Mizzou Links, 9-17-10

by Bill C. on Sep 17, 2010 5:38 AM CDT in News

Mizzou Football Links

The Trib (Dave Matter): Writer's Block: San Diego State

BTS: Why has this program struggled so much the last decade or so? With the tradition/history there, the San Diego weather, the progress of the Mountain West Conference, I'd think recruiting to SDSU would be easier than it's proven to be. What gives?

Gemmell: An hour and a half up the road you have two Pac-10 programs that offer all the same amenities — plus tradition, national TV appearances, BCS money and bowl games. I think coaching and some poor recruiting had a lot to do with it as well. Previous coaches went for the home run recruits and failed when they couldn't deliver what USC, UCLA, Stanford or Cal could offer in-state. This coaching staff is looking for athletes that they can plug into positions when they get on campus.
The Trib (Dave Matter): Traffic & TV updates for the weekend
The Missourian: Unique defense will challenge Mizzou
KC Star: San Diego State loves to throw the ball but is wary of Missouri's defense

Madison, a sophomore backup to Aldon Smith on one side, has a sack, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in Mizzou’s first two games.

Sam, a redshirt freshman backup to Jacquies Smith, has a sack for a safety, a forced fumble and a punt block.

And those contributions compare favorably to the two-sack, 14-tackle totals of Aldon Smith and surpass Jacquies Smith’s four tackles and one broken-up pass.

Apparently the Tigers’ four-defensive-end front — where Madison and Sam play on the outside with the Smiths moving inside — hasn’t made headlines on the West Coast. But being known as The Other Guys seems just fine with Madison and Sam.
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou focuses on sports psychology to get a mental edge (REALLY interesting article)

"My concern and my issue was we don't focus well enough, and I think that's kind of typical of kids nowadays," he said. "That's just what you kind of get. It's a lot different than it used to be, for whatever reason. (If) you guys can figure that out, (then) send me an e-mail. But the bottom line is just frustration of not getting kids to focus."

Lending emphasis to his point, he said, "All's I talk about is focus, focus, focus, focus, focus, focus. Finally, I'm tired of talking about it."

Serendipitously enough, as Pinkel was realizing the word was not enough and became conscious of national champ Alabama's reliance on mental training, that very asset was presenting itself in the form of longtime track coach and sports psychology pioneer Rick McGuire.

His retirement from coaching in the spring was enabling him to take on a fresh role as director of sports psychology.

With the guidance of McGuire and partner Jim Reardon, what started with summer sessions for players through assistant athletics director for athletic performance Pat Ivey has morphed into a new mind-set for MU coaches and players who believe what was lacking a year ago has become a strength.
The Missourian: Getting physical with Aldon Smith
Big 12 Sports: Missouri Spotlight: James Franklin
The Trib: Michael Sam rises in Tigers' defense
PowerMizzou: Josh Tatum's debut a long time coming
KBIA Sports Extra: VIDEO: Can Michael Egnew be the next great Missouri tight end?
PowerMizzou: 2010 Tiger Mailbag: 18th Edition

Big 12 Links

Tulsa World: The best and worst of media in football season
Dallas Morning News: Talented set of backs spark Big 12's rushing rebirth
Texas-Texas Tech
Dr. Saturday: Upset Bait: Welcome back, 'Horns, to the usual Lubbock cauldron
Burnt Orange Nation: Texas vs Texas Tech: The Enemy Speaks
Austin American-Statesman: Two plays and two Texas players who have left them behind
Dallas Morning News: New-look Texas Tech defense could pose big problems for Texas
ESPN.com (Pat Forde): Constant Eyes of Texas
Kansas-Southern Miss
Topeka Capital-Journal: Are chips stacked for KU?
Topeka Capital-Journal: Kale Pick's playing time TBD for KU
KC Star: KU and its transformed defense face Golden Eagles' spread offense
KC Star: Daniel Thomas finds redemption in football
Nebraska-Washington
Corn Nation: Huskers vs Huskies: A Series History
FARMAGEDDON (KSU-ISU)
Clone Chronicles: Farmageddon 2010 Preview
Wide Right Natty Lite: It's Bigger Than Football: It's FARMAGEDDON! (via BOTC)
Oklahoma
Tulsa World: OU wide receivers improved, thanks to Jay Norvell

Mizzou Basketball

MUtigers.com: Laurence Bowers First Pitch Video

And yes, in case you didn't notice in FanShots, Marcus Denmon is now on Twitter. You know what to do.

