Senior Feature -- Chris Tipton
10/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 6, 2007
Missouri offensive lineman Chris Tipton grew up watching the Tigers before finally making it onto his favorite childhood team. Now a senior, Tipton backs up fellow senior Tyler Luellen at left tackle.
"When I was growing up, I was always watching Mizzou football, and this is where I wanted to play," Tipton said, naming former Tiger standout and current Cincinnati Bengal defensive end Justin Smith as one of his favorite players from his teenage years.
Tipton worked with the scout team during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. "The players put a lot of work into watching film, making sure they're doing all the right things on the field and with their games. Being on the scout team, we make sure everyone gets a good look, the right look at their own footage and at the opponents."
However, in 2006 Tipton's childhood dream came true when he got his first chance to step out onto Faurot Field in uniform during games against Mississippi and Colorado.
"Getting out on the field in a game is amazing," he says grinning. "It's the best feeling ever."
To make the 2006 season even more complete, Tipton also received a scholarship to continue his career in a Tiger uniform.
"It was great to get the scholarship. I worked really hard, and I feel very privileged and happy to receive it."
Tipton credits Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach Dave Christensen and Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance Pat Ivey for making him what he is, a player worthy of a Mizzou football scholarship.
"Coach Christensen has definitely helped me a lot in terms of becoming a much better football player than I was when I first came to Mizzou. He's told me I've definitely improved.
"Coach Ivey took me under his wing, doing strength tests, and made me a lot stronger physically."
Of course, not all of Tipton's time at Mizzou has been work, his teammates have made sure of that.
"I like being with the guys on the team, being in the locker room atmosphere. There is a lot of talk that goes on and a lot of fun times with the guys."
The fun times within the team also help fortify the players against the added pressures to win, especially during a 2007 campaign in which the Tigers are picked to finish first in the Big 12 North. The players are quick to remind each other not to get caught up in the hype, which in the past, has been fleeting.
"Now, we have an expectation to win, where as in past seasons, the attitude might have been more `let's just go out and play,' now we're expected to win, inside the team and outside the team. We still go out with the same mentality each week, that we have to fully prepare, no matter who we're playing on Saturday. We've always got to play our A-game. We try to keep all the outside stuff outside and focus and prepare and get better each day we have practice. We have to be ready for our next opponent."
Tipton is not focused solely on winning though. He is also very proud that in December he will earn his degree in General Agriculture, something he is looking forward to. He is also glad to have made it as far as he has.
"I'm just happy I got the chance to experience this, being on the Mizzou football team. Not many people get to do what we do, to go out and play all the time, and I thank God for being able to play football for a Division I, Big 12
program like Mizzou's."
-- Meaghan Hayden
