Tigers to face A&M

The highest-ranked Pinkel team hopes to keep its undefeated record.

By Ryan Huber

Published Oct. 13, 2006

Despite MU being off to its best start in 31 years, the No. 19 Tigers hope history doesn't repeat itself this weekend against Big 12 rival Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.

In its 116 years of football, MU is 6-9 as the No. 19 team and has not won a contest with that ranking since 1980 when it beat unranked Oklahoma State.

The last time the Tigers were off to a 6-0 start, coach Al Onofrio watched as his team faltered on its way to an 8-4 record. That was in 1973.

The Aggies hold a 6-2 all-time record over the Tigers, with a 3-1 record at Kyle Field.

Despite the overwhelming history, sophomore quarterback Chase Daniel, a Texas native, said he couldn't be more excited about the chance to complete the Texas two-step.

"If you can't get hyped for this game, then we don't need you on the field or on the team," he said. "We are going to have to do what we do best and not let them get too high. That place can get rocking. It's one of the best atmospheres in college football."

The Aggies come into the contest on Saturday with a 5-1 record and 1-1 in the Big 12. Their only loss came two weeks ago against Texas Tech in a 31-27 last-minute comeback by the Red Raiders.

"They are a very good football team, one play away from being undefeated and Top 25 in offense and defense," coach Gary Pinkel said Monday.

But Texas A&M will have to deal with a Tigers defense that now ranks No. 11 in the country. Despite giving up 456 yards of offense against Texas Tech, MU's defense scored 14 points of its own on interceptions and forced two more fumbles that led to 14 more points for the Tigers.

The biggest problem the Tigers will face Saturday might be Aggies running back Jorvorskie Lane.

"He's a very impressive guy," Pinkel said. "He's a big athlete and he can run. He certainly presents a problem."

Jorvorskie averages 4.7 yards per carry and has 13 touchdowns on the season.

Countering Lane is MU junior Tony Temple, who is coming off his best running game of the season.

Sharing time with Temple will be Texas native Marcus Woods, who is back in action after a concussion sidelined him against Texas Tech.

"It does mean a lot to me," Woods said. "We get to go back home and play in front of family. It's going to be fun."

The Tigers hope to jump on the board early, as they have all season, outscoring opponents 72-3 in the first quarter and never trailing at any point in the year.

"They've played very well in the first quarter," Aggies coach Dennis Franchione said Tuesday. "I don't know what the magic is to it other than great sequences of plays starting the game and being very ready to play early."

The kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday and will be nationally televised on ABC.