Mizzou Links, 4-13-11

Mizzou Basketball Links

• The Trib (Steve Walentik): In with the new, out with the old

  "We've got a couple guys in place, and what I want do to is wait till we got the majority of it done before we release anything," Haith told Mike Kelly on Monday night during Tiger Talk. "But we've got a couple guys up and about working a little bit right now. We'll finish it up probably by the end of this week."

  Haith, introduced as the Tigers' coach last Tuesday, spent most of his first week on the job flying solo, no easy task with staff decisions and recruiting decisions along with other logistical issues associated with moving all pulling him in different directions. Getting a staff in place will help lighten some of his work load.

  "It'll be a staff that everybody will be excited about, one that is well-versed, one that's got some experience and one that's got some energy and recruiting in the areas that we want to recruit," Haith said on Tiger Talk. "I'm excited about the opportunity that we have in front of us in terms of candidates, and I think our fan base will be excited about, when it's done, what we put together."

• Post-Dispatch: New MU coach spends first week on the go
• KC Star (Campus Corner): Haith says he's filling assistant positions at MU (hopefully this was on the record, ahem)
• KC Star (Sam Mellinger): Faith in Haith (this fulfills my bad pun quota for the year)
• KBIA Sports Extra: Prized MBB recruit Otto Porter verbally commits to Georgetown
• The Dagger: Missouri coach Frank Haith commits secondary NCAA violation

Other Basketball Links

• Searching for Billy Edelin: New CBA could be a blessing for college basketball
  

Mizzou Football Links

• Practice
  The Trib (Dave Matter): Spring Practice No. 13: Finish line in sight

  At the other safety spot, Tavon Bolden is emerging as the best option. And perhaps the most versatile option. For now, defensive coordinator Dave Steckel is toying with Bolden as the nickelback in the nickel package, a demanding position that plays closer to the line of scrimmage and requires run-stopping and coverage skills in the slot. Steckel said Missouri has been more apt to play its three-linebacker base package the last two seaons, where strongside linebacker Andrew Gachkar essentially handled the nickel duties but out of a 4-3 look. On passing downs, the Tigers have gone to a nickel package that replaced a linebacker with an extra cornerback, usually Kip Edwards, who took over on the outside with Kevin Rutland shifting to the nickel. In 2007-08, safety William Moore played the nickel position and the Tigers stayed in that package in most situations.

  "That made sense," Steckel said. "But we didn't really know who that guy was" the last two seasons, "so it was a cross between Gachkar and the corners. That's why we played a lot of base. Now, we're playing a lot of base, dime and nickel and we're experimenting to see who are the right checkers. Who are the right 11 guys we want on the field?"

  PowerMizzou: Final week begins (Marvin Foster making a move!!)
  

  *The only significant change seemed to be at defensive tackle. Marvin Foster and Lucas Vincent were the top two at one spot with former starter Jimmy Burge lined up third, though Burge did take first-team snaps later in practice. Dominique Hamilton was on the second-string, behind Terrell Resonno. It's the first time we've noticed those two at the same spot.
  
  *Kenronte Walker continued to make his presence felt with some big hits. He laid out Gahn McGaffie a couple of different times. But the biggest hit came from Randy Ponder, who hit Eric Waters so hard that Waters lost his helmet and had to be helped off the field. However, the sophomore tight end did return to catch some passes later in practice.

• Draft
  National Football Post: Game planning Gabbert
  SB Nation KC: Dissecting The Supposed Fade Of Blaine Gabbert
  ESPN.com ($): 2011 NFL Draft: Lewin Career Forecaster isn't favorable towards Cam Newton
  

Other Football Links

• Dr. Saturday: Introducing the new Meineke Car Care Bowl (not to be confused with the old Meineke Car Care Bowl) (And now the old Meineke Car Care Bowl is named something else ... sigh.)
  
• Oklahoma
  Daily Oklahoman: Frank Alexander still trying to reach full potential (Dear Frank, we've got some ideas to help you out.)
  Daily Oklahoman: OU football could play a Big 12 game before playing Florida State

Other Mizzou Links

• Mizzou Baseball
  SimmonsField.com: Mizzou Baseball: Crunched by the numbers
  MUtigers.com: Baseball Hosts SIU-E Wednesday
  SimmonsField.com: Mizzou Baseball Game Day: SIU-Edwardsville
• Mizzou Softball
  MUtigers.com: Thomas Wins Third Big 12 Honor of Season
  MUtigers.com: No. 9 Softball Travels to UNI
• Mizzou Track & Field
  MUtigers.com: Tigers in the National Rankings
  
• Mizzou Volleyball
  MUtigers.com: Brittney Brimmage's Journal Entry
  

Other

So this is cool: Apparently Texas Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz is an Accidental Football Study Hall Reader.