Rock M Nation: All Posts by Terry DennisA Blog for Ol' Mizzouhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50319/rmn-fav.png2020-12-05T07:00:00-06:00https://www.rockmnation.com/authors/terry-dennis/rss2020-12-05T07:00:00-06:002020-12-05T07:00:00-06:00In the Huddle: Welcome back, Barry
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Mississippi at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BaolyNZlOCyLWDMzj8eQOe1flVk=/0x0:4122x2748/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68462446/usa_today_13507917.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Coach Terry Dennis reflects on Mizzou’s matchup with Barry Odom, telling the former head coach, “It’s not personal; it’s just business.”</p> <p id="kuqdpw">This season has been a unique emotional roller coaster for college football programs and fans around the nation. Moving week-to week feels both nerve-rending <em>and</em> exciting, with anticipation for a game that may not even happen. </p>
<p id="k0HPAG">Mizzou has had its fair share of ups and downs, yet nothing will be more significant for a large portion of the roster than Saturday’s match up. That’s when they’ll get to square off against the man who brought them to Mizzou in the first place — Barry Odom. </p>
<p id="1tKcE9">When considering how this could affect the game, it’s important to remember that Coach Odom did not make the decision to leave Mizzou. For players who had the pleasure of playing under him, as well as the few coaches left behind, they certainly want to win, but they also don’t have any animosity for their former colleague. It’s widely known that Coach Odom was adored by his staff and players. At the end of the day, Coach Odom’s time at Missouri was a growth process, and he struggled with consistency. For current players and coaches that know him to this day, it should serve as a pleasant reunion — but it’s still rivalry week all the same. Rest assured, Coach Odom won’t be taking it easy on his former school and alma mater. The distraction may be present, but the plan remains the same.</p>
<p id="39N0rm">Say what you must about Coach Odom’s coaching and record at Mizzou, but he did make some strides in his recruiting, bringing in many of the big names that Coach Drinkwitz and his staff inherited. It’s a similar team with a different general. Under Coach Drinkwitz, we’ve watched Coach Odom’s young guys continue to grow, and on Saturday, we’ll get to watch them face the man that, “raised,” them.</p>
<p id="vCUMqT">While it will certainly be great for some Tigers to see that familiar face, both sides are mature enough to understand what’s at stake. These are two teams looking to make a statement on who they are and who they plan on becoming. This rivalry is now much more personal and should be treated as such. The focus is and always should be, “Do your job.” If the Tigers can do this, they’ll send their seniors out the right way. </p>
<p id="WJaY9y">As for Coach Odom, he returns home to destroy a little bit of what he helped build. In the interest of competitive football, that’s what will make this game more fun. </p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2020/12/5/22153909/in-the-huddle-welcome-back-barry-odom-mizzou-footballTerry Dennis2020-11-21T09:00:00-06:002020-11-21T09:00:00-06:00In the Huddle: Persistence, consistency are keys to success in the season’s second half
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Kentucky at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xYAS-DohowFfrEIOjdFaUHu4Tws=/0x0:3856x2571/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67838969/usa_today_15149497.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Coach Terry Dennis offers that consistency in the midst of the unknown will be key to finishing the 2020 season strong.</p> <p id="m5xXkb">Coming off of lopsided loss in The Swamp what feels like forever ago, the landscape has changed for the Missouri Tigers. </p>
<p id="hGCyK8">With COVID-19 running rampant throughout college football, we’ve sat for what feels like an eternity, awaiting a trip to South Carolina. Such is the tale of a season riddled with precautions, procedures, regulations and, ultimately, postponements — it’s unlike anything in college football history. </p>
<p id="TwmarL">With safety being of greatest concern for student-athletes, having a season at all is a blessing itself. With that blessing, teams are forced to act with a sense of normalcy amongst chaos, pursuing whatever prize looms at the end of their specific tunnel. For some, it’s a bowl. For others, it’s growth.</p>
<p id="oxxxoR">Approaching the second part of the season, the Tigers are seated in an uncertain fourth spot in the SEC East standings. As with anything in this upside-down year, there’s always an outside chance the Tigers could contend for the top spot in the East. To do so, it comes down to sticking with and executing what they know — like always.</p>
<p id="7Y0hSV">Offensively, it’s safe to say that when the Tigers are on, they’re on. With an 87 percent scoring percentage in the Red Zone — 69 percent of fourth down conversions — and totaling just over 1900 yards of total offense to date, the Tiger offense has proven to be aggressive and explosive when they execute. Averaging 384 yards per game in total offense is no easy task, particularly in the SEC, let alone in wins against LSU and Kentucky, the latter especially. It’s a well-known fact that teams cannot win in this conference without at least a serviceable running game, and Larry Rountree and Tyler Badie have lived up to the task; of the 13 total touchdowns scored this season, seven have come on the ground. Statistically, time of possession is slightly in favor of the Tigers. But what comes outside of the in-game statistics dictates some of the Tigers’ struggles</p>
<p id="fJOLF1">On the season, the Tigers currently average about 48 yards of penalties per game against, about 16 more yards per game than who they’ve played. The Tigers currently lead in penalties against played opponents, 30 to 23. Discipline has to be a major focus going into the second part of the season, even as the schedule seemingly eases. In a sense, this team is still learning who they are. They’re only five games in with a new staff and an ever-shifting roster. There is a learning process that takes place when given something new. While the Tigers have proven they won’t back down from a fight (literally), they can’t let the unpredictability of the season excuse self-inflicted wounds.</p>
<p id="IUFOwM">Defensively, Nick Bolton is on a tear. Currently leading the team in total tackles, he sits amidst the top talent in the conference and national standings with 53, sitting only one sack behind Trajan Jeffcoat as the team leader. Collectively, this Tiger defense is a group of ball hawks, hanging closely with their opponents in sacks, assisted and total tackles, QB hurries, and total sacks. The secondary has stepped up in major ways, tallying 23 pass break-ups to their opponents’ nine. </p>
<p id="WNgmGr">In contrast, though, the run defense has continued to struggle. Things won’t get any easier, as they’re facing down the SEC’s 3rd best rusher, in South Carolina’s Kevin Harris. The following week presents a stacked Arkansas running attack that features Treion Smith and Rakeem Boyd, both well-within the Top 15 rushers in the conference. Somehow, the Tigers must manage roster attrition and thin depth to improve their run defense against a pair of stout opponents.</p>
