To be honest, we didn’t feel like copying and pasting all this stuff at 1am… so we’re doing so now.

Below is the information that was posted at SECSports.com last night:

Tiger Tracks: Missouri Joins The SEC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Given the ever-changing conference paradigm over the past year, the Southeastern Conference has continued to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining its stature as one of the nation’s premier conferences by welcoming the University of Missouri as the league’s 14th member, Commissioner Mike Slive announced Monday.

Missouri joins Texas A&M University as the league’s two new institutions who will begin full membership on July 1, 2012. It is the first expansion of the SEC membership since Arkansas and South Carolina joined the conference in 1992.

Missouri was a charter member of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1907, which became the Big Six Conference in 1964, the Big Eight Conference in 1964 and the Big 12 Conference in 1996.

Geographically, it is a natural fit as the state of Missouri touches more states (Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee) that currently are home to an SEC institution than any other state that is not in the league’s previous 13-member footprint. Like the majority of the cities in the SEC, Columbia, Mo., is a college-centered town with a metropolitan population of 164,283, making it the fifth- largest city in the state of Missouri.

With an enrollment of 32,415, the University of Missouri boasts a strong academic resume, as it is one of only five universities nationwide with law, medicine, veterinary medicine and a research reactor on one campus. Six of Missouri’s sports teams last season led the Big 12 in graduation rate for their respective sports.

Culturally, Missouri is as well known for its barbecue, country music, history and rich tradition as the majority of the current states of the SEC.

Missouri is one of only 35 public U.S. universities invited to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). It will become the fourth SEC school that is part of the AAU, joining Florida, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

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Monday’s announcement marks just the fourth time in the history of the conference that the SEC will expand its membership. In a landscape that has seemed ever-changing in recent years, the SEC has exemplified stability as 10 of its original 13 members remain.

The league began as a 13-team league until Sewanee’s departure from the conference in 1940. After Georgia Tech’s move to independent status in 1964, the league had 11 members before Tulane departed in 1966, leaving the SEC as a 10-team conference for more than two decades.

At the start of the decade of the 1990s, a similar shift in conference alignment allowed Arkansas and South Carolina to join the SEC. The benefits have been nothing short of outstanding.

Soon after joining the league, the Razorbacks claimed the 1994 NCAA Championship in men’s basketball and finished as the NCAA runner-up the following year. They made their first appearance in the SEC Championship football game in 1995, appearing again in 2002 and 2006.

The Arkansas women’s basketball team made its first-ever Final Four appearance in 1998 before winning the WNIT the next season. The level of track and field in the SEC was quickly raised with the addition of the Razorbacks. Arkansas’ men won cross country national titles in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Men’s NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships came every year from 1993-2000 and again in 2003, 2005 and 2006. The men also claimed NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships from 1993-1999 and again in 2003.

South Carolina won the Women’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in 2002, becoming, at the time, just the second different SEC team to claim an NCAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. The past two seasons have been magical ones for the Gamecocks, as they have captured back-to-back NCAA Championships in baseball and advanced to the SEC Championship game in football for the first time in the program’s history.

On September 25, 2011, Texas A&M was announced as the league’s 13th member, beginning with the 2012-13 academic year. *******************

Missouri took to the field for the first time in 1890, making it one of the first SEC institutions to begin playing football. Kentucky played a three-game schedule in 1881, but didn’t play again until a decade later. Vanderbilt also began its football program in 1890.

Don Faurot was one of the early founders of Missouri athletics, as he was a three-sport standout for the Tigers from 1922-24. He served the school as its football coach from 1935-56 and continued on as the athletics director until 1967. Faurot is known for the creation of the Split-T formation in 1941. The formation’s option play still today serves as the basis for many present-day schemes, including the Wishbone, Wingbone, Veer and I-Formation.

Faurot compiled a record of 101-79-10, making the school’s first modern-day bowl appearance in 1939 when it advanced to the Orange Bowl. Until 1994, the year prior to his death, Faurot was heavily involved in the annual Blue-Gray football game in Montgomery, Ala.

The Tigers rose to national prominence under head coach Dan Devine in the 1960s, when Devine’s winning percentage of .767 was the best in the nation during that decade. In 13 seasons at Missouri, Devine posted a record of 93-37-7 and eight players earned First-Team All-America honors. His 1960 Missouri squad finished with an 11-0 record and defeated Navy 21-14 in the Orange Bowl. The 1965 squad went 8-2-1 and defeated Florida in the Sugar Bowl. The Tigers won the Big Eight Conference in 1960 and 1969 under Devine.

Since 2007, the football Tigers have claimed three Big 12 North Championships. Under current head coach Gary Pinkel, Missouri posted a 12-2 record in 2007 and defeated Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl.

The Tigers began playing basketball in 1906 and enjoyed the greatest amount of success under legendary head coach Norm Stewart from 1967-99. In 32 years, Stewart led Missouri to 634 wins and 333 losses for a .656 winning percentage, the best in program history. Stewart’s teams won 20 or more games 17 times, including a school-record 29 wins during the 1988-89 season. He won eight Big Eight Conference championships and six conference tournament titles.

Missouri started competing in the sport of baseball in 1891 and won the College World Series in 1954, marking the school’s first national title in any sport. The Tigers have made six CWS appearances in the program’s history, including three national runner-up finishes (1952, 1958, 1964).

The Tigers also have had great success in the sport of track and field and won the NCAA Men’s Indoor Championship in 1965. The soccer and softball teams have been proficient as of late with soccer winning the 2009 Big 12 Championship and softball claiming that title in 2011.

Missouri: What You Need To Know

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Missouri became the Southeastern Conference’s 14th member. To familiarize yourself with important facts related to the Tigers’ athletics tradition, here is a quick rundown of what you need to know about Missouri athletics.

Founded: 1839 Enrollment: 32,415 Nickname: Tigers Colors: Old Gold and Black Mascot: Truman The Tiger (a Bengal tiger named after former U.S. President Harry S. Truman)

Previous Conference Affiliations: Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1907-1928); Big Six Conference (1929-1964); Big Eight Conference (1964-1996); Big 12 Conference (1996-Present) – north division

Sponsored Sports:

Men: Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, swimming and diving, track and field, wrestling Women: Basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball

National Championships:

o Baseball: 1954 o Men’s Indoor Track and Field: 1965

Traditions:

Truman The Tiger

The nickname “Tigers,” given to Mizzou’s athletic teams, traces its origin to the Civil War period. At that time, plundering guerilla bands habitually raided small towns, and Columbia people constantly feared an attack. Such organizations as temporary “home guards” and vigilance companies banded together to fight off any possible forays.

The town’s preparedness discouraged any guerilla activity and the protecting organization began to disband in 1854. However, it

was rumored that a guerilla band, led by the notorious Bill Anderson, intended to sack the town. Quickly organized was an armed guard of Columbia citizens, who built a blockhouse and fortified the old courthouse in the center of town. This company was called “The Missouri Tigers.”

The marauders never came. The reputation of the intrepid “Tigers” presumably traveled abroad, and Anderson’s gang detoured around Columbia.

