Mizzou 25: Elite Eight!
by The Boy
on Mar 25, 2008 7:26 AM CDT
in News
UPDATE: Called after a lovely 228 votes. Daniel wins 77%-22%. It's Daniel vs Peeler in the Final Four.
It's Elite Eight time for Mizzou 25, the tournament to decide the best, most influential, most likable Mizzou athlete of the past 25 years!
Mizzou 25 has been set up in four 8-athlete regions: the Norm Stewart Region (basketball), the Larry Smith Region (football), the Joann Rutherford Region (all sports), and the Harold "Spider" Burke Region (fan favorites). To see where the bracket currently stands, click here. We are to the regional finals!
Here are your Elite Eight matchups:
3/24: Melvin Booker vs Anthony Peeler (Norm Stewart Region)
3/25: Brad Smith vs Chase Daniel (Larry Smith Region)
3/26: Ben Askren vs Lindsey Hunter (Joann Rutherford Region)
3/27: Pig Brown vs Demontie Cross (Harold "Spider" Burke Region)
We should really rack up the vote totals for these matchups, so be sure to pass this along to whoever may be interested. And if you feel like it, share why you voted the way you did in comments. Talk about a tough vote...let's see where this one goes...it's like the chicken vs the egg here...and I feel sick thinking about voting against either one.
Brad Smith vs Chase Daniel |
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2002-05 |
2005-08 |
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Stats
Record: 25-23 |
Stats
Record: 27-12 |
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| The Boy: I'm going to steal The Beef's line here--nobody had a more enigmatic career than Brad Smith. When he came to Mizzou, only one QB had ever pulled of a 2000/1000 (passing/rushing yards) season. He averaged one for his career. If I attend Mizzou games for the next 50 years, #16 will still end up with probably 4-6 of the Top 10 most amazing plays I've ever seen. He would slow up as he was heading out of bounds, and as the defender slowed up as well, he'd tiptoe right by them. He would effortlessly juke out two guys converging on him from two different directions. He was the first Mizzou QB to beat Nebraska in 25 years, and he did it twice. He's Mizzou's career rushing leader, and oh yeah, he passed for 8600 yards as well. Plus, the profile he earned for Mizzou over his four years was the best recruiting tool this staff had from 2003 to 2006. And yet...Mizzou's success with him was limited. The more teams saw him, the more they figured out how to stop him. Whether the fault of the Mizzou coaching staff or Brad's own limitations, when it was time for Brad to become more threatening with his arm to break out of the containment teams were putting on his feet, it didn't happen. The first two years of his career, Mizzou went 13-12. The last two, they went 12-11. In the 2005 Independence Bowl, however, Smith unleashed his best, most inspiring half of football, and in the process, he possibly saved the Pinkel era and set Mizzou on the course down which they're travelling today. Down 28-7 to South Carolina late in the first half, Brad used his arm to move Mizzou down for a TD, cutting the score to an attainable 28-14 at halftime. And then he used his feet to complete the comeback. His 59-yard run late in the fourth quarter set up the go-ahead TD (scored by him, of course) in a 38-31 win. You simply cannot underestimate this moment when considering the trajectory of the Mizzou program. You just cannot. |
The Boy: Chase Daniel is quite simply the realization of all the hope we’ve ever had for a Mizzou player or a Mizzou team. We wanted Corby Jones or Brad Smith to get Heisman hype, and Daniel finished fourth in the Heisman voting in 2007. We yearned for Corby’s teams and Brad’s teams to break through that 8-win barrier and put together a memorable season with as few "What If’s" as possible...and under Daniel’s guidance, Mizzou simply went out and won 12 games in 2007, earning its first #1 ranking in 47 years in the process. We all know the Chase Daniel story by now. He was raised to play football. While most kids his age were learning to drive, he was learning the intricacies of the spread offense. Every time he went to the bathroom in his Southlake home, he was surrounded by inspirational quotes from Vince Lombardi, et al. He was born for stardom. And he proved himself a man of his word, staying committed to Mizzou even when Texas came calling. If Brad Smith saved the Pinkel Era with his performance in the 2005 Independence Bowl, Chase Daniel saved the moment that saved the Pinkel Era. With Smith strug-a-ling mightily against Iowa State and stinging from a cheap shot, Daniel entered the game with Mizzou down 10. Two no-huddle drives later, it was tied, and Mizzou won in OT. They wouldn't have qualified for a bowl without that win. It was at that moment that people realized, "Hey...I sure am gonna miss Brad Smith, but I think our future's pretty bright." (That's what I was saying, anyway...ahem.) There's really no need to rehash much of the last two years, is there? Almost 8500 total yards and 70 TDs? 20 wins? A New Year's Day bowl? A #1 ranking? The highest expectations ever for a Mizzou team (in 2008)? You know the story. You're along for the ride. This short, squatty gunslinger from Southlake has transformed the Mizzou program, and he's not done yet. |
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Why I voted for Chase
Because without Chase, the program would’ve been another 2 bowl games in 4 year, barely above medicore anomaly like under Coach Smith and Corby Jones. Chase elevated Mizzou to another level. Yes I understand "there would be no chase without Brad", however to me that’s no justification for saying which one is better. It’s one for saying who meant more to the program, but not better. Hey, without Gordy Howe, there’s no Wayne Gretzky, but Gretzky was so far superior to Howe its it’s not even debated.
