August 31, 2002

by Rob Coons
MU Media Relations

Tauras Ferguson is up to facing a challenge. He certainly has before, and he says he welcomes any more that might come his way.

The senior outside safety knows his team will face plenty of them throughout their season. The Tigers' schedule has been ranked as one of the toughest in the nation by Sports Illustrated. But he isn't about to let it get him down.

"We like this challenge," he said recently. "We need it to see where we're at as a team. You can say it's tough, but we see it as good. We're ready to step up to those big games."

The first challenge for Mizzou? Facing Illinois this afternoon in what is essentially a homecoming game for Ferguson.

Ferguson grew up in St. Louis and graduated from St. Charles West High School. He remembers playing against current Illini players during his high school days and looks forward to facing them again.

"It'll be fun," he said. "I grew up watching them, competing against them. Now they're doing their thing, and it'll be fun to compete again."

Ferguson admitted, though, that his drive to win is increased even more by the prospect of beating old rivals.

"Do I want to win? Oh yeah. It's the number one thing on my mind."

Talking to Ferguson, it's easy to see that just by being on the field, he feels he's won -- in a different sense.

An outstanding high school running back, Ferguson rushed for 1,250 yards and 15 TDs his senior year and was one of the top 10 recruits in Missouri.

However, his academic situation landed him at Coffeyville Junior College, where he continued to succeed on the field -- he was selected as a preseason All-American his second year -- but grew increasingly frustrated.

It's understandable then that when Ferguson arrived at Mizzou last year, he felt on top of the world.

"My favorite memory of last season was the feeling that I made it," he said. "So many times at JUCO I thought about quitting, but my family and friends kept me going. Then last year, the first game, being in the tunnel and wearing my uniform, I knew I made it past all my setbacks."

Ferguson stared down the challenge of making it out of junior college. But his arrival at Mizzou didn't mean the challenges would stop.

Ever since he started playing football at age seven, Ferguson had enjoyed the attention that came from running the ball. So when Missouri coach Gary Pinkel approached the junior about switching to defense, Ferguson was caught off-guard.

"I was surprised -- when I came here, I expected to play running back," he said. "The coaches talked to me, and gave me time to talk to my family. Eventually it came down to the question of how could I best help this team. I felt it was by switching to safety."

It was a good move, for all parties involved. In his first defensive season, Ferguson posted solid numbers -- six tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and 71 total stops. Conference coaches were impressed enough to name him honorable mention All-Big 12.

Must have been an easy transition then, right? Not quite.

"I had to work so hard last year," Ferguson said. "I really had to focus, listen, and watch the guys around me and learn from them. It's really a neat situation, because while we're all competing with each other for playing time, we're also teaching and learning from one another at the same time."

Ferguson admits it was hard to let go of the spotlight that a star running back becomes accustomed to living in. But he did notice one positive change in switching from getting hit to doing the hitting.

"Playing safety is less physical on my body," he said. "Playing running back, I'd get pretty nicked up. Sometimes there were games where I didn't feel like I was completely recovered until Thursday, I'd get hit so bad. That was nice to give up."

But what would Ferguson do if Coach Pinkel told him he could go back to playing running back if he wanted?

"I'd do both," he said with a smile. "I love running, I love holding the ball. And I've learned to love where I am today."

Ferguson isn't the only one who loves where he is today. He considers his parents and six brothers and sisters to be his inspiration and role models. He knows they're watching him -- and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Playing football is my way of keeping my family together," he said. "Because I'm so close to home, they're able to come out and watch me play.

"To be here is my dream, but it's also their dream. They're living every step of it right along with me."

For Ferguson, there are undoubtedly many more challenges ahead. At the end of this year, he'll face leaving college football and the uncertainty of what comes next. But make no mistake; he's not backing down from this challenge either.

"We're all playing with the big goal -- being able to make it to the next level," he said. "For our team, I want to achieve our team goals; I want to be better than the year before. We put in all this hard work, and I want to say we did it.

"For myself, I want to be able to say that I did well, had a good time, and made my mom and dad proud."