Soon after Missouri’s first football team was organized in 1890, the athletic committee adopted the nickname “Tiger” in official recognition of those Civil War defenders.Their spirit is now embodied in the MU mascot – “Truman the Tiger.” The Tiger was named Truman in 1984 because of a contest held by the cheerleaders. Previously MU had two mascots, a male and a female, but neither had an identity.

This contest was held on campus, over a period of a few weeks, to develop a name for the Tiger mascot. The winner, a student, submitted the name Truman (after Missouri-bred President of the United States Harry S Truman). The name stuck and has been popular ever since.

In 1986, the Tiger mascot design caricature, image, material, and color was in need of an upgrade. Jack Lengyel, Dick Tamburo, and Joe Castiglione sought a way to improve the overall personality of our mascot, Truman.

A design was submitted to the manufacturer for production. (Some financial help was provided by local restuaranteur Dick Walls.) The new mascot made its first appearance at the Missouri-Utah State football game in 1986.

Courtesy of http://www.mutigers.com/trads/mascot-football-traditions.html (http://www.mutigers.com/trads/mascot-football-traditions.html) Official Mizzou Ring

Gaining in popularity, the Official Mizzou Ring is a symbol of accomplishment at the university. Upon completion of 60 hours of study, students are eligible to receive their rings in an annual ceremony.

Courtesy of http://www.mizzou.com/s/1002/index.aspx?sid=1002&gid=1&pgid=322 (http://www.mutigers.com/trads/mascot-football-traditions.html) Homecoming

The Homecoming tradition was started at Mizzou in 1911, when the MU football coach and Director of Athletics, Chester Brewer, invited alumni to “come home” to Columbia for the annual football game against the University of Kansas.

Mizzou still boasts the largest student-run Homecoming in the nation. The annual events include a parade, blood drive, talent competition, tailgate, and many more.

Courtesy of http://www.mizzou.com/s/1002/index.aspx?sid=1002&gid=1&pgid=322 (http://www.mizzou.com/s/1002/index.aspx?sid=1002&gid=1&pgid=322) The Columns

The traditional symbol of the University of Missouri is the row of six Ionic columns. The Columns once supported the portico of Academic Hall, the first building erected on campus. Academic Hall was built between 1840 and 1843 from plans drawn by A. Stephen Hills, designer of the Missouri State Capitol.

It consisted of a domed central section of three stories with two wings and housed both educational and administrative facilities. Brick for the building was fired on campus. Limestone for the Columns was obtained from the nearby Hinkson Creek Valley and was hauled to the building by ox-drawn carts.

On Jan. 9, 1892, Academic Hall was destroyed by fire and the Columns were all that remained. In August 1893 the Board of Curators voted to remove the Columns, considering them not only unsafe but unsightly. However, supporters of the Columns rallied to their defense, and after inspection showed the foundations were safe, the Board voted to retain them in December 1893. Now the Columns stand as a beloved part of MU’s campus.

Courtesy of http://www.missouri.edu/about/history/columns.php (http://www.missouri.edu/about/history/columns.php) Missouri Athletics Web site: www.mutigers.com (http://www.mutigers.com)

Notable University of Missouri Former Students (Non-Athletes)

• John Anderson, sports broadcaster • Skip Caray, sports broadcaster • Sheryl Crow, musician • Dennis Dodd, sports journalist

• Pat Forde, sports journalist • Jim Lehrer, broadcaster • Lisa Myers, news broadcaster • Brad Pitt, actor • Richard Richards, Astronaut • Mort Walker, cartoonist • Sam Walton, Wal Mart • Tennessee Williams, playwright

What Is The State of Missouri Known For?

• State Nickname: Show-Me State • Known as “The Gateway to the West” • Birthplace of U.S. President Harry S. Truman (Independence, Mo.) • Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain Speech” (Fulton, Mo.) • Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home (Hannibal, Mo.) • Eastern Starting Point of Pony Express (St. Joseph, Mo.) • Crossroads of Country Music (Springfield, Mo./Branson, Mo.) • Barbecue (Kansas City, Mo.)

Homecoming Tradition Traced To MU

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – One aspect of Southeastern Conference athletics that fans at each of its member institutions take great pride in are the unique and long-lasting traditions that the schools have maintained for more than a century.

Missouri, which on Monday became the SEC’s 14th member effective July 1, 2012, is thought to be the creator of one of the greatest traditions in college football and one that is extremely prevalent on campuses across the SEC footprint.

Legend has it that the tradition of Homecoming games got its start at the University of Missouri in 1911. Chester Brewer, Missouri’s Director of Athletics at the time, wanted to add some additional fanfare surrounding the Tigers’ game with Kansas that year because it was being played on a college campus for the first time in its series history.

He reached out to the school’s alumni and former football players with the charge of “Coming Home” for the game. A then-record crowd of 9,000 fans were on hand for the game, which ended in a tie.

Though the University of Illinois was thought to have staged a similar celebration in 1910, Missouri was the first to hold a homecoming football game.

Entering the 2011 season, the Tigers held a 57-37-5 all-time record in homecoming games.

Missouri-SEC Connections: A History

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The move to the Southeastern Conference indicates a new beginning for Missouri athletics, but the Tigers have a proud tradition and numerous ties with the SEC. Here’s a quick look at some of the most recognizable ties between the league and its new member.

Coaches

Mike Anderson, Men’s Basketball

Anderson spent 17 seasons as a volunteer assistant, recruiting coordinator and assistant head coach at Arkansas, during which time the Razorbacks made 16 Sweet 16 appearances, three Final Fours and the 1994 NCAA Championship. Following four seasons as the head coach at UAB, Anderson spent the last five years as the head coach at Missouri, leading the Tigers to an overall record of 111-56 (.665) with four NCAA Tournament victories and a 75-13 home record. After taking Missouri to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2009, Anderson was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches National Coach of the Year. He was named Arkansas’ head coach on March 23, 2011.

Frank Broyles, Football

Broyles served as Missouri’s head coach during the 1957 season, leading the Tigers to a 5-4-1 overall record before Dan Devine took over in 1958. Broyles had been a three-sport standout at Georgia Tech from 1944-46 when the Yellow Jackets were a member of the SEC. In 1958, Broyles took over a struggling Razorback program. During Broyles’ 19 seasons at Arkansas, he compiled a record of 144-58-5, leading his squad to seven Southwest Conference Championships and 10 bowl games. His 1964 Arkansas team won its 11 regular-season games and was voted national champions by the Football Writers Association of America, defeating Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. Broyles served as Arkansas athletics director until 2007, leading the Razorbacks through their transition to the SEC in 1992.

John Cohen, Baseball

Cohen played baseball at Mississippi State from 1988-90, helping to lead the Bulldogs to the 1990 College World Series as a senior. Cohen’s first coaching job came as a graduate assistant and later assistant coach at Missouri from 1992-97. Under Cohen’s direction, the Missouri offense broke 17 total offensive records during his six seasons in Columbia. After four years as head coach at Northwestern State, Cohen spent two seasons as an assistant at Florida. He was then the head coach at the University of Kentucky for five seasons, beginning in 2003, compiling a 175-113-1 record and an SEC Championship. Since 2009, he has been head coach at Mississippi State.

