Nov. 8, 2010

#24 Kansas State Wildcats (6-3, 3-3)
at #17/#20/#20 Missouri Tigers (7-2, 3-2)

Nov. 13, 2010 – Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field – Columbia, Mo.

TIGERS HOST WILDCATS IN HOME FINALE
   The 20th-ranked (A.P./Coaches) Missouri Tigers (7-2 overall, 3-2 in Big 12 play) return home to the friendly confines of Faurot Field one last time in 2010, as they play host to the Kansas State Wildcats (6-3, 3-3) Saturday. Kickoff for the game is set for 11:30 a.m. (central time), with the game being televised live on Fox Sports Net.
   Saturday will represent Senior Day, and the Tigers will be looking to send one of the winningest classes in school history out on a winner. Mizzou will also be looking to break a two-game losing streak that saw them fall at #12 Nebraska (34-17) two weeks ago, followed by an upset loss at Texas Tech (24-17) last Saturday. Prior to that, Mizzou climbed to as high as #6 in the BCS standings following a 36-27 win over BCS #1-ranked Oklahoma in Columbia on Oct. 23rd, which improved the Tigers to 7-0 at the time.
   Mizzou has fared very well in recent years on Senior Day, as the Tigers have sent the last 5 classes out as winners, including win in 2009 over Iowa State (34-24), in 2008 over Kansas State (41-24), in 2007 over Texas A&M (40-26), in 2006 over Kansas (42-17) and in 2005 over Baylor (31-16). The average margin of victory in those five wins was 16.2 points per game. The last time Mizzou dropped a Senior Day game was in 2004 versus Kansas (lost, 31-14).
   Kansas State comes into the game on a high, as they broke a two-game losing streak of their own last Saturday, thanks to a 39-14 shellacking of Texas. K-State surged to a commanding 39-0 lead, on the strength of a running game which produced 261 rushing yards and five TDs, including 127 yards and 2 TDs by QB Collin Klein, and 106 yards and 2 TDs from standout RB Daniel Thomas. The Wildcats attempted only 4 passes on the day (completing 2 for 9 yards), but they intercepted Texas 5 times on the day.

SENIOR CLASS ROSTER/NOTES
   Here's a quick glance at the 15 seniors who have helped Tiger Nation stand proud for the last few years. This class has won 37 games entering Saturday's game against Kansas State (1 win shy of the school record for a senior class), and has been part of three bowl games (2008 Cotton, 2008 Alamo, 2009 Texas), two bowl game victories (2008 Cotton, 2008 Alamo), the first two Big 12 North Division championships in school history (2007, 2008), the first-ever No. 1 BCS ranking in school history (Nov. 26, 2007), and the first-ever win in school history over a #1-ranked opponent (vs. BCS #1 Oklahoma in 2010) among many other noteable achievements…
   Most importantly, everyone in this group of 15 scholar-athletes is scheduled to graduate by May, 2011…

2010 SENIOR CLASS JUST 1 WIN SHY OF SCHOOL WINS RECORD
   Mizzou's senior class isn't very big (just 15 in all) but they've no doubt played a big role in helping the Tigers elevate the overall standing of the program in their time at MU. The 2010 senior class entered the season having collected 30 wins over the previous three years, and with 7 wins so far in 2010, that puts them just one win shy of the school record of 38 wins over a four-year period, which was established by the 2009 class.
   The 2009 class one-upped the record of 37, which had been established just the previous year by the 2008 class. The 2010 class has been a very key group of players and leaders who have helped push Mizzou to new heights. They have been part of two Big 12 North Division championship teams (2007, 2008), they've helped lead Mizzou to bowl games in each of the past four seasons overall (2006 Sun, 2008 Cotton, 2008 Alamo, 2009 Texas), and they were also part of the 2007 team which ascended to #1 in the BCS polls on Nov. 25th, 2007.
   With the Tigers having already achieved bowl eligibility in 2010, this senior class will become only the fourth in MU history to play in four bowl games in a four-year span. The only previous classes to achieve that feat were the 1981 senior class, followed by the last two classes to come through (2008 & 2009).
   At right is a look at the most prolific senior classes at Mizzou, in terms of wins.

