Mizzou Links, 8-23-10

An absolutely loaded set of Monday links today ... for both good and bad reasons.

Good News: Danario!!!

• The Trib: Alexander trades stripes for horns
• The Missourian: Rams sign Danario Alexander
• KC Star (Campus Corner): Rams Sign Danario Alexander
  

As was discussed yesterday, there is a great opportunity for playing time if Danario is truly healthy.  It's so easy to root for him to succeed, and we all wish him well.  Last year's performance was so special and rewarding to witness, and we'll always be thankful for that.

Bad News: Ebner gets caught being an idiot

• The Trib (Dave Matter): Missouri linebacker arrested for DWI
  

Come on, dude.  I mean, first of all ... I'm accepting of the fact that college students drink.  I did.  But ... the season has started!  Put it aside for a little while.  Second ... you're a football player. You know people.  HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE DRIVE.  So stupid.  I assume the punishment will end up in the "one-game suspension" range, and in theory Mizzou won't need him against Illinois.  But you're one of this team's few upper-classmen.  Act like it.

Practice Reports

Friday Practice

• The Trib (Dave Matter): TGIF

  At this point, WR L’Damian Washington looks like the clear-cut best option at the X-receiver position. The lanky redshirt freshman routinely puts his body on the line when the ball is thrown his way, and you just know his quarterbacks appreciate that kind of effort. In 11-on-11 drills, Washington made a diving grab along the sideline to catch a 25-yard Gabbert heater. Later, he made the catch of the day, a one-handed grab for a first down while wearing CB Carl Gettis like a hoodie. At this point, my guess is Rolandis Woodland can still earn some reps with the No. 1 offense, but the job is securely in Washington’s hands.

• PowerMizzou: Final week of camp
• MUtigers.com Blog: Friday Practice Goes Overtime, With Defense Getting The Win
• Fox Sports MW: Tiger Camp Notebook: August 20

Saturday Practice

• The Trib (Dave Matter): Morning Grind
• PowerMizzou: Saturday practice report

  Play of the Day: The first-team offense had driven to about midfield on a Blaine Gabbert scramble in the two minute drill. But freshman corner E.J. Gaines--working with the No. 2 defense-intercepted Gabbert along the sideline on the next play to end the drive. Gaines continues to stand out and I wouldn't not be at all surprised to see him shed the redshirt this season.

• PowerMizzou: August 21 practice photos
• MUtigers.com Blog: Tigers Hit the Field With Only Two Weeks Before Opener

Other Mizzou Football Links

• The Trib: Action-seeking Radar
• The Trib: Backup QB battle rages on
  Post-Dispatch: Mizzou backup QB battle heats up
• PowerMizzou: Stuck in the middle
• The Missourian: Injuries no excuse for Missouri's Pinkel
• PowerMizzou: Under the pile
• The Missourian: Missouri tailback was cheerleader in high school
• Post-Dispatch: Missouri prepares for life after Weatherspoon
• PowerMizzou: Coach's Corner with Barry Odom
  PowerMizzou: Coach's Corner with Cornell Ford
• Newcomers
  The Trib: NEWCOMER PROFILE: OT Anthony Gatti
  The Trib: NEWCOMER PROFILE: CB E.J. Gaines
  The Trib: NEWCOMER PROFILE: OL Mitch Morse
  PowerMizzou: Freshman Q&A: Daniel Easterly
  PowerMizzou: Freshman Q&A: Jared Parham
  PowerMizzou: Freshman Q&A: Marcus Murphy
• SB Nation Atlanta: Sean Weatherspoon and Kerry Meier: College Rivals, Falcons Teammates
• NOLA.com: Chase Daniel's Drew Brees-like showing proves most impressive for Saints

