Oct. 2, 2006
#23/25 Missouri Tigers (5-0, 1-0) at #24 Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-1, 1-0)
Oct. 7, 2006 -- Jones AT&T Stadium -- Lubbock, Texas
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TIGERS TAKE FIRST SWING OF TEXAS TWO-STEP SATURDAY AT TEXAS TECH
The #23 (A.P.)/#25 (Coaches) Missouri Tigers (5-0 overall, 1-0 in Big 12 play) hit the road for a pair of games in the Lone Star State, with the first one coming this Saturday at the #24 (Coaches) Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-1, 1-0). The game will shown on a national cable broadcast by TBS, with a kickoff of 6:10 p.m. (central) scheduled.
Mizzou is coming off a workmanlike 28-13 home win over Colorado in its Big 12 Conference opener. The Tigers have cracked the rankings in both major polls after winning their first five games, and are currently the only school in the nation to have both its defense (2nd) and offense (10th) ranked in the NCAA's top 10 nationally in yardage.
Texas Tech has won 4-of-5 games this season, and is coming off a thrilling 31-27 win at Texas A&M in which the Red Raiders scored in the final minute of the game to pull out the victory. The Red Raiders feature the 3rd-ranked passing offense in the country. Tech has also won 11 straight games at Jones AT&T Stadium dating back to 2004.
TIGERS, RED RAIDERS PROVIDE ANOTHER BIG MATCHUP FOR BIG 12
While the Texas-Oklahoma game, played this Saturday at 2:30 p.m., might garner more national attention, the Mizzou-Texas Tech game should be quite an intriguing matchup, as well. After all, the MU-Tech game features a pair of ranked teams (MU is #23 in the AP, #25 in coaches, while Tech is #24 in coaches), just like UT-OU.
The statistics reports will say that this is a game that features some of the nation's best units on both sides of the ball. Mizzou - the last undefeated team in the Big 12 Conference - brings into the game the nation's 2nd-ranked defense (214.80), including a pass defense that ranks 6th nationally in efficiency (93.60 rating). They will be challenged early and often by a prolific Texas Tech offense that features the country's 3rd-ranked passing offense (347.60).
Other matchups look to be interesting, as well, as Mizzou brings with it to Lubbock the nation's 10th-ranked offensive attack (447.40). They'll be going up against a Red Raider defense that ranks 33rd nationally in total defense (287.40), including the 9th-ranked pass defense (142.20).
Individually, Saturday features the Big 12's top-2 QBs in total offense, in Texas Tech's Graham Harrell (310.20, 4th in NCAA) and Mizzou's Chase Daniel (280.60, 10th in NCAA). Tech's Robert Johnson is also the league's top receiver (7.60, 2nd in NCAA), while defensively, Mizzou's Brian Smith leads the Big 12 in sacks (1.60, 3rd in NCAA).
And if that's not enough to sell you on watching the game, then consider that recent series history indicates that the keeper of the scoreboard should make sure they have plenty of extra lightbulbs on hand. That's because in the last two MU-Texas Tech games, there has been an average of 91.5 combined points scored. In 2002 in Lubbock, Texas Tech prevailed in a 52-38 shootout, while MU returned the favor the next season, claiming a 62-31 win in Columbia in 2003.
TIGERS MOVE UP TO 23RD IN A.P. POLL, CRACK COACHES' POLL
When Mizzou takes the field this Saturday at Texas Tech, it will do so carrying the nation's No. 23 ranking into the game, moving up in the Associated Press poll from the #25 spot after its 28-13 win last week over Colorado. After defeating Ohio, 31-6, the previous Saturday, the Tigers moved into the AP poll for the first time since 2004, when the Tigers were ranked 19th prior to the second game of the year, at Troy. MU began that season ranked 18th in the AP poll.
Mizzou has played 3 games previously as the AP's No. 23 team, winning home games in 1998 against Northwestern State (35-14) and in 2003 against Middle Tennessee State (41-40 in OT), and losing a road game in 2003 at Kansas (35-14).
