Column: Team of destiny

By Brad Minkow
Nov. 27, 2007

Destiny: a word usually signifying actions out of one's control now has a new meaning. As of Saturday night, Missouri became the newest "team of destiny," and the Bowl Championship Series' and Associated Press' new No. 1 team can literally control its own fate and find its way to this year's national championship in New Orleans.

Although the Tigers are now featured in every newspaper and online sports site, the publicity was not always there for Missouri. Entering the season unranked, unnoticed and underestimated, the Tigers have fought tirelessly and now find themselves in the national spotlight.

Facing adversity and injuries throughout the past several years, Missouri's ascent in the rankings was not an easy feat. Just one year ago, redshirt freshman wide receiver Jeremy Maclin sustained a career-threatening knee injury. Although both are incredible talents, experts questioned if tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman could co-exist. Junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Chase Daniel had been criticized for years because of his height. And as a team, the loss of beloved teammate Aaron O'Neal in 2005 once appeared to be too overbearing to allow any room for success.

Yet through it all, Missouri has remained motivated and determined to prove the critics wrong. Maclin overcame his injury to set all-purpose NCAA freshmen records. The tight ends are both nationally ranked in the Top 10 in receptions and touchdown receptions. That six-foot tall quarterback now has the football world at his feet, awing fans and the media alike by completing more than 70 percent of his passes, throwing for almost 4,000 yards and having an absurd touchdown to interception ration of 33 to nine.

Even as Missouri became ranked in late September, several challenges throughout the season have provided obstacles for the Tigers to overcome. The mid-season injury to senior tailback Tony Temple only paved the way for junior Jimmy Jackson and freshman Derrick Washington to shine. When senior safety Pig Brown went down for the remainder of the season, new leaders emerged each game, from sophomore linebacker Sean Weatherspoon to junior safety William Moore. And it was fitting for Missouri to finalize their win against Kansas with a safety by the player who has been a leader throughout his career, both on and off the field: senior defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams.

The last hurdle left before the finish line in New Orleans is the Big 12 Championship, where the Tigers will face the No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners, the lone team to defeat Missouri this season. Ironically, the game takes place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, the site of Texas native Daniel's only defeat as a senior in his state's championship game.

The location is only fitting for a season full of mental and physical tests. Experts in doubt of the Tigers' chances against Oklahoma must not have been watching all season long, or they would realize that in the face of adversity, Missouri has not only met their challenges, they have exceeded them.

They are, of course, a team of destiny.

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Column: Team of destiny

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