[SPchief]

MU needs to get over it and get ready for Cotton Bowl
By JASON WHITLOCK

* Missouri gets caught up in this year’s BCS storm

You just hope Chase Daniel, Martin Rucker, Gary Pinkel and the rest of the Missouri Tigers have the strength to go on living after what the mean, old BCS system did to the Tigers.

Seriously, playing on New Year’s Day, in a game that is an easy drive for most of your fans, against a beatable opponent with a Heisman Trophy candidate is the kind of crime against humanity Hollywood makes movies about.

Please bow your heads as we ask the football gods to give Pinkel and the Tigers courage as they face this major crisis, combat this terrible injustice.

Now, get over it!

The whining about Kansas’ inclusion in a BCS bowl game, the Orange Bowl, and Missouri’s relegation to the non-BCS Cotton Bowl is just the kind of unwarranted bellyaching that got Kansas State’s clock cleaned in the Alamo Bowl in 1998.

Guess what? Life isn’t fair, the bowl system isn’t perfect, and Halle Berry won’t respond to my e-mails.

There’s no crime here, only opportunity. Pinkel and Daniel get to showcase their program and talent in the fertile recruiting ground of Texas, and some 20,000 Mizzou fans will get to witness it in person.

If the Tigers head to Dallas in the right frame of mind, they’ll knock off Darren McFadden and a strong SEC opponent, finish the season ranked in the top five and kick off their 2008-09 national-title run.

If the Tigers head to Dallas believing they’ve been robbed and carrying themselves like victims, McFadden and Arkansas will create the perception that the Tigers can’t run with the big dogs, the SEC.

So stop the crying.

Missouri fans are too caught up in what Kansas got to appreciate the blessing they received. The Orange Bowl is going to be ignored. Virginia Tech is no draw this year. Va. Tech-Kansas is a terrible matchup. The handful of Kansas fans who pony up to fly to Miami will have a great time at South Beach and plenty of elbow room at game time.

In terms of building a program, Missouri’s trip to Dallas will do more for the Tigers than Kansas’ journey to Miami.

Texas reporters will shine a bright light on their hometown hero, Chase Daniel, telling his story to countless potential recruits. The Cotton Bowl isn’t the Fort Worth Bowl or the Alamo Bowl or any of the other easy-to-ignore bowl games. The Cotton has great history and prestige.

Playing Arkansas is another plus. Razorback fans will show up. The game is going to feel like a major happening.

Pinkel’s boys better hit Texas in the right frame of mind. McFadden and Arkansas already beat LSU. McFadden, in my opinion, is the best player in college football. He’s a sleeker version of Adrian Peterson. The Hogs’ other back, Felix Jones, is a game-breaker, too. He averages nine yards a carry.

With McFadden occasionally lining up at quarterback, the Hogs have the most creative running game in college football. Opponents know what’s coming — Arkansas’ passing attack is horrible — but they’ve had trouble stopping McFadden and Jones all season.

The Tigers, 11-2, could throw away a tremendous season by embracing the victim mentality adopted by their fan base.

The reality is Oklahoma blitzed Missouri in the second half of the Big 12 Championship, outscoring Mizzou 24-3. Had the Tigers hung with the Sooners for four quarters and lost by a touchdown or less, the Orange Bowl might have chosen Mizzou over Kansas.

Look, Missouri had its chance to play in the BCS’ biggest game. The Tigers blew it. They have nothing to whine about. And whining won’t do them or their fans one bit of good.


MU needs to get over it and get ready for Cotton Bowl
By JASON WHITLOCK

* Missouri gets caught up in this year’s BCS storm

You just hope Chase Daniel, Martin Rucker, Gary Pinkel and the rest of the Missouri Tigers have the strength to go on living after what the mean, old BCS system did to the Tigers.

Seriously, playing on New Year’s Day, in a game that is an easy drive for most of your fans, against a beatable opponent with a Heisman Trophy candidate is the kind of crime against humanity Hollywood makes movies about.

Please bow your heads as we ask the football gods to give Pinkel and the Tigers courage as they face this major crisis, combat this terrible injustice.

Now, get over it!

The whining about Kansas’ inclusion in a BCS bowl game, the Orange Bowl, and Missouri’s relegation to the non-BCS Cotton Bowl is just the kind of unwarranted bellyaching that got Kansas State’s clock cleaned in the Alamo Bowl in 1998.

Guess what? Life isn’t fair, the bowl system isn’t perfect, and Halle Berry won’t respond to my e-mails.

There’s no crime here, only opportunity. Pinkel and Daniel get to showcase their program and talent in the fertile recruiting ground of Texas, and some 20,000 Mizzou fans will get to witness it in person.

If the Tigers head to Dallas in the right frame of mind, they’ll knock off Darren McFadden and a strong SEC opponent, finish the season ranked in the top five and kick off their 2008-09 national-title run.

If the Tigers head to Dallas believing they’ve been robbed and carrying themselves like victims, McFadden and Arkansas will create the perception that the Tigers can’t run with the big dogs, the SEC.

So stop the crying.

Missouri fans are too caught up in what Kansas got to appreciate the blessing they received. The Orange Bowl is going to be ignored. Virginia Tech is no draw this year. Va. Tech-Kansas is a terrible matchup. The handful of Kansas fans who pony up to fly to Miami will have a great time at South Beach and plenty of elbow room at game time.

In terms of building a program, Missouri’s trip to Dallas will do more for the Tigers than Kansas’ journey to Miami.

Texas reporters will shine a bright light on their hometown hero, Chase Daniel, telling his story to countless potential recruits. The Cotton Bowl isn’t the Fort Worth Bowl or the Alamo Bowl or any of the other easy-to-ignore bowl games. The Cotton has great history and prestige.

Playing Arkansas is another plus. Razorback fans will show up. The game is going to feel like a major happening.

Pinkel’s boys better hit Texas in the right frame of mind. McFadden and Arkansas already beat LSU. McFadden, in my opinion, is the best player in college football. He’s a sleeker version of Adrian Peterson. The Hogs’ other back, Felix Jones, is a game-breaker, too. He averages nine yards a carry.

With McFadden occasionally lining up at quarterback, the Hogs have the most creative running game in college football. Opponents know what’s coming — Arkansas’ passing attack is horrible — but they’ve had trouble stopping McFadden and Jones all season.

The Tigers, 11-2, could throw away a tremendous season by embracing the victim mentality adopted by their fan base.

The reality is Oklahoma blitzed Missouri in the second half of the Big 12 Championship, outscoring Mizzou 24-3. Had the Tigers hung with the Sooners for four quarters and lost by a touchdown or less, the Orange Bowl might have chosen Mizzou over Kansas.

Look, Missouri had its chance to play in the BCS’ biggest game. The Tigers blew it. They have nothing to whine about. And whining won’t do them or their fans one bit of good.