March 14, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas - Greetings from the Live Music Capital of the World!

The Missouri baseball team arrived in Austin on Thursday night, and although the team had to wait outside the terminal for more than a half hour as the coaching staff waited to rent the team's minivans for the weekend, the players were more than willing to wait in the gentle breeze of a 60-degree night.

Morning greeted the team with blue skies and temperatures in the 70s, and everyone eagerly went to Disch-Falk Field in anticipation of an afternoon workout that would allow them to actually sweat for the first time in a while.

Texas' home ballpark seats nearly 7,000 orange-clad fans, yet the team was greeted by more than 50 grade-school players participating in a camp scheduled around the city's spring break. After about a 20-minute wait, the Tigers took the field and went through a brisk workout on the Longhorns' artificial surface.

After a quick rest back at the hotel, the team reconvened at a nearby Italian restaurant for a hearty pre-game meal and brief glimpses at the Missouri-Oklahoma State quarterfinal game in the Big 12 men's basketball tournament, which is being staged three hours up I-35 in Dallas.

The start of the Big 12 Conference schedule means a refocusing of how the team needs to handle the opposition. The players are aware that means avoiding rushed decisions. Make the play that is given to you; don't try and make the great play every time. If you make all of the average plays, and sneak in the great play every once in a while, you've got a good chance of winning.

Enjoy the weekend - the team will certainly look forward to playing in temperatures 40 degrees warmer than in recent weeks - and GO TIGERS!