<p id="0ka1Ws">From a coaching standpoint, it is more of the same; being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Opponents will always change — this year more than ever — and as a staff, there has to be a collective effort to continue to develop these young men for the unexpected. These last few weeks have to have felt like training camp, an endless cycle of going against the same guys over and over and over again. This is where the coaches have to capitalize on the frustration setting in and control it toward the Tigers’ future opponent. Utilizing characteristics such as frustration and anger can pay large dividends in the game of football, particularly in the form of controlled aggression. Discipline, attention to detail, forward thinking, and consistency; that has to be the coaching strategy. At this point of the season, major changes are unnecessary. They cannot afford to change the routine. This type of setback has become the norm for the 2020-2021 season. At this point, change is all but guaranteed on a near daily basis. Consistency and persistence is key.</p>
<p id="ijefQH">With half of the season down, the Tigers have an extremely good opportunity, starting now, to flip their season for the better. Get above .500, and give Coach Drink and his staff a reason to smile heading into the offseason. So far, Mizzou has proven it can hang around. Now is the time to prove their worth as a future contender.</p>
<p id="p5yTSZ"></p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2020/11/21/21587698/in-the-huddle-persistence-consistency-are-keys-to-success-in-the-seasons-second-halfTerry DennisJosh Matejka2020-10-24T07:30:00-05:002020-10-24T07:30:00-05:00In the Huddle: Mizzou needs to avoid a letdown
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Louisiana State at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5ak3B_K9cwF2l1KkfIex_D4cpQE=/0x0:4014x2676/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67682316/usa_today_15072933.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Mizzou history carries many examples of letdowns after big wins. Is this the year where the Tigers flip the script?</p> <p id="Tvu9nJ">Recent history tells us there’s a pattern that follows Mizzou Football after big wins. </p>
<p id="fmtfmm">Take, for instance, arguably one of the best — if not <em>the</em> best — teams in Mizzou Football history, the 2007 <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/">Tigers</a>. The team posted a 12-win season, finishing atop the Big XII North, bagged a decisive win over the then-ranked Jayhawks to go to No. 1 in the BCS standings, and finished one game away from playing for a national championship. </p>
<p id="d7oHGW">Still though, arguably the best football team in school history had a big let down. As one might remember, the Tigers finished 12-2 that season, losing only to Oklahoma, led by <span>Sam Bradford</span> and their high-powered offensive attack. Following that decisive win over kansas at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Tigers traveled to San Antonio the next week for the Big XII Championship. The Tigers proceeded to take a beating that ultimately set them back behind ku in bowl game standings. </p>
<p id="7EzE1w">Situations like this seemingly haunt the Tigers’ history. Whether it’s the “Fifth Down” game, losses in back-to-back SEC Championship games in 2013 and 2014, or losing to Nebraska in 2010 season, the Tigers are no strangers to letdowns following historic wins. </p>
<p id="Ph5G1G">The Tigers are two weeks removed from defeating the defending national champion <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com">LSU Tigers</a>. After some schedule juggling, Kentucky is headed to Faurot Field this Saturday, carrying a five-game win streak over the Tigers with them. Are Mizzou fans ready for another drop in the emotional roller coaster of Mizzou Football?</p>
<p id="EVvoql">There are a couple important things to remember when looking at a situation like this from a locker room perspective. First, every season is a new season. Not only is this season new, but so is the staff. This staff, however new to the SEC style of play they may be, has a track record of winning big games when they matter. It just so happens that came to fruition just a few short weeks ago. </p>
<p id="rnrwQl">Second, each team is new. One might remember a time where Mizzou was the proverbial doormat of the conference — both in the Big XII and SEC. Over the greater part of the last decade, Mizzou has shown its ability to hang with the big boys, touting two SEC East titles, a handful of bowl game bids, and several highly-touted draft picks. This year’s Missouri team doesn’t have those things to fall back on, but that spirit of improbability carries on through the program. And when this year’s team was counted out, they made the seemingly impossible happen. Every team is new, but every team carries something intangible with them.</p>
<p id="YS4fek">In order for Mizzou to avoid letdowns like they’ve experienced in the past, the Tigers have to understand that momentum can shift at any time. Already this season, the team has known what it’s like to feel at the bottom, and then suddenly on top of the football world. To carry any momentum you might have, you must remember that you’re only as good as your last game. That LSU team was no joke.</p>
<p id="de2UP1">Mizzou pulled off an extraordinary team win, but what it proven is that they’re capable. And while capability is nice in its own right, it has to be built upon. You can’t win if you’re not capable, but even capable teams need execution. This team knows who they are, and what they can do after LSU. And they must realize that settling for the last win won’t beat a completely different team. </p>
<p id="y2vhhi">The Tigers can’t afford to hang their hat. There was a rule in the locker room under Head Coach Gary Pinkel: “Yesterday’s game is over. Time to flush it and prepare for the next one. Learn from it, make adjustments, and over-prepare. We bring our A-game, we can beat anybody. We bring our B-game, anybody can beat us.”</p>
<p id="4HpxLH">A B-game won’t beat a team like Kentucky. To avoid laying an egg, the Tigers must build off what they learned about themselves two weeks ago. As the saying goes, “If you know better, you do better.” This #NewZou needs to turn games like LSU into a habit rather than a one-off, like we’ve seen in the past. </p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2020/10/24/21530266/in-the-huddle-mizzou-needs-to-avoid-a-letdownTerry Dennis2020-10-16T12:00:00-05:002020-10-16T12:00:00-05:00In the Huddle: How to utilize the unexpected bye week
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Alabama at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pHCPyoz7X6fzo2TTcE1LYe40lQE=/0x67:3528x2419/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67643379/usa_today_14989497.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Coach Terry Dennis draws from his own experience as a coach and a player to wonder how Mizzou could best use their unplanned bye week.</p> <p id="hTz1zF">The onset of a global pandemic, particularly in the western world, has undoubtedly put a damper on college football. Several weeks into the 2020-2021 season, COVID-19 has affected the ability for teams at all levels of the game to play football, from high school to the NFL. With this comes the onset of uncertainty; the possibility of an unexpected bye week on the horizon at all times. It is here where all members of Mizzou Nation currently exist.</p>