Saturday will mark the 144th time overall that Mizzou has entered a game as a ranked team. In its previous 143 such encounters, MU holds an alltime record of 86-56-1 (.605).
This is the 8th week that Mizzou has been ranked in the AP poll under Gary Pinkel, as the Tigers were ranked for 4 weeks (peaking at #22) in 2003, in addition to the aforementioned 2-week stay in the polls in 2004, and the current 2-week span.
Mizzou has played one time in its history as a ranked team against Texas Tech, and that game also took place in Lubbock, as the 18th-ranked Tigers pulled out a 28-26 win in 1998.
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NATION'S LONGEST WINNING STREAKS |
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| Streak | School | Last Loss | |
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| 12 | Ohio State | 10-8-05 vs. Penn State (17-10) | |
| 11 | West Virginia | 10-1-05 vs. Virginia Tech (34-17) | |
| 7 | Florida | 11-12-05 vs. South Carolina (30-22) | |
| 6 | MIZZOU | 11-19-05 at Kansas State (36-28) | |
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TIGER 6-GAME STREAK RANKS 4TH-BEST IN NATION CURRENTLY
Mizzou's current 6-game winning streak dating back to last season (MU ended the 2005 season with a 38-31 win against South Carolina in the Independence Bowl) is among the nation's best. Entering play this weekend, MU's streak ranks as 4th-best in the nation. Here's a quick look at the longest active winning streaks:
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MU'S LONGEST WINNING STREAKS |
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13 - 1960-61; |
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MU'S 6-GAME WIN STREAK IS 5TH-BEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Off to just the school's 7th 5-0 start in 116 years of existence (the program started up in 1890), Mizzou will look to move to 6-0 on the year this Saturday as they play at Texas Tech. Head Coach Gary Pinkel has led MU to a 13-5 record in his last 18 games, and currently has MU on a 6-game winning streak dating back to last season's bowl win over South Carolina.
The current 6-game streak is already tied for the 5th-longest in school history, and this marks the first time since 1973 that MU has won 6 straight games. A win Saturday at Texas Tech would give MU seven straight wins for the first time since 1968. The MU record is 13 games spanning the 1960 and 1961 seasons.
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ALL-TIME 4-0 STARTS AT MIZZOU |
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| Year | Start | Finish | Rank | Bowl Game | |
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| 1899 | 7-0 | 9-2 | n/a | n/a | |
| 1905 | 5-0 | 5-4 | n/a | n/a | |
| 1960 | 9-0# | 11-0% | 5th | Orange | |
| 1969 | 5-0 | 9-2% | 6th | Orange | |
| 1973 | 6-0 | 8-4 | 17th | Sun | |
| 1981 | 5-0 | 8-4 | 19th | Tangerine | |
| 2006 | 5-0 | ??? | 23rd | ??? | |
| % - Won conference championship | |||||
| # - Lost 10th game to Kansas but later awarded victory by forfeit | |||||
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TIGERS ON THE PROWL FOR MU'S 1ST 5-0 START SINCE 1981
After sweeping through its non-conference season undefeated, Mizzou continued its promising start to the 2006 season by winning its Big 12 Conference opener against Colorado last Saturday, 28-13. The Tigers are 5-0 to start a season for the 1st time under Head Coach Gary Pinkel, and for the 1st time since 1981 when Warren Powers' squad started 5-0 on the way to an 8-4 overall mark.
This year's Tiger team looks to start a season 6-0 for the first time since the 1973 Tigers started the year 6-0, on the way to an 8-4 record overall. A win for MU Saturday at Texas Tech would give Mizzou just its 4th 6-0 start to a season in MU's 116 years of football.
The 5-0 start already achieved by Mizzou marks just the 5th time in the last 82 seasons (since 1925) that Mizzou has began a season with five straight wins. In all, it marks just the 7th time starting 5-0 since the program began in 1890.