Ernie Nestor, Men’s Basketball

Nestor is in his first season as an assistant basketball coach at Missouri, but has SEC ties, having served as an assistant coach on Dave Odom’s staff at South Carolina from 2001-2003. In 2001-02, the Gamecocks finished 22-15 and were the NIT runners-up.

Woody Widenhofer, Football

Widenhofer played linebacker at Missouri from 1961-64 and later served as Missouri’s head coach from 1985-88, compiling a 12-31-1 overall record. His best season came in 1987, leading the Tigers to a 5-6 overall record. Following NFL coaching stints at the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, Widenhofer became Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator in 1995. He was elevated to head coach in 1997, where he compiled a record of 15-37 in five seasons at the helm of the Commodores.

Big Football Games vs. SEC Opponents

2008 – Missouri 38, Arkansas 7

A Big-12 Conference Championship game loss away from reaching the BCS Championship game, Missouri recorded a dominating 38-7 Cotton Bowl victory against Arkansas. Mizzou was ranked No. 1 after beating Kansas in the regular-season finale but then lost badly to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game. Arkansas wore all-red uniforms as a tribute to Frank Broyles, in his last game as the school’s athletics director.

2005 – Missouri 38, South Carolina 31

With Missouri trailing 21-0 after the first quarter and 28-14 at halftime, South Carolina outgained the Tigers 312 yards to 174 in the first half and held the football almost 11 minutes longer. But the Missouri outscored the Gamecocks 24-3 in the final period to claim a 38-31 Independence Bowl Victory. Missouri quarterback Brad Smith completed 21 of 37 passes for 282 yards, with one touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.

1978 – Alabama 38, Missouri 20

Playing in front of what was then the largest crowd in Memorial Stadium history (73,655), No. 1 Alabama pulled off a 38-20 victory against No. 11 Missouri. The Tigers were riding high after a win against Notre Dame, the defending national champion, the previous week. Missouri led 20-17 at halftime, but Alabama stormed out of the locker room at intermission. The Crimson Tide would go on to win their 10th national championship that year.

1973 – Missouri 34, Auburn 17

Missouri jumped out to a 28-10 advantage and rolled to a 34-17 victory against Auburn in the Sun Bowl. Missouri had a pair of players eclipse the 100-yard rushing plateau as Ray Bybee rushed 27 times for 127 yards and a touchdown, and Tommy Reamon rushed 23 times for 110 yards.

1968 – Missouri 35, Alabama 10

Employing the newly-installed Power-I formation, Missouri quarterback Terry McMillan ran for three touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 35-10 Gator Bowl victory against Alabama. It marked Alabama’s worst bowl loss in the program’s history. McMillan didn’t complete a single pass in the game and he was picked off twice, but his three rushing touchdowns and new-look offensive formation kept the Crimson Tide off balance.

1966 – Missouri 20, Florida 18

With Florida trailing 20-0, junior quarterback Steve Spurrier brought the Gators’ offense to life in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough in a 20-18 loss to Missouri in the Sugar Bowl. Spurrier completed 27-of-45 passes for 352 yards and became the first player from the losing team to be named the game’s Most Outstanding Player. He broke six bowl records in the contest.

1960 – Georgia 14, Missouri 0

In Georgia coach Wally Butts’ last game, senior quarterback Fran Tarkenton threw for two touchdowns and completed nine of 16 passes for 131 yards to lead the Bulldogs to a 14-0 Orange Bowl victory. Missouri, the Big Seven Conference Champions, threw three interceptions on potential scoring drives.

1958 – Vanderbilt 12, Missouri 8

Dan Devine, making his debut as Missouri’s head coach and its third coach in three years, would go on to become one of the most successful coaches in program history. But in his opener with the Tigers, Devine lost a 12-8 decision to Vanderbilt. He would lost just 37 more times in 13 years.

SEC-Missouri Football Series Histories

Alabama: Missouri Leads 2-1 (Last Meeting: 1978) Arkansas: Missouri leads 3-2 (Last Meeting: 2008) Auburn: Missouri Leads 1-0 (Last Meeting: 1973) Florida: Missouri Leads 1-0 (Last Meeting: 1966) Georgia: Missouri Trails 0-1 (Last Meeting: 1960) Kentucky: Missouri Trails 1-2 (Last Meeting: 1968) LSU: Missouri Leads 1-0 (Last Meeting: 1978)

Ole Miss: Missouri Leads 5-1 (Last Meeting: 2007) Mississippi State: Missouri Leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: 1984) South Carolina: Missouri Leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: 2005) Tennessee: Never Met Vanderbilt: Missouri Leads 2-1-1 (Last Meeting: 1958) Missouri All-Time vs. the SEC: 20-8-1

SEC-Missouri Men’s Basketball Series Histories

Alabama: Missouri Trails 1-4 (Last Meeting: 2001) Arkansas: Missouri Trails 18-19 (Last Meeting: 2007) Auburn: Never Met Florida: Never Met

Georgia: Missouri Leads 3-0 (Last Meeting: 2009) Kentucky: Missouri Trails 0-4 (Last Meeting: 1999) LSU: Missouri Trails 0-1 (Last Meeting: 1980) Ole Miss: Never Met

Mississippi State: Missouri Leads 2-1 (Last Meeting: 2007) South Carolina: Never Met Tennessee: Missouri Leads 4-2 (Last Meeting: 1985) Vanderbilt: Tigers Trail 2-3 (Last Meeting: 2010)

Missouri All-Time vs. the SEC: 30-34

Missouri To The SEC: The Dortch Report

Ernie Nestor, Men’s Basketball

Nestor is in his first season as an assistant basketball coach at Missouri, but has SEC ties, having served as an assistant coach on Dave Odom’s staff at South Carolina from 2001-2003. In 2001-02, the Gamecocks finished 22-15 and were the NIT runners-up.

Woody Widenhofer, Football

Widenhofer played linebacker at Missouri from 1961-64 and later served as Missouri’s head coach from 1985-88, compiling a 12-31-1 overall record. His best season came in 1987, leading the Tigers to a 5-6 overall record. Following NFL coaching stints at the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, Widenhofer became Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator in 1995. He was elevated to head coach in 1997, where he compiled a record of 15-37 in five seasons at the helm of the Commodores.

Big Football Games vs. SEC Opponents

2008 – Missouri 38, Arkansas 7

A Big-12 Conference Championship game loss away from reaching the BCS Championship game, Missouri recorded a dominating 38-7 Cotton Bowl victory against Arkansas. Mizzou was ranked No. 1 after beating Kansas in the regular-season finale but then lost badly to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game. Arkansas wore all-red uniforms as a tribute to Frank Broyles, in his last game as the school’s athletics director.

2005 – Missouri 38, South Carolina 31

With Missouri trailing 21-0 after the first quarter and 28-14 at halftime, South Carolina outgained the Tigers 312 yards to 174 in the first half and held the football almost 11 minutes longer. But the Missouri outscored the Gamecocks 24-3 in the final period to claim a 38-31 Independence Bowl Victory. Missouri quarterback Brad Smith completed 21 of 37 passes for 282 yards, with one touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.