<p id="btkcux">Here we sit, nearly one week removed from a historic and monumental victory over the defending national champion <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com">LSU Tigers</a>, having to wait until December 12 to play Vanderbilt. While this may not mean the end of the college football season, it does raise the question as to how teams continue to prepare to move forward, with no goal really set in stone by the week.</p>
<p id="ko0ws8">Ultimately, it’s another slap in the face for players. Especially this season, not knowing if training camp would ultimately be the, “end of the beginning,” even making it to the season becomes a rollercoaster of emotions. From a player’s perspective, this season seems like it’s been operated by a light switch in the hands of a two-year-old child. It’s on — then it’s off — then it’s on again, with rarely any consistency. </p>
<p id="JhpU46">Just down I-70 in Kansas City, I serve as a coach for the Avila Eagles, part of the KCAC, an NAIA conference comparable to NCAA Division II. We’ve already seen two different unexpected bye weeks within the first five weeks of the season due to opponents being quarantined. The announcements come so abruptly, sometimes less than 48 hours before kickoff. For players, the sudden disappointment of knowing they’ve ultimately prepared for no result in the end is gut-wrenching. </p>
<p id="twjBZV">However, this extra time has its perks. For Avila, having had to postpone the homecoming game against Ottawa, it allowed for key players to rehab injuries sustained in the most recent game, setting up for a clash for a bigger opponent ahead. For Mizzou, it gives two weeks of preparation for a trip to The Swamp, to face a 10th ranked Florida Gators team that has struggled to get the best of the <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/">Tigers</a>, trading blows in the win column since the Tigers first entered the SEC. Still, though, the bye week doesn’t yet portend the end of football altogether. To a player, they’re still playing — just not as soon as they might have hoped. Going to practice, taking reps, lifting and conditioning; it isn’t like time stood still when Vandy got postponed. It’s business as usual. To generalize, time utilized by players to stick to the routine is time well spent — even when it comes at the expense of a, “lost,” game.</p>
<p id="Ptm5Dx">For coaches, the extra space between games becomes prime time for creative brainstorming. Coaches have to put themselves in players’ shoes and understand that, as a college student-athlete, morale is as essential as fun, which factors into rules of engagement. With or without a sickness running rampant throughout the nation, a coach has a job to engage the total person, individually and collectively — and they have to do with with dozens of guys on a roster. At a time like this, all of the non-football questions seem as loud as the questions directly related to the team itself. </p>
<p id="BKQRZX">Are the players genuinely happy? </p>
<p id="YuQw1y">Is this team truly together? </p>
<p id="MJaACc">What can we do to show these men we care about them? </p>
<p id="iRl6v7">Can we make this into something fun and engaging? </p>
<p id="Ps9hCh">Can we compartmentalize and balance business with pleasure? </p>
<p id="PBm8VC">How do we show we’re real people, not just coaches? </p>
<p id="Lxdjf5">These are all questions coaches must ask and develop a plan to address. These kids have families, and those families want to see them play. They also want to see them have fun, unwind, and come into their own as young men. An unexpected bye week might mean that during what should’ve been a game, coaches organize a get-together for families coming in town for the game, such as a barbecue with games (social distancing enforced), catered by coaches, as a way for important people to meet each other, and players to still have fun.</p>
<p id="qRLXEj">When it comes to the on-field product, there are still standards of performance on the field and in the classroom, Nothing changes apart from Saturday, maybe with a few twists — or maybe nothing changes at all. To a coach, this is a time where the most important part of their jobs comes to fruition, and they have to prepare with the end in focus, while teaching the important skill of balancing work with real life. Give a great coach extra money, and he’s already earned it. Give a great coach extra time, and he’ll use it to build young men. </p>
<p id="DW1gQ8">There is a next game, and at this juncture, it’s a trip to Gainesville. Coach Drink and staff still have momentum from this past week, in a win that arguably solidified their spot at the SEC coaching table. To make this program as special as it could be, it takes a little time; extra time to build off crucial successes.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2020-mizzou-football/2020/10/16/21519136/in-the-huddle-how-to-utilize-the-unexpected-bye-weekTerry Dennis2020-10-02T11:00:00-05:002020-10-02T11:00:00-05:00In the Huddle: The frustrations of being a receiver
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/07SWglt4jzJncpQ6LH2thjOF7Po=/0x0:1020x680/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67571266/Chism_Keke.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>NFLDraftDiamonds.com</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The much-hyped Keke Chism was frustrated after a lack of targets against Alabama. Coach Terry Dennis has some encouragements — and some challenges — for him and the rest of the Mizzou wideouts.</p> <p id="AXE4uL">Mizzou has seen its fair share of talent at the wide receiver position over the past decade. </p>
<p id="yrJwfS">We’re not so far removed from the likes of Jeremy Maclin, Danario Alexander, Tommy Saunders, Jared Perry, and Will Franklin. And yet, from the perimeter has emerged outstanding players such as L’Damian Washington, Jerrell Jackson, Wes Kemp, Bud Sasser, Jimmy Hunt, DGB, Marcus Lucas, J’Mon Moore and others. All have held the honor of not only electrifying Faurot Field on game days throughout their careers, but being fortunate enough to take their talents to the next level. </p>
<p id="CXvfoT">From a young age, young boys dream of being the guy who catches the passes: who gets their name called; who streaks downfield past defenders; who makes the ESPN Top 10; who makes defenders miss en route to the end zone. There’s a saying that echoed through the receiver group just prior to the start of this decade: “Everybody wants to be a.....WIDEOUT!” </p>
<p id="AjE4bu">As a, “WIDEOUT,” you want the ball. But there’s more to it than that. There’s also the areas of reading coverage, adjusting routes, stalk blocking, creating separation, and stepping to the line with a plan of action. When there’s more than meets the naked eye, what happens when a receiver doesn’t get to be a literal Receiver — the one who gets targeted to make those big plays? Football is a game of inches that requires a short-term memory. For receivers, just like many other positions, it’s about being right here, right now, in the moment, with the added expectation that when the ball is in the air, it’s yours. That’s a lot of pressure for a guy trying to prove himself at this level.</p>
