Aug. 26, 2002

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Depth Chart in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

ABC Television Chart in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

FAMILIAR FOES, FAMILIAR TOWN

Missouri and Illinois fans have grown accustomed to one of college basketball's most exciting rivalry games each year in St. Louis, and now the schools are taking to the gridiron to renew old acquaintances.

The two schools will square off in the State Farm Showdown in St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome for each of the next two years. Saturday's meeting will mark the first football game between the two since 1994. It will also mark the first joint appearance in the city of St. Louis since 1969.

Mizzou and Illinois will meet for the 19th time overall when they tangle in the Dome. MU holds an 11-7 edge in the series, based largely on the strength of taking 9 of 11 games in a stretch from 1949 to 1983.

Most recently, the schools split a series of four games that were played on campus sites from 1991-1994, with the home team winning each time. The first two games were close affairs, with MU winning by 4 and Illinois by 7, while the second time around featured blowouts, with MU winning by 28 and Illinois squeaking out a 42-point win.

The two rivals have met twice previously in St. Louis, and Tiger fans are hoping for a repeat of MU's 37-6 win in 1969 that was played at Busch Stadium.

Any fans who say they remember the other St. Louis game are either long in the tooth or long in the nose, because that game took place back in 1896. Illinois won that contest by a 10-0 count, which adjusted for inflation would be approximately 125-0 today!

Missouri is 7-5 alltime in neutral site games played in St. Louis, including the 1-1 mark vs. Illinois. The last time MU played in the Gateway City was in 1970, when the Tigers split a pair of games vs. Baylor (W, 38-0) and Air Force (L, 37-14).

MORE MU-ILLINOIS FACTS

Illinois is the 2nd-most common non-conference opponent in MU history. The 18 previous games played vs. Illinois ranks behind only the 23 played alltime vs. SMU. Here's a brief listing of the Tigers' most common non-conference foes:

MU IN SEASON OPENERS

Missouri is 69-38-4 in its previous 111 season openers, for a winning percentage of .640.

MU dropped its season lidlifter in 2001 at home to Bowling Green, 20-13,which broke a streak of four consecutive opening game wins for the Tigers.

This will be the first time since 1996 (L, 40-10 at Texas) that the Tigers have opened the season away from home. In the modern era (post World War II), Missouri is 5-7 in season openers played outside of Columbia. Only one of those was a neutral site game, and that came in the 1970 season opener, when the Tigers defeated Baylor, 38-0 in St. Louis.

Mizzou had an impressive stretch where it claimed three straight wins on the road in season openers vs. ranked teams in the 1970s. The streak started with Coach Al Onofrio, whose Tiger teams won at 2nd-ranked Alabama (20-7) in 1975 and at 8th-ranked USC (46-25) in 1976. Warren Powers continued the string when his 1978 squad opened the year by winning at 5th-ranked and defending national champion Notre Dame (3-0).

SMITH MAKES HISTORY AT QB

When Head Coach Gary Pinkel named redshirt freshman Brad Smith the game one starter last week, it sent the media relations minions scouring the archives for some historical perspective.

Our tireless research shows that when Smith takes the first snap of the season on Saturday vs. Illinois, he will become the first freshman to start the season opener in Missouri history.

There have been plenty of freshmen who have started games under center for Missouri, but none of them came in the season opener. The closest a freshman has come to starting the opener was in 1977 when Phil Bradley started game two vs. Illinois (an 11-7 Illini win in Champaign). He took over after starter Pete Woods went down with an injury in the 2nd quarter of the season opener the week before vs. USC. He ended up starting 6 games that year before going on to a stellar career.

The last freshman to start a game at QB for Mizzou was Kirk Farmer, who Smith beat out for the current starting assignment. Farmer started the 5th game of the 1999 season, and nearly led MU to a win at Colorado (a 46-39 CU win).

Smith, who never relinquished the #1 spot on the depth chart after moved up with a strong spring camp, will join former Tiger standouts Corby Jones and Marlon Adler, as well as Bradley, as freshmen who started at QB.

Jones had his redshirt pulled in game #6 of the 1995 season at Nebraska. He started the next game vs. Oklahoma State, and went on to lead the Tigers to bowl games in 1997 and 1998.

Adler was a redshirt freshman in 1982 when he started four games for Missouri. He led the Tigers to a win in his first start over Army (23-10), and became one of MU's more accomplished QBs in his career.

TIGERS FACE SCARY SCHEDULE

Missouri players and coaches will have their work cut out for them as they try to improve on last year's 4-7 record.

That's because no fewer than 8 teams that line the Tiger schedule went to bowl games last season.

Sports Illustrated recently ranked MU's schedule 7th-toughest in the nation, and no-one around Columbia would argue with that assessment.

