Sept. 28, 2009

Columbia, Mo. – University of Missouri senior WR Danario Alexander (Marlin, Texas) has been named the Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week, for his outstanding performance in helping lead Mizzou to a 31-21 win last Friday at Nevada.  Alexander caught 9 passes against Nevada for a career-high 170 yards and 2 touchdowns on the night, with his scores coming from 31 and 74 yards out.  He also caught a crucial 8-yard pass on 3^rd-and-8 from the Mizzou 5-yardline in the 4^th quarter that jump-started what ended up as a 97-yard scoring drive which essentially iced the win for the Tigers.

 

Alexander's receiving yardage was the 11^th-best single game performance in MU history, and it was the 2^nd-straight game that Alexander has had multiple TD receptions, after his 2-TD game against Furman the previous week.  Alexander now ranks 3^rd in the Big 12 and 13^th in the NCAA in receptions per game (7.25), and also ranks 5^th in the Big 12 and 18^th nationally, in receiving yards per game (101.00).  The 2 TDs on Friday gave Alexander 12 for his career, and that moved him into a tie for 8th place on the Mizzou career TD receptions chart (Chase Coffman holds the record, with 30).

 

The award marks the second time this season that a Tiger has come away with the Big 12 weekly offensive award.  Sophomore QB Blaine Gabbert won the award in the season's first week for his big day in Mizzou's 37-9 win over Illinois.  Here's a look at the Tiger award winners in 2009…

 

Date         Tiger                       Opponent        Stat Line                                                            

9-8-09     Blaine Gabbert         Illinois             Pass: 25-of-33, 319 yds., 3 TDs; 1 rush TD

9-28-09   Danario Alexander   Nevada           9 rec., 170 yds., 2 TDs

 

Alexander is the first Tiger wide receiver to ever win the weekly award from the Big 12 Conference.  Since the league was formed in 1996, Tiger quarterbacks have won the award 15 times (Brad Smith – 6;  Chase Daniel – 6;  Corby Jones – 2;  Blaine Gabbert – 1), while a running back has won it twice (Devin West both times).  The last time a Tiger receiver won a conference player of the week award dates back to 1992, when former standout Victor Bailey won the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Week award for an 8-catch, 159-yard, 1-TD day in a 34-24 home loss to Nebraska.

 

The Tigers are off this weekend, prior to their next game, set for Thursday, Oct. 8^th at home against Nebraska.  Kickoff for the game is set for 8 p.m. at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium, and tickets are available for purchase by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Columbia) or online at www.mutigers.com.