1978 – Alabama 38, Missouri 20

Playing in front of what was then the largest crowd in Memorial Stadium history (73,655), No. 1 Alabama pulled off a 38-20 victory against No. 11 Missouri. The Tigers were riding high after a win against Notre Dame, the defending national champion, the previous week. Missouri led 20-17 at halftime, but Alabama stormed out of the locker room at intermission. The Crimson Tide would go on to win their 10th national championship that year.

1973 – Missouri 34, Auburn 17

Missouri jumped out to a 28-10 advantage and rolled to a 34-17 victory against Auburn in the Sun Bowl. Missouri had a pair of players eclipse the 100-yard rushing plateau as Ray Bybee rushed 27 times for 127 yards and a touchdown, and Tommy Reamon rushed 23 times for 110 yards.

1968 – Missouri 35, Alabama 10

Employing the newly-installed Power-I formation, Missouri quarterback Terry McMillan ran for three touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 35-10 Gator Bowl victory against Alabama. It marked Alabama’s worst bowl loss in the program’s history. McMillan didn’t complete a single pass in the game and he was picked off twice, but his three rushing touchdowns and new-look offensive formation kept the Crimson Tide off balance.

1966 – Missouri 20, Florida 18

With Florida trailing 20-0, junior quarterback Steve Spurrier brought the Gators’ offense to life in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough in a 20-18 loss to Missouri in the Sugar Bowl. Spurrier completed 27-of-45 passes for 352 yards and became the first player from the losing team to be named the game’s Most Outstanding Player. He broke six bowl records in the contest.

1960 – Georgia 14, Missouri 0

In Georgia coach Wally Butts’ last game, senior quarterback Fran Tarkenton threw for two touchdowns and completed nine of 16 passes for 131 yards to lead the Bulldogs to a 14-0 Orange Bowl victory. Missouri, the Big Seven Conference Champions, threw three interceptions on potential scoring drives.

1958 – Vanderbilt 12, Missouri 8

Dan Devine, making his debut as Missouri’s head coach and its third coach in three years, would go on to become one of the most successful coaches in program history. But in his opener with the Tigers, Devine lost a 12-8 decision to Vanderbilt. He would lost just 37 more times in 13 years.

SEC-Missouri Football Series Histories

Alabama: Missouri Leads 2-1 (Last Meeting: 1978) Arkansas: Missouri leads 3-2 (Last Meeting: 2008) Auburn: Missouri Leads 1-0 (Last Meeting: 1973) Florida: Missouri Leads 1-0 (Last Meeting: 1966) Georgia: Missouri Trails 0-1 (Last Meeting: 1960) Kentucky: Missouri Trails 1-2 (Last Meeting: 1968) LSU: Missouri Leads 1-0 (Last Meeting: 1978)

Ole Miss: Missouri Leads 5-1 (Last Meeting: 2007) Mississippi State: Missouri Leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: 1984) South Carolina: Missouri Leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: 2005) Tennessee: Never Met Vanderbilt: Missouri Leads 2-1-1 (Last Meeting: 1958) Missouri All-Time vs. the SEC: 20-8-1

SEC-Missouri Men’s Basketball Series Histories

Alabama: Missouri Trails 1-4 (Last Meeting: 2001) Arkansas: Missouri Trails 18-19 (Last Meeting: 2007) Auburn: Never Met Florida: Never Met

Georgia: Missouri Leads 3-0 (Last Meeting: 2009) Kentucky: Missouri Trails 0-4 (Last Meeting: 1999) LSU: Missouri Trails 0-1 (Last Meeting: 1980) Ole Miss: Never Met

Mississippi State: Missouri Leads 2-1 (Last Meeting: 2007) South Carolina: Never Met Tennessee: Missouri Leads 4-2 (Last Meeting: 1985) Vanderbilt: Tigers Trail 2-3 (Last Meeting: 2010)

Missouri All-Time vs. the SEC: 30-34

Missouri To The SEC: Barnhart’s Take

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With Missouri joining the Southeastern Conference, we continue to get reaction from across the nation about the league’s 14th team.

In this special “Q&A,” we sat down with Tony Barnhart, one of the country’s most esteemed college football writers. Known as “Mr. College Football,” Barnhart writes for CBS Sports, and has a weekly column here on the SEC Digital Network.

SEC Digital Network: What is your opinion of Missouri joining the SEC and what do you know about them as a football program?

Tony Barnhart: “I think people have to remember that, as recently as 2007, Missouri was ranked No. 1 and in a position to play for the national championship. If they beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game, they were in a position to play for it all. Gary Pinkel has been as consistent of a coach as they’ve ever had. Missouri knows what good football looks like.

The thing that people keep asking: ‘Is Missouri a cultural fit?’ I don’t think there’s any question that they are. People forget that there were questions about South Carolina and Arkansas. South Carolina had always been in the ACC or an independent, and Arkansas had been a founding member of the Southwest Conference, as far west as they were. People wondered if they would be a cultural fit. Once you bring somebody into the SEC family, after 3-4 years from now, that question will never be raised. They become a part of that family by being invited.”

SEC Digital Network: What can you tell people about Columbia, Mo., and is it similar to any SEC towns?

Tony Barnhart: “Columbia, Mo., is a neat place. You fly into St. Louis for the most part and then drive over. People there get very excited. They have been a very, very consistent football program and all this stuff about them being mediocre in the SEC, I just don’t see that. They recruit all over. They have gone into Texas quite a bit and recruited Chase Daniel, for one. I think people will enjoy Missouri – it’s a neat campus and a neat University. They’re an AAU institution, they’re very strong academically and they have one of the best journalism schools in the country. Now we will have an argument about what is the best journalism school in the SEC – is it Missouri or Georgia?”

SEC Digital Network: How much sense does it make to now have 14 teams in the SEC and how does that help the issues that you may see with 13 teams, such as scheduling?

Tony Barnhart: “Could the conference make it as 13 schools for one year? Sure; the scheduling models are done. The Mid-American Conference has done it, so there are ways for it to be done. But it’s not easy; this simplifies it. I don’t know what the conference will decide to do. To me, the logical thing would be to take Missouri and put them in the east. It’s not that far from Lexington, Ky. If you put them in the East, have Texas A&M stay in the west, then you play the other six teams in your division and have one permanent crossover on the other side. You would make Missouri and Texas A&M the permanent crossover. To me, that is the least disruptive thing to do. No matter what, you want to maintain some of the better crossover games in the divisions.”

SEC Digital Network: How much do you think the addition of Missouri will help football recruiting within the SEC?

Tony Barnhart: “I think it always helps to bring new markets into recruiting. Texas A&M brings in the Texas market, this brings you St. Louis and Kansas City. There are a lot of really good football players in that market. That part of the world has always viewed itself as Big 8 or Big 12 territory. The SEC games are already on television there, so you take the SEC brand and the high school recruiters can go in there and open those doors. I think anytime you can expand your recruiting base, it helps.”

SEC Digital Network: There are those SEC fans who may not understand bringing Missouri into the SEC. Having witnessed the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina, how similar to you view that situation to the addition of Missouri?

