Both Sean Doyle and David Monroe have lead the Tigers with two fumbles forced and two recoveries. Doyle's forced fumbles have been in huge situations. He forced a fumble against Oklahoma State in the Cowboys end zone that was recovered by Duke Revard for a Missouri touchdown. Last week against Texas, the Longhorns were looking to score from the 1-yard line, but Doyle forced a fumble that was recovered by the Tigers Gary Anthony in the end zone for a touchback.
12-GAGE IS A LETHAL WEAPON
Yes, he wears No. 12 and his last name is Gage. What a perfect nickname for a guy who is as deadly as the real thing.
Sophomore Justin Gage has become the Tigers "big gun" in 2000. After being moved to wide receiver this past spring, Gage is the man. At 6-5, 200 pounds, Gage has made a habit of jumping over shorter defenders and making fabulous catches. He caught a 35-yarder against Michigan State and a 25-yarder against Nebraska.
Speaking of Nebraska, Gage torched the Huskers defense with five catches for 125 yards and a 48-yard touchdown reception. Gage also caught a TD pass against Western Illinois in Mizzou's opener. He had a career-high six catches against Oklahoma State.
Gage, who played three games at quarterback last season as a freshman, still has a cannon for an arm. Against Michigan State, he hooked up with John Dausman on a double-pass for a 70-yard bomb, the longest pass play at Mizzou in six years. Gage's arm was used again against Nebraska when he caught a screen pass from Kirk Farmer and proceeded to throw it back to Farmer for a 35-yard gain.
By the way, did we mention Gage is also a back-up post player on Quin Snyder's Missouri basketball team? While Gage is taller than his defensive back opponents on the gridiron, he spent last winter guarding guys four and five inches taller than he is such as NBA first round draft picks Marcus Fizer and Chris Mihm.
GILPIN QUIETS HIS CRITICS
Punt coverage has been a major problem for the Tigers this season, but don't blame punter Jared Gilpin. The junior from Jefferson City drew a lot of criticism following a rough 1999 campaign, but 2000 has been a different story.
Gilpin is averaging 41.3 yards per punt so far this season, good for 40th in the country. For the fifth straight week, he boomed a punt of over 50 yards (51) and put two punts inside the 20-yard line. Against Michigan State, he booted three punts of over 50 yards (53, 55, 53) and boomed another 55 yarder against Nebraska.
More important than Gilpin's distance has been his punt placement. In 49 attempts, he has placed 15 punts inside the opponents 20 yard-line. Compare that to last year when Gilpin put 10 inside the 20 for the entire year.
6-8 GAVINS IS MIZZOU'S TALLEST PLAYER OF ALL-TIME
Missouri has never had a player stand 6-foot-8, especially at defensive tackle. Junior Michael Gavins has used his size to the best of his ability so far this season.
Against Western Illinois, Gavins blocked an extra point with his chest. In the Oklahoma State game, the Miami, Fla. native enjoyed the biggest quarter of football of his career. In the fourth quarter, Gavins deflected a pass up in the air and caught it for an interception and rumbled five yards to set Mizzou's third touchdown of the day. On the very next series, Gavins got his big paw up in the air again and batted down another OSU pass attempt.
CHIRUMBOLO PRODUCING AGAIN AT FULLBACK
After earning the nickname "Touchdown Joe" as a freshman last season, fullback Joe Chirumbolo found himself as the second-string fullback in Missouri's new offense earlier in the season.
Lately, Chirumbolo has re-emerged and once again has become an offensive weapon, particularly catching the football out of the backfield.
Last season, the Naperville, Ill. native touched the ball 21 times (15 rushes, 6 receptions). He racked up 143 yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns (1 rushing, 2 receiving).
Chirumbolo has yet to carry the football this season, but lately, he has been a factor catching the ball. In the last two games, he has 5 catches for 97 yards. Last week against Texas, he had huge first half with four catches for 73 yards.
WHITTINGTON PLAYING BIG ROLE
Like his brother Bernard who is in his seventh season with the Indianapolis Colts, Missouri's Daryl Whittington is using his senior season to blossom into a fine football player and potential NFL prospect.
Whittington spent his first four years at Mizzou struggling to add weight to his 6-6 frame. Finally this off-season, Whittington added close to 15 pounds and is playing at nearly 260 pounds.
The atheltic St. Louis native is splitting his time between outside linebacker at defensive end and is playing very well. He accumulated a career-high seven tackles against Clemson after recording a sack and a fumble recovery against Western Illinois. Against Kansas, Whittington notched four tackles, two of those tackles were for loss.
