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Saturday still happened
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): GAME REWIND: Missouri 36, Florida 17
Carbon Copy: Remember when Ray sacked Aaron Murray and forced a fumble against Georgia last week? He did it again to Murphy and Florida. On a 3rd-and-7 from the Florida 20, Missouri again showed six rushers but sent only four. Ray swam inside of Humphries and Sam speed-rushed around Max Garcia. Murphy spun away from Sam and right into Ray, who punched the ball out. Harold Brantley recovered and returned it to the Florida 7. The sack looked remarkably similar to Sam's second. Then again, Missouri's ends pinching the pocket and giving a quarterback no escape hasn't exactly been a foreign sight this year.
Mauk Finishes it Off: After a hold pushed Missouri back to the 17, Mauk took a five-step drop, didn't like what he saw downfield and took his escape route. He jab-stepped toward the middle of the field, then cut back outside to a whole lot of open turf, beating Taylor to the corner and tip-toeing down the sideline for a 17-yard score. Then he nearly ran all the way up to the Rock M berm in his excitement. Hunt started doing a Gator chomp. That would soon catch on. Mauk ran over to the sidelines and got big hugs from Andy Hill and Gary Pinkel. He'd become only the second Missouri quarterback of six to win his collegiate starting debut in a conference game. The other is Chase Daniel. Do with that what you will.
Post-Dispatch: Josey survives scare, runs past Gators
Josey, who wasn’t available for interviews after the game, finished with a game-high 136 rushing yards on 18 carries, the most prolific rushing day for a Florida opponent this season. It marked Josey’s highest rushing output since a 162-yard game against Texas A&M Nov. 29, 2011, two weeks before suffering his fateful injury.
Against a Florida rushing defense that ranked No. 4 nationally entering into the game, the Tigers finished with 205 yards on 37 carries, with Josey and quarterback Maty Mauk each running for a touchdown. Before leaving the game with a sprained toe, Russell Hansbrough added 47 yards on 12 carries. Hansbrough walked out of the stadium with his right foot in a boot. Marcus Murphy, the team’s No. 3 tailback and return specialist, carried the ball only once for a 7-yard gain before he was knocked out with what Pinkel described as a slight concussion.
KC Star: Breaking down Missouri’s offense by the numbers
— The Gators entered play allowing 235.3 yards per game, which ranked third in the nation. The Tigers racked up 500 yards, which is more than double the season average.
— Florida hadn’t allowed 500 yards against a Southeastern Conference opponent since Oct. 20. 2007, at Kentucky when the Wildcats totaled 512 yards and hadn’t allowed 500 yards in any game since the 2008 Capital One Bowl against Michigan. [...]
— Missouri’s 36 points were the most Florida has allowed in SEC play since giving up 41 against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Oct. 8, 2011.
Missouri is all-in. It's clear that this year's team is a different monster. Kony Ealy, among other players, has alluded to problems that plagued the team in 2012, but never go into specifics. Whatever they were, Ealy says time and time again that they're fixed. A 7-0 start is the best salve, but even after losing its starting quarterback, Missouri rallied around a redshirt freshman and blasted the best defense it will see this regular season.
Gary Pinkel's favorite line since the summer has been some variation of "I really like this team." We heard that, but thought it was coach-speak. It wasn't. Missouri is a spread team that's playing with power, dominating the line of scrimmage and the perimeter. Missouri is an elastic defense that snaps back with sacks and interceptions, leading the SEC in both categories.
Missouri is a lot of things, but one stands out above the rest. The Tigers are a complete team.
What's the limit for this team?
ESPN.com: VIDEO: Missouri Tigers WR L'Damian Washington (Really? "Is it time to take you guys seriously?" is your first question?)
Mizzou Network: Post-Game Extra: Arnet & McElroy on win over Florida
Mizzou Network: HIGHLIGHTS: Mizzou Network Field Cam vs. Florida
Poll watch
Polls
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Missouri moves up to No. 5 in AP, No. 7 in USA Today polls
KC Star: Missouri cracks top five in AP college football poll
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou surges to No. 5
BCS
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Missouri ranked No. 5 in season's first BCS standings
KC Star: Missouri Tigers open strong in BCS standings at No. 5
RIP, Coach James
You can't listen to Gary Pinkel speak for 10 minutes without him referencing Don James. It's just about the same with Nick Saban. Both are probably having a tough go of it today after Coach James passed away this weekend. He won a national title at Washington, but his biggest legacy might be in the coaches he mentored. Rest in peace, Coach.
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Don James, Washington's winningest coach and Gary Pinkel's mentor, passes away at 80
KC Star: Pinkel’s mentor, Don James, passed away Sunday
Post-Dispatch: Pinkel on Don James: "My coach, my mentor, my friend"
Baseball in (almost) November
MUtigers.com: Mizzou Baseball Announces Fall World Series Dates
Another strange weekend for Soccer
Mizzou 2, South Carolina 1
MUtigers.com: Mizzou Posts Second Top-10 Win With 2-1 Defeat of No. 7 South Carolina
Mizzou Network: HIGHLIGHTS: Soccer Defeats #7 South Carolina, 2-1
Mizzou 1, Auburn 1
MUtigers.com: Soccer Battles to 1-1 Tie with Auburn
The Maneater: Tigers settle for draw against Auburn
WHATNOT
KenPom
KenPom: Pomeroy Ratings version 2.0
Cross Country
MUtigers.com: Tiger Men Close Out Regular Season in Wisconsin
MUtigers.com: Exciting Performances from Women's XC at Bradley Pink Classic
Swimming & Diving
The Trib: Missouri swim team not as deep as Florida
Women's Basketball
The Trib: Missouri women won't abandon long-range plans
Mizzou Network: Season Preview: Doty and Eye on Upcoming Season
Women's Golf
MUtigers.com: Gohn in the lead at FIU Pat Bradley Invitational
Submitted without comment (other than "Rest in peace")
Post-Dispatch: Farotto's Restaurant owner dies; claimed to be first with St. Louis-style pizza