TLOS Preview: #10 Missouri

By Paulie Knep
Love of Sports Correspondent

(Starting August 1st, The Love of Sports began featuring one college football program each day, breaking down their offense, defense and - most importantly - their food, beverage, cheerleaders, tailgating prowess and all-around campus life! That’s because those are the things we value here the most. College football is all about the atmosphere, and that’s exactly what we’ll give you all season long!)

Today’s Preview: Missouri Tigers

TLOS Preseason Rank: #10
TLOS Predicted Record:
2007 Record: 12-2 (7-1 in Big 12)
Lettermen returning: 37
Lettermen lost: 19

Offense

Coach Gary Pinkel’s offense should pick up right where it left off last season, when the Tigers averaged 490.3 yards per game. Quarterback Chase Daniel has mastered the spread offense, and after setting school passing records with 4,306 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2007, he enters this season as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. He’s joined by Jeremy Maclin, one of the most dynamic players in the country. Maclin led the nation in all-purpose yards as a freshman last season. Though primarily a receiver, he also had 52 carries and returned three kicks for touchdowns.

All-American tight end Martin Rucker has moved on to the NFL after leading the team in receptions last season, but 6-foot-6 senior Chase Coffman is capable of filling his shoes. Daniel has another big target in 6-foot-6 inch junior receiver Damario Alexander, and Tommy Saunders is a reliable third or fourth option. Missouri also lost starting running back Tony Temple to the NFL and will likely rely on a committee to carry the ball, starting with power backs Jimmy Jackson and Derrick Washington. The biggest cause for concern may be the offensive line, where they lost two mainstays in left tackle Tyler Luellen and center Adam Spieker. Luellen was a four-year starter at left tackle and was responsible for protecting Daniel’s blind side.

Defense

Missouri returns 10 starters from a defense that steadily improved over the course of the 2007 season. The one starter not returning is Lorenzo Williams, a monster run stuffer who earned All-Big 12 honors. The Tigers will rely on senior tackle Ziggy Hood to make up for the loss of Williams on the inside and are counting on senior defensive ends Stryker Sulak and Tommy Chavis to provide a pass rush. Mizzou has a few playmakers at linebacker but lacks depth at the position. Junior Sean Witherspoon is a ball hawk who led the team last season with 130 tackles from the weak side and Brock Christopher is a dependable third year starter at middle linebacker.

The defense’s greatest strength may be it’s secondary. Senior safety William Moore has caught the attention of NFL scouts with his closing speed and strength. He tied for the most interceptions in the country last season (eight) and had an outstanding Cotton Bowl, highlighted by an interception return for a touchdown. Fellow safety Justin Garrett’s made a name for himself in the Big 12 with his bone jarring hits. The cornerbacks aren’t shutdown types, but they’re solid and aren’t inclined to give up big plays.

Season Outlook

With Daniel and Maclin leading the way, the Tigers’ offense is going to be nearly impossible to stop. Daniel has a number of weapons to throw to downfield in addition to Maclin, and assuming the offensive line gives him time, he’s going to carve defenses apart. The passing attack will spread the field, creating lanes for the running game. Mizzou’s defense should be very good. The question is, will it be a championship caliber defense? If they play like they did in the Cotton Bowl when they held Arkansas running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to 3.3 yards per carry, then the answer is yes. The defense is talented up the middle and should be strong against the run. It’s crucial for the ends to slow down team’s passing attacks by applying regular pressure on the quarterback. Missouri’s the favorite to win the Big 12 championship and are legitimate national championship contenders.

The Stadium

Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium was named after former Mizzou football coach and athletic director Don Faurot. Nicknamed “The Zou,” the horseshoe shaped stadium has a capacity of 68,349. The curved north end contains a grassy knoll for general admission seating, and in the center of the knoll is Missouri’s famous giant “M.” Made out of whitewashed rocks, the “M” is 90 feet wide and 95 feet tall.

Schedule

Oklahoma was the only team to beat Missouri last season (twice), so coach Pinkel has to be thrilled not to have the Sooners on the schedule. The Tigers also managed to avoid another dangerous Big 12 team in Texas Tech. They start off the season against a dangerous Illinois squad at the Edward James Dome in St. Louis, though the rest of their non-conference schedule should be a cakewalk. Their most difficult challenge will likely come from Texas, at Austin on October 18th. Coach Pinkel also has to concerned about the team’s trip to Nebraska on October 4th, where the Tigers haven’t won since 1978. Even if Mizzou gets past those two tests unscathed, they still have to clash with Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium in the last game of the season.

Homecoming Game

October 25th vs. Colorado

School Atmosphere

Tailgating: The parties start on fraternity house lawns and make their way into parking garages and lots around Memorial Stadium. Beer pong and beer bongs are a plenty, and there are various types of food to choose from, though bratwurst seems to be a local favorite. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself surrounded by Tiger fans with tails coming out of the back of their pants. The night before Missouri’s biggest games, diehard fans can be found camping out in the parking lots in their black and gold tents.

On Campus: If you can’t get a ticket to the game, or are in Columbia when the Tigers are on the road, the place to watch the game is Harpo’s. Just be prepared to throw back a few Black and Golds (Jagermesiter and Goldschlager) with the regulars. When Mizzou wins a big game, the students storm the field, tear down the goal post and carry it across campus to Harpo’s, where the bartenders hand out hacksaws to break off a piece for everybody.

Male-to-Female Ratio: Good news gentlemen, 53% of the student body is female!

Famous Alumni

--Brad Pitt, Oceans 11, Twelve Monkeys, Se7en, Fight Club, Snatch
--Kate Capshaw, Actress, Wife of Steven Spielberg
--Chris Cooper, Actor, American Beauty, Seabiscuit
--Robert Loggia, Actor, Scarface, Independence Day, Jagged Edge
--Lloyd Carr, Former head coach of Michigan
--Sheryl Crow, Singer/songwriter
--Samuel M. Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart
--Kellen Winslow, NFL Hall of Fame tight end
--Ian Kinsler, MLB All-Star second baseman
--Carl Edwards, NASCAR driver
--John Anderson, Michael Kim, Matt Winer, Sportscenter Anchors
--Tom Berenger, Actor, Major League, Platoon
--Jim Lehrer, PBS News Anchor
--Pat Forde, ESPN Columnist

Shameless Cheerleader Pics

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