Mizzou Football Links

Our long, national nightmare is over: Mizzou fans will soon get to actually see what Sheldon Richardson looks like in a Mizzou uniform. At this point ... Brian Coulter x Kendial Lawrence x Jurgen Klinsmann = Expectations For Sheldon. No pressure, dude.

I'm loving seeing Marcus Lucas' name pop up a bit more. I'm still really excited about Lucas and Jimmie Hunt (and Bud Sasser), and I'd like to see them beginning to carve out a niche this year. Wes Kemp, Jerrell Jackson and Michael Egnew are gone after this season, and while I think the young guys' ceilings are quite a bit higher in some ways ... they have to make sure their floors are high enough too.

• PRACTICE REPORTS
  The Trib (Dave Matter): Pass attack warms up

  After Tuesday's practice T.J. Moe marveled at the progress he's seen from one of the young wide receivers. "Marcus Lucas is a different player than he was in the spring," Moe said. Yes, he is. Lucas saw the field some as a true freshman last year but didn't explode onto the scene, catching all of three passes for 23 yards. He rarely stood out during spring practices, too. Lately, though, he looks like a fixture in the passing game, possibly as the first wideout off the bench. In a 1-on-1 coverage drill, Lucas cruised past his defender down the sideline then somehow contorted his body in mid-air to catch a 45-yard pass from Ashton Glaser just inside the front pylon. "I think he's improved tremendously," Pinkel said of the 6-5 sophomore. "He's got great potential, and hopefully he gets there quick." I wouldn't be surprised if Lucas eventually becomes the first outside receiver off the bench — but never count out Brandon Gerau.

  PowerMizzou: Wednesday Practice Report

  One person not shying away from the expectations for Lucas is his coach. Asked about the receiver's size and potential, Pinkel said, "He's kind of like Danario (Alexander)."
  
  High praise, indeed.
  
  "It's an honor to be mentioned with a guy like that," said the 6-foot-4, 217-pound sophomore. "But I'm just trying to make a name for myself."
  
  One intriguing possibility is Lucas at the "tight end" position. That is actually the spot where Alexander caught many of his passes during his spectacular senior season. Missouri is set for this year at the spot with all-American Michael Egnew, but perhaps it would be a fit for Lucas down the road.
  
  Asked about that possibility, Lucas said that all receivers learn all four positions so they are able to seamlessly move inside or outside on either side of the formation.

  MUtigers.com: Offense Wins Competitive Practice

  One Tiger who is coming back from an injury made a good showing today, as sophomore LB Donovan Bonner made some nice plays on Wednesday. One that stood out came late in the day when he rushed into the backfield to flush Glaser out of the pocket. Glaser, who has good mobility, got away initially, but Bonner showed good speed and quickness as he recovered and chased Glaser out of bounds for what looked to be a short loss on the play...

• Practice Multimedia
  We Are Mizzou: Battle for the Black Jerseys PowerMizzou: PMTV-HD: Practice Film
  PowerMizzou: PHOTOS: Catching On
• Some Dude
  The Trib: Richardson cleared to practice Thursday
  The Missourian: Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson cleared to practice
  KC Star: Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson cleared to practice at Missouri
  Post-Dispatch: Sheldon Richardson eligible at last
  PowerMizzou: Sheldon's saga from start to finish
• 2011
  SI.com (Andy Staples): Oklahoma, Alabama, Oregon top 2011 preseason Top 25

  Van Halen: Sure, Blaine Gabbert (David Lee Roth) is gone. But as long as Gary Pinkel (Eddie Van Halen) is still in charge and T.J. Moe (Michael Anthony) is still slapping out first-down catches, the chains will keep moving. Besides -- and I know this is sacrilege to say -- Van Halen improved musically after Roth left the band. There is a reason Sammy Hagar can sing all the Roth-era songs in concert but Roth can't sing all the Van Hagar songs. Maybe James Franklin has some Sammy in him. Maybe this season will be Missouri's 5150.

• Defensive Line
  KC Star (Campus Corner): New Star Brad Madison sees greatness for MU defense
• Defensive Backs
  The Trib: Matt White is Tigers' not-so-heavy hitter
• Special Teams
  The Missourian: Trey Barrow making transition from kicker to punter
  Post-Dispatch: Special teams have needs at MU
• Freshmen
  The Trib: Shane Ray chooses dad's side in family rivalry
  PowerMizzou: Freshman Q&A: Clarence Green
• Agent Smith
  Sacramento Bee: Aldon Smith has right to bear arms
• Tony Temple
  Lost Lettermen: Missouri's Tony Temple Owns Fitness Center

Other Football Links

So we know that A&M's lawyers are looking into different scenarios, we know that "conversations are being had" (ugh, epic passive voice FTL, Governor), and we know that Dan Beebe is taking this "very seriously." My responses: Of course (it's their job), of course, and lord, I would hope so, commish (it's your job).

• A&Magedddon
  CBS Sports: A&M official: Big 12 members 'tired of Texas'
  College Football Talk: Texas A&M-to-the-SEC talk gets political: possibly more concrete?
  Austin American-Statesman: Big 12 taking talk of A&M move to SEC 'very seriously'
  Thee Bears: Is This the Moment of Truth? Does A&M Leap?
  Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician: Big East Expansion: What If The Big 12 Dominoes Fall?
  

Mizzou Basketball Links

• Rush the Court: Summer Update: Big 12 Conference
• MUtigers.com: Marcus Denmon Plays Well in Scrimmage vs. Japan
• MUtigers.com: CBE Classic Tickets On Sale Friday

Other Mizzou Links

• Mizzou Volleyball
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Picked Fifth in Big 12
• Mizzou Baseball
  SimmonsField.com: Mizzou Baseball in the Majors: Aaron Crow
  

Other

Paul Williams' Bob Dylan: Performing Artist books (found here, here and here), strangely, had a lot of influence on the way I write about sports. I've read probably 20-25 Dylan books at this point, and these three were my favorites because of how directly they impacted the way I think. When I write about Mizzou history (or any other history, I guess), I come at it from the perspective of starting from scratch and writing about it as if it were happening right now, and in some ways that comes straight from him. The detail, the perspective, etc. It makes me really sad that he is struggling with both health and money right now, and I encourage everybody to read that Paste link at the bottom. (And all the other links, too, of course. I had no idea how much talent was on that Dana Carvey staff, for instance.)

• USMNT
  ESPN.com: United States draws with Mexico in Jurgen Klinsmann's debut as coach
  SI.com (Steve Davis): U.S. player ratings vs. Mexico in Jurgen Klinsmann's debut
  ESPN.com: Second-half subs spark U.S. in 1-1 draw
• EPL
  Grantland: Chris Ryan on the start of the English Premier League
• Very True, Actually
  Beyond the Box Score: Sabermetrics isn't just a tool, it's a mindset
• Funny
  GQ.com: An Oral History of the Rise and Fall (and Rise) of "The Dana Carvey Show"
• Music
  Paste Magazine: When Bad Things Happen To Great Writers