MIZZOU-KANSAS STATE SERIES HISTORY
   Mizzou and Kansas State will square off for the 96th time when they meet Saturday in Columbia, with MU holding a 59-31-5 lead overall in the prior 95 meetings.
The 59 wins is tied for the most by MU over any opponent, along with the 59 wins the Tigers hold alltime over fellow Big 12 North rival Iowa State (59-34-9 overall, with a Nov. 20th game to come vs. the Cyclones in Ames, Iowa next week).
   Mizzou has won 4 straight over K-State, including a 38-12 victory in Manhattan last season that gave MU its 6th win of the season and the subsequent bowl eligibility which came along with it. The average winning margin for Mizzou in its current 4-game string against Kansas State is 20.0 points.
   While Missouri holds the historical edge in the series, the Tigers are still trying to play catch up from a recent period of domination by Kansas State. While the Tigers have won the last four times out, K-State holds a 10-4 lead in the series since the Big 12 began play in 1996.
   Mizzou's 41-21 win in Columbia in 2006 was a watershed moment, as it broke a 13-game losing streak to Kansas State that dated from 1993-2005. The Tigers' win in Manhattan in 2007 (W, 49-32) was historic as well, as it was MU's first there since 1989 – the first season for KSU coaching legend Bill Snyder.
   Prior to K-State's 13-year stranglehold on the series, Mizzou had dominated the rivalry, holding a 55-18-5 advantage in the series ledger after claiming a 27-14 win in Columbia in 1992.
   Mizzou holds a 29-17-3 lead in games played in Columbia, and also claims a 26-14-1 lead overall in games played in MU's Memorial Stadium. The Tigers will be going for their 5th-straight win over the Wildcats, and if they achieve that Saturday, it will mark MU's longest winning streak over K-State since a 5-game MU win streak from 1986-90.

LAST YEAR REWIND: MIZZOU 38, KANSAS STATE 12
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Danario Alexander caught 10 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns in his second monster game in as many weeks and Missouri beat Kansas State 38-12, putting the Wildcats' hopes of the Big 12 North title on ice for another week.
   Alexander had touchdown grabs of 54 and 16 yards in the second quarter, as Mizzou pulled out to a 17-6 halftime lead, despite a penalty-filled first quarter that put the Tigers at a severe disadvantage in field position.
   His first TD grab came shortly after Mizzou got the ball back on a huge momentum swing play, as Kansas State fumbled inside the MU 1-yardline, with the ball rolling forward into and through the endzone for a touchback. Freshman LB Zaviar Gooden made the hit that caused the ball to come loose from KSU's Brandon Banks, and instead of K-State taking a 10-3 lead, Gabbert and Alexander hooked up for the first of their three scoring connections, and MU took a 10-3 lead.
   After K-State got another field goal to close to within 10-6, Gabbert calmly executed a 2-minute drive that began at his own 8-yardline with 2:57 to play in the half. After hitting WR Wes Kemp for 11 yards on a key 3rd-and-8 to keep the drive going, Gabbert got the Tigers in scoring position thanks to completions of 22 and 9 yards to WR Jerrell Jackson, followed by a 19-yarder to Alexander down to the K-State 16-yardline with 25 seconds left. After a Tiger timeout, Gabbert found Alexander on a corner route with one-on-one coverage, and he feathered a beautifully-thrown ball into the waiting hands of his receiver with 20 seconds left for a 17-6 lead.
   Gabbert was 20 for 27 for 298 yards and three TDs for the Tigers, who improved to 6-4 overall and 2-4 in Big 12 play.
   Kansas State (6-5, 4-3) started the day with a half-game lead over Nebraska in the North Division, but could not get its ground game untracked as the Tiger defense limited the Wildcats to just 2.6 yards per carry on 43 attempts. The 112 rushing yards was well below its average coming in of 190 yards per game, and the Big 12's leading rusher, Daniel Thomas, was held to 79 yards, after entering the game with a Big 12-best per-game average of 108 yards.
   Missouri had not scored a touchdown in the second half of any of its previous five conference games on the year, but Alexander changed that with his 80-yard scoring play in the final seconds of the third quarter. Making the reception near the MU 30-yardline, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound senior juked one would-be tackler and then with long, powerful strides outran two more into the corner of the end zone.
   Alexander had 214 yards receiving the week before in a loss to Baylor. His third TD made it 24-17, and then Missouri wrapped up its fourth straight victory over the Wildcats with touchdown runs in the fourth quarter of 4 and 13 yards by Derrick Washington. Each followed a Kansas State turnover.
   The victory made the Tigers bowl-eligible for a school-record fifth straight year and made coach Gary Pinkel 1-5 against Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.
   Josh Cherry kicked four field goals to account for all of the scoring for Kansas State, which failed to score a touchdown for the first time all year. It was also the only home loss for the Wildcats during the 2009 season.
   Mizzou turned three Wildcat turnovers into 21 points.

