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It’s time for an annual Rock M tradition: the roll call! Whether you’re new or not, now’s a chance to (re)introduce yourself by answer the questions at the bottom of the post.
Rock M Nation has added some new faces since last year, so I thought having them start off the introductions might be nice.
David Morrison
How did you find Rock M Nation?
Well, Rock M Nation pretty much found me. Very soon after taking the Columbia Daily Tribune's Missouri football beat writer position in the summer of 2013, a number of Tigers football fans with mostly inscrutable Twitter handles started "at"ing me left and right. They had in-jokes I did not understand. And their in-jokes had in-jokes. And so on and so forth. "Who are these strange people?" I thought to myself. "And will they ever leave me alone?" The answers, it turned out, were "denizens of Rock M Nation" and "No," respectively. And now here I am. Time is, indeed, a flat circle.
What is your connection to the University of Missouri? Alum? Student? Raised as a fan? Randomly adopted Mizzou?
I used to cover the team on a daily basis? Before 2013, I really had no connection. Except that I had admired the Chase Daniel-Jeremy Maclin-Sean Weatherspoon teams from afar as a college football fan and I had a friend, colleague and Missouri grad in Auburn (Joel Erickson) who extolled the virtues of Columbia in general and Shakespeare's specifically. Oh, and some of my more insecure fellow Northwestern J-schoolers would speak derisively about the journalism program down here from time to time. Which, I've come to gather, is a trait Missouri J-schoolers exhibit toward Northwesterners as well. Now I've settled in Columbia and married a Missouri grad. What has become of me?
What is your favorite Mizzou memory of all time? What is your least favorite memory?
Seeing Henry Josey run for the go-ahead touchdown against Texas A&M was pretty cool. Just knowing his story, all he'd been through, knowing the stakes of the game and hearing Memorial Stadium get the loudest I've ever heard it (in only three years, but still...) was pretty cool. And I'm probably coming at this from a different angle than most people, but my least favorite moments all revolve around newsworthy events that necessitated 20-hour workdays. There was one of those last November. Can't seem to remember what, exactly, it entailed...
What "Mizzou Meme" would you wish the fanbase would just give up already?
I really don't know what "Mizzou Memes" are making their way around the fanbase nowadays. I think the "Drew Lock Hype Train" is a little played. Yes, the photoshop possibilities are legion. I feel like you could do so much more with the name, though. Don't ask me how. They don't pay me to come up with words.
Not including teams with whom Mizzou has established history (e.g.: Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, etc.), if you could schedule a home-and-home series for Mizzou with any school in the country in both football and basketball, which schools would you select?
Northwestern. That Alamo Bowl was a fun one, right? And Missouri fans should like it in because Northwestern is always on a spectrum from "pretty good" to "God awful" in football and men's basketball, so the series would be a pretty good back and forth with both sides taking their share of games. Plus, they could have some sort of "Best J-School Cup" contest where student journalists from both sides produce gamers and columns from the games and a panel of illustrious alums get to judge who wins and the winner...oh my, I've put everyone to sleep.
Make two predictions for Mizzou's final football record in 2016: one with your head and one with your heart (how many you think they can win vs hope many you think they will actually win)
Head, 6-6. The defense will be just as good and the offense will be improved enough to sneak up and take one of those games Missouri lost last year. Let's say Eastern Michigan, Delaware State, Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Heart, also 6-6. My heart is actually in my head. It's a serious medical condition that I really should get examined before it's too late.
Tramel Raggs
How did you find Rock M Nation?
Through twitter.
What is your connection to the University of Missouri? Alum? Student? Raised as a fan? Randomly adopted Mizzou?
Junior Journalism student at Mizzou.
What is your favorite Mizzou memory of all time? What is your least favorite memory?
Favorite: In 2013, when Phil Pressey led that comeback to beat Florida in basketball.
Least Favorite: Losing to South Carolina in 2013.
What "Mizzou Meme" would you wish the fanbase would just give up already?
I wish Mizzou fans would give up on blaming Frank Haith for everything.
Not including teams with whom Mizzou has established history (e.g.: Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, etc.), if you could schedule a home-and-home series for Mizzou with any school in the country in both football and basketball, which schools would you select?
In football I’d like to see us play Ohio State or Oregon and in basketball I could see us playing Wisconsin or New Mexico.
Make two predictions for Mizzou's final football record in 2016: one with your head and one with your heart (how many you think they can win vs hope many you think they will actually win).
Head: 8-4
Heart: 10-2
Ronald Davis
How did you find Rock M Nation?
I've been reading Rock M Nation for the past few years and I've always enjoyed it. I saw a tweet from the Twitter account that it was looking for writers. I like writing and I thought it would be really cool to write about Mizzou.
What is your connection to the University of Missouri? Alum? Student? Raised as a fan? Randomly adopted Mizzou?
I'm entering my senior year as a journalism student at Mizzou.
What is your favorite Mizzou memory of all time?