MIZZOU ONLY SCHOOL IN TOP-10 NATIONALLY IN BOTH TOTAL OFFENSE & DEFENSE
Mizzou currently can boast being the only school in the nation to have both its offense and defense ranked in the nation's top-10 in total yardage.
The Tigers enter Saturday as the nation's 2nd-ranked defense, allowing 214.80 yards per game, while their offensive counterparts aren't far behind, ranking 10th in the NCAA (447.40 ypg). The next-closest team to being in both top-10s is Clemson, which currently has the 9th-ranked defense and the 11th-ranked offense.
PINKEL HAS WON 13 OF LAST 18 GAMES AT MIZZOU
Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel is in his sixth season at MU and touts a career record of 107-67-3 (61.3%). His career winning percentage of 60.2% to begin the season ranked him 23rd in the nation among active Division I-A coaches with a minimum of seven years coached.
Pinkel, who has led MU to a combined record of 25-16 over the past four seasons (including 13 wins in his last 18 games dating back to the 2004 season finale), and to bowl games in 2003 and 2005, has a six-year record in Columbia of 34-30 (56.7%).
With a team picked to finish 4th in the Big 12 North in 2005, Pinkel's Tigers tied for 2nd place (winning all tiebreakers), and were playing for a chance to share for the division title heading into the regular-season finale. Pinkel has now led MU to two bowl games, and that puts him in select company, as he joins Don Faurot, Dan Devine, Al Onofrio, Warren Powers and Larry Smith as the only coaches to guide MU to multiple bowl games. After beating Nebraska (41-24 in 2005) for the second time in three years, Pinkel became the first MU coach since Onofrio to defeat NU twice.
Mizzou's 34-7 win over Ole Miss drew him above the .500 mark at Mizzou. Pinkel is the first Tiger coach since Warren Powers to have an MU record of above .500 after at least one full season of coaching (Powers left after the 1984 season with an MU record of 46-33-3).
Pinkel has driven Mizzou to a pair of winning seasons (8-5 in 2003 and 7-5 in 2005) in his five previous years at the wheel, with those representing two of MU's four winning campaigns dating back to the 1983 season. With a winning season in 2006, he would become the first MU coach since Powers to have three winning years.
MIZZOU-TEXAS TECH SERIES HISTORY
Mizzou and Texas Tech will meet for the 6th time when they tangle Saturday night in Lubbock, with the Tigers holding a 3-2 edge in the previous five meetings. The five meetings is the fewest that Mizzou has played against any of its 11 fellow Big 12 Conference members.
MU has won 3-of-4 matchups since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996. The Tigers won the last meeting in prolific fashion, taking a 62-31 win in Columbia in 2003 as QB Brad Smith set a Tiger single-game record by rushing for 5 TDs on the way to a 291-yard rushing day.
In 2002, the Red Raiders won a shootout by a 52-38 score in Lubbock as Tech QB Kliff Kingsbury set MU opponent records in passing yards (510) and total offense (501 yards) on the night, as he completed 49-of-70 passes for 5 TDs, with all three of those numbers also standing as MU opponent single-game records.
In 1999, Mizzou rolled to a 34-7 win over Texas Tech in Columbia as Tiger TB Zain Gilmore rushed for 165 yards on an MU-record 45 rushing attempts.
The year before that, in Lubbock, Mizzou became bowl eligible for the 2nd straight season, as it claimed an exciting 28-26 win over the Red Raiders in 1998, holding off a late 2-point conversion try by Tech in the final moments to preserve the win.
LAST TIME THEY MET: MIZZOU 62, TEXAS TECH 31 (2003)
Brad Smith ran for 291 yards, only 17 shy of the NCAA record for a quarterback, and a school-record five touchdowns as the Tigers left Texas Tech's top-ranked offense in the dust in a 62-31 victory in Columbia.
The last three touchdowns came in the fourth quarter as Missouri pulled away after its lead had twice been whittled to 10 points.
Pregame attention was focused on B.J. Symons of Texas Tech, who led Division I in eight statistical categories and was averaging 500.9 yards passing. Symons got his numbers, going 40-for-62 for 408 yards and four touchdowns, but he also threw a season-worst three interceptions.