<p id="GTwoWp">Though Alabama is who we thought they were in week one. Mizzou certainly showed strides in several areas on offense, from receivers, to the backfield and Offensive Line play. For some players, though, the overall strides might not have produced the outcome they wanted.</p>
<p id="5Zte7o">Take Angelo State transfer Wide Receiver, Keke Chism. Following this past week’s game, Chism was quite vocal(ly upset) about his lack of targets. For any Receiver, this reaction is both a blessing and a curse. Many players often use a loss as a moment to soak in the feeling; realizing that, “we don’t want to ever feel this way again.” Factor in essentially not being able to do the job you’re here to do — to work an entire offseason only to not get the field recognition you feel you deserve — it’s almost an, “adding insult to injury,” situation.</p>
<p id="xKrA5w">Still, at such a high-profile position, Receivers have a choice to make in this position. They can either adapt and prepare for the next opportunity or dwell on the last game, the last drop, or the next chance to go unrecognized. Mental toughness far surpasses the Prima Donna persona that comes with being a Receiver. To continue being great at that position, young men like Chism must adapt and evolve.</p>
<p id="1ixR6y">As a football player, coming to a Power 5 school comes with expectations, from the player and program, to fans and spectators. Receiver is one of those positions that people pay to see, so naturally Receivers want to put on a show. As stated, the position has its highs and its lows; sometimes at the cost of not being targeted as much. </p>
<p id="Qj48Py">Many things can go into it: was there a significant pass rush; was the Receiver able to get off the jam/get open; was the correct route run; can the QB trust him; are you confident that just like this past week, that your Receiver can beat two potential first round corners?</p>
<p id="ebsNjQ"> The fact of the matter is that each player has his job. It’s his job to do his job and not anyone else’s job for him. Doing his job makes everyone else’s job easier — you see it all the time in traditional winning programs like Alabama, like LSU, etc. Frustration, however necessary it may feel, can both help and hinder that progress.</p>
<p id="ZhcMPL">It’s important to note that if a player has done everything in their ability to excel each play, each drive, each quarter, each half, each game — <strong>they did not fail</strong>. This is an easy trap to fall into — a very simple mindset to take. In fact, it’s the easy way out. It’s a player’s responsibility to understand that whether or not he got targeted, the goal is a team win, not an individual one. You may want the stats, but the team needs the win. You may feel you could have done something to change the outcome, but the team lost, not just you.</p>
<p id="BZiNLJ">In a season where each game is precious, as if each could be the last, every rep is precious. Leave no doubt! Players like Keke Chism know their time is coming. The key is being ready when your number is called and just as ready when it’s not.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2020-mizzou-football/2020/10/2/21498697/in-the-huddle-the-frustrations-of-being-a-receiverTerry DennisJosh Matejka2020-09-26T11:00:00-05:002020-09-26T11:00:00-05:00In the Huddle: How to mentally handle a pandemic-ridden season
<figure>
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 12 Eastern Kentucky at West Virginia" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/t2cdaSxr_0risKz9Ugw5jE-5qO0=/0x0:4348x2899/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67473743/1228503937.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Coach and former Mizzou Tiger Terry Dennis explains how players need to keep their minds right in the strangest season we’ll see in our lifetimes.</p> <p id="O6Jj36">Not that we needed them, but 2020 has not come without challenges. From a global pandemic, to racial dysfunction in the States, to the short-lived, “Murder Hornets,” scare — not to mention unease surrounding this year’s US presidential election — there seems to be only one thing of which we can be certain...</p>
<p id="GvQHQE">Football is back! </p>
<p id="uBhimN">From little league ball to Friday night lights at high schools around the country, football is back for the fall season along with all the cautions that come with the year 2020. With the SEC kicking off its conference-only schedule this weekend, along with the fact that many college football programs are stuck waiting until spring or worse, we’re reminded that new Mizzou Head Football Coach, Eli Drinkwitz’s #NewZou is an honored privilege, not necessarily a right. We also know it’s no certainty nor a guarantee we’ll get through this proposed season without any hiccups. That raises a unique question for Missouri’s coaching staff: how do the Tigers go forth in preparation for what has already shaped up to be the most unusual of seasons in the history of the sport?</p>
<p id="Qwntyx">Whether you’re a Coronavirus skeptic, or an avid, precautionary mask wearer, the hard fact is that people are dying worldwide. Being given the ability to indulge in the game of football, much less be given the opportunity to watch it play out in front of us is a luxury most dear to citizens here in the western world. The safety of student-athletes and coaches is of the utmost importance. Having gone on a recruiting rampage lately, one must know (or at least assume) that when Coach Drink sits on a recruit’s mother’s couch in Mobile, Al., or Kansas City, Mo., that he’s making a promise to not only return mama’s baby boy as a well-rounded gentleman prepared for the real world, but to do what it takes to protect him while he’s away. </p>
<p id="mZKkvb">This year poses particular challenges in that area, as the Tigers strap up to begin what many would consider a most unforgiving schedule. So the question still remains: How do the Tigers prepare for a season like this? </p>
<h2 id="VxIdjV">Practice and Over-Practice Safety</h2>
<p id="JIVMTU">In years past, coaches using the phrase, “Take care of your bodies,” was 99 percent football-related. This season is different and will undoubtedly be filled with non-football related setbacks. Already, we’ve seen 12 players listed as inactive against Alabama this Saturday due to COVID-19. <em><strong>[editor’s note: the number was later condensed to 7 after five players were cleared.]</strong></em> It’s one thing to take steps in recovering after a difficult week of lifting and practice, then go out and give everything on Saturday against an opponent. It’s a completely different thing to endure those same risks <em>and</em> worry about a threat you can’t see, can’t touch, and sometimes cannot even feel. </p>
