What's On
At DenverBroncos.com, Connor McGovern talks about his weight room rivalry with reunited teammate Shane Ray.
And while we're at it ... Evan Boehm talked to AZCardinals.com, and Vikings.com has five things to know about Kentrell Brothers.
ICYMI:
Must Reads
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The Trib (Blake Toppmeyer): MU lands transfer safety Kaleb Prewett from Kansas State
Post-Dispatch: Kansas State safety headed to Mizzou
KC Star: Former K-State, Blue Springs safety Kaleb Prewett transferring to Mizzou
PowerMizzou: Missouri lands K-State transfer Prewett
Mizzou was unsustainably inefficient in 2015
Statistically Speaking: 2015 Yards Per Play: SEC
The SEC saw a pair of teams fall below and a pair of teams exceed their YPP expectations. For Missouri and South Carolina, the two teams that failed to reach their expected record based on YPP, the culprit was simple: close game results. Missouri and South Carolina finished a combined 0-6 in one-score conference games. While both teams were especially bad on one side of the ball (offense for Missouri and defense for South Carolina), it took several bad bounces for them to finish a combined 2-14 in SEC play. The two teams that vastly exceeded their YPP results also happened to meet in the SEC Championship Game. A confluence of factors allowed the Gators to win the SEC East in their first season under Jim McElwain. Florida finished 3-1 in one-score conference games, boasted the best in-conference turnover margin (+8), and scored three non-offensive touchdowns. For Alabama, the results are more mystifying. The Crimson Tide lost only once all season (by six points), and won just a single conference game by fewer than thirteen points. The Tide were not especially buoyed by turnover margin either, finishing a respectable, but hardly superb +1 in SEC play. However, the Tide did take advantage of unconventional touchdowns. They returned four interceptions for touchdowns in SEC play, including three against Texas A&M. The Tide continued to score in unconventional ways in the playoffs, returning a punt for a touchdown against Michigan State (not needed for the victory) and a kickoff for a touchdown against Clemson (vital to the win).
Basically, looking at yards per play (YPP) margin, Missouri should have probably finished closer to 3-5 or so in conference play but didn't. Yay? This would be more encouraging if the Tigers hadn't also won three non-conference games by a touchdown or less. So maybe they should have done better in SEC play ... and worse outside of SEC play.
And while we're talking SEC...
When asked during Thursday's teleconference whether he’s found that Ole Miss coaches have given money to players, including Tunsil, Freeze said, "No, I haven’t," but he reiterated he’s not been involved in the administration’s fact-finding process.
"I’ll be very quick to come out and defend us when it’s something I know the facts on. This, I don’t at this present time," Freeze said.
"I know the entire administration is working, and I’m told they’ve made a lot of progress, but they’re collecting everything to make sure they know exactly what the facts are before we run out and make any type of response. I’m trying to be patient. … That’s difficult on me sometimes, because you want to respond, but there’s great wisdom in being patient and making sure you get the facts."
Post-Dispatch: SEC West schools enduring string of issues
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin had more to say about Wednesday’s social media fiasco that led to Aggies receivers coach Aaron Moorehead issuing an apology the next day. On Wednesday, shortly after 2017 quarterback recruit and Texas A&M verbal pledge Tate Martell announced he was opening up his recruitment, Moorehead fired off a series of tweets about loyalty and trust, hardly subtle attacks on the quarterback prospect. Moorehead’s rant backfired when wideout recruit Mannie Netherly announced he was decommitting from A&M after seeing the coach’s tweets.
On Thursday came the obligatory apology from Moorehead.
A shaky (and rather predictable) start to the weekend
MUtigers.com: @MizzouBaseball Drops Opener at No. 3 Mississippi State
The Missourian: McClain, Missouri baseball shelled by Mississippi State
Teeing off at the NCAAs
MUtigers.com: @MUWomensGolf Completes First Round of NCAA Regional
#TigerStyle
MUtigers.com: @MizzouWrestling Rounds out 2016 Recruiting Class with Bohlken, Flynn, Karsten