COLUMBIA, Mo. — Got plans for Saturday that don't include attending the Black and Gold Game at Memorial Stadium? Cancel them. Here are 10 reasons why you should be in Memorial Stadium for the 1 p.m. start — actually arrive sooner; we'll explain why — to get more than a sneak peek of your 2024 Missouri Tigers.
1. IT'S A LOOOONG OFFSEASON AHEAD: There are some clear advantages to holding an early spring game, but the March scrimmage also means you've got a longer wait until the real season kicks off. To be exact, you'll have 168 days between Saturday and the season's first official kickoff on Aug. 31 against Murray State. That means Saturday is your last glimpse to see the Tigers at full speed in full pads until we get closer to the season. Don't miss your chance. That spring cleaning will still be there next weekend.
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— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) March 14, 2024
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2. BRIGHT SKIES: The forecast looks excellent: Sunny and a high of 68 degrees. Should be a perfect spring day. (Yes, we know the spring equinox officially falls on next Tuesday, but just play along here.)
3. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: Here's what you can expect around Memorial Stadium besides the action down on Faurot Field. Seating will be limited to the bleachers on the East side of the stadium. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., and along the North Concourse you'll find concessions, bounce house, face painting, cornhole, balloon animals, Truman's Taxi and … your favorite Mizzou podcast. More on that down the list.
4. GET YOUR TICKETS: You're running out of time if you're still waiting to renew your season tickets. The renewal deadline for returning season-ticket holders is about a month away (April 26) — and the inventory is going fast. If you're planning to become a first-time season-ticket holder, now's the time to secure your 2024 tickets. Coming off five consecutive sellouts to end 2023, season tickets might be your only guaranteed opportunity to catch every home game this fall. As of this week, Mizzou has sold nearly four times as many season tickets for the upcoming season compared to this time last year. Representatives from the ticket office will be stationed on the North Concourse ready to serve customers before and during Saturday's Black and Gold Game.
If you would like to set up an appointment to visit with the ticket sales team at Saturday's Black and Gold Game, fill out this form and a representative will personally assist you with the process
5. CAPTAIN COOK: Quarterback Brady Cook begins 2024 with a clear path into the upper echelon of Mizzou's all-time passers. Here's a good QB stat: Mizzou has won double-digit games six times over the last six decades. There's one common thread to all six of those teams: They returned a quarterback with starting experience. Chase Daniel in 2007 and 2008; Blaine Gabbert in 2010; James Franklin in 2013; Maty Mauk in 2014; and Cook in 2023.
When each of those six seasons kicked off, the team's starting quarterback had, on average, 15 career starts for the Tigers. Cook goes into 2024 with 27 career starts. Here's how his career starts and pass attempts compare to the starters who entered Mizzou's 10-11- and 12-win teams this century.
Daniel, 2007: 13 career starts, 518 career passes
Daniel, 2008: 27 career starts, 1,081 career passes
Gabbert, 2010: 13 career starts, 458 career passes
Franklin, 2013: 19 career starts 624 career passes
Mauk, 2014: 4 career starts, 133 career passes
Cook, 2023: 14 career starts, 448 career passes
Cook, 2024: 27 career starts, 817 career passes
6. TAILBACK U?: With Cody Schrader auditioning for the NFL, the Tigers need to identify their next primary running threat — or threats. Schrader not only set Mizzou's single-season rushing record last year with 1,627 yards, but his 446 carries over the last two seasons are the most carries over a two-year span for any player in team history. Here's who came closest to those 446 rushing attempts: Darrell Wallace (1985-86), 437 … Brad Smith (2002-03), 405 … Brock Olivo (1995-96), 389 … Tony Galbreath (1974-75), 380 … Tony Temple (2006-07), 379.
Who's next? The transfer portal delivered two experienced FBS backs in Marcus Carroll (No. 9) and Nate Noel (No. 8). All they've done is collectively rush for 5,210 yards and 40 touchdowns at Georgia State and Appalachian State, respectively.
"I said this the other day in a staff meeting: Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll remind me of Tyler Badie and Larry Rountree in 2020 when Larry played at 218 pounds and Tyler was 195ish," running backs coach Curtis Luper said this week. "They were a good complement. So, physically, they would remind you of those two."