LAST TIME IN COLUMBIA: MIZZOU 41, KANSAS STATE 24 (2008)
   Jeremy Maclin scored three touchdowns and totaled 278 all-purpose yards, helping No. 13 Missouri shake off a slow start in its home finale and whip Kansas State 41-24 to grab first place in the Big 12 North.
Missouri (8-2, 4-2 Big 12) took control with 17 points in the final 5:46 of the first half, including a pair of touchdown passes from Chase Daniel to Maclin. Maclin had eight receptions for 118 yards and two TDs, four carries for 84 yards and a third TD on a 56-yard jaunt on a direct snap.
   Kansas State (4-6, 1-5) lost for the 5th time in its last 6 games, the latest setback coming only three days after Head Coach Ron Prince was fired effective at the end of the season.
   Maclin was a thorn in the side of a K-State defense that was burned by Maclin as a freshman in 2007 for three touchdowns and a school-record 360 yards total offense in Manhattan, Kan. Maclin entered the 2008 game averaging 189.67 all-purpose yards, second in the nation.
   The Tigers got a strong effort from their lightly-regarded defense to beat Kansas State for the third straight time after losing 13 in a row to the Wildcats. Kansas State scored twice - Brandon Banks' 93-yard run and a 3-yard touchdown pass from Carson Coffman to Banks - in the final 1:11 to make the final score appear much closer.
   It was an emotional senior day for the Tigers. The father of linebacker Aaron O'Neal, who died after a voluntary summer workout in 2005 and never played for Missouri, led a procession of 23 seniors who combined for 35 wins over four seasons in a pre-game ceremony.
   Missouri tight end Chase Coffman, averaging 10 catches the last four games, missed the game with a sprained big toe. The offense seemed out-of-sync early without Daniel's most consistent pass-catcher, running only seven plays on its first two possessions. Blair Irvin's interception ended Missouri's first possession after only two plays, and the second drive netted one first down.
   Two big plays from Maclin helped the Tigers open things up. He won a foot race on a simple swing pass on a 42-yard score, one play after Will Ebner's blocked punt, and caught a 16-yard touchdown pass on one leg in the back of the end zone.
   Kansas State trailed 24-3 at the half and barely avoided getting shut out in the first 30 minutes for the second straight game, getting a 43-yard field goal from Brooks Rossman on the final play.