Attending the regular season finale against Texas A&M and seeing the Tigers win the SEC East. I ran out on the field and hugged L'Damian Washington. That was by far the most fun I've had since I got to Zou. Really just watching the 2013 season with my buddies at Mizzou was a great experience.
What is your least favorite memory?
Basketball. The whole three years I've been here. I went from wondering why a team with Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown couldn't get to the NCAA Tournament to just wishing I could watch competitive basketball. The problem was I keep following the team, knowing what the result was going to be. Walking out of Mizzou Arena after realizing I wasted two hours of my day on multiple occasions were some pretty bad memories.
What "Mizzou Meme" would you wish the fanbase would just give up already?
The dumpster fire one? I'm not up to date with the memes like everyone else, but let's not sell Mizzou short. There are far worse programs.
If you could schedule a home-and-home series for Mizzou with any school in the country in both football and basketball, which schools would you select?
Football: Miami. I loved watching "The U" growing up, and I think that this would be an exciting matchup for both schools. For Missouri, more exposure in South Beach could only bode well for recruiting.
Basketball: A Power-Five school Missouri can be competitive with? If a school like that doesn't exist, how about North Carolina or Duke? Go big or go home.
Make two predictions for Mizzou's final football record in 2016:
One with your head: I'd say Missouri goes 8-4. Defense will be just as nasty as it was a year ago. Drew Lock matures and becomes a leader. Alex Ross and Damarea Crockett stabilize the running back position. The offensive line is average. Losses at LSU, Tennessee, Florida and West Virginia.
One with your heart: 11-1. Charles Harris and Marcell Frazier combine for 30 sacks. Aarion Penton wins the Thorpe Award. Drew Lock is first team All-SEC and is in everyone's 2018 mock draft as a first round pick. J'Mon Moore catches 14 touchdowns and leaves for the NFL. The offensive line paves the way for 3,000 yards on the ground. Loss is at LSU. Pie is in the sky in Columbia, Mo.
Peter Boggs
How did you find Rock M Nation?
I like to think Rock M found me, but truthfully I found Rock M while searching for Mizzou football websites in College.
Ironically I didn’t go to Mizzou, but I am from St. Louis where I became a fan early in high school. I went to college in Birmingham, Al, where I grew a passion for college football, a hatred for all things Roll Tide War Eagle and a slight obsession with Mizzou (my wife wouldn't call it slight).
My favorite Mizzou memory would be the 2013 Cotton Bowl. My least favorite memory begins with a Nor and ends with a folk.
Any Mizzou meme that incorporates "This is fine" has become intolerable and should be dismissed from the twitter-sphere.
I would love to see an Oregon vs Mizzou home and home set football and basketball series because its completely random and it would give me an excuse to go to Oregon.
My two predictions for Mizzou's final record for 2016 are as follows. With my head 6-6, because our defense will be strong but our offense will still struggle to out-score tough opponents.
With my heart 12-0, the offense is balanced, our defense stays the same, Lock shaves his head and Mizzou scores 21+ points per game. Yes, I am superstitious and I do believe the success of Mizzou's offense is always based on the length of the starting quarterback's locks, pun intended.
Ethan Triebsch
How did you find Rock M Nation?
I randomly found Rock M Nation online and had enjoyed reading it for a while before I actually started writing for it. I really enjoyed how Rock M Nation added some personality to sports journalism.
What is your connection to the University of Missouri? Alum? Student? Raised as a fan? Randomly adopted Mizzou?
I have been a Mizzou fan for as long as I can remember. My dad grew up in Boonville, Missouri, so we took trips to Columbia on almost every visit to Missouri.
What is your favorite Mizzou memory of all time? What is your least favorite memory?
My favorite Mizzou memory of all time has to be the 2013 Mizzou vs Georgia game in Athens. Growing up in Atlanta, I had been surrounded by "Go Dawgs" my whole life and I was really tired of all the UGA fans. When we went into Athens in our second year in the SEC and thumped the Bulldogs I could not have been any happier in my whole life. I remember before the game my dad, his friends, and I went to a Waffle House in Athens and the UGA fans we were with wouldn't stop talking about this "easy win" and how Mizzou "didn't have a chance." Needless to say, those Georgia fans left before the game even ended. The sight of thousands of UGA fans streaming alongside the hedges to the exits before the game ended was a wonderful sight to behold.
What is your least favorite memory?
My least favorite Mizzou memory occurred during the 2014 SEC Championship Game against Alabama. I was lucky enough to get tickets to the game and it was an amazing experience, regardless of the outcome. My least favorite part, however, was when Shane Ray was ejected due to a targeting call on his hit on Alabama quarterback Blake Sims. I remember the call, the eruptions of boos from the Mizzou section, and the huge cheer from the Crimson-dominated Dome. Shane walked right by the Mizzou section waving his arms and pumping up the crowd as he walked into the locker room.
What "Mizzou Meme" would you wish the fanbase would just give up already?
I’m pretty tired of the dog in the burning room to be honest. Let's be a little more creative.