Four of MU's 2002 opponents were ranked in the Associated Press pre-season top 25 (2. Oklahoma; 7. Colorado; 10. Nebraska; 23. Texas A&M), while four others (Illinois, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas State) received votes in either the AP or the Coaches' poll. Only two opponents (Ball State at 5-6 and Kansas at 3-8) were below .500 last season.

Possibly due to the tough schedule, expectations weren't high for Missouri among Big 12 Conference media types in 2002, as the Tigers were picked to finish 5th in the 6-team Big 12 North Division.

GOOD START, TOUGH FINISH

Missouri developed a pattern last season that saw them hang tough early vs. its toughest competition.

The Tigers shut out 5 bowl teams from last season in the 1st quarter, as they threw goose-eggs at Nebraska, Iowa State, Texas, Colorado and Kansas State.

In its 7 losses last season, the Tiger defense gave up just 24 points combined in the opening quarter, an average of only 3.4 points.

YOU WANT BALANCE? YOU GOT IT!

Acheiving balance in one's life is seen as an important aspect of mental health.

If an equal run-pass balance equals good mental health, then perhaps MU Coach Gary Pinkel felt some inner peace last season, as the Tigers were remarkably close to a perfect 50-50 statistical run-pass balance.

In the 2001 season, Missouri passed for 1,895 yards, and rushed for 1,841 yards. That's a 50.7% breakdown in passing yards, and 49.3% in rushing yards.

DISCIPLINED TIGERS

Every football coach in the land preaches discipline to his squad. Despite being in its first year at Missouri in 2001, Gary Pinkel's staff got through to their new team quite impressively.

Missouri committed just 56 penalties last year, for a total of 444 yards. That was good for a Big 12 Conference low average of just 5.1 penalties per game for an average of only 40.4 yards per outing.

That was an improvement from 76 penalties for 625 yards for Mizzou in 2000, good for averages of 6.9 penalties and 56.8 yards in penalties per game.

MU enjoyed a nice advantage over its foes in 2001, as opponents committed 84 penalties for 715 yards, which broke down to averages of 7.6 penalties for 65.0 yards in penalties per game.

TIGERS WERE NO SACK LUNCH

Mizzou's offensive line was dependable throughout the 2001 season. Not only did they pave the way for the Big 12's 5th-ranked rushing offense last year, but they were among the nation's best at protecting their quarterback.

Missouri allowed only 6 sacks last season, which ranked as the 3rd-lowest total in the nation in 2001.

EARLY START TO THE SEASON

When Missouri takes the field on Aug. 31 vs. Illinois, it will equal the earliest season opener in MU history.

The only other time MU has gotten a season underway this early came on Aug. 31, 1996, when the Tigers played their first Big 12 Conference game ever, at Texas. The Longhorns prevailed, 40-10 in Austin.

By the way, the latest MU has ever started a season came back in 1892, when Coach E.H. Jones' Tigers opened the year on Nov. 5.

WON ( IF BY LAND )

Missouri was an effective rushing team last season, as the Tigers' average of 167.4 yards per game on the ground ranked 5th in the Big 12 Conference.

Despite that fact, MU had a hard time getting in the endzone via the ground, as the Tigers' 11 rushing TDs ranked 9th in the league.

A deeper look at that figure reveals that Tiger running backs were indicators of MU's success as a team. When Tiger RBs rushed for a TD, MU went 4-1. Conversely, when Tiger backs were kept out of the endzone by opposing defenses, Mizzou went 0-6.

WHEN THIRTY-SOMETHING IS GOOD

Those of us waving at 30 in the rearview mirror often remember fondly the carefree days of our 20s.

But for Missouri last season, any score in the 20s or less was an unwelcome sight. Mizzou went a perfect 4-0 in games in which it scored 30 or more points, and 0-7 when scoring less than 30.

THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY

There are many ways to analyze statistics and how they correlate to success. But one indicator last year for Missouri last season definitely revolved around third down efficiency.

There was a huge disparity last season for Missouri in third down success when comparing wins to losses. In its 4 wins last year, the Tigers converted more third downs than they did in their seven losses combined!

In Mizzou's 4 wins, the Tigers converted a respectable 49.2% of its third down tries (29-of-59).

In the Tigers' 7 losses, MU was successful on just 26.7% of its third downs (28-of-105).

PINKEL ROAD RULES RULE THE ROAD

Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel's Tigers went a respectable 2-3 on the road in 2001, notching wins at Oklahoma State and Kansas.

Those wins came in MU's first two road games of the season, and put Pinkel in rare company. He became the 1st MU coach since Frank Broyles in 1958 to win his first two road games at Missouri.