Tony Barnhart: “I think it will be exactly the same. People couldn’t envision South Carolina in the SEC. They certainly couldn’t envision Arkansas in the SEC, because they did most of their recruiting in the state of Texas. It’s a combination of branding – once you get that SEC brand – and playing teams and developing rivalries. I don’t know how many times Arkansas and Alabama played before Arkansas joined the SEC, but all of a sudden, you look up and it’s an honest to goodness football rivalry. It’s the mere fact of playing the games and having fans go to new places. In three or four years, this discussion will disappear. Whether or not Missouri is a cultural fit, it will evolve simply by bringing them into the family. It’s like when you bring in someone new to your family. The first two to three times at the dinner table are probably a little awkward, but after that everybody becomes comfortable.”

Brett Beaird

Numerous media reports indicate it is a just a matter of time before Missouri becomes the 14^th member of the SEC. Missouri is not the first choice of many SEC supporters. Virginia Tech, Florida State, West Virginia and other schools have more of an “it” factor when being examined for possible membership. Curators of the University of Missouri recently granted Chancellor Brady Deaton permission to begin “divorce proceedings” with the Big 12. Now that Texas A&M is the official 13^th member of the conference and Missouri and SEC officials are on course to finalize the Tigers entry into the SEC, SEC fans are asking is Missouri a good fit for the SEC?

As with any school Missouri has it pros and cons for membership.

On paper Missouri seems to be a good fit in comparison with other SEC schools. Many people have long surmised the reason that SEC officials are interested in Missouri is the expansion of the SEC footprint into two huge TV markets of St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo.. The St. Louis market is ranked #21 nationally with 1,258,580 and Kansas City is ranked #31 with 974,820 households.

The University of Missouri is a flagship state university similar to the universities of Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, LSU.  State flagship universities have on the whole larger fan bases, political strength (in their legislature and board of trustees) and brand value. In other words, these universities are the power brokers in higher education with more resources at their disposal.

The University of Missouri’s undergraduate enrollment numbers (20,802 fall of 2011) are similar to other SEC members. The city of Columbia, Mo. has a population base (101,838) similar to Gainesville, Columbia, Knoxville, Lexington and Baton Rouge. Missouri is a good fit because of its academics and the University has an enormous endowment. Missouri has a $143 million dollar endowment rated #9 in the “10 Best University Endowments” in the nation.

Where does Missouri fit in the east or west division- Missouri borders three SEC states: Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas which is key for many SEC schools fan bases that travel well. Gabe DeArmond, publisher of PowerMizzou the Missouri Rivals.com site, believes Missouri fans do not have a preference for which division the Tigers are placed. Texas A&M appears to be destined for the SEC West and it would be an easier fit to move Missouri to the SEC East rather than displace a school such as Auburn and move them to the East. The majority of the SEC schools are in favor of the addition of the Tigers to the SEC if it does not jeopardize decades old rivalries. Alabama athletic officials are fierce loyalists in wishing to keep the Alabama/Tennessee rivalry going. DeArmond believes traveling another 50 or 100 miles to play schools in the Eastern division would not be a big deterrent for travel.

Which teams would be a natural rival for the Tigers – Historically, Ole Miss is the SEC team that Missouri has played the most having played six times. Logically, Arkansas would be a big rival for Missouri. The two states share a large border and share a passion for basketball. Arkansas’ new coach Mike Anderson ironically coached at Missouri before coming to Arkansas. Recruiting also plays a role in this. The nation’s top prospect wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham lives in Springfield, Mo and is being courted heavily by Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas and a host of other schools. Other rivalries for Missouri will materialize through competition. South Carolina didn’t have a true SEC Rival when it entered the league in 1992. The Gamecocks quickly developed a fierce rivalry with Georgia. Certainly other schools in the SEC will develop a rival relationship with the Tigers.

Missouri must buy in to what the SEC is selling - One of the reasons Alabama is now ranked #2 in the nation is Alabama head coach Nick Saban, asks each player to buy into his program. The playbook is one of the many items Saban gives the players. Saban does one of the best jobs in the nation in building a program from the inside out. Saban brings in noted motivational speaker Dr. Kevin Elko annually to check the “mental pulse” of the team. Elko helps each player build people and life skills. How do they manage their time, relationships, money, family and romantic relationships. Saban gives them a blue print to be a successful person on-and-off the field.

Missouri must understand the SEC is all-for-one and one-for-all. Members of the SEC remind people of the iconic TV drama Dallas featuring the oil-rich Ewing Family. The Ewings would cheat on their spouse, enter into shady business deals and fight like cats and dogs every day, but when “Miss Ellie” rang the dinner bell, everyone came running and put on their “Sunday best” clothes and attitude for dinner. Missouri officials must buy into the SEC’s way of doing business. SEC Commissioner Mike Slive lives by the Teddy Roosevelt principal, “walk soft and carry a big stick”. Slive allows SEC members to bicker and argue, but he makes the ultimate decision for the direction of the conference. Missouri athletic officials flirted with the Big 10 for several years because of their concern for the long-term future of the Big 12 and the close proximity of many Big 10 schools. Once a member of the SEC, Missouri must honor their wedding vows.

Professional sports rule the state - One of the biggest arguments against Missouri coming into the SEC according to Matt Barber of Dixiefriedsports.com is many SEC fans believe the sports population in the state caters to professional sports and has casual interest in college sports. Missouri has five major professional sports teams (Rams, Cardinals, Blues, Chiefs, Royals) located in two major metropolitan areas (St. Louis and Kansas City). These teams have been long entrenched with two of them, the Chiefs and Cardinals, possessing fan bases as passionate as any in pro sports. The Kansas City Chiefs have been inconsistent winners in the NFL the past 20 years but are still one of the founding members of the AFL and the NFL. The Cardinals are in a league of their own playing in this years World Series with some of the most knowledgeable sports fans in the nation. Missouri is and always will be a a pro sports state first with college sports a distant second.

Will the Tigers be able to compete in SEC football - Missouri’s 2007 team was the best team in recent memory going 12-2, winning the Big 12 North and the Cotton Bowl over Arkansas. The Tigers ended the regular season as the No. 1 team in the BCS standings. The Tigers have a 40-14 record in the last four years and have won 3 Big XII North Titles. Since 2005 the Tigers have two bowl wins an all time record of 19-8-1 against SEC schools. However, amazingly the Missouri football program never won more than nine games in a season from 1961 until 2007 under coaches such as Dan Devine, Al Onofrio, Warren Powers, Woody Widenhofer, and Larry Smith. It appears based on past records, Missouri would be a middle-of-the-pack team in the SEC. The Tigers seem to be on solid footing now with Gary Pinkel at the helm. The Tigers are no where near the caliber of the elite teams in the SEC Alabama and LSU, but very few teams in the nation are either.

Even though the Cardinals are the favorite sports team in the state, Missouri football does have a power base. Missouri averaged over 64,000 fans at each home game a year ago. In comparison, that number is higher than the average attendance at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and close to Kentucky football. Wouldn’t Missouri and Big 12 fans be more interested in traveling to Baton Rouge, Knoxville, Gainesville, Tuscaloosa and Auburn than traveling to see Iowa State, Kansas State and Colorado (now in the Pac 12) play the Tigers. SEC fans sometimes forget that the majority of the SEC schools have added seating capacity of their stadiums in the past 15 years.