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Comments

Great article on Aldon Smith

Would a standing backflip after a sack be appropriate?

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

by BigMOman on Sep 17, 2010 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

Missouri's four defensive ends

Are a remarkable tribute to the skill of Mizzou’s coaching staff….spoting that under the radar talent on a consistent basis is amazing. We now have perhaps the best d-ends in the country (as a unit anyway) and the big programs had no interest. WOW!

by mpfische on Sep 17, 2010 8:39 AM CDT reply actions

I'm pretty sure Aldon Smith would have gotten a lot of interest

had he not committed to Mizzou so early. But Sam and Madison, not sure about those guys.

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

by BigMOman on Sep 17, 2010 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

"More exotically, freshman quarterback James Franklin recalled asking McGuire about the difference between "optimal arousal" for a quarterback and a linebacker."

LET'S DO THIS!

by Gaknar on Sep 17, 2010 10:09 AM CDT reply actions

You are too jumped up and you can’t focus, you aren’t jumped up enough, you’re a bit sluggish. So you need the optimal level of phsysiological arousal… And the amount that is optimal depends how complicated your job is. For a corner back it’s gonna be really vrey high, because your job is mostly running fast and trying not to miss anything. For a quarterback it’s going to be lower, because he has to be making very complicated decisions, and sequentially focussing on different options and very quickly letting them go to move on to others. For a linebacker, probably somewhere in the middle… they need a bit of creative flexibility, but also a lot of adrenaline to go smash people.

You did ask.

I’m REALLY glad they have a psychologist. I knew we were losing the B12 final game to Oklahoma back in 2007 about a quarter in, when they had a shot of Chase Daniel on the sideline, and you could just see in his eyes that he wasn’t settled and composed.

Glory glory Man United, AND the other MU, AAAAnd the Leafs. I think I need a drink now.

by Wan Ihite on Sep 17, 2010 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions

But do you remember him

going out at halftime?

The game was tied & he was running by the Mizzou section with his hands up in the “We are Number One” fashion. I was so pumped by that – I thought for sure we were going to win after I saw him so pumped up.

Whoever said, 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts,' probably lost.
Martina Navratilova

by tigers and chiefs fan on Sep 17, 2010 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe too pumped up for a QB ;)

Glory glory Man United, AND the other MU, AAAAnd the Leafs. I think I need a drink now.

by Wan Ihite on Sep 17, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions

After all...

Going back to the original question, what IS optimal arousal for a QB?

RockMNation.com (@rockmnation on Twitter)
The 2010 Missouri Football Preview - Available Now!

by RPT on Sep 17, 2010 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Ha! Probably

Whoever said, 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts,' probably lost.
Martina Navratilova

by tigers and chiefs fan on Sep 17, 2010 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions

What killed Mizzou in 2007

was the killer fumble in the 3rd (?) that destroyed team morale. Until that point, I think everyone believed they had a shot to win. Of course, that “killer moment” phenomenon has dogged Mizzou for years, which is a sports psychology issue in and of itself. And finally, my original post was just a cheap attempt at sophomoric humor, which clearly didn’t work because James Franklin is a freshman.

LET'S DO THIS!

by Gaknar on Sep 17, 2010 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I need no provocation for dropping the psych knowledge, rawwwwr! ;)

Glory glory Man United, AND the other MU, AAAAnd the Leafs. I think I need a drink now.

by Wan Ihite on Sep 17, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

its great to see coach mcguire working with the fb team

he is a dynamic teacher with a wealth of knowledge. i can only see good things coming from this.

at times in the past, i’ve had the feeling that mizzou’s teams can be a bit ‘fragile’ mentally. unable to overcome the big obstacles and believe they could win when the moment was big (ku in 07 being the obvious exception, but certainly against ou and texas).

i hope this gets them moving in the right direction.

by Wooderson on Sep 17, 2010 12:53 PM CDT reply actions