Broyles, who coached just one season at MU, actually won his first three road games that year, and ended 3-1 away from Faurot Field.

The list of Tiger coaches since Broyles who could not win their first two road games include: Dan Devine (1958), Al Onofrio (1971), Warren Powers (1978), Woody Widenhofer (1985), Bob Stull (1989) and Larry Smith (1994).

We will give a special dispensation credit to Powers, who faced the daunting task of playing at #5 Notre Dame and #1 Oklahoma in his first two road games of 1978. Powers' Tigers pulled a coup in South Bend, Ind., as MU won, 3-0. Mizzou later fell at Oklahoma, 45-23.

12-GAGE EYES MU CAREER RECORDS

Senior wide receiver Justin Gage is on pace to become Missouri's top pass catcher of alltime this season. Not bad for someone who played quarterback as a freshman and who switched to receiver the next year.

Gage has quickly developed into one of the nation's top wideouts. He was recently named to the Biletnikoff pre-season watch list as one of the nation's premier pass-catchers.

His 2001 season featured 74 receptions for 920 yards and 5 TDs. His 74 catches was just one shy of the single-season school record, and he now ranks 4th on the MU career charts in both receptions (118) and receiving yards (1,629), and should hold both records by the end of the year.

Gage was a 1st-team All-Big 12 performer last year, and was named a pre-season first-team All-Big 12 wideout by league media this year. His top game a year ago was a 13-catch, 236-yard outing vs. Baylor, which set the school record for single-game receiving yardage. He also tallied 2 TDs against the Bears.

A key reserve on Missouri's basketball team which made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament in 2002, Gage has decided to give up basketball following the current football season.

RICKER TO MAKE IT 23 STRAIGHT

Junior center A.J. Ricker has been as dependable as they come. The Houston, Texas native, who is a pre-season candidate for the Rimington Award, has started all 22 games in his collegiate career for Mizzou. He'll make it 23 straight starts when he takes the field Saturday vs. Illinois.

Ricker was a key component of last year's offensive line that helped pave the way for MU to rank 5th in the Big 12 in rushing last year. The Tiger O-Line also allowed just 6 sacks in 2001, which was the 3rd-lowest total in the nation.

Ricker was voted a team captain during fall camp by his teammates.

THE ZACK ATTACK

Junior TB Zack Abron is entrenched as the starter in the Tiger backfield, and he's looking faster and stronger than ever.

The powerful running back is coming off a season that saw him lead the Tigers with 783 yards rushing. He suffered an ankle injury in game #8 at Colorado that nagged him for the rest of the year, and likely cost him a shot at 1,000 yards. He was still named 3rd-Team All-Big 12 by league coaches.

Abron averaged 5.0 yards per rush in 2001, a drastic improvement from his freshman average of 3.6 per attempt.

He was his best against the Big 12's best defenses in 2001, as Abron rushed for 109 yards (on just 13 carries) vs. Texas and 101 yards against Kansas State. He tallied 100 yards 5 times on the season, including a career-high 147 yards vs. Iowa State.

With 1,285 career rushing yards, Abron enters the 2002 season needing just 546 more to crack the Mizzou career rushing yardage top-10 list. Number 10 on the list is former standout Charlie Brown, who had 1,830 yards from 1964-66.

DOYLE LEADS THE WAY

Senior LB Sean Doyle was all over the field in 2001, as he led the Tigers with 131 tackles. That total ranked 2nd in the Big 12 Conference, and ranked 7th nationally (see chart below).

One of 4 team captains for the 2002 season, Doyle looks to crack the MU top-10 career tackles chart. He currently sits just outside the top 10 with 245 career stops. Lynn Evans ranks 10th on the list currently, with 316 tackles.

Doyle, who was a 1st-team All-Big 12 selection a year ago by The Dallas Morning News, was recently named to the pre-season watch list for the Butkus Award. Doyle recorded double-digit stops in 8-of-11 games last year, and twice set career-high tackle totals of 17, against Nebraska and Bowling Green.

THE WRIGHT STUFF

Senior defensive tackle Keith Wright was a pleasant addition to the Tiger line in 2001. He was arguably MU's most valuable newcomer, and proved to be one of the Big 12's best defensive linemen, as he earned 2nd-Team All-Big 12 honors for his efforts.

Wright looks to build on a 2001 season that saw him record 68 tackles (including 10 for losses) and 2 sacks. He also forced 2 fumbles (recovering 1), knocked down 3 passes, blocked a kick and grabbed one interception.

Not bad for someone who played tackle for the first time in his career.

A car enthusiast who recently completed the refurbishing of a 1968 Ford Mustang, Wright was recently named to the pre-season watch list for the prestigious Lombardi Award.

