A big thank you.

by The Boy on Nov 7, 2008 12:00 PM CST in Mizzou Football 2008

34 wins and counting (most ever for a 4-year span at Mizzou, and they're not done yet).

A 12-win season (first ever).

A New Year's Day bowl (first one since four months after Woodstock...the original Woodstock).

A Heisman finalist (first one since before there was a big Heisman ceremony).

A Top 5 finish (the first since…1960, I think?)

This senior class is, quite simply, the greatest senior class to ever play for Missouri. And because of that, I'd like to take a moment to thank each senior.

Van Alexander – for coming back from 116 injuries.

Mack Breed – for sticking it out all five years…and for having an awesome name.

Castine Bridges – for that one-handed, spinning INT in last year's Kansas game.

Colin Brown – for walking on and kicking butt.

Adam Casey and Zach Milligan – for sacrificing a few years for free.

Tommy Chavis – for being extremely underrated. And for stuffing James Johnson on 4th down in 2006.

Brock Christopher – for intercepting Robert Griffin.

Chase Coffman – for, naturally, thrusting the nunchuk upward. Oh yeah, and for being the greatest tight end I've ever seen.

Chase Daniel – for simply being the greatest QB in Mizzou History.

Justin Garrett – for hitting really hard (ask Dez Bryant just how hard).

Earl Goldsmith – for scratching out every single yard possible. And for being named Earl.

Ziggy Hood – for making sure we didn't miss Lorenzo Williams too much. And for being named Ziggy.

Jimmy Jackson – for being the best bowling ball since Zack Abron. And for being the "kid from Caruthersville."

Ryan Madison – for starting so long without any fanfare whatsoever.

William Moore – for intercepting Todd Reesing…and Graham Harrell...and Casey Dick...and Eddie McGee...and just about every other QB on the schedule in 2007. And for driving that awesome car.

Chase Patton – for being the ultimate team player.

Steve Redmond – for sticking around after such a tough setback (injury in senior year).

Tommy Saunders – for being Tommy Saunders. For bleeding, sweating and crying black and gold. And for having that awesome hair.

Stryer Sulak – for making sure we didn't miss Brian Smith too much. And, you guessed it, for being named Stryker.

Jeff Wolfert – for simply being the most accurate kicker of all-time.

And finally...

Aaron O'Neal – for being the driving spirit behind this program's turnaround. If only you'd been around to see it.

2 recs | Comment 6 comments

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well done, no need to say more

"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever." - Anonymous
Rock M Nation

by The Beef on Nov 7, 2008 1:04 PM CST 0 recs

I wish I could be there for the senior day activities

That will be an awesome football moment.

"I have CDO. It's like OCD, but the letters are in alphabetical order. Like they should be."

by BigMOman on Nov 7, 2008 1:31 PM CST 0 recs

It'll be better than that

With the emotion that’ll come from the AO25 honoring, it won’t just be an awesome “football moment.” It’ll be a great moment in general.

Pinkel for America '08
http://www.RockMNation.com

by rptgwb on Nov 7, 2008 1:34 PM CST up 0 recs

There are a lot of ~~good~~ great players leaving. I know there is still football to be played, but what are you expecting next year? A little turn down and then back up after that year, or are your backups and RS that good?

Hope to see you guys in Arrow Head.

56,000 screaming crazies in The Jones rockin' as it has never rocked before... Terry Bowden

If you not having fun....then your not playing the game right.

by texastfan on Nov 7, 2008 3:17 PM CST 0 recs

I think we all expect a down turn...however

I think a lot of us have taken some amounts of solace in the fact we had SO many true freshmen play this season (and contribute). For instance…while we will be replacing two “starters” at DE in Sulak and Chavis, Coulter and Smith have (and likely will continue to) played a ton…so we wont lose as much there. Getting Spoon back to captain the D would be a nice get for us. The backfield will lose some folks, but has some others returning and yet others who…again…played a decent amount this season.

On offense, obviously losing Daniel/Coffman/Maclin (assumed)/Saunders wil be a blow, but returning Washington and Moore to the backfield behind a line which will return 3 and had the other two potential starters (Hoch and Wuebbels I guess) play a lot this past season might mean we run the ball to set up more passing. Getting Alexander (D) back and healthy with Perry will be important, but we will need a couple of WR’s to step up from the group of Jackson (played some), Kemp (played some) Woodland, McGaffie, others (all either RS frosh or true). Andrew Jones played some at TE, as did Gabbert at QB…but you just hope they learned as much as they could in practice this past season.

I might be most worried about the kicker…we lose the most accurate one in NCAA history :-)

The other part that helps Mizzou fans is the general state of the north. ISU is not there yet…nor (clearly) is CU. kSU will have a LOT of seniors…perhaps the most ever…but just not sure of their talent. NU will lose their playmakers on offense and is still probably another season (or two) away…and kU will lose a lot on defense and (I believe) their O-line. So…it might be the perfect time to be down a little bit given where the conference will be. I certainly cannot predict us beating UT (even at home) or OSU (on the road), but the down north plus Baylor (plus kU still playing the tough side of the south) could get us a third straight North title before we pick back up again in 2010.

"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever." - Anonymous
Rock M Nation

by The Beef on Nov 7, 2008 3:29 PM CST up 0 recs