Not a bad set of comps.
This is also where we remind you that a Mizzou running back has led the SEC in rushing in two of the last three seasons.
7. WIDEOUTS GALORE: Let's stick with offense. On Saturday you'll be treated to what figures to be one of the best wide receiver groups in the country. Returning All-American Luther Burden III is the headliner, but don't overlook sidekicks Theo Wease Jr. and Mookie Cooper, who combined for 85 receptions last year, plus six touchdown catches, all by Wease. Throw in tested veteran Mekhi Miller and promising sophomores Marquis "Speedy" Johnson, Joshua Manning and Daniel Blood and you have a loaded core of playmakers. And we haven't forgotten about sophomore tight end Brett Norfleet, who's poised to break out as Mizzou's most prolific tight end since Albert Okwuegbunam.
"You've heard the analogy building a basketball team on grass," receivers coach Jacob Peeler said. "You don't want all centers. You don't want all point guards. You got to have different guys that do different things on different parts of the field. Having a yards-after-catch guy or maybe it's a 50-50 catch guy, a guy that's really good in the red zone or a savvy slot that can get open … you just got to have different pieces of the puzzle. So that way, when the different part of the game presents itself, you hopefully have someone that can make a play in that moment."
8. NEWCOMER WATCH: A handful of other newcomers will be on display Saturday, including a collection of ready-made defensive transfers. It's never too early to start learning new names and numbers, especially these: joker/edge rusher Darris Smith (No. 19), defensive tackles Chris McClellan (7) and Sterling Webb (10), defensive end Zion Young (9), linebacker Corey Flagg (11) and cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. (2),
On the offensive side, Mizzou fans get their first glimpse of left tackle Cayden Green (70) and freshman quarterback Aidan Glover (13) among others.
9. BATOON BALL: Saturday marks the first chance for Mizzou fans to see Corey Batoon's defense up close and in person. Batoon, most recently at South Alabama, has stepped into the defensive coordinator role and will operate a modified version of the 4-2-5 base system the Tigers ran each of the last two years.
"He's been awesome," cornerbacks coach Al Pogue said. "He's been great about sharing. He wants opinions. He understands the success we've had here defensively in recent years. And he just wants to add to that. He's a sponge to us as we are to him."
Stop by the live "Mizzou Storytellers" podcast on the north concourse before Saturday's Black & Gold Game ... or watch live on the @MizzouAthletics FB page. From noon to 1 pm, @Nikki_Barry22 & I will have guests, take questions & share some giveaways.https://t.co/E9CGyjTO6t pic.twitter.com/BoAWisiAsD
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) March 13, 2024
10. STORY TIME: Starting around noon on Saturday, Nikki Barry and I will be hosting a special one-hour live version of the "Mizzou Storytellers" podcast on the Memorial Stadium North Concourse. We'll have a couple former Tigers join us as guests. We'll answer fan questions. We'll have some giveaways. If you can't join us in person, watch the live feed on the Mizzou Athletics' Facebook page.
NCAA WRESTLING SEEDS SET
The seeds are set for next week's NCAA Wrestling Championship – and Mizzou will have a competitor in all 10 weight classes, including an at-large addition in Kade Moore at 133 pounds. Here's where the Tigers are seeded in their respective classes:
125: Noah Surtin, No. 13 seed
133: Kade Moore, No. 26 seed
141: Josh Edmond, No. 21 seed
149: Logan Gioffre, No. 28 seed
157: Brock Mauller, No. 17 seed
165: Keegan O'Toole, No. 1 seed
174: Peyton Mocco, No. 22 seed
184: Colton Hawks, No. 11 seed
197: Rocky Elam, No. 12 seed
285: Zach Elam, No. 6 seed
MIZZOU MUSINGS
· We knew Alex Honnold was one of the best returning hitters in the SEC, but is the outfielder making a case for SEC player of the year? Heading into this weekend's series at Tennessee, Honnold ranks among the SEC's top 10 for batting average, runs, hits, total bases and leads the league with 12 doubles. As of Thursday, only East Carolina's Emma Jackson had more doubles than Honnold's dozen.