<p id="x2GHOs">For players, particularly in college, the temptation to want to socialize is imminent, especially for freshmen and younger players wanting to experience life amongst their peers. But despite their age, it’s time to step up and make probably the most adult decision they’ve had to make in their short lives. For veteran players and captains, it becomes a huge responsibility to cultivate an atmosphere that encourages things like social distancing, wearing a mask, and making decisions off the field that will protect the team moving forward. One positive test — or even contact with a positive individual — could mean the difference between having your starting quarterback on the field, your back-up running back taking the bus on the road... heck, even your head coach on the sideline! </p>
<p id="eHNEYq">Former Head Coach Gary Pinkel was able to address the team just a few weeks ago. One of his famous sayings during his tenure was “Over-prepare.” To ensure the safety of the season, and ultimately the safety of players and the people around them, players must overdo safety. Yes, it’s college, and college kids will find a way to mingle. It will happen. God-forbid the virus gets caught walking into Walmart off Broadway. However, it’s crucial in preparing for a season that could get cut short at any moment to not expedite that process.</p>
<h2 id="KWgP6N">Just Play Football</h2>
<p id="RFz0R0">Even amidst all the distractions and precautions, football is still here. This virus doesn’t change pre-snap reads; it doesn’t change the “POP” when pads collide; it doesn’t change the size of the field or which jersey the Tigers wear. Getting back to what these players know will effectively establish normalcy amongst the chaos. Players can’t be concerned with who made the trip and who didn’t for either team, whether or not the season will end today or tomorrow, the prevalence/statistics of the virus in each town they play, or how Mom and Dad feel about it back home. Just play football. Prioritize classes, of course, because even though they may look different this year, there is no football without academics.</p>
<p id="RocR44">But ultimately, play football like you always would. Prepare. Execute. Win games. This virus can do a lot of things, but it cannot be the excuse or deciding factor in deciding to show up to play football.</p>
<h2 id="h0tuyw">Grow Up</h2>
<p id="rzmMXL">Many spectators and players think that football is a right, both to play and watch. But it’s not — it’s a privilege. Several players, from high school to professional, have made decisions that jeopardized that privilege and got it taken away. They certainly didn’t mean to infect themselves or others. But with the presence of this novel virus, changes need to be made in how players live, move around, interact, and come together. </p>
<p id="OUc27f">Much like rules against using drugs within the program, the rules exist to protect the team. Go against the rules, and you’re gone. When egos go against what’s necessary to establish cohesiveness, it causes division. Division won’t win the SEC, much less beat Alabama Week One or the defending national champions in Week Three. The current state of the world, swirling with a global pandemic and racial dysfunction — that certainly isn’t too far from the reach of the University of Missouri itself in recent years — is causing these young men to have to grow up much more quickly. This shouldn’t stand to take away from the fun of being a Division I football player, but it should stand as a clear choice to prioritize what matters, Because that’s what this is all about — priorities. If football is what they want, the players should do what it takes to make it happen without jeopardizing that privilege.</p>
<p id="eg1yse">At the end of the day, very few can say they’ve had the chance to do what these young men get to do, and certainly not at the level at which they do it. It’s up to them to keep it that way by doing what they need to do to stay healthy. On the part of us as spectators, support goes a long way in keeping those tired, mentally taxed, physically beat down young men moving forward. Calling the whole COVID-19 scenario “dumb” neither hurts nor helps the cause — it just is the way it is. Let’s hope the way it is doesn’t last more than one season.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/missouri-tigers-football/2020/9/26/21451944/in-the-huddle-how-to-mentally-handle-a-pandemic-ridden-season-mizzou-football-coronavirusTerry Dennis2019-12-06T10:30:00-06:002019-12-06T10:30:00-06:00In the Huddle: Barry Odom deserved another shot to make things right
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Missouri at Florida" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KFo5ATtG4j1XNo6NgxC0585b7AM=/0x227:1851x1461/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65840934/usa_today_11589287.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Terry Dennis reflects on the former Tiger head coach, including why he thinks Odom deserved at least one more year to right the ship.</p> <p id="GMuFOD">No matter what sport you play, every athlete runs into a coach or two who changes the game for them. For me, those coaches came from all different levels of competition, dating back to little league, Pop Warner, through high school, and ultimately through my time at Mizzou from 2007 to 2011. </p>
<p id="VKqD7J">This has been an emotional, yet interesting week for me in that two of those coaches have left their posts. </p>
<p id="pn79wa">The week began with the firing of Coach Barry Odom, whom I would consider one of those coaches. Secondly, my former high school coach Tom Kruse at Raymore-Peculiar High School, a guy who spent the past 20 years at the high school as the Head Football Coach and AD decided it was time to step down. He led us to three straight state championship titles from 2004-2006. It was actually Coach Kruse who gave me the blessing to go after my dream to play at the Division I level, and I just happened to pick the very school where Coach Odom was coaching. </p>
<p id="ifMnw0">Everything seems to work together in this thing called football, and as my career has come full circle — I’m now a football coach myself at Avila University in Kansas City, MO — I find myself still needing that guidance from the men that brought me to where I am. The firing of Coach Odom came as a surprise to me, coming off a win that — had it not been for the NCAA— would have made Mizzou bowl-eligible. I understand that this is a business and that not everyone feels the same when the team has the emotional roller coaster of a season we’ve just seen, but nevertheless, I believe Coach Odom deserved more time. </p>
<p id="EIeQKj">In the summer of 2007, I was a walk-on kid, pretty much doing the unthinkable, and simply “invited” myself to practices. I was slated to begin my career as a Mizzou football player the first day of school in August of that year, yet thanks to my mom and my stubborn attitude, I was able to get hotel rooms in CoMo. That way, I could drive in from KC, stay in a hotel, wake up, and go physically watch practices. I had two former high school teammates in <span>Derrick Washington</span> and <span>Chase Coffman</span> already there practicing, and much like them, I’m sure all the other players thought I was crazy for doing what I was doing. </p>
<p id="WexdAJ">Coach Odom was no exception. I was watching the Tight Ends go against the Linebackers in board drill one day, and apparently I was standing too close. Coach Odom, in all his stern and competitive nature, waved his hand at me and screamed, “Get off the field!” </p>
