On a surface level, the fan support was not great under Anderson. It was frankly embarrassing to have to see all those empty seats in the booster section. People getting up to leave if the game was decided, not showing up at all for lesser opponents, etc. The booster ticket-holders at Mizzou are snobs at worst; crummy, fair weather basketball fans at best.

Yeah yeah, I know “I’ve heard” isn’t worth much, but for whatever it’s worth (you decide), I’ve heard for years that Mike Anderson did not enjoy living in Columbia. I can’t blame him. Columbia has its problems with race. For instance—and I didn’t “hear” this, it’s a fact—you’re more than three times more likely to be pulled over by CPD if you’re black than if you’re white. Also, the way the city’s population is segregated is very stark and disturbing.

If that really is the case, it speaks volumes that a successful black man would rather live in Alabama or Arkansas than in Columbia, Missouri.

If you think this isn’t an issue in Columbia, then go ask Elson Floyd to tell you about his experiences here.