Live Chat With Tony Temple

Live Chat With Tony Temple

Senior tailback Tony Temple ran for 123 yards in the Tigers 35-28 victory over Ole Miss last Saturday helping Mizzou to improve to 2-0 on the season. On Monday, Temple will take part in a live online chat right here on mutigers.com. Temple will join us at 4 p.m., but you don't have to wait until then to get your question in. Place your question in the queue now and Temple will answer them on Monday afternoon.

Charles W. F. Reese (Fulton): Tony, I know you are not on the defensive side of the ball, but as a teammate how does it make you feel to see the defense struggle the way they have been?
Tony Temple: It's like this...during a season you're going to have ups and downs. For instance, the Illinois game is the best to illustrate. Sometimes the defense has to take up the slack for the offense. In the Ole Miss game the offense carried the defense a little bit. Therefore, our goal is to get the little things figured out so we can be a more cohesive group.
Jim - Louisville, Nebraska: I am a MIZZOU fan and follow you guys all the time. My Nebraska friends up here keep telling me that Missouri will falter, fail, not live up their hype, etc. and that Coach Pinkel will find a way for you to lose to someone you "should not" lose to. What words of encouragement can you share with me and the TIGER faithful that I can bring back to them?
Tony Temple: What people don't realize is that teams lose their seniors, they lose their guys that they have in previous year. The experience we have coming back on both offense and defense...we're able to remember those big games and put it all together now when we're facing the big games like Nebraska. We're going to be able to use our experience to come out with a win.
Thomas (St. Louis): Just wanted to start off by saying great game on Saturday. The question I have is this, do you think the tigers are the best team in the north? Thanks Tony
Tony Temple: Yes....we want to win. We respect every team. We're not using our tradition or all of our success in the past. We want to take one game at a time and focus on each team and win every game on the schedule.
Lee's Summit: After two solid wins away from home, do you feel snubbed at all for not being voted into the top 25?
Tony Temple: No, not really. We don't care about rankings. As long as we're going out there and winning that's all we can focus on. Winning each week. Everything will take care of itself.
Brian (Coumbia): Hey Tony, What did you think about the Mizzou fans down at Mississippi on Saturday. I was one of the thousands of them. I was really impressed with our turn out. Your thoughts?
Tony Temple: I was very excited. All week they talked about how great the fans were there. But, due to our success in the game...all we could hear was our fans. Thanks so much for coming out. We really appreciate it and hope you come out for more.
Bradley (Columbia): A victory against which team, on the schedule this year, would be most meaningful to you.
Tony Temple: I would have to go with Nebraska. It being at home...it being a big game...I really want to get to that game undefeated and beat them here at home.
Washington DC: My 14-year-old son is playing high school football for the first time. He's a tailback. What advice would u give him to stay ahead of the competition?
Tony Temple: Well...focus on the little things. Being first in line, knowing the plays and just doing anything that coach wants you to to help the team. Then, if you do that everything else will take care of itself.
Dave (Mexico, MO): Tony, great game last Saturday. What made the difference in your performance against Mississippi opposed to how you did against Illinois?
Tony Temple: Sometimes it's basic fundementals whether it be your run steps, the offensive line, blocking...just little things like that can dictate from having 33 yards to a 120 plus yards.
Eric (Columbia): Dear Tony, Did your mom name you after Tony the Tiger? You know, in the frosted flakes commercials.
Tony Temple: LOL!! No...unfortunately, she didn't. It was after my father's name....
Tyler (Raytown): When will you know if you'll be able to regain your freshman year of eligibility?
Tony Temple: I won't know until after the season is over.
matt: Tony: Great job running the football on Saturday!! Do you think you should be spending your time returning kickoffs? Take care and good luck!
Tony Temple: Well, my philosophy is, I want to do whatever I can do to help my team out. If that's what they need me to do, I'll do it.
Mike in Lincoln: What is the team doing to prepare for the Nebraska Game? Is there anything special that the team is doing to prepare?
Tony Temple: The best thing we can do is focus on each week by getting better and being 4-0 before we play Nebraska. If we can do that and get better each week we should be ready for Nebraska.
Clayton Baker (Plano, TX): Now that you guys are 2-0 and will face a tough quaterback this week, how do you feel the offense will respond? Have we seen the best this offense has to offer or will we see a more refined offense come conference?
Tony Temple: We're not even close to our potential. There's so many little mental errors that we need to clean up. We will do that.
Columbia: With all the early success that last years tiger team had, what would you say is the biggest factor for this team to stay succesful?
Tony Temple: Focus on what day at a time. Whether that be in the weight room, at practice, going to class...we focus on one team at a time and the short goals.
Brandon Taylor: I know that we were picked to win the north, But as a team what are your guys goals.Cause as a fan I think we can go unbeaten and play for a BCS title, do you guys every think that big.
Steve Begemann (Jackson, Mo): I know your not worried about this, but do you think your team will reach the top 25 this season?
Tony Temple: Eventually...if we keep winning...and if other teams keep running into Appalachian State! LOL
Justin Blue Springs: Tony how many yards do you think you'll have this year
Tony Temple: It's hard to say simply because we can't worry about individual goals when we have so many weapons on the team. But...I'll do what I can do.
Dustan Sedgwick: How can all of the passing attempts help develop the running offense?
Tony Temple: Well, when you pass the defense makes its first step backwards instead of forward...so right there with them thinking pass it gives me the opportunity to get yards.
Tony Temple: Thanks for all of your questions and for your continued. I hope to see you all at the Zou this weekend for our home opener against Western Michigan at 1 p.m. THANKS!