Whitlock: Missouri is a national-title contender

|Zach| · 10-20-2007, 10:00 PM

COLUMBIA | The Big 12’s best football team, the one-loss BCS squad with the best defeat, played its best ball in several decades on Saturday and issued a strong message that it wants to be in the who’s-the-nation’s-best debate.

If you don’t know, now you know: Gary Pinkel’s Missouri Tigers are pretty damn good, top-10 good, BCS-bowl good.

Just ask Mike Leach and his 22nd-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Tigers stomped Tech 41-10 at Faurot Field in a game that was absolutely as one-sided as the final score indicates.

Anyone worried the Tigers might be hung over from their disappointing, giveaway loss to the Oklahoma Sooners last weekend had their concerns alleviated early on Saturday. Missouri’s defense, an outfit scheduled for a stern test against a Tech offense that came in averaging 50 points, opened the scoring by picking off a Graham Harrell pass and dashing 38 yards for six points on Tech’s first possession.

The romp was on.

And when it was over, after the Tigers’ D had produced four interceptions and its normally-pass-happy O had grinded out 212 rushing yards, I began to ponder the real possibility that the Tigers are national-title contenders — at least until further notice.

Seriously, why not the Tigers?

No one doubts their offense. Chase Daniel and Mizzou’s receivers can move the football on any team in the country. The Tigers, even with Tony Temple sidelined, are starting to demonstrate a running game. Jeremy Maclin gives the Tigers a special-teams playmaker.

Nope. The questions about Mizzou centered on the defense. Could the Tigers stop a legitimate offense? Well, Leach and the Red Raiders know how to score points. On Saturday, they pretty much refused to punt the football, going for it seven times on fourth down.

Missouri never buckled. They harassed Harrell, sacking him three times, forcing him into several terrible throws. The Tigers punished Tech’s receivers. They eliminated Tech’s running game, holding the Red Raiders to minus-9 yards on the ground.

On a day when Missouri scored 41 points and rushed for three touchdowns, Chase Daniel couldn’t contain his defensive excitement.

“How ‘bout the defense?” Daniel remarked when a reporter asked about Missouri’s running game.

Moments later Daniel added: “If the defense plays this well every single week, the sky is the limit.”

No doubt. Pinkel was equally impressed. He said he expected the Tigers’ athletic and inexperienced defense to improve over the course of the season. But I’m not sure he expected the Tigers’ defensive unit to ever outperform his offense.

“I have to say it was a pretty darn good performance on defense,” Pinkel glowed.

Yeah, the Tigers are all grown up now. Last week’s showdown with Oklahoma helped the Tigers realize they can be a great team. Pinkel said he told his team not to take any satisfaction in the close loss to the Sooners (41-31).

“If you want to get to the top of the mountain, you can’t think that way,” Pinkel told his team.

The warning registered.

“We should’ve won that football game,” Daniel said. “(The OU game) just validated where we’re at.”

Nah, this Tech victory validated Missouri’s climb to elite status. It legitimized what Missouri demonstrated last week. It’s easy to get up for Oklahoma. It’s difficult to play at a high-high level on back-to-back weekends. The Sooners looked terrible against Iowa State on Saturday.

The Tigers should run their record to 9-1 over the next three weeks — Iowa State, at Colorado and Texas A&M. By then, Mizzou should be in the top 10. If the Tigers beat Kansas State, Kansas and Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, they’d be 12-1 and in the national-title hunt.

No way I saw this coming when they squeaked by Illinois. This is a tremendous story, a tale loyal Missouri football fans deserve.

Mecca · 10-20-2007, 10:07 PM

It's a nice article with some points and all but voters won't put 1 loss Missouri above several teams just due to name and history...

**Mr. Kotter** · 10-20-2007, 10:08 PM

HolmeZz · 10-20-2007, 10:08 PM

Missouri's problem is the lack of good wins. Illinois isn't bad, but they're not even a Top 25 team and the Tigers have nothing after that.

Thig Lyfe · 10-20-2007, 10:09 PM

KU #1

Mecca · 10-20-2007, 10:09 PM

Even if Missouri runs the table.....do you think they'd even be considered to be put above teams like LSU and USC?

Mecca · 10-20-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsRacer

KU #1

And that's their problem too.....There are going to be 1 loss teams ahead of them.

**Mr. Kotter** · 10-20-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolmeZz

Missouri's problem is the lack of good wins. Illinois isn't bad, but they're not even a Top 25 team and the Tigers have nothing after that.

Thank you, for adding some levity....to the thread.

SPchief · 10-20-2007, 10:10 PM

HolmeZz · 10-20-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Even if Missouri runs the table.....do you think they'd even be considered to be put above teams like LSU and USC?

USC is not in the discussion. They lost at home to an awful Stanford team. They're not going in ahead of any real undefeated team.

teedubya · 10-20-2007, 10:10 PM

is KU in the hunt if they go undefeated? I bet they wouldn't be.

**Mr. Kotter** · 10-20-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Even if Missouri runs the table.....do you think they'd even be considered to be put above teams like LSU and USC?

Or if KU runs the table, in fairness....the answer is, a definitive "No."

**Mr. Kotter** · 10-20-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunRunPassPunt

is KU in the hunt if they go undefeated? I bet they wouldn't be.

Nope.

But neither will the Tiggers.

tk13 · 10-20-2007, 10:11 PM

I think they would've had to go undefeated. I think they're gonna be kicking themselves for that dropped INT late in the Oklahoma game... that could've changed the momentum and kept Mizzou in the lead. If they went undefeated there's no doubt they should play for the title. Still a long way to go though, they do have a very legit chance at playing in a BCS bowl.