Smith's rushing total was the second highest in school history, trailing only Devin West (319 in 1998) and he needed only 19 carries to do it. He fell just short of the NCAA record for yards rushing by a quarterback, 308 by Stacey Robinson of Northern Illinois in 1990.
Smith was elusive on both designed runs and scrambles, scoring on runs of 10, 27, 2, 41 and 61 yards to help Missouri (6-2, 2-2 Big 12) become bowl eligible for the first time since 1998. He added 128 yards passing, going 13-for-24.
Zack Abron added 139 yards on 25 carries and scored the Tigers' other three touchdowns on runs of 3, 4 and 2 yards, shaking off a sprained left ankle near halftime. His last TD upped his career total to 38, tying the school career record set by Corby Jones from 1995-98, and giving him 228 points to tie another Jones record.
Texas Tech (5-3, 2-2) entered the game leading the nation with a 47-point average, but couldn't recover from three turnovers in the first half that led to 17 points as Missouri took a 34-10 lead. Symons was intercepted on consecutive passes in the half, mistakes that led to 10 points.
Two of Symons' touchdown passes went to Carlos Francis. Two of his interceptions were picked off by Brandon Barnes.
Missouri finished with 469 yards rushing and had no turnovers. The Tigers entered the game tied for the Division I lead with only five turnovers all year.
Missouri scored on all six possessions in the first half against a defense ranked near the bottom of Division I (113th of 117) after giving up 51 points to Oklahoma State last week. The Tigers also neutralized Texas Tech's pass-happy attack, especially in the first half, by dropping as many as eight players into coverage while still getting pressure on Symons.
Barnes' interception set up Abron's 4-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, putting the Tigers ahead 24-3. James Kinney intercepted Symons' next pass and returned it 21 yards to the Texas Tech 20 to set up a field goal by Mike Matheny that made it 27-3.
Texas Tech capitalized on the Tigers' first two punts of the day, with Symons throwing touchdown passes to Francis and Mickey Peters to cut the deficit to 34-24. Symons and Francis hooked up on a 26-yard score later in the third to again cut the gap to 10 points at 41-31.
Each time, Missouri answered the threat. Abron scored on a 2-yard run to cap a 77-yard drive on the first play of the fourth quarter and Smith scored on a 2-yard run with 11:40 to go to make it 48-31.
Barnes' second interception at the Missouri 10 with 11 minutes to go kept Texas Tech from cutting the gap to 10 again.
MIZZOU HAS YET TO TRAIL IN A GAME SO FAR
Sales of antacid products like Tums and Rolaids have presumably been low in Columbia so far this fall, as the Tigers have not yet played any nail-biters - winning by an average margin of 23.4 points per game thus far on the way to its 5-0 start.
In fact, the stress level for fans has been very low so far overall, as Mizzou has yet to trail in a game heading into the Texas Tech contest Saturday in Lubbock. In MU's first 5 games, the Tigers have never trailed, and have been tied each outing only at 0-0.
In all, in 300 total minutes of play so far, Mizzou has held the lead for 277 minutes and 17 seconds. It has been tied for a total of just 22 minutes and 43 seconds of play so far.
FAST STARTS GET MIZZOU OFF TO THE RACES
Mizzou hopes to continue a trend that has seen them jump out to leads right away in its first five games. As indicated earlier, Mizzou has not yet trailed in a game, and the Tigers have outscored opponents by a whopping 62-3 margin in the 1st quarter thus far.
Mizzou has gained a total of 801 yards of offense in the 1st quarter, compared to a total of 268 yards for opponents, and opponents had not taken a snap on MU's side of the field, nor had they achieved one first down in the 1st quarter against MU's , until Ohio did in week #4.