MU IS 38-10 AT 'THE ZOU' SINCE '03, GOING FOR PERFECT HOME MARK
   Since nicknaming Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium “The Zou” prior to the 2003 season, Gary Pinkel's Tigers have done a nice job of defending their home turf (FieldTurf surface, which was also installed prior to the '03 season, by coincidence).
   Since 2003, the Tigers are an impressive 38-10 at home, good for a winning percentage of 79.2%, including 20-9 during that time in Big 12 competition (69.0%). That breaks down to records of 6-0 in 2003, 3-3 in 2004, 4-2 in 2005, 6-1 in 2006, 6-0 in 2007, 5-1 in 2008, 3-3 in 2009 and 5-0 in 2010.
   A win on Saturday vs. Kansas State would give Mizzou a perfect home record for the first time since 2003 – Gary Pinkel's first bowl team at MU – when the Tigers went 6-0 under QB Brad Smith and company.
   In fact, the record book shows that Mizzou has dominated at home against fellow Big 12 North foes. The Tigers have lost at home to a Big 12 North opponent only once since 2005, when it dropped a 27-12 contest to rival Nebraska last season. In all, MU has won 11 of its last 12 home games over Big 12 North foes. Here's a rundown:

• 2005: vs. Iowa State (W, 27-24 in OT); vs. Nebraska (W, 41-24)
• 2006: vs. Colorado (W, 28-13); vs. Kansas State (W, 41-21); vs. Kansas (W, 42-17)
• 2007: vs. Nebraska (W, 41-6); vs. Iowa State (W, 42-28)
• 2008: vs. Colorado (W, 58-0); vs. Kansas State (W, 41-24)
• 2009: vs. Nebraska (L, 27-12); vs. Iowa State (W, 34-24)
• 2010: vs. Colorado (W, 26-0)

TIGERS ARE 14-3 AGAINST BIG 12 NORTH FOES SINCE 2007
   Mizzou's ability to take of business in its own division has been instrumental in the Tigers' rise toward the top of the Big 12 heap. From 2007-10, Mizzou has gone 14-3 in North Division games (82.4%), and that's the best mark by a game-and-a-half over any other North Division school. Here's a look at the comparisons (through games of Nov. 6th)…

PUNT GAME GRABBING HOLD WITH GRABNER, RANKS 6TH IN NET PUNTING
   Senior P Matt Grabner is making quite an impression in his first year on the field for Mizzou. After initially attending Ole Miss, the Alton, Ill. native transferred to Mizzou and focused on school and playing club soccer. After being convinced by friends that he should take his strong kicking leg and try out for the Tiger football team, Grabner did so prior to the 2009 season, and he was invited to join the team as a preferred walk-on.
   After watching the Tigers rank 4th in the NCAA in 2009 as a team in net punting (40.5 avg.) thanks to the outstanding year put together by P Jake Harry IV, Grabner had big shoes to fill in 2010. He's doing just that, and then some. For the season, Grabner has an average of 44.12 yards per kick, which ranks him 5th in the Big 12 Conference, and 27th in the NCAA. The net of his punting has been even more effective, as the Tigers rank 2nd in the league, and 6th nationally, in team net punting, with an average of 41.00 yards per punt.
   He's coming off a very effective night at Texas Tech, where he averaged a career-best 53.9 yards on 8 punts, including a career-long boot of 71 yards. A whopping 5 of his 8 punts at Tech went for 50 yards or more, and 3 of them finished inside the Tech 20-yardline.
   In all, 20 of Grabner's 48 punts this season have been downed inside the opponent 20-yardline, including 4 inside the 2-yardline, and he's now got 12 kicks of 50 yards or more.
   Grabner punted 6 times at Texas A&M, and he averaged 43.3 yards per kick, including three which ended inside the Aggie 20-yardline, including his first two boots that kept A&M bottled up deep in their own territory early on.
   The previous week against Colorado, Grabner punted 4 times, and averaged a solid 43.2 yards per kick, including a 51-yarder, and another sky kick that was downed at the CU 1-yardline, which led to a safety on the very next snap for the Tiger defense.
   Grabner was called into action extensively in game #3 against San Diego State, and he delivered in fine fashion, as he averaged 45.4 yards on 8 punts. Three of his punts finished inside the Aztec 20-yardline, including one which was downed at the 1-yardline – marking the third straight game he'd gotten a punt down on the opponent 1-yardline.
   Grabner's 3 punts in the 4th quarter when the game was on the line were stellar, as he had kicks of 46 yards, 58 yards (a career-long) and 47 yards. The Aztecs tried to return 4 punts in the game, but could manage only 16 yards in returns.