In conclusion, adding Missouri to the best conference in college football is not sexy. Many SEC pundits still believe Commissioner Slive should expand east to either West Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina or Florida State. Missouri does not move the “fan meter” very much. The biggest concern from SEC fans is will the Tigers become as passionate about the SEC as they are. Only time will tell.

Brett Beaird and Harold Bugg are co-hosts of the Boomo Bugg Show on WYTK 93.9 FM the Score weekdays from 12:00-2:00 pm and the Sportsbuzz on WZTV weekdays at 5:30 and 11:00 pm CT. Brett is also a contributing writer for Tiderinsider.com and the Huntsville Times.

Late last night, the SEC’s official website briefly posted a page entitled “Tiger Tracks: Missouri Joins The SEC.”  The page was a perfect match to the page posted at SECSports.com when Texas A&M was officially welcomed to the league.

By 11:55 last night, the page and all of the accompanying links had been removed.  Those links were:

* University Of Missouri: What You Need To Know
* Missouri-SEC Connections: A History
* Homecoming Tradition Traced To Missouri
* Missouri To The SEC: The Dortch Report (Basketball)
* Missouri To The SEC: Barnhart’s Take

The page and the links were dated October 22nd, 2011 which was last Saturday.  The opening statement read:

“BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Given the ever-changing conference paradigm over the past year, the Southeastern Conference has continued to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining its stature as one of the nation’s premier conferences by welcoming the University of Missouri as the league’s 14th member, Commissioner Mike Slive announced Monday.”

Now perhaps that announcement is scheduled to really go this coming Monday.  Or, it’s possible it was scheduled to post last Monday… only to be delayed by the Big 12 putting up more legal roadblocks than were expected.

At the SEC’s basketball media day yesterday, Slive acknowledged that his league is working on 13- and 14-team schedules for 2012.  That refutes what Georgia AD Greg McGarity told the press earlier this week.

Regarding the SEC’s size in 2012, Slive even went so far as to say:

“We’ll know when we know.  There’s no timetable for us.  I know everybody is anxious to know where things stand with conference realignment, especially with all this activity out there.  With respect to the SEC, I have really nothing new to add, at least at this time.”

So what does all this tell us?  Well, it tells me personally that I don’t have to start doubting my sources.

Last week we wrote that Missouri would be announced as a member of the SEC this week.  Clearly that was the plan and our sources were correct in telling us that.  Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee the Big 12 putting up as hard a fight as it has.

We also said last week — and have continued to say this week — that Mizzou will land in the SEC for 2012.  As we wrote two days ago, MU and the SEC both want that to happen.  Slive’s statement regarding a 14-team schedule shows that he hasn’t given up hope.  The Tigers might still be forced to make a farewell tour through the Big 12 next year, but one official with an SEC school told us Wednesday:

“The Big 12 isn’t the only group with attorneys reading through contracts.” 

In other words, there’s likely wiggle room to be found and a deal to be cut.  But with Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton heading to India for a 9-day trip next week, time could become an issue.

We are also sticking by the assertion we made last week that Missouri will definitely land in the SEC East because that is the simplest solution available (as we broke down in detail here).  Since we wrote that, several other outlets have gone from calling Mizzou-to-the-East a possibility to calling it a likely scenario.

Last night’s web flub by the SEC — and I’m just glad to know I’m not the only one who hits a wrong key every now and then — shows that Missouri to the SEC is a done deal.  And while no one has said that officially just yet, everyone darn well knows it.

The Division I board of directors for the NCAA has adopted a package of proposals that will bring about some major changes in college sports.

You can read the NCAA’s press release right here.

For now, know that…

1.  Academic requirements are going up

2.  Teams will have to have better academic numbers to qualify for postseason play (good luck filling all those bowl games with winning teams)

3.  Athletes will now face tougher initial eligibility standards comings out of high school

4.  Athletes will now receive up to $2,000 extra as part of a full-cost-of-attendance scholarship plan

5.  Schools will now have the option of offering full-term-of-eligibility scholarships as well as the current one-year offers (which means coaches — especially those at smaller programs — can offer four-year scholarships as a recruiting incentive)

Plenty of media pundits have spent the past year criticizing new NCAA president Mark Emmert for being “all talk.”  Well he and the board of directors did more than talk today.  They implemented some sweeping changes.

Whether those changes will help or hurt college sports remains to be seen.

National signing day is 14 weeks from yesterday… do you know where your blue chip commitments are?

As we move from October into November, we thought it would be a good time to check out the commitment hauls for each school in the SEC.  And, yes, since the Aggies will be playing in the SEC next season, we’ve included Texas A&M in this comparison.  In fact, we included Missouri, too, as they’re still trying to angle their way out of the Big 12 in time for the 2012 season.

As always, we’re using the star-rankings provided by Rivals.  For each star a recruit has been given, we assign a single point.  We also give a point to 0-star recruits who’ve yet to be graded by Rivals.  (And usually, if a player hasn’t been graded by now, he’s not going to get much more than one or two stars anyway.)

Below you’ll see two lists.  The first ranks the schools by the total number of commitment points received so far.  This gives you a ballpark idea of what kind of talent overall a school has lined up for itself.

The second list will rank the SEC schools (including A&M and Mizzou) based on the average number of points per commitment.  This gives you an idea of what kind of athlete the school appeals to.  At least for the moment.

Here goes…

Schools Ranked By Overall Points

Schools Ranked By Average Points Per Player

Finally, let’s take a look at those recruits who might be viewed as “difference-makers,” the 4- and 5-star kids only.  Here’s a look at which schools have netted the most difference-makers so far…

Schools Ranked By 4- And 5-Star Players Only

Observations:

* Some Florida fans worried when Will Muschamp’s first signing class failed to measure up in sheer numbers with some of the stellar classes brought in by Urban Meyer.  We see now that Muschamp and his crew will have little problem inking top-tier talent (3.70 points-per-player average is best in the league) and plenty of it.

* Alabama, Auburn and LSU continue to do what they do… and that’s ink Top 10 signing classes year-in and year-out.  Joining them this year might be Tennessee.  Derek Dooley has Tennessee trailing on Florida, Auburn and LSU in terms of 4- and 5-star commitments.

* Texas A&M falls in line at #6 in terms of difference-makers and points-per-player average.  But the Aggies have most their class already put to bed.  With 14 weeks to go, no program has gathered commitments from more players — and good players — than Texas A&M.  Their Lone Star State recruiting base should certainly be an advantage.

* You have to wonder how long A&M will have to be in the SEC before Arkansas, LSU and other start to see a bounce in their own Texas recruiting.

* How about the job James Franklin continues to do at Vanderbilt?  The Commodores have commitments from three 4-star players and their points-per-player average is over 3.00.  That’s a real rarity for the Dores.  And by leading VU to four wins already — most of us expected a 2-10 campaign from Vandy — Franklin is giving recruits even more reason to believe that he can do some special things in Nashville… with their help.

