Mizzou Links, 7-20-12

Mizzou Football Links

Two things:

1. Regarding the excellent Team Speed Kills piece below, I do find it funny that Missouri is seemingly running into more skepticism than Texas A&M when it comes to the move to the SEC despite the fact that a) Mizzou has finished with a better record than A&M in seven of the last nine years, b) Mizzou has won four of five versus A&M, and perhaps most importantly, c) A&M's the team attempting to run the Airraid in the SEC, not Mizzou. Alas. The closer we get to the season, the closer we get to not having to worry about what people say.

2. As I mentioned on The Closers last night (hopefully we get audio of that up at some point), I really, really wish Gary Pinkel hadn't been sucked into talking about Joe Paterno, and I really, really wish he hadn't said what he said. I'd have loved for him to offer more constructive words, like Nick Saban did yesterday day, but he did not, and that's disappointing.

But the simple fact remains that Pinkel isn't the only coach (or former player) who has spent the last 40 years worshiping, or at least very deeply admiring, Joe Paterno. And when you deify someone in your own head for that long, it's going to be incredibly difficult for you to talk about the current Penn State situation without desperately wanting to defend Paterno in some way. Pinkel is far from alone in that regard, and he won't be the last coach who defends Paterno to whatever degree possible ("Obviously I have no defense for what he did, but let's not forget the good things..."). It's human nature, as weak as it may seem sometimes. And a politician jumping in to score some easy political points on this is as or more frustrating to me than what Pinkel said, even though my own beliefs on the situation are probably a lot closer to the politician's than Pinkel's.

• The DISRESPECT!!!!!!1! Chronicles
  Team Speed Kills: Gary Pinkel and Missouri Belong Here. Really.

  What were the assembled reporters wanting Gary Pinkel to say? "Well, really, we built a house of cards in the Big 12 because we got to play Kansas and Kansas State every year. We also have really lousy fans, so Georgia should expect a docile crowd when they come to Columbia." Otherwise, the questions just seem like trolling.

  Maybe it's because Missouri is still viewed (fairly or not) as the most Big 12 of the two newcomers. The offense gets a lot more attention than the defense, in part because -- in all honest -- the Missouri offense is a heck of a lot better than the Missouri defense.

• Pinkel And Saban
  The Trib: Saban: Gary is a great coach
  The Trib: Pinkel owes break to older Saban
  KC Star: Pinkel grateful that Saban helped get him his big break
• Pinkel And Paterno
  The Trib: Pinkel's filter is on the fritz
  The Trib (Dave Matter): State lawmaker issues statement blasting Pinkel's take on Paterno
  KC Star: State representative chastises Pinkel for Paterno comments
  Post-Dispatch: Mo. lawmaker condemns Mizzou coach's comments
  
• Mizzou Vs. UGa
  KC Star: Georgia, Mizzou's first SEC opponent, respects what Tigers can do
  Post-Dispatch: MU's SEC opener, vs. Georgia, has interesting twists
• Preseason Polls
  The Trib (Dave Matter): Media pick Missouri fourth in SEC East
  Post-Dispatch: MU picked for 4th in SEC East
  KC Star: Elvis Fisher, E.J. Gaines on media's preseason all-SEC team

Mizzou Diamond Sports Links

• Softball Coaching Clinic
  MUtigers.com: Spots Remain for Mizzou Softball Coaching Clinic
• Diaspora
  SimmonsField.com: Mizzou Baseball Diaspora: The Dream

Other Mizzou Links

• Show Me State Games
  The Trib: MU athletes to appear at SMSG opening ceremonies
• Mizzou Women's Golf
  MUtigers.com: Rogers Takes Fourth at the Canadian Amateur Championship

Other

• Bourdain
  The Braiser: Eric Ripert's "On The Table" with Anthony Bourdain