LAST WEEK REWIND: TEXAS TECH 24, #14 MIZZOU 17
   Mizzou raced out to a 17-3 lead in the second quarter, thanks to a pair of long touchdown runs, but Texas Tech switched quarterbacks and rallied for a 24-17 win on the Red Raiders' Homecoming game. The loss was MU's second straight after surging to #6 in the BCS standings after getting out to the school's first 7-0 start since 1960.
   Things looked good for Mizzou early – real good. On just the third play of the game, true freshman Marcus Murphy took an option pitch to the right and raced 69 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead barely a minute into the game. That marked the longest play from scrimmage for the Tigers in 2010, but it lasted as the standard for exactly 5:21 of clock time, as on MU's third series, sophomore TB Kendial Lawrence scooted around left end for a 71-yard TD run to make it 14-0 with 8:36 left in the first quarter.
   After Tech managed a field goal to pull to within 14-3, the Tigers drove from their own 7-yardline into the Texas Tech red zone. But the drive stalled out on the 9-yardline, and MU had to settle for a 27-yard field goal from Grant Ressel and a 17-3 lead. That red zone hold for Tech seemed to light a fire under the Red Raiders, but it was more likely due to the insertion of QB Taylor Potts into the lineup. Potts had been Tech's normal starter during the year, but he was benched in favor of Steven Sheffield for the game. Sheffield, however, was mostly ineffective, as he led only one scoring drive in seven series before he gave way to Potts.
   Potts promptly led a 16-play, 82-yard drive that saw the Red Raiders convert on three 3rd downs and one 4th down along the way, and the QB closed it out with a 5-yard TD pass to Detron Lewis with just :15 seconds left in the half to cut the MU lead to 17-10.
   Tech received the second half kick and took control of the momentum by marching 70 yards in only 6 plays to tie it up at 17-apiece and get the Homecoming crowd back into the game. Mizzou's offense went cold unfortunately, and a three-and-out series for MU gave the ball back to Potts, and he came up with his third straight TD drive (this one covering 92 yards) to give Tech a 24-17 lead with 6:46 left in the 3rd quarter.
   The Tiger defense recovered from the onslaught to shut out the potent Red Raider attack the rest of the way, and even got an interception near the MU goal line late in the 3rd quarter to snuff out a potential Tech TD, but the offense never could find its early rhythm, as it was shut out in the second half for the first time all season. Four of MU's six second-half possessions went three-and-out as the Tigers faced poor field position most of the half.
   Mizzou did get one last prime chance to forge a tie when the defense held one more time, and the offense took over on the Tech 48-yardline following a punt with 7:19 left in the game. Gabbert hit T.J. Moe on consecutive passes that gave MU a 1st down at the Tech 36-yardline, but two straight potential TD passes into the Tech endzone on 3rd and 4th down from the 33-yardline went off the hands of Tiger receivers Wes Kemp and Jerrell Jackson to end the threat. Tech took over and killed the clock by getting two first downs to end the game.

