"It's been fun to watch her grow," Missouri coach Ehren Earleywine said before the LSU series. "The key is this -- a lot of kids play for us that don't ever really get better. They don't make jumps; they don't make strides. And so the credit has to go to the kids like Nicole, who are intellectual enough to trust the coaches and who are willing to fail trying something new. Here's a kid who is the all-time [high school] home run leader in the state of Missouri. It's very hard when you have that kind of success to listen to a new theory. Very hard."

Ehren Earleywine talks to ESPNw about Nicole Hudson.

@mutigersdotcom: #Mizzou guys dominating NFC Defensive awards - Aldon Smith last week (monthly), and William Moore today (weekly) #NFL

Via the official Mizzou Twitter account. Hey you guys, I hear these Mizzou dudes in the NFL are pretty good.

Fellow Tigers, The past week has opened up an important discussion about dealing with sexual assault on our campus. Despite the incredible resources meant to educate on this issue, the sad truth is that there is still a culture of victim blaming that permeates MU and countless other college communities across the nation. Although it no doubt seems an insolvable problem at times, as students, you and I can have immense influence in shaping the opinions of our peers and promoting a safe environment if only we learn to speak up. Rape is rape — not only when a sexual advance is forcible, but any time one party says "no." There have been no convictions borne out of the accusations discussed this past week, but to think that any student would want to shut out serious concerns about whether an awful crime was committed for the sake of athletics is incredibly disappointing. This shows that even though we have made great strides in dealing with sexual violence and violation, we still have a long way to go. Much of this conversation about assault has played out over social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. And although it's important to call out victim blaming where ever it takes place, we have a habit to overlook dangerous sentiments about rape in the classroom, the residence hall and across MU on a face-to-face basis. Although a Tweet can provide an obvious and (because it's on the Internet) permanent representation of victim blaming, it's the casual comments made in-person that can be most damaging — offhand remarks that play down sexual assault as something people "should just get over," something "not that serious." When you hear comments like this, even when you overhear comments like this made by classmates, say something. Failing to challenge that behavior allows for an environment in which survivors are afraid to come forward, lest they look like they're "blowing things out of proportion." It is our civic and personal responsibility as Mizzou students, staff and faculty to take a stand on issues like this. When victim blaming occurs, another victim is less likely to report. We have so many phenomenal students, staff and faculty on this campus who work every day to improve this environment at MU. MSA/GPC's Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center is just one stellar example of an organization that can offer valuable information and resources on how you can help make MU a safer place — one where people take sexual assault seriously, as an issue that deserves attention and public discussion. The Green Dot program is one of the best collegiate programs in the country, and we hope that it can continue to help survivors. To the survivors of sexual violence, please don't be afraid to report. There are people on this campus that care and want to help. If you want to talk to anyone, please visit the RSVP Center in G210 in the lower level of the Student Center and ask for Ms. Danica. We can help shape this conversation, but that requires speaking up and calling out the trivializing of sexual assault and victim blaming in all its forms. For empowering through advocacy, Xavier Billingsley, Missouri Students Association President

I got this email this morning from msa@missouri.edu. (No, I'm not a student, don't know why it was sent to me.) In any case, I thought this might be of some interest to RMN re: our recent discussions about Dixon. I also have made it clear I don't want to talk about it in our watercooler thread (that's your own prerogative if you do, but I don't), hence the new post. Anyhow, here it is.

10. Kendial Lawrence is not Henry Josey and he won't earn All-SEC honors, but that's OK: The senior tailback has developed into such a seasoned runner.He hits the hole with urgency when it's there but he's still crafty enough to dodge a defender in the backfield and make him miss. For the season he's averaging 6.2 yards per carry. That's better than former Wisconsin's Heisman finalist Montee Ball, better than South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore, better than Arkansas' Knile Davis, better than Texas recruiting phenoms Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray, better than Florida bellcow Mike Gilislee, better than Alabama starter Eddie Lacy and blue-chipper T.J. Yeldon, better than USC import Silas Redd and better than Auburn speedster Onterio McCalebb.

