Mizzou Links, 8-20-12

Wait, it's August 20? Seriously? Is that right? It must be ... because freshmen ran through Columns yesterday...

• Freshmen + Columns
  Mizzou Network: Mizzou Tradition for Football Freshmen
  Instagram (Gary Pinkel): Mizzou football freshmen ready to run through the columns
  SimmonsField.com: 2012-2013 MU School Year Begins Today

Mizzou Football Links

Andrew Luck with a pick six. NFLN reports Blaine Gabbert sucks. #jaguars #NFL

— john higginbotham (@john_higg) August 20, 2012

First things first: preseason games are not regular season games. I know that. But wow, has Blaine Gabbert done about as well as anybody could have hoped so far.

(And while I know there is indeed more travel in the SEC, I thought it was pretty disingenuous of the Post-Dispatch article below to compare trips to Iowa State and Kansas State with trips to Florida and Georgia. There were plenty of long-away destinations in the Big 12 (Lubbock, Austin, Waco), and there are plenty of closer travel options in the SEC (Nashville, Fayetteville). Ames is closer than Nashville, but it's just a wee bit more comparable than Gainesville.

• Gabs
  The Trib: MU reunion in Big Easy
  Lockerz (jaguarsinsider): The Mizzou trio of Blaine Gabbert, Chase Daniel and Kevin Rutland
  SI.com: NFL Preseason Roundup: Blaine Gabbert's 2 TDs lead Jaguars over Saints
  CBS Sports: Blaine Gabbert's stock on rise as Jaguars move to 2-0 in preseason
  Washington Post: Jaguars QB Gabbert, RB Jennings and WR Blackmon have been better than expected in preseason
  Sporting News: Blaine Gabbert's confidence, effectiveness show at QB in Jaguars' game with Saints
  SB Nation: Gabbert Hits Blackmon For 16-Yard TD, Critics Wonder What Happened
  Big Cat Country: Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert Trying To Shed The 'Scared' Label
• Read This. Do It.
  PowerMizzou: For the Love of the Game
• $$$$$
  Post-Dispatch: Mizzou's about to discover the high cost of SEC travel
• PPV
  Post-Dispatch: Mizzou opener will cost $39.95 to watch -- on TV
• Hello, Chaston
  We Are Mizzou: Chaston Ward

A pretty sight tonite at Faurot! twitter.com/ChadMo1/status…

— Chad Moller (@ChadMo1) August 20, 2012

Other Football Links

• I Actually Like The "Eliminate Signing Day" Idea
  Senator Blutarsky: "But a lot of times all a commitment does is identify who is in the lead right now."
  SI.com (Andy Staples, 2008): Eliminate Signing Day entirely

Mizzou Basketball Links

• The Tour Of Europe Ends
  MUtigers.com: Dominating Fourth Quarter Leads Mizzou Basketball to 81-61 Victory
  KC Star: MU finishes Euro tour with victory over French club
• Let's Get Physical ... Physical...
  Fox Sports KC: Going abroad getting physical for NCAA teams

Mizzou Diamond Sports Links

• SEC
  SimmonsField.com: SEC Fan's Guide to Mizzou Baseball: Tim Jamieson
• Diaspora
  SimmonsField.com: Mense Mentality
• Minors
  SimmonsField.com: Missouri Baseball in the Minors: Up the middle with Tepesch, Lollis, and Bond
• 2012
  SimmonsField.com: 2012 Mizzou Recruit: Jeff Oracion, RHP

Mizzou Soccer Links

• Mizzou 5, No. 11 Memphis 1
  MUtigers.com: Mizzou Knocks off No. 11 Memphis, 5-1, in Season Opener
  The Trib: Postgame: Missouri 5, Memphis 1
  The Trib: MU soccer opens 2012 with upset win
  KBIA Sports: Missouri soccer team upsets No. 11 Memphis
  KBIA Sports: Mizzou soccer opener a thrill, but keep it in perspective
  The Maneater: Tigers storm past Memphis
• Mizzou 2, UCSB 0
  MUtigers.com: Mizzou Soccer Downs UC Santa Barbara, 2-0
  Mizzou Network: Tigers improve to 2-0
  Mizzou Network: Post-game report with Abi Raymer
  KBIA Sports: Mizzou soccer beats UCSB, notches second win for the season
  The Maneater: Missouri blurs past UC Santa Barbara 2-0

Other Mizzou Links

And the Most Awkward Headline Of The Weekend award goes to ... The Maneater!

• Mizzou Volleyball
  MUtigers.com: Gold Tops Black, 3-1, in Annual Scrimmage
  The Trib: Transfer Simpson shines in MU volleyball scrimmage
  The Maneater: Tigers unveil selves in Black and Gold scrimmage
• Mizzou Women's Basketball
  MUtigers.com: Women's Basketball Releases 2012-13 Schedule
  The Trib (Ross Dellenger): SEC awakening: Women's hoops gets UT twice

Other

Granted, there was one really big draft yesterday, but if you've got any other FFL needs over the next few weeks, be sure to pay attention to SB Nation's new Fantasy Football portal!

In other news ... guess who's back in our lives...

• Mario!
  Dirty Tackle: Mario Balotelli pranked Man City's photographer by swiping her lens hood and walking away