Granted, yes Chase had better players around him. He had a more experience o-line. He had a better defense. BUT, Chase also beat better teams as well. The NU team chase ripped apart was the defending north champions. The Illinois team Chase beat went to the BCS Rose Bowl. Chase didn’t lose mind boggling games to New Mexico or Troy. AND most importantly, Chase has destroyed kU and KSU as QB. Brad lost some embarrassing games to both schools, finishing a combined 1-7 vs both. Those teams weren’t that good, only the ’03 team that won the conference was worth a darn. Chase beat statistically the best Kansas team in their school history, with the highest stakes ever in the Border War, and did it on national TV earning a trip to NY. He helped the program set season records for win totals, and was only the 2nd Mizzou player ever to be a Heisman finalist. Chase has only 1 home loss as a starter and has only 2 losses to Big XII North opponents. Basically, the ROI on Brad is greater for putting Mizzou on the map, but the ROE in Chase is higher because of his impact on and off the field, being the face of a New Mizzou program, a program that’s Top 5 and moving into Elite status
by JayC on
Mar 25, 2008 10:30 AM CDT
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i don't know that i agree
put brad smith on last year's team and they're just as good, and i think maybe better...yes?
i think the boy should do a "what if... brad smith had been granted seven years of eligibility?"
by amorphous on
Mar 25, 2008 1:29 PM CDT
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the only "What If..." I have in the queue...
...for the Brad Smith era is "What If...Laurence Maroney had come to Mizzou?" THAT one is going to be really fun...
That said, I really don't think last year's team would have been as good with Brad. We could have won 9 games, but I think we've quickly become spoiled with just how good Chase is at hitting WRs in stride. With Brad, we'd have had a really good corps of WR/TEs. With Chase, we had a positively deadly corps of WR/TEs.
by The Boy on
Mar 25, 2008 2:41 PM CDT
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The is absolutely no way
anyone can convince me we'd be better than last year w/Brad there. First of all, we lose the Illinois game. Second, would Brad have got us a win over OU? Really? How?
Finally, when kU started to come back, Daniel milked the clock perfectly and got some crucial 3rd down conversions (one on 3rd and 14)..we've seen Brad struggle against much worse kU teams than the 11-0 team that was playing 11.24
by JayC on
Mar 25, 2008 3:29 PM CDT
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This is SO difficult...
But my vote went to Brad, and I'm a student at the pinnacle of the Chase Daniel era. I will forever be grateful for what Chase Daniel has done for this program - the leadership he provides, the recruiting prowess he adds, the fire he shows, that unflappable accuracy. 40-of-49 at Arrowhead speaks for itself.
But I think Chase is another step in a process that was all but dead in the years between Corby and Brad. Yes, Chase has been instrumental in the quantum leap the program made during his tenure, but he's had some help, some higher expectations, and a coaching staff that might not have been in place without the heroics of Brad Smith. Brad Smith put Missouri football back on the map and made Missouri a place Chase Daniel would even consider. Would Chase have considered playing for a team he couldn't envision as a winner? We don't have to ponder because Brad put this program on his back.
Chase is the greatest quarterback in Missouri history and I can't thank him enough for everything that he's done personally and all that's transpired during his tenure. But that athletic kid from Youngstown, Ohio made this program relevant, and I'm forever grateful.
by rptgwb on
Mar 25, 2008 9:45 AM CDT
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Brad Smith
I was at his first game. It was in the Dome in St. Louis versus defending Big Ten champ Illinois. I remember the uproar over this crazy new coach starting a freshman QB over the Senior Kirk Farmer. Brad dazzled in that game, and I've never seen a QB controversy die so quickly.