* Mark Richt’s “Dream Team” class is now ancient history.  The Dawgs — saddled with doubt over Richt’s future — haven’t yet come close to their usually stellar commitment numbers.  For those UGA fans who’ve already opened fire on Richt, the looks of this recruiting class is just giving them more ammunition.

* There will be some of you who look at Missouri’s recruiting numbers so far and say, “I told you they couldn’t compete in the SEC.”  But a word of caution: Look at Arkansas’ numbers.  Gary Pinkel has turned around the Mizzou program (12-2, 10-4, 8-5, 10-3 in the last four years) with a wide-open, spread passing game.  Pinkel’s system has had its struggles this year as an inexperienced starter has had to replace NFL early-entrant and 10th pick in the draft Blaine Gabbert.  But if his system can have success with lesser-star recruits running it — a la Petrino at Arkansas — Pinkel’s Tigers might not need to crack the Top 15 on signing day each year.  Petrino certainly hasn’t had to…

* And he once again has Arkansas toward the bottom of the pack with Mississippi State and Kentucky in terms of difference-makers and points-per-player average.  For MSU and Kentucky that’s a concern.  For the Razorbacks, it’s proven not to be an issue under Petrino.  His classes have ranked 36th, 16th, 49th, and 24th and yet he continues to win.  (In keeping with the earlier comparison, Pinkel’s last four signing classes at Missouri have ranked 25th, 40th, 21st, and 48th.)

1.  It looks like the NCAA is on the verge of making some major changes.

2.  Alabama and LSU are pacing themselves ahead of next week’s 1-2 showdown.

3.  Linebacker Dont’a Hightower should like that game because he says he’s a fan of “smashmouth football.”

4.  Auburn’s offense hasn’t been the same since Emory Blake went down with an ankle injury against South Carolina.

5.  Gus Malzahn’s system just hasn’t been the same the last four weeks.

6.  Arkansas’ run defense “has been bad.”

7.  The Hogs will have to be ready for Vandy’s rushing attack… and their trick plays.

8.  LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery is glad the “game for the big boys” (against Alabama) has finally arrived.

9.  The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that tickets for the game are being priced anywhere from $389 to $5,000. 

10.  Ole Miss has had more than its share of troubles in the third quarter this year.

11.  Hoopster Murphy Holloway — who transferred from UM to South Carolina and now back — has been cleared to play by the SEC and the NCAA.

12.  Mississippi State is working to remedy its red zone woes.

13.  Everyone’s saying the right things now, but only time will tell if MSU basketball big man Renardo Sidney has changed.

Georgia tight end and team leader Aron White is fired up for Saturday’s game with Florida.  And from what he told Tim Tucker of The AJC, he knows the game will have its heated moments:


“People get a little tight during Florida week and that’s the way it’s always been.  That’s fans, players, staff, coaches, everybody.  Everybody just gets a little more serious during Florida week.  There’s not as much joking around.  That’s just across the board.  That’s everybody…

Blood is definitely going to run hot this weekend.  I’m sure at some point something will happen that everybody will say was uncalled for or the emotions got the best of us, whether it’s on their side or on our side.  We’ve both been caught doing some antics down there.  My freshman year we ran out on the field.  The year after that they had us blown ou by a pretty good lead and they started calling some timeouts late.  But all that’s out the window and it’s a new year and we’re going to come out and we’re going to play.  And while we didn’t forget those things, we’re going to focus on our gameplan and we’re going to need to because guys that get caught up in all that emotion usually lose.  It’s the players that stay focused and do what they do best, they usually win.”


The Gators won last year’s game 34-31 in overtime.  The three previous games — two Florida wins and one Georgia win — were decided by an average of 25 points.

I’m afraid today’s going to be a rushed day with lots of headlines.  Projects away from the site are eating into my time today.  My apologies.

1.  Florida’s defense needs to create more takeaways.

2.  Will Muschamp allowed two players to walk away from his program earlier this week.

3.  Gator defensive lineman Dominique Easley is in hot water after getting into a scuffle with former Alabama player Reggie Myles outside the stadium following the teams’ game this year.

4.  The Florida-Georgia rivalry has had its share of unsportsmanlike acts in recent years… but it was “The Stomp” in 2007 that rekindled the rivalry.

5.  Here are five keys to a Bulldog victory on Saturday.

6.  Georgia wideout Malcolm Mitchell is now “doubtful” for this weekend’s game.

7.  They’re already covering basketball scrimmages in Lexington.  Terrence Jones scored 52 with 16 rebounds last night.

8.  The Cats also have a football game this weekend, and it would help their cause if tailback CoShik Williams could rush for another 148 yards this week.

9.  South Carolina’s Bruce Ellington is questionable for Saturday with a hamstring injury.

10.  Steve Spurrier said earlier this week that Ellington — a receiver — might back up Connor Shaw… showing once again that the coach no longs has his old touch with quarterbacks.

11.  Tennessee receiver Da’Rick Rogers — who showed up quarterback Matt Simms with some serious head-shaking following an incompletion last week — is happy to have the “gunslinger” Justin Worley under center.

12.  Vol coaches want to get more out of defensive end Jacques Smith.

13.  James Franklin isn’t interested in talking about Vanderbilt’s bowl chances just yet.

14.  The Commodores are bracing for Arkansas’ passing game.

On a couple of radio shows this week I’ve been asked if Mark Richt faces a must-win game in Jacksonville this Saturday.  I’ve said no, because technically — given the way the East’s teams are playing and the injury to Marcus Lattimore — the Bulldogs could lose to Florida and still win their division.

If Georgia somehow wins the East and reaches Atlanta, it would be hard to fire Richt… even with another loss to Florida. 

But the fact of the matter is, that’s a technicality.  If UGA loses Saturday, it’s doubtful they would win the East. 

Perhaps that’s why longtime SEC columnist Tony Barnhart believes Richt faces a must-win scenario in this year’s Florida game.  At least the headline at CBSSports.com says it’s a must-win game: “Losing another Cocktail Party would be last straw for Richt.”

So does Barnhart believe it’s win or else?


“Let’s just put it this way: Richt is 2-8 in his 10 meetings with FLorida and it would really, really help his quality of life if the Bulldogs did not stumble to the Gators again…

So Richt needs to win against a Florida team that is limping into Saturday’s game.  It doesn’t matter how good or bad Florida is.  It’s Florida.  Richt can’t go to 2-9 against the Gators.  He just can’t.”


While he doesn’t flat-out state that Richt’s goose would definitely be cooked with a loss (as the headline does), Barnhart clearly believes that would likely be the case.

And isn’t it Richt’s luck that UF had an open date to heal up and get their starting quarterback back?

Nobody dislikes politicians more than me.  We’ve reached a point in this country when most of them love their party more than their country.  If that weren’t bad enough, most of the folks we send to Washington do whatever they can to not fix our serious problems.  Instead of the economy and health care they take up silly side issues like steroids in baseball, HGH in football, all while threatening to weigh in on “spygate” and the BCS.

Now — thanks to Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell — they’re wasting Americans’ time and money by involving themselves in the current conference expansion/realignment mess.

