Tigers prepare to battle history, Colorado

By Mike Bushnell

Published Nov. 2, 2007

The No. 9 Missouri Tigers, who are ranked the highest they've been since 1981, have a major road test ahead of them on Saturday. MU will travel with a 7-1 record to Boulder, Colo., to face the Colorado Buffaloes, who promise to be feistier than their 5-4 record indicates.

At Folsom Field, the Buffaloes have already knocked off Oklahoma this season, winning 27-24 on a last-second field goal on Sept. 29.

MU coach Gary Pinkel said the Buffaloes, who went 2-10 last season, have taken great strides since 2006.

"Colorado is significantly better than last year," he said. "We're going to have to play our best game up there to win."

Redshirt freshman quarterback Cody Hawkins, the son of Colorado coach Dan Hawkins, leads the Buffaloes.

Hawkins has had an up-and-down season so far, completing 56.7 percent of his passes for 2,090 yards and six touchdowns. But he has thrown 14 interceptions.

Pinkel said the Colorado quarterback is improving, as he threw two touchdowns and no interceptions in last week's win against Texas Tech.

"Players of coaches who play tend to be special," he said. "And he's been playing better every week."

Defensively, Colorado is fourth in the Big 12 in total defense and has allowed an average of 346 yards per game. MU senior offensive lineman Tyler Luellen said the Buffaloes' front four run many blitzes that will keep those protecting junior quarterback Chase Daniel busy.

"The Buffaloes bring the heat," Luellen said. "They throw a lot of different stuff at offensive lines, so it'll be a challenge."

And if Daniel stays on his feet, he said he would try to get the ball to senior wide receiver Will Franklin more. Franklin, considered a high National Football League prospect, has just one catch in the last two games.

"Believe me, I keep looking for Will," Daniel said. "He's our X receiver. He's a major key in the offense."

Pinkel said Offensive Coordinator Dave Christiansen called five plays Saturday during which Franklin was the primary option, but he was guarded closely on nearly all of them.

"We had a bunch of plays designed for Franklin," Pinkel said. "But people are rolling up on him a lot. But we have got to get him the ball more, no question."

Franklin said he had no hard feelings about not playing a major part in the last two games and that he's just glad the team is winning.

"No matter what, the more we win, the more exposure us seniors get, and that's what's important," he said. " As long as we win, everything else works itself out."

But the Tigers have struggled to win on the road as the temperatures get colder.

Since Pinkel took the reins of the program in 2001, MU is 7-14 in November.

Pinkel said the team would have to be prepared to win on the road, where three of the last four games of the season will play out.

"If you want to win a championship, you win on the road," he said. "It can't get more simple."

As for MU's lackluster history in Novembers past, Pinkel said he doesn't focus on that.

"If I worried about history," he said, "I wouldn't have taken this job."