Here have been the scores after the 1st quarter in each game so far this year:
• Mizzou 21, Murray State 0
• Mizzou 10, Ole Miss 0
• Mizzou 10, New Mexico 0
• Mizzou 7, Ohio 0
• Mizzou 14, Colorado 3
The Tigers have been very effective in their opening possessions, scoring on 4-of-5 initial drives, including 3 TDs and 1 FG.
Last Saturday versus Colorado, the Tigers again won the coin toss and chose to take the ball to establish control of the game (MU has had the opening possession in every game so far this season). The plan worked again, as the Tigers systematically drove down the field on a 12-play, 71-yard drive that consumed 4:02 and ended in a Chase Daniel-to-Chase Coffman 2-yard TD pass for a quick 7-0 MU lead. After the Buffaloes drove for a FG on their opening drive, MU countered with another 10-play, 77-yard masterpiece that ended with the previously-mentioned duo connecting again for a second TD, this time from 9 yards out, to give the Tigers a 14-3 lead. Colorado would get no closer than 8 points the rest of the day.
In week #4, the Tigers outpointed Ohio 7-0 in the 1st quarter, but MU did not score on its opening possession for the 1st time this year. Mizzou appeared off to the races, as it took the opening kick and got 21 yards on a 1st-down rush by TB Tony Temple. But on the 2nd play of the drive, QB Chase Daniel was flushed from the pocket after dropping back, and he scrambled for a nice gain, but lost the ball as he was hit going down for an 8-yard gain. Ohio recovered on the MU 41-yardline, but the Tiger defense picked up the team as it held the Bobcats to a field goal attempt, which was blocked by LB Marcus Bacon.
In the previous week's game at New Mexico, playing on the road for the 1st time, the Tiger offense scored on its opening possession for the 3rd straight game, as it drove 61 yards to get a Jeff Wolfert 37-yard field goal. After a defensive stop, QB Chase Daniel led the Tigers on a 56-yard drive that culminated with his 6-yard TD pass to TE Martin Rucker for a quick 10-0 lead.
The previous week against Ole Miss, the Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Mizzou's defense held up its end too, as it held the Rebels to a 3-and-out series, and the offense followed with a field goal for a quick 10-0 lead.
That followed an even more impressive start in MU's season opener against Murray State, as the Tigers scored TDs on their first 3 possessions to jump out to an imposing 21-0 lead in the 1st quarter, as the MU defense held the Racers without a first down and to a total of 9 yards in their first 3 drives.
LAST TIME OUT: MIZZOU REACHES 5-0 WITH 28-13 WIN OVER COLORADO
Mizzou reached 5-0 to begin a season for the first time since 1981 - and only the 7th time in its history - with a 28-13 win over Colorado last Saturday. It wasn't a game of domination that the Tigers had been accustomed to in winning its first four games by an average margin of over 25 points a game, but it was also an outcome that wasn't ever seriously in doubt, as the Tigers jumped out to leads of 14-3 and 21-6 and never saw CU get any closer than 8 points in the 2nd half as MU pulled away.
Tiger QB Chase Daniel threw for 258 yards and 4 TDs on the day, and the MU defense was dominant on 3rd and 4th downs, holding the Buffs to just 3-of-12 on 3rd down and 0-of-5 on 4th down, which proved to be the difference. Mizzou twice held the Buffs on 4th down in the 1st half, and tackled the CU punter on his own 14 yardline to set up a score just before half after he muffed a high snap.
Mizzou took the opening kick as it has in each game this year, and marched 71 yards in 12 plays to take a quick 7-0 at the 10:58 mark of the 1st quarter, as Daniel hit Coffman on a quick hitter from 2 yards out. MU converted two third downs on the drive, including a 3rd-and-4 from its own 35-yardline, and a 3rd-and-10 from the CU 47, to keep the drive alive.
Colorado, despite its 0-4 record coming in, served notice early that it wasn't going to roll over for the homestanding Tigers, as the Buffs responded with a 68-yard drive of their own, but the Tiger defense held in the red zone and forced a CU field goal.
