Whitlock: Missouri is a national-title contender - Page 3

|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.

Basileus777 · 10-20-2007, 10:45 PM

Mizzou isn't a national title contender unless they win out and teams continue to lose unexpected games at the pace they are right now. But by that standard there are about 15 national title contenders....

**KcMizzou** · 10-20-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spicy McHaggis

This Mizzou team is a good team. A really good team, actually. I, like Whitlock, did not see this coming after the Illini game. Congrats to MU from a Kansas fan on a great season so far.

Thanks man... that's really cool of you.

Grats on KU too... I'm still trying to figure out where your team came from.

You were supposed to SUCK!

Mosbonian · 10-20-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

They'd still be ahead of Missouri...

Opinion.....

mmaddog
*******

**KcMizzou** · 10-20-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmaddog

Opinion.....

mmaddog
*******

But, it's USC!

Mecca · 10-20-2007, 10:53 PM

Ok question.....if Missouri has 1 loss and USC has 1 loss do you really think on any voters board Missouri would be ahead of SC?

SC could possibly be ahead of Missouri with 2 losses, considering the schedule they play compared to Missouri's.

**KcMizzou** · 10-20-2007, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Ok question.....if Missouri has 1 loss and USC has 1 loss do you really think on any voters board Missouri would be ahead of SC?

No.

Good thing you chose a team with a big name.

irishjayhawk · 10-20-2007, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Thanks man... that's really cool of you.

Grats on KU too... I'm still trying to figure out where your team came from.

You were supposed to SUCK!

Under the radar is best.

In all honesty, our ugly road win was nice but I think you'll leapfrog us. We may move up one due to the losses ahead, but I think you'll definitely jump.

Basileus777 · 10-20-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmaddog

Opinion.....

mmaddog
*******

The Pac-10 may have taken some blows lately, but its still vastly superior to the Big-12. USC has a tougher OOC schedule, plays in a tougher conference, and has the name recognition and prestige that virtually guarantees it would go to the national championship over Missouri if both have one loss.

**KcMizzou** · 10-20-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basileus777

The Pac-10 may have taken some blows lately, but its still vastly superior to the Big-12. USC has a tougher OOC schedule, plays in a tougher conference, and has the name recognition and prestige that virtually guarantees it would go to the national championship over Missouri if both have one loss.

What's ****ed up, is the fact that I don't believe Mizzou is better than USC... and that still annoys me.

**cdcox** · 10-20-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Ok question.....if Missouri has 1 loss and USC has 1 loss do you really think on any voters board Missouri would be ahead of SC?

SC could possibly be ahead of Missouri with 2 losses, considering the schedule they play compared to Missouri's.

Going in to this week, the computer polls ranked Mizzou higher than USC. I think they are much more objective, since the rules by which the computers rank teams are set before the season starts and don't rely on any data other than events that have transpired on the football field this season.

Mosbonian · 10-20-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Ok question.....if Missouri has 1 loss and USC has 1 loss do you really think on any voters board Missouri would be ahead of SC?

SC could possibly be ahead of Missouri with 2 losses, considering the schedule they play compared to Missouri's.

If Mizzou's one loss was to an Oklahoma team in Norman....and USC's loss was to a Stanford team at home, I could see the East Coast media wanting to piss in the corn flakes of the West Coast and put the Tigers above USC.

If the West Coast media was actually honest with itself and voted with a brain, USC would be rated much lower. The lost at home to a bad Stanford team and barely beat Washington and Arizona in their last 3 games. Mizzou, on the other hand beat 2 of 3 ranked teams and the margin of victory was monumental.

I will say that USC has a tougher road to hoe in the last 5 games, thus semi-validating your last sentence.

mmaddog
*******

Mecca · 10-20-2007, 11:04 PM

Well USC's next 3 games would shoot them far ahead of Mizzou provided they win them...

**KcMizzou** · 10-20-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Well USC's next 3 games would shoot them far ahead of Mizzou provided they win them...

Sucks being compared to a team like Mizzou...

You feel dirty.. dontcha.

KChiefs1 · 10-20-2007, 11:06 PM

one of the best Whitlock columns I've ever read

Mosbonian · 10-20-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basileus777

The Pac-10 may have taken some blows lately, but its still vastly superior to the Big-12. USC has a tougher OOC schedule, plays in a tougher conference, and has the name recognition and prestige that virtually guarantees it would go to the national championship over Missouri if both have one loss.

Vastly superior....hardly. Tougher schedule.....maybe, maybe not.

I will give you the "name recognition" argument, because it is sadly true. And let's face it, what truly rules the Bowl pics, outside of the National Championship game, is prestige and money.

mmaddog
*******

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: 54,691

10-20-2007, 10:45 PM	#31
Basileus777 MVP Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Jersey Casino cash: $2305958	Mizzou isn't a national title contender unless they win out and teams continue to lose unexpected games at the pace they are right now. But by that standard there are about 15 national title contenders....
Posts: 9,416

10-20-2007, 10:53 PM	#35
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-562950	Ok question.....if Missouri has 1 loss and USC has 1 loss do you really think on any voters board Missouri would be ahead of SC? SC could possibly be ahead of Missouri with 2 losses, considering the schedule they play compared to Missouri's.
Posts: 115,293

10-20-2007, 11:04 PM	#42
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-562950	Well USC's next 3 games would shoot them far ahead of Mizzou provided they win them...
Posts: 115,293

10-20-2007, 11:06 PM	#44
KChiefs1 I’m a Mahomo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mid-Missouri Casino cash: $6771021	one of the best Whitlock columns I've ever read __________________
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