Oct. 4, 2004
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TIGER NEWS & NOTES
Missouri Tigers (3-1, 1-0) at Baylor Bears (2-2, 0-1)
October 9, 2004 - Floyd Casey Stadium - Waco, Texas
KICKOFF: 9:00 p.m. (central time).
STADIUM: Floyd Casey Stadium (50,000). Baylor is 2-0 there this season.
RADIO: Tiger Network (Mike Kelly, play-by-play/John Kadlec, color). Carried on over 50 stations statewide, and on the Internet at www.mutigers.com.
TV: Fox Sports Net. Bill Land (Play-by-Play); Gary Reasons (Analysis); John Rhadigan (Sideline); Jeff Muckleroy (Producer). Check local listings in your area for details.
RANKINGS (AP/ESPN-USA): MU - RV/RV; BU - NA/NA.
SERIES: MU leads, 7-2, and has won 4 straight, including all 4 meetings since the Big 12 began play in 1996. MU is 2-1 alltime in Waco.
COACHES:
Mizzou: Gary Pinkel (Kent, '75), 20-20 at MU (4th year) and 93-57-3 overall (14th year). Pinkel is 1-0 versus Baylor, and 0-0 versus Guy Morriss.
Baylor: Guy Morriss (TCU, '72), 5-11 at BU (2nd year) and 14-25 overall (4th year). Morriss is 0-0 versus Mizzou and Gary Pinkel.
The Missouri Tigers (3-1 overall, 1-0 in Big 12 Conference play) begin a two-game road swing through the state of Texas on Saturday, when they travel to Waco, Texas, to play the Baylor Bears (2-2, 0-1). The game has been moved to a 9 p.m. (central) kickoff, to accommodate a Fox Sports Net television broadcast on most FSN affiliates.
Mizzou is coming off a 17-9 win over previously undefeated Colorado, as the Tiger defense was stifling, holding the Buffs to just 251 yards of total offense. The defense also forced 3 Buff turnovers, including an interception in the MU endzone late in the game to hold on to the win.
Baylor is coming off a 44-14 loss to 5th-ranked Texas (Mizzou's following opponent), in Austin. The Bears had a 2-game win streak prior to that, as they defeated Texas State (24-17) and North Texas (37-14), both in Waco.
TIGERS LOOK TO MOVE TO 2-0
Every game is a big one, certainly, but this Saturday's contest at Baylor carries huge significance, as a Tiger win in Waco would move MU to 2-0 early on in Big 12 Conference play.
If the Tigers pull out the win Saturday, it would move MU to 2-0 in Big 12 play for the 1st time since 1998, when MU won its first 3 league games (at home vs. Kansas, at Iowa State and at home vs. Oklahoma). Mizzou ended the league campaign at 5-3 that season, tied for 2nd in the Big 12 North.
Baylor is looking for its first Big 12 win of the season, but they're sure to put up quite a fight at Floyd Casey Stadium, where they are a perfect 2-0 on the season, with wins over Texas State and North Texas.
THE TIGER-TEXAS CONNECTION
Since Gary Pinkel and his staff took over at Mizzou, they have identified the state of Texas as a recruiting area of emphasis.
A look at the Tiger roster shows 23 Texas natives currently suiting up for Mizzou, including six who started in Saturday's 17-9 win over Colorado - Marcus Bacon (LB - Houston); Brad Ekwerekwu (WR - Arlington); Marcus King (CB - Irving); Shirdonya Mitchell (DB/KR - Arlington); Thomson Omboga (WR/PR - Grand Prairie); and Jason Simpson (S - The Woodlands).
TIGERS RIDE HISTORIC DEFENSIVE EFFORT TO 17-9 WIN OVER COLORADO
Mizzou's defense made quite a statement in Saturday's 17-9 win over Colorado, as the Tigers held the Buffaloes to just 251 yards of total offense, and made play after play when called on to that proved crucial in MU's 1st win in a conference opener since 1998.
While it was just one game, and as Gary Pinkel says, it's a little early to start building statues, Saturday's defensive effort provided many historical sidenotes.
MORE DEFENSIVE FACTOIDS
At the risk of exceeding the hyperbolic limit in just page four, here are a few more points of order to help illustrate how big MU's defense was in its 17-9 win over Colorado...
