The last few seasons the Big XII North has been…well…lets just say it’s been down.
That’s not news. The North division is not as bad as the National League is compared to the American League. And it’s not as bad as the NBA’s Eastern Conference compared to the Western Conference. It’s a lot worse.
The Eastern Conference has been able to produce two of the past three NBA champions while the NL has at least been able to produce a couple of teams the past two seasons that probably would have been able to compete in the AL. You can’t say that about the Big XII North.
In three of the past four Big XII title games the North’s representative has been outscored 141-13. If it weren’t for Darren Sproles running all over Oklahoma in the 02 Championship it would look even worse.
For a team like Missouri who has traditionally struggled in football, this is a golden opportunity. An opportunity that is more than just getting the chance to be slaughtered by Oklahoma or Texas in the Big XII “Championship” game. The door is wide open to rebuild their legacy.
If you’re a Tiger fan this is the third straight season you’ve had to listen to this, and so far all you’ve ended up with is bitter disappointment.
The best example of the discouragement that the Tigers have faced would surely have to be the 2004 season. Missouri was coming off one of its best seasons in years despite a loss to Arkansas in the Independence Bowl. Their offense featured the greatest quarterback to ever wear a Tiger’s uniform, a running back in Damien Nash who would go on to be drafted in the 5th round of the NFL Draft, and a big wide receiver in Sean Coffey who would set the school’s single season record for touchdown receptions. Plenty of weapons to say the least. Meanwhile their defense was ranked third in the entire Big XII.
What did all that amount to? Thanks to head coach Gary Pinkel’s stubbornness in trying to transform Smith into a pocket passer and refusal to let Brad Smith do what makes him Brad Smith a 5-6 record and who knows how many conversations on, “What could have been?”
The 2005 season definitely had its ups and downs and ultimately Pinkel failed to capitalize on the tremendous talents of Brad Smith by failing to win the lackluster North. But the season ended on a positive note with a dramatic come from behind victory over Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina Gamecocks in the Independence Bowl.
Now Brad Smith has graduated and it would seem like losing the greatest player in school history would result in a rebuilding season, but not in Columbia, and not in the wacky Big XII North.
The Tigers will hand the reigns over to talented sophomore Chase Daniel. Daniel led the Tigers to victory over Iowa State after Smith was knocked out of the game, and anyone who saw the game will tell you that Missouri does not win that game without Daniel.
Although Daniel will probably never come close to matching Smith’s career in terms of statistics (Smith holds nearly every school record in the book) he is a more complete player. His arm is much stronger and more accurate than Smith’s was and he has good mobility for a quarterback even though he will never compare to Smith when it comes to that. Daniel has also run Pinkel’s type of spread offense since he was in high school.
In addition to Daniel the rest of Missouri’s offense returns mainly intact with the only major losses being offensive lineman Tony Palmer and Coffey. Junior Martin Rucker and sophomore Chase Coffman form the best tight end tandem in the conference and possibly the entire country.
The defense has a few more question marks especially in the secondary, but the play of strong safety David Overstreet improved consistently throughout last season and coaches have been raving about cornerback Darnell Terrell’s potential since he transferred to Columbia last fall. Couple them with a strong defensive line led by Mizzou’s all time sack leader Brian Smith and Striker Sulak and you have plenty of talent to not only compete but win the North.
And that’s what it all comes down to for Pinkel and the Tigers. As great as Brad Smith’s career was you have to feel that it could have been something much more if Pinkel hadn’t wasted an entire season trying to turn him into something he’s not.
That said Pinkel has people caring about Missouri Tiger football again. Now it’s time to turn the corner. Two of the past three seasons could be considered at least somewhat of a success for Missouri. A Big XII North Championship and a decent showing in the title game should lead to an improvement in recruiting and eventually maybe even a birth into a BCS-bowl.
But progress is essential and Missouri can’t afford to get stuck in the mud. Anything less than a North title and the Missouri athletic department must take a hard look at the future of Gary Pinkel as head coach of the Missouri Tigers.
csg446@mizzou.edu
Copyright 2007 - MOP Squad Sports
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