<p id="sObmqF">Of course I listened, but from that day, when I finally got started as a player, he treated me with nothing but the utmost respect. He wasn’t my position coach. In fact, we were on opposite sides of the building with our meeting rooms. Yet as a walk-on kid, he made me feel valued even in the smallest ways. For me, it took a simple, “Hey, what’s goin’ on, TD?” to get my spirits up. That was Coach Odom. </p>
<p id="Z7rYJe">With college football being the business that it is, I realize that being a nice guy won’t keep your job. This business is results driven. If you don’t produce quickly, your time could be up. Many of the Mizzou faithful called for Odom’s head during his first season. To me, that was absurd. I’m a guy who loves giving people chances, just like Coach Pinkel gave me— and just like Coach Odom gave me. He demanded the best, he demanded results, but he was fair. </p>
<p id="fhf8OP">When it comes to producing quality men and quality football players, it’s one of those “real recognize real” situations. Top recruits have decommitted from Mizzou upon hearing Coach Odom was relieved of duty. This speaks to the type of man and coach he is, as they didn’t even have the chance to really play for him and get to know him. These are high school kids who understand the type of coach he is, and were called on to carry on the tradition of winning football games at this university. </p>
<p id="IBdQ81">Several old teammates like <span>Sean Weatherspoon</span> and <span>Jeremy Maclin</span> have spoken out as well this week. Consensus is that this was a bad move. This is nothing against Jim Sterk, as he ultimately has to do what he feels is best for the athletic department. However, from the perspective of the players past, current, and future, it becomes a situation where we see something he doesn’t. I’m sure there are players wondering what they could’ve done differently throughout the season to preserve his legacy here as a Tiger. From his playing days in the 90s to his coaching career beginning right here in Columbia, it seemed only right that he would return and right the ship. </p>
<p id="6ReFfk">But great things take time. Odom had four seasons to prove his worth in the form of wins, and he wasn’t done. This move was made prematurely, amidst the growing frustrations of the Mizzou faithful. The fans deserved to be frustrated — the Tigers didn’t reflect their true potential, and that’s a fact. However, Odom inherited a firestorm of a job — amidst the hunger strike, national racial tension surrounding the university, the NCAA ruling, and more — and he was doing the best he could in rebuilding the image of Missouri, a place that personally means a lot to him. And he still means a lot to those of us that had the chance to work with him. </p>
<p id="kIsT3u">If schools are this quick to realize that Coach Odom is a valuable asset and Missouri is still in search of finding someone to fill his recently removed shoes, it speaks to the fact that he is not only just a great coach, but that Mizzou truly did drop the ball in letting him go this early. Rest assured that whomever comes in next will not change the program overnight. It will be a fight just like the fight it takes to win a single game at this level. </p>
<p id="C5OIwQ">At the end of the day, Coach Barry Odom will always be a Tiger, regardless of the shirt he wears hereafter. </p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/missouri-tigers-football/2019/12/6/20998182/in-the-huddle-missouri-tigers-barry-odom-deserved-another-shot-to-make-things-rightTerry Dennis2019-11-29T12:00:00-06:002019-11-29T12:00:00-06:00In the Huddle: Ending a disappointing season on the right note
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Tennessee at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8tIfSWN4UuR_6rs4i2wHnR3f9NM=/71x0:3712x2427/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65797125/usa_today_13703327.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The NCAA ruling is just the latest sting in a season full of them. But there’s still time to go out with a W.</p> <p id="6YCKVj">The appropriate word(s) are hard to come up with.</p>
<p id="LpCJj9">Of all the ways to end this season, it comes down to something this unfair. For Mizzou Football, the chance to scrap for something positive over the past 5 weeks; to reach for just about anything to stop the bleeding, all comes down to the last week of the season against the 2-9 Razorbacks. </p>
<p id="jCJWvq">That’s been the story of this season: The Tigers come out sputtering, only to regain their momentum and fall flat. Make no mistake, there were certain things the program couldn’t control: the early-season injury that ended Cale Garrett’s senior season or Kelly Bryant’s hamstring and nearly blown out knee. </p>
<p id="f7YIX9">Of the things they could control, it seemed they went from bad to worse, then snowballed out of control. What hurts the most is the fact that amidst all of the Tigers’ setbacks, there was always a tiny shred of hope. That shred of hope came in the fact that even though the Tigers were beating themselves week in and week out, they were still sitting at 5-6, eligible to at least make a bowl game. </p>
<p id="MEV824">One might agree that this season has already been devastating, but for the NCAA to shred that final bit of hope? It’s gut-wrenching. </p>
<p id="X5BtIA">The worst part is that three years ago when this tutor did some athletes’ homework, Mizzou were able to take control! They followed the correct avenues and channels laid out per NCAA mandate. And here we sit three years later with literally less than nothing. No bowl game, a reduction in scholarships in three sports all levied upon a group of student-athletes who had nothing to do with what happened. It took the NCAA months to crush the hopes of Mizzou and its faithful, just one game away from the season finale. </p>
<p id="kxMjnX">So the question remains: How do we finish arguably one of the most infamous seasons in program history? Many seem to be caught in the conundrum of not being able to forget such a season, while many can’t wait for it to be over — out of sight and out of mind. However, there’s still work that need be done for the team. </p>
<p id="GU9UjM">Many may not understand what it takes to get to this point in a young athlete’s life. For many, it goes much deeper than earning a scholarship to play college football, much less at the Division 1 level. Football is hard, but life can be harder. Many players need this opportunity for both themselves and their families. It might be a situation where their son makes it out of a difficult situation. For former WR LaDamian Washington, it meant a huge step for the family he had grown up raising himself — a fresh start with endless possibilities to bring them into a greater position to prosper. He took it on his back and made it happen.</p>
<p id="CTKEge">Stories have come out stating how parents cannot afford to get their sons home for the holidays due to the postseason ban. What many don’t know is that during bowl weeks and weeks such as Thanksgiving where school is not in session (but the team is in-season), teams receive what is called “per diem,” or money per day to use for food, living and travel. It is a set amount for players who live on and off campus depending on a variety of factors. For a lot of guys, that money pays for gas, helps with plane tickets out of state, and allows them to have something for their work on the field. </p>