ODDS AND ENDS FROM THE TECH GAME
   A few bits of random news and notes from MU's game at Texas Tech:

• It was quite an explosion for the Tiger run game early on, as tailbacks Marcus Murphy and Kendial Lawrence posted TD runs of 69 and 71 yards, respectively, less than halfway through the first quarter as the Tigers surged to a quick 14-0 lead. The last time Mizzou had two TD runs of 60 yards or more in the same game was in 2003 against Iowa State, when the late Damien Nash scored on a 64-yard run, followed by a Brad Smith 61-yard TD run…
• Mizzou ended the first half with 243 rushing yards, and that was more than MU's season-high total for a game. Coming into the Tech game, MU's previous team rushing high in 2010 was a 236-yard outing against Miami (Ohio). Mizzou ended the game with 260 rushing yards on 31 carries (8.4 avg.), led by Lawrence's 96 net yards…
• One key to the outcome of the game was Tech's ability to hold the ball and bleed the clock. The Red Raiders ran a massive 101 offensive plays on the night, compared to just 61 for Mizzou. The Tigers averaged a full yard more per snap than Tech (5.8 for MU, to 4.8 for Tech), but the Red Raiders had a huge edge in time of possession on the night (39:41-to-20:19)…
• Senior P Matt Grabner was called on 8 times on the night, and he delivered in stellar fashion, averaging 53.9 yards per punt, including 5 that went 50 yards or more, and 3 that settled inside the Tech 20-yardline. Included in that was a career-long punt of 71 yards…
• Mizzou had outscored opponents 77-20 in the 3rd quarter this season, but faced a 14-0 deficit in the 3rd quarter Saturday vs. Tech…
• Mizzou lost the game, despite being positive in turnover margin, as the Tigers gained two turnovers (1 INT, 1 fumble) while giving it away once (fumble). That broke a string of 29 consecutive wins for MU when it was at least plus-1 in turnover margin, dating all the way back to 2005. The last time MU won the turnover margin in a game only to lose, was in 2005 at Kansas…

MIZZOU HAS GONE 7-2 VS. NCAA'S 5TH-TOUGHEST SCHEDULE TO DATE
   Mizzou has won 7 of its first 9 games of the 2010 season with a fairly young team overall (with only 5 senior starters), despite facing what is ranked by the NCAA as the 5th-toughest schedule in the nation to date. The NCAA figures its toughest schedule rankings in this manner according to the cumulative records of opponents played.
   Here's a look at the national numbers:

TIGERS RANK 1ST IN BIG 12, 8TH IN NCAA IN SCORING DEFENSE
   A glance at the latest batch of statistics shows that Mizzou's defense leads the Big 12 Conference, and ranks 8th in the nation, in scoring defense. Through 9 games, the Tigers, under 2nd-year Defensive Coordinator Dave Steckel, are allowing an average of just 16.33 points per game. That's a nice improvement from last year, when in 13 games, MU ranked 59th nationally in scoring defense, allowing an average of 25.38 points per game.
   While pitching a shutout against Colorado on Oct. 9th undoubtedly helped propel the Tigers up the rankings, it wasn't a one-game deal, as Mizzou entered the CU game ranked 10th nationally in scoring defense. Mizzou entered the CU game allowing 14.0 points per game.
   That was followed with a stifling defensive effort that held Texas A&M's potent offense to a season-low 9 points on their home field. A&M came into the game averaging 35.00 points per game (ranked 27th in NCAA). Mizzou held the Aggies to 379 yards of offense, nearly 100 yards below their average of 472.60 coming in, which ranked them 15th nationally in total offense at the time.
   The Tigers went up against one of the top offenses in the nation recently at Nebraska, and even though the Huskers gained a 31-17 win, that point total was seven points below NU's scoring average coming into the game of 38.86 points per game. Similarly, the Tiger defense was key in MU's win over BCS #1-ranked Oklahoma on Oct. 23rd, when it held the Sooners to 27 points in a 36-27 win. The Sooners came into the game averaging 36.0 points per game. Last Saturday, Mizzou kept Texas Tech to 24 points, and that was below the Red Raiders' scoring average coming into the game of 31.88 points per outing.

