The SEC Already 1-0 In Bowls (Sorta)
December 27th, 2011 10:25 AM║ Posted By: MrSEC.com ║ Permalink
In case you didn’t notice — and with an afternoon kickoff from Shreveport you probably didn’t — the SEC sorta/kinda got off to a 1-0 start for the bowl season yesterday. Newest league member Missouri ran up 31 first-half points en route to a 41-24 victory over North Carolina, presumably the school’s last victory as a Big 12 member.
For those who missed it, you failed to catch an impressive performance from Tiger quarterback James Franklin. He was 15 of 23 in the passing game for 132 yards and a touchdown and he also led Mizzou in rushing with 142 yards and two TDs on 18 carries. When the SEC finally announces next year’s schedule and you find the Tigers on your favorite team’s schedule, know that Franklin is the guy that your defensive coordinator will be focused on next fall.
Head coach Gary Pinkel said after the game that he gave his sophomore quarterback a hug and a “congratulations.” “Then I went back and asked, ‘What happens when you get really good?’ … He kind of gave me a look, but that’s a huge compliment.”
Franklin earned the MVP award in the game and the respect of UNC interim coach Everett Withers (who’s now headed to Ohio State to join Urban Meyer’s staff). “(Franklin) is just such a dynamic guy running and throwing that you have to respect both. I always count the quarterback as an extra running back in the spread and that’s exactly what he was.”
Traditionally, Pinkel has been a pass-first guy, so the better Franklin gets in the passing game, the more dangerous his coach’s offense will become.
Here endeth the advanced scouting report. Welcome to the SEC, Mizzou.
Great way to end the B12 -- so looking forward to the SEC. From the LSU newspaper ad to all of the support on the message boards...it is nice when conference members look out for each other. Sort of like my family; we brothers can bicker or even fight back and forth, but please do not do this if you are not a family member to one of my brothers. I for one like the new family.
Thanks! Can't wait until next year. Plan on attending most of the games.
I watched the first half of the game. I don't know how Missouri lost 5 games. Like that announcer, Danny Wuerffel said during the broadcast, "Missouri is making the defense of North Caroline look like a High School team". Pretty impressive. I didn't know Mizzou could play like that. The SEC East would be wise not take them lightly next year.
That was fun. And great to put the Big 12 era behind us. SO looking forward to officially joining the SEC on July 1!
Some idiot reporter on bleacher report .com said "Mizzou would embarrass the SEC" because NC was loaded with 5-7 NFL caliber defensive players (just like SEC defenses). he wrote and entire article based on that assumption. He apparently paid no attention to the talent on Missouri's side of the ball. Nice article genius!
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