Dave Matter - "Emptying the Notebook: Bent but not broken" - Behind the Stripes - ColumbiaTribune.com What a rock of stability he has been for MIZZOU. Thank You Mr. Lawrence. M-I-Z!

The SEC’s negotiations with ESPN about a new channel are nearing their final stages, and a glimpse inside the talks reveals that three issues are close to being resolved before the channel’s expected launch in August 2014. The SEC needs the local TV rights back from the schools to give the channel part of the content it needs. Those rights belong to the schools’ rights holders — IMG College, Learfield Sports and CBS Collegiate Sports Properties — so the SEC must negotiate with them to acquire those rights before launching a channel. Those local rights amount to one football game per school and roughly six to eight basketball games for each school, plus a host of nonrevenue sports events including baseball, softball and soccer.

Via The Sports Business Daily

In response to rumors, Mizzou source tells me Missouri plans on starting Corbin Berkstresser at QB tomorrow vs. ASU, Franklin questionable. Mizzou source tells me Berkstresser starting at QB is the plan "for now", that Franklin's injury isn't too serious. Franklin's injury for not starting tomorrow is his shoulder. Apparently it was irritated again last week during UGA game. per, MU Source. Source says Mizzou will see how Franklin's shoulder feels tomorrow to determine his overall status.

From the Twitter account of KOMU's Ashley Zavala, who is probably going to get a lot of Twitter followers in the coming hours. Now we'll just have to find out if she's right or not. In the meantime, there are two options: 1. Wait and see what happens, if Berkstresser plays, how Berkstresser plays, etc. 2. FREAK OUT FREAK OUT OH MY GOD FREAK OUT I'M FREAKING OUT. Your choice.

48.0. Georgia's average starting field position in the second half of the Bulldogs' 41-20 win over Missouri in Columbia. While Jarvis Jones justifiably stole the headlines with his monstrous game (and even more monstrous fourth quarter), Georgia had subtly tilted the table in the Tigers' direction for a while, first pinning Mizzou deep (the Tigers' average starting field position in the second half: 24.0) then finding the big plays to finish the game off. The Dawgs' last three scoring drives started at Mizzou's 38, 1, and 5. This week's Numerical is up at the Mothership. Now it's on to Georgia BTBS.

As you can see, multiple changes to the offense line, but the starting five listed below is the same five that played after Elvis Fisher went down with a knee injury midway through the loss to Georgia on Saturday. Speaking at today's Tiger Quarterback Club luncheon, defensive coordinator Dave Steckel said Fisher could be back at some point this season but it's unclear how long he's expected to miss. Linebacker Zaviar Gooden is listed as out for Saturday's game — he pulled his hamstring against Georgia — though Steckel said he hasn't been completely ruled out as of this morning.

Via Dave Matter, we get a look at the new depth chart. Your new offensive line two-deep: two juniors, four sophomores, three redshirt freshmen, and a true freshman. At the beginning of fall camp, the projected starting line had 67 career starts. This week's starters (unless Jack Meiners returns): 21 career starts. Ggh.

With that explanation out of the way, I will not be overly disappointed if the Dawgs lose in Columbia on Saturday night. This has nothing to do with Mark Richt, Mike Bobo, Aaron Murray, or the promotion of Russ to Uga IX. There is nothing to dislike about the 2012 Dawgs, unless you are the sort of person who gets indignant about a team getting a favorable scheduling draw. No, this is more about Missouri, Texas A&M, and the direction of the SEC. In short, the conference needs the Aggies and the Other Other Tigers to do well so the eleven programs in the league not named Alabama will stop imitating Nick Saban.

B&B Michael from SBN Atlanta. A surprising addition to the team, but COME ONE, COME ALL.

229. Seconds it took Missouri to score four touchdowns (two on offense, two on defense) in the first quarter of a 62-10 win over Southeastern Louisiana. My Week 1 Numerical is finally live at the mothership. This might be my favorite series.