UPDATE: BOTC's latest Adventures of the Big 12 piece had not come across my Google reader this morning, and it naturally deserves the top-of-the-page, marquee treatment.

Mizzou Football Links

With Gunner Kiel getting closer and closer to making a decision (following rumors on this one has been great -- He's a done deal to Alabama! He's eliminated Oklahoma! He's a done deal to Oklahoma! He's staying home and heading to Indiana! He's visiting Mizzou this weekend! From what I can tell might actually be true, it does appear that he could be heading to Como soon, and it does appear that he's leaning more and more toward staying in Indiana. But instead of trying to figure anything out beyond that, we'll just say that the four schools all have an equal 25% chance of landing him.

• PowerMizzou: The mid-summer recruiting story
• The Missourian: New Missouri football broadcaster Howard Richards has colorful past
• Well That's That Then
  USA Today: Former Missouri quarterback Tyler Gabbert lands at Louisville
  The Trib (Dave Matter): Report: Gabbert to enroll at Louisville
• The Gabbert Who Stayed
  Jacksonville.com: Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert attends NFL rookie symposium
  Jacksonville.com: Blaine Gabbert plans to move to Jacksonville Friday, won't fan quarterback controversy flames
• Donavin Newsome
  KSDK: Parkway North's Newsom ready for huge senior season

Other Football Links

There are quite a few Randy Walker pieces coming to light on the fifth anniversary of his death. One gets the impression that he was not only innovative, but beloved. And you definitely want to read the Matt Waldman piece.

• The Trib: Distance between BCS and the rest grows
• The Trib (Dave Matter): Preseason Top 25 Countdown: 25, 24, 23
• Cowboys Ride For Free: What is the Ideal Run-Pass Ratio For the 2011 Cowboys?
• Team Speed Kills: Why Football Coaches Should Be More Bold
• Kegs 'n Eggs: Talkin' Big 12, Social Media, and 2011 Expectations With Paul Rhoads
• Football Porn
  Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio: Execution (Lookie! It's a Coffman! Oh yeah, and this is also a Coffman.)
  Analytic Football: Addicted to Math?
  Slate: Sabermetrics: Hatred of numbers comes to business and politics
• Randy Walker
  Chicago Tribune: 5 years after his death, Randy Walker's spirit lives on at Northwestern

Mizzou Basketball Links

Flip speaks!

• The Trib (Steve Walentik): Phil Pressey happy at MU but did consider leaving

  "Of course, I did because I didn't know who was going to be the coach," he said. "I didn't know where I was going to be in that situation or what I was going to do at the end of the year, but after talking to my parents, we just thought for me the best thing to do was to stay."

  He said the prospect of having to sit out a year before he could play at another school was probably enough to dissuade him from seeking a transfer. In addition, he felt a strong connection to his teammates, especially his older brother, Matt Pressey, and Ricardo Ratliffe, who chose Missouri in part because of the opportunity to play with him.

  Pressey has also liked what he's seen of Haith and has developed a bond with the Tigers' new coach.

  "I don't know. He told me from Day 1 that he's a guard coach, and he's going to put a lot of faith in me," Pressey said. "I like that in a coach, that they take time to get to know me and figure out what I like to do and how I like to play other than a coach just coming in and telling me what they're going to do. ... I talk to him pretty much every other day or every day, so I'm building a connection. I like that."

Other Basketball Links

We got a request on Twitter the other day to look at how recruiting might be going if we had landed Shaka Smart or somebody else. I started formulating a way to do that, but honestly ... there's just no way to do that with even 1% accuracy. I realize accuracy doesn't really matter in the blogosphere, but ... couldn't do it. Especially not after losing two hours of work last night on today's SBN.com piece (epic computer freeze-up + SBN editor not auto-saving as it is supposed to = sobs and whimpers and late bedtime).

• The Trib: Midmajor schools hang on to leaders despite rich offers
  

Other Mizzou Links

I tried watching the College World Series finals this week but found myself getting bored less than one batter in. I think I've officially moved on from baseball no matter how hard I try not to. Luckily, trripleplay is still fighting the good fight.

• Mizzou Baseball
  SimmonsField.com: 9 Reasons to Follow College Baseball: The Ballpark
  

Other

I'm not sure I could have come up with three more different links -- in terms of topic or emotion -- for this section. At least, not without a snobby-but-great post from Michael Ruhlman involved.

• Oral History of Major League
  SI.com: It's Been 22 Years Since Wild Thing Waltzed Into Our Lives
• Big Man
  Bruce Springsteen: Bruce's Eulogy for Clarence
• Ashton
  Casual Hoya: Dude, Where's My Blog? Ashton Kutcher Takes Over As Casual Dark Overlord