Sorry for the linky lateness this morning...I honored this country's veterans by sleeping in a bit...
Here's the official release for tonight's Mizzou Basketball season opener, a CBE Classic matchup with Central Michigan. This is the fun time of year when sports begin to overlap and crush your evening schedule...this week in Columbia, you can attend men's basketball games on Monday and Tuesday, a volleyball game on Wednesday, and a women's basketball game on Thursday. Oy.
The Missourian takes a look at Mike Anderson's offseason efforts to improve his team's rebounding and prepare for a tougher nonconference slate. Meanwhile, the KC Star reports on Anderson's attempts to make sure his players aren't looking beyond CMU...and MizzouRah's Cheech has a preview as well...
Dave Matter empties the notebook with a gigantic Behind the Stripes post replete with Maclin records, all-conference votes, BCS scenarios (Blair Kerkhoff looks at this too, as does Sunday Morning QB, while the Post-Dispatch previews possible bowl destinations), Heisman watches, and more. And speaking of Heisman talk, the Missourian takes a look at Chase's chances as well. And of course, don't forget to check out MizzouRah's Morning After...
Bryan Burwell does his best to erase the bitter taste of Joe Strauss's silly ramblings from Mizzou fans' palettes by putting up his weekly complimentary column...
It just keeps getting better for Mizzou. All the pieces are falling into place. The big-name recruits that used to bolt away from Missouri's borders are now following all the street signs into Columbia.
This used to be the dream, but now it's the reality. The Tigers are 9-1 for the first time in 38 years, and bound to climb even higher up the polls and BCS charts after another almost routine double-digit victory. They have a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in Daniel, who did his normal, three-touchdown, 70-percent completion, 300-yard routine, then slipped into his sweat suit, cocked his baseball cap on backwards and played the role of recruiting closer as he squired Gabbert around campus.
They also have a dazzling young star in freshman receiver Jeremy Maclin (267 all purpose yards, 2 TDs), who will surely be on the top of any number of Heisman Trophy lists — and maybe win one — before he leaves Columbia.
Yes, this is what's supposed to happen to football powerhouses. But now there are other forces at work that are lending more credence to Mizzou's once impossible dream.
Finally, now that Blaine Gabbert has committed to Mizzou, other pieces are supposed to fall into place, right? Power Mizzou has the latest on those pieces...Will Compton, Bryce Givens, Josh Williams, Chris Harper, etc...