Mizzou Links, 11-11-09

by Bill C. on Nov 11, 2009 5:42 AM CST in News

K-State Links

The Trib: Tigers look within after inexplicable loss
The Trib (Dave Matter): Spoon Unplugged

The afternoon before home games, MU players are transported to a local hotel where they hold various meetings throughout the evening. That’s when Weatherspoon said he could sense trouble brewing.

"You’ve got to be mature," he said. "You can’t have guys joking around and having a good time on Friday night. You’ve got to wake up ready to play football. We had some guys joking around, having a good time and laughing. Coach Stec said it’s probably the loudest he’s seen the defense before we do our ritual that night. It kind of showed on the field and that’s how the game went.

"It was really loosey-goosey, just goofing around. And that’s what you can’t do if you want to get your mind right to play a game."

Weatherspoon credited defensive coordinator Dave Steckel with settling down the antics and getting the team refocused Friday night, but, he said, "I think the damage had already been done."

Some of the goofing continued on Sunday, when the team gathered for meetings and the mandatory practice that always follows a loss, Weatherspoon said.

I like that this sounds like a "youth" thing more than a "bad apples" thing, and really if it is a youth thing, then a reality check like what happened last Saturday could be good for long-term development--there is now very good proof that if you're not mentally prepared the way the coaches say you need to be, you can lose to absolutely anybody. We'll see how the team responds this weekend, I guess.
The Missourian: Former quarterback settles down at running back for Kansas State
PowerMizzou: Tuesday Notebook: An old nemesis
Topeka Capital-Journal: Daniel Thomas a natural
KC Star: Cats' Grant Gregory has all the answers
KC Star: MU's Blaine Gabbert takes the blame for offense's struggles
Post-Dispatch: Kansas State staying humble amid turnaround

Do you like this story?

Comments

The misery extracted on Missouri

at the hands of the Sooners does not make me feel bad about their woes.

I hope we can pull out a win in Manhattan this weekend – my K-State friend is officially insufferable. Did somebody tell me that GP has never beaten Bill Snyder? Go get ’em Gary.

"You get a lot of national exposure like that" Weatherspoon said. "Lot of people out there not really talking about the Tigers. . . . .You've got to go out there and get respect if you want it."

by tigers and chiefs fan on Nov 11, 2009 7:48 AM CST reply actions

that is correct...

3-0 versus Ron Prince, 0-111 against Bill Snyder.

Rock M Nation
Thrust nunchuk upward!

by Bill C. on Nov 11, 2009 8:08 AM CST up reply actions

Is, in my opinion, I nice piece of work, but asking Rucker to talk about the program seems a bit sketchy. Perhaps get someone to give positives about the program that doesn’t have such a vested interest.
The obvious differences at MU vs. other programs (our Ath. Dept. budget is almost self-sustaining, and kudos to Alden and Deaton for getting it to completely self-sustaining) aside, one other thing I’d like to mention is that job security for coaches is never complete. We’ve all seen in the interweb that head coaches are getting fired. Basketball is no different. The demand to achieve success (in part to justify the high salary), is sometimes warranted, sometimes not. In the academic field, you have five years to succeed. Pre-tenure meetings start at 3. Then you have 2 years to solidify it. then you get tenure after your sixth year, or a terminal contract. if you’re lucky or in demand, tenure comes sooner. Otherwise, you’ve got the job until you don’t want it anymore, or you really, really screw up. Such is not always available in sports.
I reckon that, for the most part, the combination of highly fluid job security and compensation for the profits the revenue-generating sports makes the salaries worth it in college sports….

Formerly known as Mizzou Grad

by Ausgiano on Nov 11, 2009 8:53 AM CST reply actions

I totally wish...

… the Big 12 South had used that tiebreaker last year.

http://www.RockMNation.com
Follow RMN on Twitter!

by RPT on Nov 11, 2009 11:45 AM CST reply actions

So back to this leadership & young football team issue...

The coaches let the kids have a little too much fun last Friday night and it bit them in the ass.
But the coaches still hadn’t taught them the lesson (by running the players ass off at practice) by the end of Sunday’s practice. Or the coaches did run the players ragged and they still didn’t catch on to the error of their ways?

Let’s hope all parties learned their lesson and MU shows up in Manhattan ready to play Saturday.

I heard someone say earlier this week, sorry I don’t remember who it was. “I’ll take disappointment over regret every day of the week and twice on Sunday.” I agree with the statement and I know the players screwing off will regret their actions someday if they don’t already. You just don’t get many chances to play on a championship caliber college football team. Might as well take advantage of it guys.

by B_W on Nov 11, 2009 12:29 PM CST reply actions

The White Owl Story...

The old man is kooky to say the least! I went to Lawrence for the Baseball series in 08 and being my usual self, was vocal in support of the Tigers. Needless to say he was on the other side saying “make it rain” nearly the entire game…
At first it was amusing…then annoying…then almost insuferable. But MU won the series and I left a happy man…and I beat White Owl in voice decibels by a bunch…

There is a God and I'm not it, after that EVERYTHING is subjective. Be careful for what you wish for, you just might GET IT!

by mizzoufan1 on Nov 11, 2009 12:36 PM CST reply actions