TIGER RED ZONE DEFENSE 2ND NATIONALLY
   It would stand to figure that a good scoring defense performs well in the red zone, and that has more often than not been the case for Mizzou's defense to this point. Through 9 games, Mizzou's defense is ranked 2nd nationally in red zone defense, as opponents have scored just 56% of the time they've gotten inside the 20-yardline.
   Even in MU's recent defeat at Nebraska, the defense didn't give up any redzone scores, as the Huskers never took a single snap inside the Tiger 20-yardline. Last Saturday at Texas Tech, the Red Raiders enjoyed uncommon success, as they converted on 3-of-4 red zone tries, turning all three into TDs. Even so, the Tiger defense buckled down and made the most of the 4th Tech red zone appearance, as LB Zaviar Gooden stepped in front of a pass at the Tiger 2 for his second INT of the year, and he returned it 10 yards to the MU 12-yardline to avert the Tech scoring threat.
   A perfect example of MU's ability to get key stops was on display in MU's recent 36-27 win against #1 (BCS) Oklahoma, as the Sooners converted on just 3-of-6 redzone opportunities. The Tiger defense got an interception by DE Aldon Smith on its 14-yardline in the 1st quarter, and forced/recovered a fumble on its 14-yardline again, in the 2nd quarter (force by DE Michael Sam, recovered by FS Jasper Simmons). In the 3rd quarter, the Tiger defense held the Sooners to a 30-yard field goal attempt, but the kick was pulled wide left.
   The 14 scores allowed have been split between 10 TDs and 4 FGs. Illinois was 2-of-2 in the red zone against Mizzou (1 TD/1 FG), while McNeese State was 1-of-2 (1 TD). San Diego State and Miami (Ohio) each went 2-of-3 against MU (1 TD/1 FG apiece), while Colorado was shut out all 3 times (1 missed FG, 1 blocked FG, 1 stopped on downs). At Texas A&M, Mizzou's defense allowed only 2 redzone penetrations, with the Aggies converting one into a field goal, and being stopped on downs on the other threat.

PINKEL STANDS 3RD ON ALLTIME MU COACHING WINS LIST
   Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel is in his 10th season at MU (20th overall as a head coach) and touts a career record of 147-83-3 (63.7%). Following Mizzou's historic win over #1 (BCS) Oklahoma last Saturday, one national scribe asked the question if Pinkel should be considered a potential lead candidate for national coach of the year (we would agree with that assertion, by the way!).
   Pinkel, who has led MU to a combined record of 52-23 (69.3%) over the past 5+ seasons, and to bowl games in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, has a 10-year record in Columbia of 74-48 (60.6%). Dating back to the 2005 Independence Bowl win over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, Pinkel has won 46 of his last 64 games overall (71.9%).
   MU's win in the 2008 opener against Illinois gave Pinkel his 50th MU win, and he now ranks 3rd on the coaching wins list at MU, with 74.
   Pinkel is in a select group of Mizzou coaches that includes College Football Hall of Famers Don Faurot and Dan Devine, as well as Warren Powers, to be the only coaches to have an MU record of above .500 (with at least one full season coached) dating all the way back to 1935. At right is a quick look at the top winning coaches in MU history.
   For his efforts in 2007, Pinkel was a finalist for several national coach of the year awards, including the Robinson, Bryant and Munger awards. He was also named the National Coach of the Year by FieldTurf in 2007.
   Mizzou's bowl appearance in 2009 means that Pinkel has led MU to 6 bowl games overall, and he now joins Devine as the only other coach to guide MU to 6 bowl games.
   Pinkel has directed Mizzou to 7 winning seasons (8-5 in 2003, 7-5 in 2005, 8-5 in 2006, 12-2 in 2007, 10-4 in 2008 and 8-5 in 2009, along with this season), with those representing 6 of MU's 8 winning campaigns dating back to the 1983 season.
   The Big 12 North Division titles won by Mizzou in 2007 and 2008 represent the first football conference title of any kind Mizzou has won since 1969 – the last time it claimed a share of the old Big Eight Conference crown.
   In November of 2008, Pinkel agreed to a new seven-year contract, meaning he'll patrol the Tiger sidelines through the 2015 season.