Leading 7-3, the Tiger offense picked up again, as it cranked out a 10-play, 77-yard drive that ended with Daniel finding Coffman from 9 yards out this time, to take a 14-3 lead with 2:48 left in the 1st, before CU drove and stalled again and settled for another FG to make it 14-6 in the 2nd.
Arguably the biggest play of the game came late in the 2nd quarter, as the Tiger defense held CU to a three-and-out and forced a punt with just over 2 minutes left. Colorado's punter could not corral a snap that was a little high, and the ball dropped to the turf behind him as a gang of Tigers quickly pounced. He recovered the fumble, but could not get the punt off, as Steve Redmond, Sean Weatherspoon and Andrew Hoskins threw him to the ground on the CU 14 yardline.
The offense cashed in with a TD pass just before half (Daniel hit TE Martin Rucker from 1 yard out) to take a comfortable 21-6 lead into half.
The Buffs came out swinging in the 2nd half, as they surprised the Tigers with a 63-yard pass play on the 1st play of the 3rd quarter, that took it to the MU 1 yardline, and after CU QB Brandon Jackson snuck in on the next play, it was quickly 21-13.
That margin didn't last too long, however, as the Tigers answered two possessions later, after the defense forced a 3-and-out to get the ball at the MU 48 yardline. Daniel directed the Tigers on an 8-play, 52-yard drive that was capped with a 9-yard scoring pass to true freshman WR Jared Perry at the 6:39 mark of the 3rd quarter to extend the lead back to 28-13.
That's all the scoring that would take place on the day, as the MU defense held on downs twice more the rest of the way.
NOTES FROM THE MIZZOU-COLORADO GAME
• Mizzou was outgained for the first time this season, as the Buffs had 373 yards of offense, to 353 for the Tigers, with the total representing a season high for opponents, and a season low for MU's offense...
• The Tiger offense was very effective on 3rd down, as it converted on 11-of-18 tries on the day - in direct contrast to CU's 3-of-12 success rate...
• MU had new return men on both kickoffs and punts Saturday. WR Tommy Saunders was deep for punts for the first time in his career. He only returned one on the day, but it was quite a big one, as it was a 41-yarder that he almost took the distance. His return set MU up on its own 48-yardline midway through the 3rd quarter, and the Tigers drove the distance on offense to take a commanding 28-13 lead that stood up in the end. Entering the game, MU had been averaging just 4.93 yards per punt return (14 attempts), and had totaled just a combined 69 yards of punt return yardage in its first 4 games of the year...
• On kickoff returns, TB Earl Goldsmith was the deep man for the Tigers, and he gave 2 solid returns, averaging 25.5 yards, with returns of 28 and 23 yards. MU had been averaging just 18.50 yards per kickoff return entering the game...
• On the injury front, sophomore CB Domonique Johnson was likely lost for the year due to a torn ACL in his right knee, suffered on the aforementioned punt return by Saunders. Johnson had started MU's first 3 games at corner...
SPECIAL TEAMS ADD TO THE FUN IN COLORADO WIN
The special teams units were pretty special indeed last Saturday in MU's 28-13 win over Colorado, as they put together arguably the most complete game of the year in all phases combined.
As noted before, perhaps the biggest play of the game came courtesy of MU's punt return team, as it threw CU punter Matthew DiLallo for a 14-yard loss late in the 2nd quarter to set up a key Tiger TD just before half to make it 21-6.
WR Tommy Saunders was inserted as punt returner for the day, and he gave MU a huge spark when he returned a 3rd-quarter punt 41 yards that set up the Tigers near midfield, and led to a TD drive that extended the lead back to 15 points (28-13). Saunders' return was huge for a unit that had been struggling coming into the game, as MU had amassed only 69 total punt return yards on 14 attempts (4.9 avg.) on the year.
On kickoff returns, TB Earl Goldsmith averaged 25.5 yards on 2 returns, a nice improvement after MU averaged just 18.5 on kickoff returns coming into the game.
