Sept. 18, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri senior DE Brian Smith celebrated his birthday last Saturday night in record-setting fashion, as he tied an MU single-game record by notching 4 QB sacks in his personal domination of New Mexico. Smith helped lead an outstanding defensive effort for Mizzou, which held the Lobos to just 201 yards of total offense, and kept them without an offensive touchdown until 25 seconds left in the game.
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MIZZOU BIG 12 DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK |
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| Date | Tiger | Position | Opponent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/18/06 | Brian Smith | DE | New Mexico | |
| 9/11/06 | Marcus Bacon | LB | Ole Miss | |
| 10/10/05 | Brian Smith | DE | Oklahoma State | |
| 9/28/02 | R.J. Jones | CB | Troy State | |
| 11/1/99 | Jeff Marriott | NT | Texas Tech | |
| 11/9/98 | Wade Perkins | CB | Colorado | |
| 10/19/98 | Wade Perkins | CB | Oklahoma | |
| 11/22/97 | Barry Odom | LB | Tulsa | |
| 11/24/96 | Joe Love | LB | Kansas | |
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Smith's 4 QB sacks totaled 34 yards in losses, and were part of MU's 8 sacks overall on the night as the Tiger defensive line wreaked havoc from the get-go. In all, Smith had 6 tackles, with 1 other TFL (2 yards), he forced a fumble that set up an MU field goal just before halftime, he broke up a pass and had 1 other QB pressure.
For his monster efforts, Smith was named Monday as the Big 12 Conference's Defensive Player of the Week. It marks the 2nd time that the Denton, Texas native has earned the weekly award, adding to his previous one that came in 2005 against Oklahoma State. This is the 9th time overall that a Tiger has won Big 12 Defensive POW honors, including the 2nd straight week (LB Marcus Bacon won in week #2), and the third straight week that a Tiger has won an award (QB Chase Daniel won the Offensive POW award in week #1).
Smith is the 2nd Tiger defender to win the award twice, matching the pair won by former CB Wade Perkins during the 1998 season.
Tigers have won Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors 11 times previously (six by Brad Smith, two each by Corby Jones and Devin West and one by Chase Daniel) and four times have won league Special Teams Player of the Week honors (two by Marcus James, one each by Adam Crossett and Brad Hammerich).