DEFENSE SHOWS WELL IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Entering Saturday's game at Baylor, the Mizzou defense sits ranked among the top-25 in the NCAA rankings in three major categories.
PICKIN' AND GRINNIN'
Mizzou has intercepted 8 passes already in 4 games this season, a total which is 3rd-highest currently in the Big 12. That comes a year after MU ranked 9th in the Big 12, with only 9 INTs in 13 games.
The Tigers have intercepted at least 1 pass in every game thus far, and snatched 3 each in games at Troy and last time out versus Colorado.
Cornerbacks Marcus King and Shirdonya Mitchell each have 2 picks apiece, which ties them for 2nd in the Big 12. That already matches the 2003 squad's individual high, as LB Brandon Barnes was the only Tiger last year with more than 1 INT.
MIZZOU-COLORADO REWIND
Some house-cleaning news and notes from MU's 17-9 win over Colorado last Saturday...
MIZZOU-BAYLOR SERIES HISTORY
Mizzou and Baylor will get together for the 10th time on Saturday, and MU brings a 7-2 edge in the previous 9 meetings in the series.
The Tigers have won 4 straight in the series, all of which have come since the inception of the Big 12 Conference. Baylor and Oklahoma State are the only schools that Mizzou has not lost to in Big 12 play to this point (4-0 against both entering the 2004 season).
The series has been a high-scoring one historically, as the average score in the 4 meetings since 1996 has been 44.8-to-28.0. Mizzou has scored no less than 41 points against Baylor in that stretch, while Baylor hasn't exactly been shut down either, as it has a low total of 22 points against Mizzou since 1996.
Mizzou holds a 2-1 lead in games played in Waco, with the loss coming in 1991, when the Bears rolled to a 47-21 win at Floyd Casey Stadium.
Mizzou Coach Gary Pinkel is 1-0 against the Bears, as his Tigers claimed a 41-24 win in Columbia in 2001 - his first year at the helm for MU.
Mizzou's last appearance in Waco resulted in a 47-22 Tiger win in 2000, and that was preceded by a wild 49-42 MU win there in 1996 in a triple overtime game.
TIGER OFFENSE KEEPING UP ITS END OF THE BARGAIN, AS WELL
While the solid play of the Tiger defense is the topic du jour, a check of the numbers shows that Mizzou's offensive troops are playing at a pretty high clip, statistically speaking.
The Tiger offense ranks in the top-35 nationally in four major categories, and is just outside the top-35 in another, ranking 36th.
OFFENSE HAVING SUCCESS ON 3RD DOWNS
Mizzou has been quite successful on 3rd down offensively this season, as MU's conversion rate of 50.0% (31-of-62) ranks 2nd in the Big 12 Conference entering Saturday's game versus Baylor. Oklahoma leads the league currently, with an unreal conversion rate of 65.6%.
The 3rd-down success is a nice improvement from last year, when Mizzou ranked 8th in the Big 12 with a conversion rate of 39.6% in 13 games.
3RD DOWN EQUALLY GOOD TO TIGER DEFENSE
What we said above about the offense on 3rd down, ditto for the Tiger defense, through the first 4 games.
Mizzou ranks 3rd in the Big 12 Conference in opponent 3rd-down conversion rate, as the Tiger defense has allowed opponents to convert only 29.6% of their attempts (16-of-54). Texas leads the league, with a rate of 24.6% through 4 games, while Kansas is 2nd at 25.4%.
Colorado had the most success of any MU foe thus far, when the Buffs made on 5-of-12 3rd-down tries in last Saturday's 17-9 MU win. But the Tiger defense held tight when the "chips" were down, so to speak, as it held CU to just 1-of-6 on 3rd down tries in the 2nd half.
Arkansas State converted on 6-of-15 3rd-down tries in the 2004 season opener. The Tiger defense held Troy to only 2-of-12 on 3rd down in defeat, and followed by holding Ball State to 3-of-15 on 3rd down tries.
In the first 4 games combined, MU's foes have made just 3-of-15 3rd down tries in the 4th quarter (20.0%).
Again, much like on offense, the success has been an improvement from the 2003 season, when Mizzou ranked 8th in the Big 12 in this category, as opponents converted 40.7% of the time on 3rd downs against the Tigers.
