Aug. 12, 2002

Columbia, Mo. - Day three of two-a-days continued Monday in Columbia, as the Missouri Tigers held morning and afternoon sessions in preparation for the August 31st season opener vs. Illinois.

The morning session was held outside under overcast and pleasant conditions, in shoulder pads and helmets. There were numerous highlights on both sides of the ball in the morning practice. Offensively, WR Justin Gage had several nice hookups with QBs Brad Smith and Kirk Farmer.

In 11-on-11 drills, TB Zack Abron had a powerful 20-yard touchdown run against the first-string defense, while WR Chris Crosby hooked up with Farmer for a 17-yard scoring strike over the seam. WR Sean Coffey scored on a 50-yard slant pass from Smith, and WR Darius Outlaw had a nice catch-and-run off a bootleg pass from QB Santino Riccio.

Defensively, CB A.J. Kincade turned in a nice interception early on during 7-on-7 drills, as did CB Michael Harden. In 11-on-11 drills, CB Antoine Duncan had a nice deflection in the endzone to break up a pass from Farmer to Coffey. CB Calvin Washington turned in a couple of nice breakups. DE Antwaun Bynum had a sack of Smith.

The afternoon practice featured a rare indoor/outdoor practice, but not by design. Practice began outside at 3:45, but was moved inside after one hour due to lightning from a storm that passed through Columbia.

Highlights from the afternoon session included a 60-yard catch-and-run score by WR Shirdonya Mitchell, and a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by OS Orlando Gooden.

NOTES

*-Former Tiger All-American RB Devin West was in attendance this afternoon. West, who ranks No. 2 on Mizzou's career rushing chart (2,954 yards), stopped by today to take time out from his graduate studies at MU. He's on pace to earn his MBA from Mizzou in May.

*-Approximately 40 members of the Columbia Quarterback Club attended the afternoon practice. They had planned a barbeque under a tent near the practice fields, but plans got scrapped once the storm rolled in.