Mizzou Lin--CAMP STARTS TODAY!!!!!1!

Mizzou Football Links

It's the most ... wonderful time ... of the year...

• Camp
  The Trib (Dave Matter): Camp coverage primer
  PowerMizzou: Fall Camp Central
  The Missourian: Missouri football team starts preseason camp Thursday
• 2011 Preview
  PowerMizzou: 2011 Season Preview
• Franklin
  Post-Dispatch: Nice-guy image suits Franklin as Mizzou's new QB
  The Trib: Missouri's inexperienced QB is biggest story line
• Offensive Line
  PowerMizzou: MAILBAG

  the agency asks: Could you talk a little bit about the progress of Chris Freeman on the field?
  
  Freeman's spring was nothing short of remarkable. I honestly didn't think he'd ever see the field going into the spring. Now he's second-team at tackle. Really impressive and a great story. Credit to the kid for sticking with things not only to get to Mizzou, but to make himself into a player once he got here. Things can change, but as of today, he's in line to replace one of Missouri's departing tackles (I'd have Freeman on the right side and Meiners on the left) in 2012.

• Sheldon
  The Trib: Richardson reports to MU, not cleared to practice
  PowerMizzou: Latest, 100% Accurate Info on Sheldon Richardson
  KC Star (Campus Corner): Richardson ready but not yet able to start practice at Mizzou
  Post-Dispatch: Richardson enrolled but awaits NCAA clearance
• Mizzou at Media Day
  We Are Mizzou: Big 12 Media Day

Former Player Links

I still think it best if Gabbert "redshirts" for a year, but one has to like the impression he's making so far. I think he was further along than Josh Freeman when he left for the pros, and Freeman didn't take long to turn into a stellar pro quarterback (not even a full year, actually), so hopefully that's a sign of things to come for Big Gabs.

• Gabbert
  The Trib: Blaine Gabbert makes good impression
  Big Cat Country: Judging Blaine Gabbert: These things take time
  Washington Post: QB Blaine Gabbert making smooth transition to NFL, impressing Jaguars in training camp
• Agent Smith
  The Missourian: Missouri's Aldon Smith hopes to be early contributor for 49ers
• Temple
  PowerMizzou: Podcast with Tony Temple

Other Football Links

Let's face it: it should have always been named the Potato Bowl.

• LOL POTATO BOWL
  CBS Sports: Humanitarian Bowl now Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
  Dr. Saturday: Potato Power: Boise rolls out the blue carpet for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
• Longhorn Network
  Austin American-Statesman: Longhorn Network announces additional programming
  SI.com (Stewart Mandel): MAILBAG

  C'mon ... Someone has to talk about it. How is ESPN NOT an illegal booster for Texas?
  -- Rob, Seattle

  Of course I laughed when I saw this -- the word "illegal" conjuring images of ESPN execs being led off in handcuffs for starting The Longhorn Network. But in terms of NCAA legalese, he does have a point.

  According to Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com, the core of Texas A&M's argument to the NCAA to ban TLN from televising high school games (the Big 12 has banned them for one year, but the NCAA has yet to make any ruling) is that the network is in fact a "representative of athletic interests" -- i.e., a booster. Citing a 1994 interpretation that "institutional publications" -- all those team-specific print magazines from the pre-Rivals.com era -- fall under the booster umbrella, A&M contends that The Longhorn Network is essentially the same thing, just on television. I can't find fault with that. The fact that ESPN runs the network as opposed to the school itself is irrelevant. Notre Dame doesn't publish Blue and Gold Illustrated, either.

  To be clear, if the NCAA agrees, this ruling would designate TLN as a booster, not ESPN itself. Because if ESPN is a booster for Texas, then it's also a booster for Alabama, Michigan, USC and every other school that receives revenue from its contracts.

Mizzou Basketball Links

• Joplin
  MUtigers.com: One State, One Spirit Premium Seats Available
  KC Star (Campus Corner): Mizzou now selling $500 on-court seat pack for Joplin relief game
  

Other Mizzou Links

• Mizzou Volleyball
  MUtigers.com: Volleyball to Host Free Youth Clinic
• Mizzou Women's Basketball
  MUtigers.com: Pingeton to Speak at Uncorked Event
• Mizzou Golf
  MUtigers.com: Mizzou Men's Golf Honored For Academic Excellence

Other

1) Yes, SI's Andy Staples has a food blog. He was one of my favorite football guys before, and now he's even moreso. 2) That FIFA glitch is the oddest thing I've ever seen. At least, the oddest since the old early-'90s Madden games when the ambulance would come onto the field to care for an injured player, and run over players in the process.

• Food
  Heaven Is A Buffet: 'So, what kind of side dishes are we going to enjoy this evening...'
• Soccer
  Dirty Tackle: Messi scores in FIFA 11, has a heart attack