· Mizzou, golf school? You bet. It's already been a banner spring for both the men's and women's programs. On the women's side, Fleur van Beek was named SEC Freshman of the Week after winning her first collegiate title at last week's Tulane Classic in New Orleans. The rookie from The Netherlands became the first Mizzou freshman to win an event since 1997 and was the only player in the field of 100 to score under par in all three rounds.
On the men's side, Jack Lundin was named SEC Golfer of the Week for the third time this season after his third consecutive top-five finish. Lundin was second at the Colleton River Collegiate at 11-under 205 over three rounds. Earlier this month, Lundin, a senior from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was one of 15 golfers named to the 2023-2024 Fred Haskins Award Spring Watch List — the award for the nation's top male U.S. collegiate golfer. Under first-year coach Glen Millican, the Tigers are up to No. 34 in the national rankings.
· Over the last 12 months, five Mizzou student-athletes have earned SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year honors for their respective sport: Kobe Brown (men's basketball, 2023), Brady Cook (football, 2023), Mama Dembele (women's basketball, 2024), Sean East III (men's basketball, 2023) and Mitch Weber (men's indoor track and field, 2024).
· East finished his Mizzou career with one of the best offensive seasons of a Tigers player in the SEC era. East's 17.6 points per game are second-most for a Mizzou player in the SEC era (2012-current), only behind Jabari Brown's 19.9 ppg in 2013-14. For the season, East shot 52.1% from the field, 45.0% from 3-point range and 85.6% from the foul line. Only seven players in team history have shot better from 3 over the course of a full season: Lee Coward, Derrick Chievous, Brian Grawer, Derek Grimm, Jason Sutherland, Kim English and Kobe Brown.
· Incoming freshman Annor Boateng was recently named the Arkansas Class 6A State Tournament MVP and All-Tournament selection as well as the Arkansas MaxPreps High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year. The four-star wing averaged 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while guiding Central-Little Rock to the state championship.
· Heading into this weekend's three-game series at No. 1 Arkansas, Mizzou baseball's Jackson Lovich and Trevor Austin have combined for 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. Lovich, a sophomore first baseman, gets to square off against his brother this weekend, Razorback outfielder Ross Lovich.
TIGER TRIVIA
Q: At 22-3, the 11th-ranked Mizzou softball team is off to its best 25-game start since which season?
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday, March 15
Women's Golf at MountainView Collegiate (Tucson, Arizona)
Track and Field at Yellow Jacket Invitational (Atlanta, Georgia)
Softball at No. 8 Tennessee, 5 p.m., SEC Network+ (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Baseball at No. 1 Arkansas, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+ (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Saturday, March 16
Women's Golf at MountainView Collegiate (Tucson, Arizona)
Track and Field at Yellow Jacket Invitational (Atlanta, Georgia)
Football Black and Gold Game, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
Softball at No. 5 Tennessee, 1 p.m., SEC Network+ (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Baseball at No. 1 Arkansas, 2 p.m., SEC Network+ (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Soccer vs. Central Missouri, 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 17
Women's Golf at MountainView Collegiate (Tucson, Arizona)
Track and Field at Yellow Jacket Invitational (Atlanta, Georgia)
Tennis at Arkansas, 11 a.m., ArkansasRazorbacks.com (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Softball at No. 8 Tennessee, 12:30 p.m., SEC Network+ (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Baseball at No. 1 Arkansas, 2 p.m., SEC Network+ (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Gymnastics at Illinois, Arizona, SEMO, 2 p.m. Big Ten Network+ (Champaign, Illinois)
Tuesday, March 19
Baseball at Kansas, 6 p.m., (Kansas City)
Wednesday, March 20
Swimming & Diving at NCAA Women's Championship, 10 a.m. (Athens, Georgia)
Softball at Kansas, 5 p.m., (Lawrence, Kansas)
Thursday, March 21
Wrestling at NCAA Championship, (Kansas City)
Friday, March 22
Wrestling at NCAA Championship, (Kansas City)
Tennis vs. South Carolina, 2 p.m.
Softball vs. No. 6 LSU, 5 p.m., SEC Network+
Baseball vs. Kentucky, 6 p.m., SEC Network+
TIGER TRIVIA
A: In 2013, the Tigers also started 22-3 and went on to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals by beating Hofstra - coached by current head coach Larissa Anderson - in the NCAA Regionals.
LINKS TO CLICK
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