If you could schedule a home-and-home series for Mizzou with any school in the country in both football and basketball, which schools would you select?
If I could pick any team to schedule a home-and-home with in both football and basketball, I would have to choose Houston. I really like Tom Herman and this up-and-coming football program. Not to mention the Cougars also have a pretty solid basketball team. This could have the making to be a fun SEC/Big 12 series in the future.
Predictions for Mizzou's final football record in 2016:
Head: 5-7 (2-6 SEC) with losses against West Virginia, Georgia, LSU, Florida, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Heart: 10-2 (6-2 SEC) with losses against LSU and Tennessee.
Alec Blome
So you want to know a little about me, the soon-to-be least read author of Rock M Nation? Fine.
I spent one glorious semester sleeping in at the University of Missouri and another 4 years living/working in Columbia - mostly spent employed for the now defunct rental chain, Movie Gallery, where I met the Pinkel's and later Brad Smith when he accidentally returned a movie to the wrong location. Play On!
My favorite Mizzou memory, however, occurred during my short stint on campus. 2002, Faurot Field, Oklahoma vs Missouri. Specifically the first half when Brad Smith went all Heisman on us. Unfortunately, this leads me to my least favorite Mizzou memory - the 2nd half. Specifically the 4th quarter when the Sooners went all fake field goal on us.
My second favorite Mizzou memory is when I first came across Rock M Nation about 5 years ago! I've been a loyal reader ever since. #pandering
A Mizzou Meme you wish the fanbase would retire: Umm, I don't have a good answer for this one, to be honest. Perhaps Mark Kim and the rest of the Twitter can move on from Crying Jordan? I don't know, it doesn't matter to me.
My dream home-and-home series (basketball): University of West Florida. I also spent a semester there.
My dream home-and-home series (football): Either with Michigan or the Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos.
Head: 7-5
Heart: 9-3
Dan Keegan
How did you find Rock M Nation?
I was an avid Pro Football Prospectus/Football Outsiders reader, when a young whippersnapper named Bill C started publishing words on that site. I enjoyed his stuff and realized he was a Tiger, and looked up his blog Rock M Nation and started reading.
What is your connection to the University of Missouri? Alum? Student? Raised as a fan? Randomly adopted Mizzou?
I attended in the early 2000's. I'm from Washington, DC, and chose Mizzou for the J-school and for the welcoming atmosphere that I experienced on my visits. I'm an East Coast guy, a big city guy, so it was a bit of a culture shock, but Mizzou is a family and I grew to love it.
What is your favorite Mizzou memory of all time? What is your least favorite memory?
Waking up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday just a few days after freshman move-in to drive to St Louis with a couple of newly-made friends to attend my first ever Mizzou football game. The Illini were defending Big Ten champs and had a superstar wide receiver in Brandon Lloyd; we had a redshirt freshman QB from Ohio that we didn't know anything about and a second-year coach no one trusted yet. Three exhilarating hours and a few jaw-dropping scrambles later, Mizzou had a win, and a coach, and a QB; and I had forged memories with two buds who would become lifelong friends.
I don't have a least favorite Mizzou memory, because nothing bad has ever happened to Mizzou. People tell me there is a sport that exists called "Basket And Ball," but I know nothing of it, nor of Mizzou's efforts to compete in it.
What "Mizzou Meme" would you wish the fanbase would just give up already?
Hooo boy, I have a lot of these. Casual sexism/homophobia/racism. e.g., "gayhawks." and that sort of thing. Be better.
Needing to hire a Mizzou guy for EVERY job opening.
Jon Sunvold for ___________!
Fire Pinkel!
Shakespeare's is world-class pizza!
Let the comments section burn, I say.
Not including teams with whom Mizzou has established history (e.g.: Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, etc.), if you could schedule a home-and-home series for Mizzou with any school in the country in both football and basketball, which schools would you select?
Maryland would be pretty cool for me since I have family and friends there. It would be neat to see all my Tiger and Terp friends together at the same tailgate, play host in my hometown, etc. I also covet a road trip to LA to see the Tigers at the Colosseum.
Make two predictions for Mizzou's final football record in 2016: one with your head and one with your heart (how many you think they can win vs hope many you think they will actually win)
Heart: 15-0, because, like, why else would you do this.
Head: 8-4. Defense is too good and the offense will regress to the mean.
You can check out past Roll Calls here:
2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
And now...to the quiz!
- How did you find Rock M Nation, and what has made you come back?
- What is your connection to the University of Missouri? Alum? Student? Raised as a fan? Randomly adopted Mizzou?
- What is your favorite Mizzou memory of all time? What is your least favorite memory?
- What "Mizzou Meme" would you wish the fanbase would just give up already?
- If you could have drinks with any other RMN commenter, who would it be and why?
- Not including teams with whom Mizzou has established history (e.g.: Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Oklahoma, etc.), if you could schedule a home-and-home series for Mizzou with any school in the country in both football and basketball, which schools would you select?
- What will be the most informative game on Mizzou's schedule this year?