I voted for Brad because without him there would BE no Chase Daniel. Without Brad, I believe Pinkel would be gone, and we never would have gotten to see Mizzou ranked #1 in the country. I voted for Brad because he embodies everything we want to see in an athlete: a fearless leader on the field, a humble, deferring guy off of it. A young man with character; a man who his teammates could always trust. He was a role model for role models.
I voted for Brad because of that rainy night where we came from behind in the 4th quarter to beat Nebraska. Because I got to keep a piece of that goalpost. I voted for Brad because we shared four years at the same school. Because of 62-31 (Tech), and that crushing loss to Oklahoma his freshman year where he left it all out there, almost single-handedly knocked off a top-five team, and came up just short.
I love Chase Daniel, but can there have been a more influential or popular athlete in the HISTORY of Mizzou than Brad Smith? I don't think so.
by BigMOman on Mar 25, 2008 9:23 AM CDT 0 recs
2 bowl wins in his Mizzou years...
...I realize that's kind of cheating, but I set up the stats to record everything that happened in their years at Mizzou...
by The Boy on
Mar 25, 2008 10:00 AM CDT
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Chicken or the Egg?
An inappropriate look at the issue here...
Are there any lurking TigerBoarders out there who want to chime in?
by rptgwb on Mar 25, 2008 10:00 AM CDT 0 recs
well-played...
...I think in his case (perverted image aside), Brad would be the egg, Chase the chicken.
I still had to vote for Chase, though. Brad won 25 games in 4 years, Chase has won 20 in 2. There would be no Chase without Brad, but there would be no Top 5 finish without Chase. And as was mentioned, there would have been no 2005 Indy Bowl heroics for Brad without Chase bailing him out against ISU.
by The Boy on
Mar 25, 2008 10:02 AM CDT
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wow
i expected this one to be down to the wire, it's a blow out.
i voted for brad smith. i'm not going to say he was a one man team, but srsly, every time the ball was snapped he could do something fantastic. in my mind he was a poor man's vince young. plus chase has a supporting cast 1000x better.
by amorphous on Mar 25, 2008 10:04 AM CDT 0 recs
Agree on the supporting cast...
All my love to Sean Coffey and the late Damien Nash, but I think the comparison isn't even fair. Plus, the defenses are no contest. Watching old games - i.e. Independence Bowl v. Cotton Bowl - the Daniel defense seems three or four times faster and hits at least ten times harder than its Bd. Smith predecessor.
by rptgwb on
Mar 25, 2008 10:08 AM CDT
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i voted for brad smith
the criteria is best, most influential, most likable Mizzou athlete.
BEST: it's not really fair to compare the two, but i agree on the points the chase had a better supporting cast than brad and the defenses don't compare. chase had more opportunities to rack up stats, etc. because the defense gave him more chances to make plays. plus the plays brad would make with his legs were unbelievable.
Advantage: Brad Smith
MOST INFLUENTIAL: this one is easy. brad smith brought on a new era in mizzou football. he pretty much single-handedly saved the pinkel era, jacked up recruiting, and made chase daniel who he is today.
Advantage: Brad Smith
MOST LIKABLE: this one is obviously based on opinion and everyone's is different. i'm going with chase simply because of the fact he gave everyone around mizzou football one of the most exciting 4 months ever.
Advantage: Chase Daniel
that's 2 for brad smith and 1 for chase daniel.
by stlcardinalsfang on Mar 25, 2008 2:01 PM CDT 0 recs
most influential
is a blow out in brad's favor... so far. chase's influence can't be measured for a while.
even if "best" is just assumed to be a wash, and the same with likable, if you have to vote rightnow, itsgotsta be for brad.
if we do this in another couple of years (or maybe next year [knock knock]" chase's influence might rival brad's, but until then it is brad smith all the way.
by amorphous on
Mar 25, 2008 2:11 PM CDT
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Actually...
...I would say BEST is clearly in Chase's favor (for reasons I stated above). INFLUENCE has to go to Brad for now, and LIKABILITY...hmm...Brad was likable for how good a person he was (and how he had moves nobody had ever seen), Chase is likable for the fact that he's the best pure winner this school has ever seen, plus he's short and squatty but can outrun/plow into LBs.
by The Boy on
Mar 25, 2008 2:44 PM CDT
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Thanks everyone for the turnout and feedback
We have two more quarter final matches to go and then it will really get interesting when we go cross-sports and try to decide who is the winner of the Mizzou 25.
Please keep coming back the rest of the week and see this one all the way to the finish.
by The Beef on Mar 25, 2008 3:03 PM CDT 0 recs
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