It’s one thing for politicians to lobby to keep in-state schools together.  But when the people we send to Congress decide they need to pull strings to make sure Homestate U. gets a berth in Conference X, well, that’s taking things a mile or 10 too far.

We’ve got some links for you to chew on this morning just to catch you up on all this silliness.  Most of it would seem to have bupkes to do with Missouri or the SEC.

On that front, the biggest news yesterday was The Kansas City Star’s report that MU chancellor Brady Deaton is scheduled to go to India next week to speak at an international conference on radiopharmaceuticals.  (I happen to be all for that because there are a lot of sick guys out there in sportstalk radio-land.  Bah-dum-bum.  I’ll be here all week.)  The takeaway: If Missouri can’t line up its exit from the Big 12 before the end of the weekend, this mess probably won’t be cleared up until after Deaton returns about 10 days into November.  Hooray.

But here’s the fear regarding all this Congressional hanky-panky — while it looks like this is a Big 12/West Virginia/Louisville problem, now that shouts are being heard in the halls of Congress, is it not possible that all of the politicians not happy over realignment might band together and decide to investigate the whole matter?  After all, as we’re seeing in Kentucky and West Virginia, what better way to kiss up to the electorate than to fight for the local school when it comes to its football conference.

And if some nitwit decides to further waste our tax dollars by calling for some half-baked hearing on conference expansion, then everything could be put on hold.

Maybe you like expansion and maybe you don’t.  Maybe you think the SEC should add West Virginia or East Carolina or East Oxnard Community College.  Fine.  Super.

But the minute Congress gets involved is the minute things will go straight to Hell.  Mark my words.  They may be keeping Mizzou out of the SEC at the moment, but tomorrow they may putting a de facto cap on all expansion or causing other leagues to break apart.

For those who don’t like the slippery slope argument, I give you cigarettes and ice cream.  As smoking bans were put in place across America — rather than allowing businesses to decide for themselves if they would be smoking or non-smoking — I told my friends that this would open us up to all manner of bans.  Obesity is the #1 cause of health problems in our country.  Insurance companies know that.  What’s to stop their lobbyists from trying to ban all types of fattening foods?  Imagine no ice cream parlors, I said.

A couple of years later, trans fats have been banned in New York City and the cities of San Francisco and Boston have now banned sugary drinks from vending machines on city property.  Soda taxes are now being proposed across the country.  Next stop: ice cream.

Does that make me a prophet?  Hardly.  It just makes me someone who knows that buffoonish blowhards will act like buffoonish blowhards when given half a chance.

So whether you’re for expansion or agin’ it, you should be on your knees praying that our elected “leaders” don’t get involved in it.  Or else things will only get worse.

Besides, shouldn’t Minority Leader McConnell be all for free enterprise with little government involvement?  Or is that just pablum he tosses around on the stump?  It seems big government is A-OK as long as he’s the big government interfering in the business decision of nine Big 12 schools.

The links to catch you up on all of this…

1.  Yesterday morning, everyone from Texas to West Virginia believed that WVU was set to join the Big 12 as soon as Missouri departed.

2.  Then came reports that WVU would get a Big 12 bid regardless of whether Mizzou left or not.  (We didn’t buy that one, but okay.)

3.  But then the Big 12 slowed their expansion plans when McConnell started lobbying the league to reconsider Louisville.  WVU sources who had been more than willing to talk about their move to the Big 12 on Tuesday suddenly went silent.  (Louisville was believed to be the Big 12′s top choice in expansion right up until WVU stormed past them this week.)

4.  It turns out McConnell — a U of L grad — had placed a phone call to Oklahoma president David Boren, himself a former senator.  And that’s when this happened.

Suddenly, West Virginia politicians had to protect their phony-baloney jobs, too.  Senator Jay Rockefeller said:

“The Big 12 picked WVU on the strength of its program — period.  Now the media reports that political games may upend that.  That’s just flat wrong.  I am doing and will do whatever it takes to get us back to the merits.”

Fellow West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin then took things further:


“If these outrageous reports have any merit — and especially if a United States Senator has done anything inappropriate or unethical to interfere with a decision that the Big 12 had already made — then I believe that there should be an investigation in the US Senate, and I will fight to get the truth.  West Virginians and the American people deserve to know exactly what is going on and whether politics is interfering with our college sports.”

Somebody give the Senator an harrumph.

5.  Naturally, some of this mess reportedly ties back to a rift between Oklahoma and Texas.  (And people wonder why Missouri wants to put that league in its rearview mirror.)  Oklahoma wants Louisville.  Texas wants West Virginia.

6.  Orangebloods.com – the Rivals site covering Texas — reported this morning that WVU is still the pick to replace Missouri.  (Of course that’s the Texas the viewpoint.)  The site also claims that it would take a “miracle” for the Big East to free WVU to leave immediately.  If that doesn’t happen, the Big 12 won’t free Mizzou to leave immediately.

Again I ask: How strong is the language in these contracts?  If the pact states that a school will remain in the league or pay an exit fee to leave, then paying an exit fee to leave should fulfill the contract.

7.  While the Longhorns are saying WVU is still the pick, The New York Times reported yesterday that the race between the Mountaineers and Cardinals was “too close to call.”

8.  And now Oklahoma State mega-booster T. Boone Pickens says he needs to be “convinced on West Virginia.”  His concerns about the school?

“Morgantown… as I remember, you’ve got to fly into Pittsburgh and then drive a couple hours.  That’s pretty isolated.”

Said the man whose school is in Stillwater, Oklahoma… an hour and 15 minutes outside of Tulsa.

9.  (UPDATE) Just to show how dysfunctional the Big 12 is, OU’s president said yesterday that he doesn’t understand how that league could create its own TV network when Texas already has a channel of its own and the Sooners plan to keep their Tier 3 rights, too.

10.  As The Charleston Gazette perfectly puts things today: “Big 12 brings the circus to town.”

Amen.  There is no greater joke in the current college landscape than the Big 12 conference.  Quick, tell me the last time you heard of a Big Ten or SEC or ACC booster weighing in on what their league should do.

Oklahoma and OSU are good together.  They should grab the remaining old Big 8 schools — Kansas, Kansas State, and Iowa State — and beg their way into something else, anything else.

Texas — and the remora who cling to them — should all head in another direction where the Longhorns can rule and their peasants can, well, be peasants.

And to think there are those who think Missouri and Texas A&M are making a mistake.  The only mistakes were made by the other Big 12 schools who didn’t crawl on their knees toward Mike Slive begging for entry into his cozy conference.

Regardless of what the Big 12 does next, it will be blow apart as soon as its much talked about media-rights deal ends in six years.  Adding Notre Dame would only bring in another poor fit with its own massive ego and its own way of doing things.  There would be Texas.  There would be Oklahoma and OSU.  There would be Notre Dame (in some sports).  And there would be “the rest.”  With everyone pulling in different directions.

Congrats to Mizzou for breaking free.  Even if it takes longer than we expected, the Tigers are making a very, very wise decision.

Now somebody tell McConnell, Manchin and Rockefeller to get back to work.