JAMES PROVIDES RETURNS

In this day and age of market volatility, it's dangerous to compare anyone to the stock market. But if Tiger receiver/return man Marcus James was a stock, his performance last year would have been considered of the blue-chip variety.

James' biggest contributions were in the return game, where he led MU in both kickoff and punt returns, in addition to catching 6 passes for 75 yards and a TD.

Although James broke just one punt return of 20 yards or more (21 yards at Kansas), his average return of 9.7 yards was the highest since Niu Sale averaged 17.4 for MU in 1990.

It was also the highest punt return average for anyone with a minimum of 10 returns in a season since James Caver averaged 10.0 in 26 returns in 1981.

A QUALITY BACKUP

Senior QB Kirk Farmer gives Mizzou quite a luxury as the team's No. 2 quarterback. He's a proven veteran who has extensive experience under center.

Farmer ranks among MU's top-10 career performers in passing yardage, passing TDs and total offense (see accompanying charts).

After missing the first 2 games on the 2001 season due to an off-season injury, Farmer returned to start 9 of MU's last 10 games. He racked up 1,946 yards of total offense, which was the 7th-highest single-season total in MU history. He threw for 1,567 yards and 13 TDs, to only 6 INTs. He ended as MU's 2nd-leading rusher, with 379 yards on 59 carries (a healthy average of 6.4 yards per attempt). He ran for 3 TDs on the year.

Farmer had a standout game last year vs. Baylor, when he threw for a career-best 360 yards (on 23-of-34 passing), which was the 6th-highest single-game mark in school history. He also led MU to comeback wins on the road at Oklahoma State and Kansas, both games in which the Tigers trailed by 14 points at one time.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

One player you won't find listed in the 2002 media guide is junior defensive lineman Russ Bell. Bell, a three-time All-American for the MU track and field team (hammer, discus and weight throw) was a former all-state football player at nearby Jefferson City High School who gave up the game to concentrate on track in college.

While he'd been an unqualified success in track, he always missed the game of football, and decided this summer to try out for the squad. Bell didn't take long to impress Tiger coaches with his talent and work ethic, and he recently was moved to #2 on the depth chart at the nosetackle position, behind redshirt freshman C.J. Mosley.

Bell's addition to the squad represented a reunion of sorts, as he was high school teammates with current Tigers Justin Gage, Kirk Farmer and Brock Harvey. In fact, Bell and Gage have been going to the same schools together dating all the way back to pre-school.

In the 2002 track season, Bell was an All-American outdoors in the hammer throw (9th at the NCAA Championships with a mark of 206'3") and indoors in the weight throw (5th at 71'3 1/4"). He also earned All-American honors outdoors in 2001 in the discus (8th at 182'7").

PLAYING TAKEAWAY

Missouri was one of the most mistake-free teams in the Big 12 Conference last season. As noted earlier, the Tigers led the league last year in two important categories: fewest sacks allowed (6) and fewest penalties (56).

Additionally, Mizzou rarely beat itself with turnovers, as the Tigers committed only 16 miscues last season. Only two Big 12 schools - Iowa State (14) and Texas A&M (15) - had fewer turnovers than Mizzou, and the 16 TOs were the 3rd-fewest in single-season school history.

So how did such a disciplined team end up 4-7 on the year? After all, the other two years that MU committed fewer turnovers than last year, those Tiger outfits went to bowl games. The 1997 squad committed a school-record low 14 turnovers, and went 7-5, while the 1965 team had only 15 giveaways on the road to an 8-2-1 mark.

A primary problem resulted in the fact that Mizzou had trouble forcing turnovers, as the Tigers' 15 takeaways were the least in the Big 12, and were the 2nd-fewest in school single-season history. MU's turnover margin of -1 for the year put the Tigers 9th in the league stats.

Only one Tiger team has ever forced fewer turnovers. That came back in 1996, when MU grabbed just 13 turnovers on the way to a 5-6 record.

TIME OF POSSESSION

Mizzou's inability to force turnovers in 2001 led largely to a huge disadvantage in time of possession.

Opponents held the ball an average of 32 minutes, 40 seconds per game, to MU's 27:20.

The Tigers won the time of possession battle only twice last season, and both times, they came out winners. MU downed Southwest Texas while holding a 30:20 to 29:40 advantage in possession time, and won at Kansas owning a 33:46-to-26:14 edge in possession time.

The Tigers faced huge time of possession deficits against Texas (39:22-to-20:38) and Nebraska (37:07-to-22:53) in losses, and overcame a 13-minute disadvantage (36:30-to-23:30) at Oklahoma State to post a thrilling 3-overtime win.