What's On
Odom in the lead?
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Odom emerges as candidate for Missouri DC job
Memphis Commerical Appeal: Tigers likely to lose defensive coordinator Odom to Mizzou
Memphis defensive coordinator Barry Odom – who has worked wonders with the Tiger defense in his three seasons – likely will be leaving. It’s not official. Odom has been coaching the U of M defense this week, but his alma mater, Missouri (where Odom came to Memphis from three years ago), lost its defensive coordinator Dave Steckel last weekend. [...]
A return to Missouri and the Southeastern Conference would be a difficult loss for Memphis, but a no-brainer for Odom, who would likely double his salary. And while there has not been a public comment from Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, it appears the job is Odom’s to accept. Odom, who played linebacker at Missouri from 1996 to ’99, is a former defensive assistant under Pinkel at Missouri. Mizzou defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski also is considered a candidate to replace Steckel.
(An odd piece there. It treats Odom's departure as a foregone conclusion because it "appears" it's his job to accept. I hope it's right, but ... odd piece.)
Award season rolls on (and other football links)
Ray
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Ray earns 2nd-team All-America nod from AP
The Trib: Ray delaying draft decision until after Citrus Bowl
Smh guess they needed to spread the love lol
— Shane Ray (@X_RAYted56) December 16, 2014
Dodd
The Dodd Trophy Announces 2014 Finalists
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Pinkel 1 of 12 finalists for Dodd award
Golden
The Trib: Golden accepts Senior Bowl invite
Other year-in-review material
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): 2014 In Review: The Offense
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou postseason honor roll
The Missourian: Missouri football: grading the offense
Other football material
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou offense keeps Culkin busy
Left tackle Mitch Morse insists Culkin is "too good-looking" for the offensive linemen to consider one of their own, but Morse has found another use for the 6-foot-6, 245-pound redshirt sophomore, whose physique and flowing blond hair strike a resemblance to a certain comic book hero.
"The great thing about traveling with Sean is girls love him," Morse said. "I’m like the funny friend next to him. I’ll say, ‘Oh, you want me to hold the camera while I take a picture of you and Thor?’"
In that case, Morse plays the role of wingman, but he’s more than happy to have Culkin by his side on the line of scrimmage. Culkin’s progress as a de-facto sixth offensive lineman helped bolster a Mizzou running game this season. He’s become an occasional threat in the passing game, too, with 19 catches for 173 yards heading into the Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl against Minnesota (8-4).
I'm going to miss Mitch Morse.
And one more...
GaryPinkel.com: Where Are They Now? James Franklin
Recruiting reports continue
Football
PowerMizzou: As expected for Chase Abbington
PowerMizzou: Position decision looms large for Mizzou commit Ronnell Perkins
PowerMizzou: NJ LB Saleem Brightwell talks Mizzou official
Basketball
PowerMizzou: Ted Kapita visit update
Braggin' Rights approaches
The Trib (Courtside View): Monday notes: Braggin' Rights atmosphere could be tough for young Tigers
Missouri had just been starting to build some momentum in the series after winning four in a row before last season. The Tigers will try to get it back when the 34th installment of the series tips off at 1 p.m. Saturday.
They’ll be counting on a cast of newcomers with five freshmen, a senior and a junior all playing in the game for the first time, so Coach Kim Anderson and his few veterans will try to do what they can to prepare them for the environment so it doesn’t overwhelm or shock them.
"I think I will explain the significance of this game because we do have a lot of guys from different places that probably don’t — especially with the freshmen — they don’t probably realize maybe what they’re walking into because the largest crowd we’ve played in front of so far is probably Oklahoma maybe, and then what we’ve had here the couple crowds of 7,000 or 8,000."
"It’s probably intimidating when you first see it just because we haven’t had many games this year with that kind of fans, and I expect to have so many there," Rosburg said.
The Missourian: Shamburger showing Anderson's vision one loose ball at a time
WHATNOT
All-American
Missouri diver takes third in nation - Columbia Missourian
Sustainability
MUTIGERS.COM Mizzou's Sustainability Efforts Reach All-Time High in 2014 - Official Athletic Site