Big 12 Football Links

• Fox Sports SW: Ten Non-Conference games we'd love to see in the Big 12
• Dallas Morning News: Big 12, once known for its quality QBs, isn't so secure behind center
• Tulsa World: Big 12 ADs meet on cable network
• Colorado
  Denver Post: Tyler Hansen named CU starting QB as depth chart released
• Kansas
  KC Star: Jayhawks lose running back Rell Lewis for season
  Rock Chalk Talk: Diving A Little Deeper Into Position Changes and The Depth Chart
• Kansas State
  Topeka Capital-Journal: Bryce Brown enrolls, answers questions
• Oklahoma
  Tulsa World: For health's sake, Stoops says he won't push future at OU (VERY good read)
  Tulsa World: Superstar status takes time, effort
  Pre-Snap Read: Oklahoma, A&M Eying Longhorns
• Texas
  Dallas Morning News: Garrett Gilbert shows he's got the fire to follow McCoy
  Pre-Snap Read: No. 12 Texas
  Burnt Orange Nation: Young Alums, Mack Brown, and a Decade of Dominance
• Texas A&M
  Houston Chronicle: A&M's defense a work in progress
• Texas Tech
  Dallas Morning News: Taylor Potts beats out Steven Sheffield for Texas Tech starting QB job
  Dallas Morning News: Passing up Sheffield for Potts could signify end to Tech's pass-happy offense

Other Mizzou Links

• Mizzou Basketball
  MUtigers.com: Bowers to Throw First Pitch Sept. 3
  The Trib: Time is now for Tigers (FANTASTIC interview from Walentik)
  

  Q. Every time I’ve heard you asked this, you’ve been optimistic about getting everybody in your recruiting class here. Obviously, two guys, Ricardo Ratliffe and Tony Mitchell, weren’t able to be here this summer. Do you know any more about their status, and when do you expect to get some sort of resolution to both of their situations? (Note: Ratliffe is now enrolled in classes for the fall semester and is expected to be eligible to play beginning this fall).

  A. That’s what we’re hoping to hear pretty soon. I think the resolution, it will become clear real soon. As we talk about the guys, I’m always going to be one of those guys that I expect all my guys to be here. But at the same time, there’s some hurdles that they’ve got to clear, and hopefully, it all works out where they’ll be here.

  Q. When you’re dealing with the NCAA, it’s kind of on their schedule, isn’t it?

  A. It is, because there’s a logjam there (in the NCAA’s Eligibility Center). As they’re examining things, you never know. So hopefully, the pieces kind of fall in place, and I’m sure for Tony’s sake, I’m sure it has to be kind of … you’re anxious. But there’s nothing you can do until it’s resolved.

  KC Star (Campus Corner): Ratliffe Yes, Mitchell a Stretch at Mizzou
• Mizzou Soccer
  
  Mizzou vs Belmont Canceled
  The Trib: MU opener is washed out
  
  No. 16 Maryland 3, Mizzou 2
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Edged Out by No. 16 Maryland
  The Missourian: Richardson's long-range goal highlights Missouri loss
• Mizzou Volleyball
  MUtigers.com: Henning, Brimmage Lead Mizzou at Black & Gold

  Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minn.) did not play in the scrimmage but did see time at setter during warm-ups. She has been slowed by a hand injury over the past week. Weiwen Wang (Nanjing, China) played at the setter position for the Tigers and dished 22 assists. Wang is a middle hitter by trade by took reps at setter to relieve Kreklow.

  Heard about this earlier on Friday -- Kreklow fractured her right pinkie finger. They don't seem too worried, but ... this team is 100% dependent on Kreklow being both healthy and good. Not exactly what I wanted to learn right before the season started.
• Mizzou Softball
  The Trib: Recruits taking note of success in softball

  The Tigers have become the school’s most successful program by following a two-part strategy: landing the state’s top recruits and identifying under-the-radar, high-upside talent. Earleywine discovered sophomore ace Chelsea Thomas in Pleasantville, Iowa, only after her father sent MU a grainy video tape and peppered him with e-mails. Senior All-American center fielder Rhea Taylor was a little-recruited "project" from Buford, Ga.

  But Missouri, backed by two record seasons and several appearances on national television, has also begun targeting out-of-state recruits once thought out of the question. The Tigers’ well-regarded 2011 class includes two players from California, and a preliminary list of 2012 targets includes 10 to 12 players Earleywine calls the "cream of the crop."

  "When I say top-notch, these kids are like ESPN Rise, Under Armour All-Americans," Earleywine said. "We’re looking at each other going, ‘Is this kid really thinking about coming to Mizzou? … Last year was good, this year has been great. Last year, it was, ‘Hey we saw you in the World Series. Great job against UCLA,’ and we got a little attention.

  "Now, all of the sudden, it went to another level. The premier kids on these premier teams are saying, ‘OK, Mizzou wasn’t a flash in the pan. This team’s been to back-to-back World Series and they did it without their ace’ " Thomas, who missed most of last season

• Mizzou Baseball
  SimmonsField.com: Pitching potential packs a punch in incoming recruiting class