TIGERS TOPS IN BIG 12 IN RED ZONE OFFENSE
Through 4 games, Mizzou is tops in the Big 12 Conference in red zone offense, as the Tigers are a near-perfect 11-of-12 in red zone opportunities.
Of MU's 12 red zone opportunities, the Tigers have converted with 8 TDs and 3 FGs. Six of the TDs have been of the rushing variety, with 2 coming in the air. The only missed opportunity was a missed field goal, which took place last time out against Colorado.
Mizzou converted on 2-of-2 red zone opportunities in each of its first two games, and went 6-of-6 against Ball State, before going 1-of-2 vs. Colorado.
This success is a carry-over from 2003, when MU ranked 3rd in the Big 12, with a conversion rate of 84.5 percent in the red zone. Mizzou scored on 49-of-58 trips into the red zone last season, including 41 TDs (29 rushing/12 passing) and 8 field goals (in 10 attempts).
MIZZOU AMONG LEAST PENALIZED TEAMS IN BIG 12
Through 4 games, Mizzou ranks 3rd in the Big 12 Conference in fewest yards penalized, averaging just 39.8 yards per game in penalties. Oklahoma State is tops in the league currently, with an average of 26.8 yards per game, with Kansas State next, at 36.0.
Mizzou had ranked 2nd in that category coming into last weekend's game against Colorado, but a season-high 7 penalties for 70 yards (all coming in the first half), went against Mizzou.
Mizzou opened the year with just 2 penalties, for 10 yards, in its opening 52-20 win over Arkansas State on Sept. 4th. The next time out, a 24-14 loss at Troy, Mizzou was flagged 6 times for 35 yards, and followed with a 6-penalty, 44-yard outing last time out against Ball State.
That comes as no real surprise, however, as Mizzou led the Big 12 in 2003, with a conference-low 46.9 yards in penalties against itself in 13 games.
SMITH SET TO MAKE A MOVE ON NCAA ALLTIME LIST
Brad Smith enters the Baylor game with 2,693 rushing yards in his career, which is just 506 yards shy of breaking the MU career rushing record of 3,198 established just last season by TB Zack Abron.
Every rushing yard he accumulates this year will also get him closer to the top of the NCAA rushing record for a quarterback. He's still got quite a bit to go to reach the record of 3,895 set by Antwaan Randle El of Indiana (1998-2001), but he is on pace to do it. Given his career average of 92.9 yards rushing per game, he needs about 13 more games to break the mark.
Smith ranks 13th on the NCAA's quarterback career rushing yardage chart, entering Saturday's game. Smith stands just 6 yards shy of former OU great Jamelle Holieway, who is 12th on the NCAA list, with 2,699 yards from 1985-88.
Smith's rushing total of 1,406 yards last season was the 4th-most ever in a season by a quarterback, behind only Beau Morgan of Air Force (1,494 in 1996), Stacey Robinson of Northern Illinois (1,443 in 1989) and Jamaal Lord of Nebraska (1,412 in 2002).
SMITH REACHES PASSING MILESTONE
With his 189-yard passing day last week vs. Colorado, Brad Smith reached the 5,000-yard mark for his career, making him only the 4th Tiger in history to throw for at least 5,000 yards. He currently ranks 4th on MU's alltime passing yardage chart (5,159 entering the Baylor game), and sits just 72 yards behind #3 Marlon Adler, who threw for 5,231 yards from 1982-85 for Mizzou.
Smith threw for over 200 yards in each of MU's 1st 3 games this season (233 vs. ASU; 224 at Troy; 213 vs. BSU) - after reaching that mark only twice in 13 games in 2003 (236 vs. Eastern Illinois; 278 at Colorado).
He set a personal record with a single-game QB efficiency rating of 188.51 and tied his personal-best with 3 TDs in the opener versus Arkansas State, when he connected on 14-of-22 passes for 233 yards. His season QB rating of 127.08 thus far ranks him 6th in the Big 12 and 49th in the NCAA, and is up from his 2003 season rating of 114.11.
He's been more successful at stretching the field thus far, as Smith has already thrown for 5 TDs of 20 yards or more this season (24, 60, 35, 43, 51), after having only 1 TD pass of at least that distance in 13 games in 2003 (48 yds. at Colorado).