Missouri defensive coordinator Moe Ankney has been quoted as saying: "Daryl is going to make us look really dumb when he is playing on Sundays next year."
MISSOURI BLOCK PARTY
In 1999, Missouri blocked six kicks, tying a single-season record set back in 1994. With three blocked kicks against Western Illinois, one would think the single-season record may be in jeopardy in 2000.
The Missouri "Raiders" team, otherwise known as the punt return team, reaked havoc on the Western Illinois punting unit all night long. On the very first series, WIU botched a snap and the Tigers tackled the Leathernecks' punter at the WIU 2-yard line. Mizzou scored two plays later.
The other big play by the "Raiders" unit was made by walk-on Grant Thornburg. The Palmyra, Mo. native filled in for Justin Smith and came up with a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone by Western Illinois for a safety.
Missouri's other blocked punt was by Justin Gage in the second quarter.
The Tigers Michael Gavins also recorded a block when we wiped out a PAT attempt by WIU.
Missouri has now blocked 31 kicks since Larry Smith came to Ol' Mizzou - 15 PATs, 10 punts and six field goals.
TOAST OF PALMYRA, MO
Redshirt freshman Marcus Caldwell and sophomore Grant Thornburg are the talk of Palmyra, Mo. Both walk-ons have earned significant playing time this season.
Caldwell earned his first career start against Oklahoma State at free safety while both Caldwell and Thornburg have provided Mizzou two very good special teams players.
Caldwell has racked up 19 tackles and an interception in his three starting assignments while Thornburg blocked a punt against Western Illinois which led to a Missouri safety.
CURRY MOVED TO WIDE RECEIVER
Sophomore Terrence Curry has been moved from cornerback to wide receiver to help add depth to MU receiving corps. The Tigers lost redshirt freshman Brandon Barnes in the Clemson game with a broken ankle and are now without John Dausman.
At Kirkwood High School, Curry caught eight passes his senior season, averaging 31 yards per reception. Seven of the eight passes he caught were for touchdowns.
Curry made his first start and caught his first career pass against Oklahoma State.
BAD BREAKS II
Senior wide receiver John Dausman, who was lost for the season last year with a torn ACL, suffered another ACL tear, this time in his other knee against Nebraska. Dausman was blocking down field and got tangled up on the Missouri sideline.
EARNING PLAYING TIME
In Missouri's 50-20 blowout over Western Illinois, at least 23 players saw their first action as Missouri Tigers on Faurot Field. No offense to the movie "Rudy," but the Tigers had a few Rudy's - walk-ons that have put in the time and earned a chance to play in front of 50,000 fans.
Walk-ons Darren Baldwin, Jesse Belfield, Marcus Caldwell, Scott Jones, Michael Harden, Brian Heits, Shan Schauffler and Grant Thornburg
Thornburg made his presence felt by blocking a punt that led to a safety while Jones recorded his first career tackle on special teams.
Thornburg, Jones and Caldwell were all named to Missouri's Champion Club against Western Illinois.
TIGERS SCORE AGAINST HUNGER
Again this year, Head Coach Larry Smith and the Missouri 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 2000. The proceeds help the food bank and more than 120 charities in its 29-county region providing 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 six years ago, close to $1 million has been raised and more than 12 million meals have been provided to Missourians in need.
MISSOURI DEBUTS NEW $13.1 MILLION PRESS BOX
The skyline has changed in Columbia thanks to a new $13.1 million press box that adorns Memorial Stadium. The project, which actually started before the 1999 football campaign, was designed by Ellerbe Becket. The contractor of the project was Walsh Construction while the operation was managed by the University of Missouri Construction Management.
The new press box consists of six levels and stands 110 feet high, 321 feet wide. The structure consists of 35 suites, 418 Tiger Lounge seats and 147 working press positions, doubling the amount of the old press box.
TIGER TIDBITS
TIGERS FOR TIGERS
Although there are many universities with a tiger mascot, the University of Missouri is the first to actively support a comprehensive conservation program for critically endangered wild tigers, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The Mizzou Tigers for Tigers program is a pioneering effort to raise awareness and support to ensure that there will be wild tigers for as long as there are Mizzou Tigers.
For more information, contact Dr. Mary Ratnaswamy, MU School of Natural Resources at 573-882-9424 or Mike Baltz, MU Division of Biological Sciences at 573-882-4854.