Mizzou Links, 11-29-10

First things first: no need to go over there and post, but ... do take the time to point and laugh at the outrage (OUTRAGE!!!) from "A New Reason to Hate Mizzou".  It's phenomenal.  Absolutely phenomenal.

Soaking in the Border War win a bit more.

• The Trib (Dave Matter): Emptying the Notebook

  Three months later, here’s what happened …

  ● Missouri has won 10 games against what’s rated the nation’s seventh-toughest schedule. Once considered a September cupcake appetizer turned into a hearty slate of nonconference tests: San Diego State is 8-4 and 15 points away from being undefeated. Miami (Ohio) is 8-4 after one of the best turnaround seasons in the nation and captured the MAC East Division. And even Illinois is bowl eligible with a 6-5 record and a chance to finish 7-5 with a win at Fresno State on Friday.  ...

  ● Injuries and suspensions depleted Steckel's defense every step of the way, but after 12 games, Missouri finished the regular season leading the Big 12 in scoring defense, sacks and turnover margin. Stec’s defense shut out two Big 12 opponents this year, Colorado and Iowa State, and held two more to less than 10 points, Texas A&M and Kansas. Overall, the Tigers held all eight of their Big 12 opponents under their season scoring averages and collectively held them 105 points below their season average.

  ● Meanwhile, as defenses found an answer for Missouri’s spread formations with three-man fronts and man-to-man coverages, Yost rebuilt the Tigers’ offensive identity. Down the stretch MU leaned on its revamped running game — with quarterback Blaine Gabbert becoming a central part of the attack — along with a mix of new blocking formations, short-yardage schemes and a control-the-clock/field position philosophy that meshed well with Missouri’s shutdown defense. Yost and Steckel’s units worked hand-in-hand better than any MU offense and defense over the last decade. “That changes how we call plays, too,” Pinkel said of his defense on Saturday. “When you know your defense is playing that well, you run the ball a little more, you run the clock a little more. The decisions that I make as far as fourth downs, that changes everything. That’s pretty cool.”

  It’s added up to a 10-win season despite a roster that includes few high-profile superstars, few sure-fire first-team all-conference players. But that’s the makeup of the 2010 Tigers, and regardless which bowl comes calling — more on that later — you can put Pinkel’s performance these last few months right up there, and perhaps ahead, of his 12-2 2007 season and the rescue mission he put together in 2005.

• KBIA Sports Extra: Mizzou 35, Kansas 7: First half highlights
• KBIA Sports Extra: Mizzou 35, Kansas 7: Second half highlights
• The Trib: GAME NOTES: Missouri 35, Kansas 7
• Post-Dispatch: T.J. Moe knows he may have said too much
• Post-Dispatch (Bernie Miklasz): Tigers finish strong after swoon
• Topeka Capital-Journal: 3 answers for KU vs. MU
  
• Lawrence Journal-World: Beat like a drum: Tigers dismantle Kansas in finale
  
• Lawrence Journal-World: Border War notebook: Pick to return?
  
• Lawrence Journal-World: Jayhawks need big-time QB
  

Mizzou also had their Team Football Awards last night.  Oh, and they currently rank 12th in the BCS.

Oh yeah, and Danario Alexander: four catches, 95 yards.  He's baaaaaaaaaack.

So ... do we know anything about bowls yet?

• The Trib: MU's bowl destination still cloaked in mystery
• Post-Dispatch: Bowls warm up to Missouri
• Post-Dispatch: Mizzou out of Orange Bowl race
• KC Star (Campus Corner): This Year for Mizzou: A bowl is a bowl is a bowl

Mizzou Whips UA-Pine Bluff ... eventually

• The Trib: Kim English keys MU victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• The Missourian: English makes most of limited playing time for Missouri
• The Missourian: Defensive pressure helps Missouri overtake Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• KC Star: Big second half propels Missouri past Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• KC Star (Campus Corner): English Doesn't Start But Finishes Strong
• PowerMizzou: English finishes what he didn't start
• KBIA Sports Extra: PHOTOS: Mizzou 91, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 63
  

Volleyball: Dancing!

• KBIA Sports Extra: Two years later, Mizzou volleyball returns to NCAA Tournament
• The Missourian: Missouri volleyball team celebrates NCAA tournament selection
• The Missourian: Traveling bonds Missouri volleyball team
  

Other Mizzou Links

• Mizzou Women's Basketball
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Shock No. 12 Georgetown, 54-45 (Just focus on this one, and we'll ignore the other losses from a TOUGH weekend slate)
  

A Single Big 12 Link

I'm kind of skimping on the Big 12 links today, but just in case you somehow didn't see the amazing tip-drill interception during the Oklahoma State-Oklahoma game, remedy that now.

Other

• SI.com (Stewart Mandel): Auburn, Oregon, TCU changing 2010 college football, BCS landscape (I'm curious whether this is a more permanent change, or more like the 2007 aberration.)