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What's On
Ahead of a crucial series, a look at baseball's McArtor facility, this has been the first full season in use.
Football Notes
Wrapping up this week's conference call with Pinkel
15. Missouri: How do you pick against the Tigers in the SEC East? Since 2001, only three schools have played in back-to-back SEC title games. Missouri is one of them. Look at the schedule. The Tigers should be 6-0 heading to Georgia on Oct. 17.
Markus Golden
Golden makes it official and signs his contract
From raisingzona.com, get to know Markus
Despite a stellar senior season, his academia left him on the outside looking in. He did not get that offer from Mizzou.
Again, he committed himself and went to junior college. He thrived as a freshman at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, racking up 90 tackles, 26 for a loss and 10 sacks, five forced fumbles and two interceptions and the Missouri tigers finally called home for that recruitment visit.
"Markus walked from the tunnel out onto the middle of the field," Rhonda said. "He became so emotional. He was jumping up and down and yelling, ‘Ma, I’m going to play here. I promise I’m going to play here on this field.’"
Mitch Morse
Chiefs deal for Mitch Morse: $4.673 million, $2.716 million guaranteed, $1.658 million signing bonus
— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) May 13, 2015
Here's what Mitch Morse can offer the Kansas City Chiefs - Arrowhead Pride
I'll admit this wasn't an easy evaluation because videos on Morse were hard to find. The go-to resource for prospect footage, Draft Breakdown, had exactly ZERO dedicated films for him. Luckily, we were able to find some 2012 games here. I took a similar approach by looking for games featuring defenders Morse faced over his career at Mizzou. Even when I found videos that included Morse, you had to visually find him on every play as Mizzou moved him all over the place even within games. Eventually, I reviewed seven games -- three at center and four at tackle. Morse only played center for six games in 2012, his first year as a starter in college.
Mitch Morse is tough as nails. Plain and simple. And it's a good thing, too. Because the Kansas City Chiefs are holding their rookie mini camp on Saturday, and Morse, the 6-foot-5 Texan, a second-round selection with pick No. 49 in the 2015 NFL Draft, is walking into an arduous situation.
Marcus Murphy
Marcus Murphy signed with the Saints for 4 years, $2.35M
Basketball Notes
Coach Anderson looking ahead to brighter days
NCAA rules prohibit Anderson from commenting on the latest commitment until the signed letter of intent is received, but it's clear he has been putting his stamp on the team by keeping as close an eye on chemistry as he does on talent when it comes to recruiting.
"We've tried to be really conscious of doing a good job of getting to know the guys in the recruiting process," Anderson said. "I'm hopeful that will help our chemistry and our togetherness as a team. Because that's really important.
"I learned that a long time ago, the guys have to play together, they have to want to play together and they have to enjoy playing together."
Coach Anderson stops by the Hollywood Casino's Press Box
Once the new recruits officially sign, is he done making changes to the roster?
"I think we are, that would put us at 13 scholarships which is the maximum. I think we are still going to be keeping an eye on things around the country. I feel good about our young men who have made the commitment to come here and the guys coming back. In this business, you don't shut it down, but at this point I feel good about everybody."
For the NBA fans, A comparison of Jordan Clarkson's and Marcus Smart's shot charts
On a sadder note, former Tiger players remember Jeff Warren
"Jeff was one of those guys that would play through anything," said Melvin Booker, who recalled him catching an elbow and breaking his nose during one game but continuing on like nothing had happened. "He’s the toughest player I ever played with in my career — and that’s high school, college and professional."
Big weekend for diamond sports
Softball: For Coach Stubble, a possible Border War match-up takes a backseat.
"I don’t really care about it," Earleywine said. "The fans are going to really enjoy it, though, because we don’t get to play them in the other sports, and so to play them two years in a row in our regional tournament, we’re the only sport doing that, and I think it’s fun for the fans."
Earleywine, a Jefferson City native, doesn’t care about the possibility of a Border War renewal?
"I mean, I care," Earleywine said with a grin. "I care more about winning a regional, though, than I do a rivalry matchup. I just want to advance."
Fun fact for the day
Mizzou moved up to No. 12 in the latest NFCA/USA Today poll. It's now been 2,527 days since the last time the Tigers were unranked.
— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) May 13, 2015
Baseball Bubble Watch:
Kentucky, which will play at Missouri this weekend for 3-game set, is among http://t.co/2t1EWYTXM8's "first 5 out."
— Blake Toppmeyer (@btoppmeyer) May 13, 2015
Right now, Kentucky, South Carolina and Missouri fans should be nervous. There are 31 conferences with automatic bids to the NCAA tournament, and some of the teams that fill them are going to come from outside the Top 64 in RPI. In fact, we already know of one: Columbia, the Ivy League champion, current sits at No. 67.
Win and we're in? (Too soon?)
From mutigers.com, series preview and a look back at the rest of the season in numbers
Other Mizzou notes:
Track and Field Tigers head to the SEC championships this weekend
An interview with Mizzou grad & photographer David Eulitt
Have you ever been pummeled by an athlete?
When I was shooting in California, Troy Aikman when he was at UCLA literally ran me over. The hardest I was ever hit was at a Mizzou football practice and this wide receiver came way out of bounds to try to catch a pass and all my gear broke and my lens snapped.