Mizzou 31, Baylor 28: An eyewitness account

Ed. Note: Promoted.

I was in Waco this afternoon to watch Missouri take on Baylor. Instead of rehashing the whole thing in one big poetic description, I'm opting for bullet points. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?

-There's a famous quote from Bart Simpson that says, "My dad says [Branson] is like Vegas if it were run by Ned Flanders." Well, Waco is like Shreveport if it were run by Ned Flanders. It's a town, and that's about the best thing I can say about it.

-The tailgating scene at Baylor is non-existant. Even my mom, one of the most mild-mannered ladies you'll ever meet, commented on how "subdued" it was outside the stadium. It's bizarre; apparently, Mike Alden commented on how he knew where the Mizzou alumni tailgate was "because I heard a small roar." It's hard to explain  in comparison to Mizzou's tailgating scene, because there isn't a tailgating scene; zero divided by anything is zero.

-Floyd Casey Stadium really is pretty nice, and they do a couple cool things there. First, they have the "Baylor LIne," which is the Baylor student section. They run onto the field before the game, which is pretty cool. And then, instead of emerging from a tunnel like everyone else, the Bears came out from the middle of the home side of the stands. It was pretty cool.

-BIg Mizzou crowd, and the Baylor fans that were there were raucous. Problem is, the stadium was 2/3rds full at best.

-This was a very well-prepared Baylor team. They knew how to beat Mizzou (specifically on swing passes and runs up the middle) and they didn't stop doing it. On defense, they had the "Hey Coffman, run to the goalpost and I'll throw it up to you so you can get a foot in and score" play scouted out beautifully, leading to Chase's first interception.

-You don't know terror until you're in the stadium with a legitimate chance to lose to Baylor, and you still have a two hour drive home ahead of you.

-Who played well? Sean Weatherspoon, Derrick Washington (in spurts), Chase Daniel (for the most part), Jeremy Maclin, Chase Coffman (duh), Brock Flag and Eagle.

-Who didn't play well? The safeties (all of them), the offensive line (for the most part), the referees (for the most part), the defensive ends (for the most part).

-As I told rpt, Robert Griffin is just like Brad Smith. He is very dynamic in space, and he is oh-so-very-very-good at the easy passes. But when you make him thread the needle, or throw deep, or really throw anything beyond about seven yards, and it's a stretch. But he doesn't make too many mistakes.

-God bless Jeff Wolfert.

-The Brock Flag and Eagle game-sealing interception was something to behold. For some reason, I just watched the intended receiver the entire play. He was sitting between two linebackers, and I knew that if Griffin threw it there, it was over. He did, it was, and I hugged my mom.

-After the game, got to hang out by the buses while the players came out. Talked with Mike Alden for about two minutes, as well as Gary Pinkel. We had a Brad Ekwerekwu sighting as well, which was cool.

Pictures and a video after the jump.

Floyd Casey Stadium, from afar. It really is kind of in the middle of nowhere.

via i34.tinypic.com

There's funny, there's really funny, and then there's a huge poster outside of the stadium for a punter, right next to Mike Singletary.

via i37.tinypic.com

This was the tailgate area 45 minutes before kickoff. Not kidding.

via i35.tinypic.com

Inside Floyd Casey. It filled up more, but not a whole lot more.

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The Baylor Line takes the field.

via i38.tinypic.com

That's Baylor emerging from the middle of the stands and walking down through the Baylor Line. An awesome entrance.

via i37.tinypic.com

The captain's emerge.

via i34.tinypic.com

The only action shot I took all day, and for good reason: this was Daniel's first pick.

via i33.tinypic.com

Tigers, triumphant.

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Gathering out by the buses; a lot of players' families there.

via i33.tinypic.com

Kurtis Gregory talks with Chase Daniel's mom.

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Myself and our esteemed athletic director. Mike was extremely nice, and talked candidly with my mom and I for a couple minutes. He was very, very relieved with the outcome.

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The franchise. He was schmoozing for a while.

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Myself and coach Pinkel. Again, very nice. He even felt compelled to explain to my mom that "it's not grease in my hair, it's water. I just showered." Stay classy, Gary Pinkel.

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Tommy Saunders and his wonderful locks. The guy in the white on the right? Former Mizzou WR Brad Ekwerekwu.

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And finally, the video.

Go Tigers.

via i35.tinypic.com