Mecca · 10-20-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolmeZz

USC is not in the discussion. They lost at home to an awful Stanford team. They're not going in ahead of any real undefeated team.

They'd still be ahead of Missouri...

10-20-2007, 10:00 PM
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $3146768	Whitlock: Missouri is a national-title contender COLUMBIA \| The Big 12’s best football team, the one-loss BCS squad with the best defeat, played its best ball in several decades on Saturday and issued a strong message that it wants to be in the who’s-the-nation’s-best debate. If you don’t know, now you know: Gary Pinkel’s Missouri Tigers are pretty damn good, top-10 good, BCS-bowl good. Just ask Mike Leach and his 22nd-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Tigers stomped Tech 41-10 at Faurot Field in a game that was absolutely as one-sided as the final score indicates. Anyone worried the Tigers might be hung over from their disappointing, giveaway loss to the Oklahoma Sooners last weekend had their concerns alleviated early on Saturday. Missouri’s defense, an outfit scheduled for a stern test against a Tech offense that came in averaging 50 points, opened the scoring by picking off a Graham Harrell pass and dashing 38 yards for six points on Tech’s first possession. The romp was on. And when it was over, after the Tigers’ D had produced four interceptions and its normally-pass-happy O had grinded out 212 rushing yards, I began to ponder the real possibility that the Tigers are national-title contenders — at least until further notice. Seriously, why not the Tigers? No one doubts their offense. Chase Daniel and Mizzou’s receivers can move the football on any team in the country. The Tigers, even with Tony Temple sidelined, are starting to demonstrate a running game. Jeremy Maclin gives the Tigers a special-teams playmaker. Nope. The questions about Mizzou centered on the defense. Could the Tigers stop a legitimate offense? Well, Leach and the Red Raiders know how to score points. On Saturday, they pretty much refused to punt the football, going for it seven times on fourth down. Missouri never buckled. They harassed Harrell, sacking him three times, forcing him into several terrible throws. The Tigers punished Tech’s receivers. They eliminated Tech’s running game, holding the Red Raiders to minus-9 yards on the ground. On a day when Missouri scored 41 points and rushed for three touchdowns, Chase Daniel couldn’t contain his defensive excitement. “How ‘bout the defense?” Daniel remarked when a reporter asked about Missouri’s running game. Moments later Daniel added: “If the defense plays this well every single week, the sky is the limit.” No doubt. Pinkel was equally impressed. He said he expected the Tigers’ athletic and inexperienced defense to improve over the course of the season. But I’m not sure he expected the Tigers’ defensive unit to ever outperform his offense. “I have to say it was a pretty darn good performance on defense,” Pinkel glowed. Yeah, the Tigers are all grown up now. Last week’s showdown with Oklahoma helped the Tigers realize they can be a great team. Pinkel said he told his team not to take any satisfaction in the close loss to the Sooners (41-31). “If you want to get to the top of the mountain, you can’t think that way,” Pinkel told his team. The warning registered. “We should’ve won that football game,” Daniel said. “(The OU game) just validated where we’re at.” Nah, this Tech victory validated Missouri’s climb to elite status. It legitimized what Missouri demonstrated last week. It’s easy to get up for Oklahoma. It’s difficult to play at a high-high level on back-to-back weekends. The Sooners looked terrible against Iowa State on Saturday. The Tigers should run their record to 9-1 over the next three weeks — Iowa State, at Colorado and Texas A&M. By then, Mizzou should be in the top 10. If the Tigers beat Kansas State, Kansas and Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, they’d be 12-1 and in the national-title hunt. No way I saw this coming when they squeaked by Illinois. This is a tremendous story, a tale loyal Missouri football fans deserve.
Posts: 54,689

10-20-2007, 10:07 PM	#2
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-562950	It's a nice article with some points and all but voters won't put 1 loss Missouri above several teams just due to name and history...
Posts: 115,291

10-20-2007, 10:08 PM	#3
Mr. Kotter The Dude Abides Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Dakota Country Casino cash: $3354285	__________________ "I've always said I worry about legacy and winning rings more than making money at this moment...We see what's going on around the league, but at the same time, I'll never do anything that's going to hurt us from keeping the great players around me.”
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10-20-2007, 10:08 PM	#4
HolmeZz i guess its bittersweet poetry Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NeW HaVeN, CT Casino cash: $10004900	Missouri's problem is the lack of good wins. Illinois isn't bad, but they're not even a Top 25 team and the Tigers have nothing after that.
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10-20-2007, 10:09 PM	#5
Thig Lyfe Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Thigpen's America Casino cash: $10004900	KU #1
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10-20-2007, 10:10 PM	#9
SPchief In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $-1777095	__________________ Check out SPchief's fundraising page for Special Olympics Missouri - https://support.somo.org/fundraiser/5957339 ^^^^^^^^^^ Click here to help with a special cause. Please help me out
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10-20-2007, 10:10 PM	#11
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $8993042	is KU in the hunt if they go undefeated? I bet they wouldn't be.
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10-20-2007, 10:11 PM	#14
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1737500	I think they would've had to go undefeated. I think they're gonna be kicking themselves for that dropped INT late in the Oklahoma game... that could've changed the momentum and kept Mizzou in the lead. If they went undefeated there's no doubt they should play for the title. Still a long way to go though, they do have a very legit chance at playing in a BCS bowl.
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