<p id="FBpDqQ">The NCAA’s sanction negated the chance for that per diem to be received. The Tigers would have had to do the work to get to 6 wins and be eligible, but given the current situation going against a pretty poor Arkansas team on paper, it seemed a very real possibility. </p>
<p id="J4MxPN">As a locker room, this news is disheartening, particularly for the seniors. This was their last shot to end their careers in the postseason. For freshmen and those in between, it’s a chance to not be sent home early and an experience only few can say they’ve ever had. Postseason play is important for coaches too. Make it there consistently enough, and you can assure, at least for awhile, that your job isn’t in jeopardy.</p>
<p id="iuFCId">Players and coaches recognize that no matter the ruling that was given earlier in the week, they have a responsibility to finish out the season on a winning note. Just because postseason play was taken away, it doesn’t erase the final regular season game. That result will be tallied in the history books just the same as the ruling. </p>
<p id="brikGL">Mizzou fans who’ve been around awhile also realize that this is not the first time Mizzou has gotten the shaft. It’s a tough thing to accept, but history tells us the NCAA isn’t the only entity that holds Missouri back. Sometimes it’s the refs; sometimes it’s the players themselves; and other times it could be admin, compliance, or in this case, “one rogue tutor.” </p>
<p id="G2js5S">There is a question that former Mizzou head of strength and conditioning Dr. Pat Ivey would ask: “Where are you?” This wasn’t meant to be literal, but rather a heart check to see where players are mentally amidst distractions and chaos. The response of the collective room would often be, “Right here, right now.” This meant that what happened doesn’t matter, what’s going to happen doesn’t matter yet. What happens right now is where you need to be. </p>
<p id="5yVJSB">The season hasn’t gone to plan by any stretch, but what happened before week 12 is over. What happened with the NCAA is over. We have our ruling, and now we know. But to be right here, right now, means the Tigers have a final game to prepare for that has nothing to do with the NCAA taking something away. </p>
<p id="BMRRnw">Yes, it’s unfair. Yes, the Tigers have struggled. Yes, the NCAA was completely wrong in doing what they did. However, winning this game against the Razorbacks proves that Mizzou won’t go away. Mizzou hasn’t been kicked out! They are still guests at the party — uninvited and scoffed at as they may be. Just because Mizzou got knocked down yet again, doesn’t mean we have to stay here. For all intents and purposes, we never have, 109 years under the NCAA’s umbrella of inconsistency.</p>
<p id="wqee4e">Sounds about like “the story of our Mizzou lives,” huh? The program has bucked the system and rewritten history before. There’s no reason this season can’t end better than the flawed system says it should. </p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2019/11/29/20987886/in-the-huddle-ending-a-disappointing-season-on-the-right-note-missouri-footballTerry Dennis2019-11-22T08:00:00-06:002019-11-22T08:00:00-06:00In the Huddle: Combatting a losing mentality
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Florida at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EYP9SjMu6t7LX2M-txQnyhZfyuw=/0x0:3904x2603/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65752996/usa_today_13673752.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Mizzou Football alum Terry Dennis talks about the way a losing streak affects players, and how Missouri needs to approach the rest fo what looks to be a lost season.</p> <p id="uqruaH">The phrase, “Go out swinging,” comes to mind when thinking of this year’s Tigers. </p>
<p id="dtNr21">They’re a team that had such high hopes before the season, even amidst the onset of a postseason ban. For all intents and purposes, the Mizzou faithful, including the team, are disappointed to say the very least. Emotions such as anger, frustration, doubt, confusion, even outright disbelief follow the Tigers along this current four-game losing streak heading into Tennessee, leaving the program and its followers to question: “What is happening?” </p>
<p id="Ba2NBt">It seems that weekly, the conversation takes an optimistic turn for the better when it comes close to game time, only to be take a sharp turn south before the clock hits zero. In the case for the game against Georgia, word came late that <span>Kelly Bryant</span> was a no-go, thus leaving those who follow the Tigers with several doubts on how a backup quarterback on an already struggling team would fare against one of the country’s elite defenses. Bryant returned... only to lead the way to another abysmal loss against Florida just this past weekend. </p>
<p id="SIhCZg">The issue with losing streaks typically comes down to the fact that onlookers and supporters feel the weight of being let down. It’s almost as if to say that losing streaks are in some way indicative of a team that’s giving up. For this program, they bear the weight of not only shouldering that criticism, but performing in such a way as to silence their own internal criticism. A gut check has to be presented, addressed, and utilized. </p>
<p id="HiGYBM">Riding a four-game losing streak makes it much easier to identify the chinks in the armor. Things like body language on the sideline, missed assignments, penalties — one has to be able to change the narrative before they can change the result. For many of the Mizzou faithful, the end in sight may seem much closer, particularly with the onset of basketball season or excitement in other leagues around the country, to divert attention and possibly help ease the pain of what many see as total failure. This comes merely from the fact that the team itself cannot afford shift focus. </p>
<p id="mjydc8">So in terms of restoring order and confidence, the recipe may be simple, yet difficult to swallow. No matter the scenario, a positive goal is always possible. Whether that’s to finish the season strong and go undefeated from now until then, make a bowl game, or simply improve before the off-season, this team has to decide that the best scenario is worth obtaining.</p>
<p id="b1qow2">For this team, breaking a losing streak like the current one doesn’t take discouragement out of the picture, but rather affords the opportunity to become sick and tired of being discouraged themselves. One thing about correcting issues and breaking cycles is that those affected need to be bothered enough to want to fix it. This team needs to get bothered quickly... quicker than they have so far. If the end goal is a positive one and what is in place hasn’t worked, then challenging the norm such as watching more film, working out independently apart from team’s scheduled activities, staying after practice to perfect skills... All these are in some way sacrificial in nature, but can make up a winning recipe. </p>
<p id="ypDILY">At the end of the day, something has to give. The Tigers are imploding, and for those involved, it’s a sensitive subject to say the least. At the same time, something as sensitive, yet ultimately meaningful as time, can be the tell-tale sign as to what the members of this team value the most. Rewriting the narrative requires a degree of commitment unseen in the past few weeks. With two more games left in the season, it’s still not too late to decide to finish strong. </p>