Punter Adam Crossett didn't have a huge average, as he averaged 34.5 yards on 3 punts, but one of his punts went 45 yards, and a 2nd was placed inside the CU 20-yardline. He also drew a roughing-the-kicker penalty late in the 4th quarter that helped keep alive MU's last possession that they eventually used to run out the clock to end the game.
MU's coverage units had by far their best games of the season, as they allowed Colorado to average just 17.8 yards on 4 kickoff returns, and 1.0 yard on 1 punt return. Coming into the game, MU was permitting opponents to average 21.3 yards on kickoff returns and 7.3 yards on punt returns.
Lastly, PK Jeff Wolfert was perfect on the day, as he went 4-of-4 on PATs, raising his season total to 21-of-21.
TEXAS TIGERS LOOK FORWARD TO RETURN TRIP TO HOME STATE
It's no big secret that the Mizzou coaching staff has put great effort into recruiting in the state of Texas since they came to MU prior to the 2001 season. The efforts have paid off quite nicely, as Mizzou has had nice success in drawing good talent to Columbia from the Lone Star State.
Mizzou opened the season with 25 players on its roster from the state of Texas, more than 4 times the amount of any state other than Missouri, where it had 57 players listed from, to begin the season (Illinois and Oklahoma were represented with 6 players each to begin the season).
And MU hasn't just attracted low-level talent from Texas - 14-of-44 players currently listed among its 2-deep on offense and defense reside from Texas, including six starters (three on either side of the ball - QB Chase Daniel, WR Brad Ekwerekwu, RG Mike Cook on offense and DE Brian Smith, FS David Overstreet and WLB Marcus Bacon on defense).
Mizzou has had 4 true freshmen earn playing time so far this season, and all 4 hail from the Lone Star State - WR Jared Perry, WR Danario Alexander, CB Del Howard and LB Sean Weatherspoon.
Chase Daniel MAKES RETURN TO HOME STATE
The legendary coach Vince Lombardi was once credited with saying something to the effect of "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
With that in mind, winning is about the only thing that MU's sophomore QB Chase Daniel has known. Daniel - who will be celebrating his 20th birthday when MU squares off against Texas Tech this Saturday (he was born Oct. 7, 1986) - is currently 5-0 as a collegiate starter.
To continue the theme, however, dating back to his days as starting QB for the powerful Southlake (Texas) Carroll High School program, Daniel has won 36 of his last 37 starts. As the starting QB for the Dragons each of his last 2 years, Daniel went 15-1 as a junior in 2003, losing only in overtime in the state championship game. He then went a perfect 16-0 as a senior in 2004, leading the Dragons to a mythical national title, as well as national player of the year honors.
Additionally, Daniel was a starting wide receiver for Coach Todd Dodge as a sophomore in 2002. How did the Dragons do that year? They merely went 16-0 and won a state title.
Add it all up, and Daniel has won 52 of his last 53 games in which he's been a starter.
Somehow, we think that Coach Lombardi would be impressed.
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Projecting C. Daniel |
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| Daniel Currently |
12-Game Projection |
MU Record |
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| Category | ||||
| Passing TDs | 13 | 31 | 18 - Terry McMillan (1969) | |
| Pass Att. | 177 | 424 | 399 - Brad Smith (2005) | |
| Pass Comp. | 113 | 271 | 237 - Brad Smith (2005) | |
| Passing Yds. | 1,273 | 3,055 | 2,436 - Jeff Handy (1992) | |
| 200-Yd. Games | 4 | 9 | 8 - Kent Kiefer (1990) | |
| TDs Resp. For | 16 | 38 | 30 - Brad Smith (2003) | |
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CHASE ON PACE IN THE PASSING RECORD RACE
QB Chase Daniel has 13 TD passes through 5 games thus far in 2006 (versus 2 interceptions), which is good for an average of 2.6 per game. If that number gets extrapolated out to a 12-game schedule, Daniel would throw for 31 TDs this season, which would just slightly surpass the MU single-season record of 18 set in 1969 by Terry McMillan.
At the risk of further jinxing things, Daniel is also on pace to establish records in many other categories. Here's a quick look...