<p id="f8yDNq">That starts with going 1-0 this weekend. </p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2019-mizzou-football/2019/11/22/20977333/in-the-huddle-combatting-a-losing-mentality-missouri-footballTerry Dennis2019-11-08T08:00:00-06:002019-11-08T08:00:00-06:00In the Huddle: How to topple Goliath
<figure>
<img alt="Missouri v Georgia" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FfzH2mX-L072OJ-XrT9lSzIFBCc=/0x0:2790x1860/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65661157/184220478.jpg.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With Missouri set to face one of the nation’s best teams, Terry Dennis takes us In the Huddle to describe how teams can effectively prepare as underdogs.</p> <p id="nlCmxs">Each week when analyzing In the Huddle, my objective is never to present a best-case scenario mindset. The intent is to convey a mixture of personal experience, real-time situational problems, issues, triumphs, and questions surrounding this current Mizzou football team. </p>
<p id="ZA8ect">Today will be no different. Mizzou Football will travel to Athens, GA, to square off against the current No. 6 ranked football team in the land. In all aspects, this is as a perfect setup for the Bulldogs — one of the nation’s best teams squaring off against a tweener like Mizzou in their own backyard. </p>
<p id="w63rJw">However, it’s important to realize that even if this Georgia team were undefeated (which they’re not) they are, in fact, beatable. South Carolina proved this to be true earlier in the season, the same South Carolina team that took one on the chin from the Tigers in week four. That’s college football — a series of ups and downs, questions, unexplained happenings, and a great deal of suspense. </p>
<p id="hdHQjm">For true underdogs, however, the opportunity to welcome a steep challenge is a chance to prove you are who you say you are or that you are more than what others say about you. For all intents and purposes, it’s a chance to prove that the giant isn’t too tall to topple.</p>
<p id="kLaTQv">For the team itself, coaches have to come to the collective understanding that rankings mean little to nothing. For FBS schools, they mean everything in the grand scheme of going to the playoffs. As an NAIA Tight Ends and Snappers Coach myself, having just faced the No. 2 ranked team in the nation at this level, it’s much of the same. </p>
<p id="8QYNx5">Two weeks ago, we — unranked Avila University — lost to the No. 2 ranked Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes by 1 point. On paper, they were the second-best NAIA team in the land. We saw their weaknesses on film and were able to eventually expose them. As coaches, we set the precedent from the beginning. Much like this week for Mizzou, we came off a bye week, having gained an extra week of preparation to break them down. </p>
<p id="ZlWnE6">As coaches, having broken down film long before players had the chance to gain access themselves, we understood and communicated that this KWU team is beatable, giving out players both the, “why,” and the, “how.” We showed examples on film, created situations during practice, and changed the demeanor in which we conveyed those messages in efforts to show we were serious. If attitude truly does reflect leadership, the players then followed suit, and it starts with how the coaches prepare. </p>
<p id="GdU4Xk">In my days playing for Mizzou from 2007-2011, Head Coach Gary Pinkel would say, “It doesn’t smell right,” particularly in weeks where it seemed we were going through the motions or somehow preparing like we had already won. That’s a very real possibility for this Georgia football team. On weeks such as these, the indescribable feeling in the air was different. Think about the 2010 Homecoming win against Oklahoma. There was more of a business approach, as opposed to the fun aspect of playing college football altogether — a collective focus that went unsaid, but played itself out at practice, meetings, and even off the field. </p>
<p id="kGdP3h">The odds are truly stacked against the Tigers heading into this weekend as they have to travel to Athens to get the job done in a historic environment with a tradition for winning football games. Nonetheless, respect is key in making sure each team understands that nothing is won by accident.</p>
<p id="CxK5Yg">When speaking on the opponent you’re facing, the common code of conduct is to give credit where credit is due. This shows a level of respect and evens the playing field (at least for a short interview) as two gladiators preparing for the same battle. People want to weigh the obvious — things like size comparisons, speed, players at opposing positions, accolades, rankings etc. </p>
<p id="s5H6Hl">For coaches and players, though, it becomes a strategic breakdown of personnel, asking, “How can our guy beat theirs at each position individually? Can we win more snaps than they do?” </p>
<p id="gmrhJT">The answer is yes. If teams don’t prepare to win the game, then why play to lose? If teams simply play not to lose, where is the joy in winning? As coaches, we’re tasked with taking the extra thinking off the players’ shoulders, and narrowing the focus of attack. </p>
<p id="F46EFa">For Mizzou’s players, on the other hand, the ability to mentally prepare for the task at hand begins with a realization — it’s OK to be the underdog! Motivation comes in many forms. As a former walk-on, motivation came for me in the form of being told there was something I could not do. There was always a constant comparison in my head, that if I were just like that other guy, I would get a shot. That’s not the case for me or this current Tiger team. They don’t need to be South Carolina. They don’t need to be Bama, Florida, Clemson, Ohio State, or anyone else other than Mizzou.</p>
<p id="7e8pOw">Mizzou has historically been that tweener team with the ability to disrupt the hopes of many “Goliaths.” For this team, the stage is set to walk out of Athens, after a game that - on paper - they should not win, and shake up the nation in a good way. For this to happen though, it can’t be about Georgia. It has to be about Mizzou. </p>
<p id="opMqGq">Losing to Kansas Wesleyan by one said more about Avila than it did Kansas Wesleyan. There are folks that exist who will say the “superior” team lost because they beat themselves — maybe there was a key injury or a key turnover. That may be partially true, but it’s heavily aided by an “inferior” team that did things right in trying to beat them. Mizzou has the pieces, but have they figured out how to work together over the past couple weeks? </p>
<p id="gkVYiL">Georgia is already ranked No. 6. That may matter to the Bulldogs, but it shouldn’t to the Tigers. For them, it should be about perfecting the little things. Every big thing started off small at some point. With winning clearly being hard to do from week to week, the little things add up to being something big enough to topple Goliath</p>
<p id="Sdz9Th"></p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2019/11/8/20954603/in-the-huddle-how-to-topple-goliath-missouri-tigers-georgia-bulldogs-footballTerry Dennis