'Character guys' don't worry about stats
Published Nov. 30, 2007
While looking at the nearly 100 media members in attendance at his weekly press conference on Monday, coach Gary Pinkel said he would have never gotten to this point without an offense filled with what he called "character guys."
"We are an incredibly unselfish team," he said. "In this system, you have to be a team player."
No. 1 Missouri's spread offense, featuring seven receivers with a dozen or more catches this season, has been almost an embarrassment of riches. But with so many weapons, naturally some players who thought they would be primary targets have been used more sparingly.
Senior wide receiver Will Franklin said he is fine with that.
"We want to do anything to help the team win," he said. "We know we all have to do whatever is best for the team."
Franklin, who is still listed as the team's top receiver, has had numbers this season that do not fit that designation. He has 42 catches for 613 yards. His performance dropped during Big 12 play when he has found himself in double coverage nearly every play.
Franklin said he was not upset with his lack of catches.
"I'm 11-1," he said. "There's no point in being frustrated with your own numbers when you're doing things to win."
The stock of Franklin, who entered the season projected as a second-round pick in the 2008 National Football League draft, has dropped this season as his numbers have. But Franklin said that doesn't worry him.
"I'll have my chances to show my skills individually, but right now it's all about the team," he said.
Junior quarterback Chase Daniel, who has to distribute the ball to so many receivers, said he has never worried about getting a specific player a certain number of catches because he hasn't had to.
"I've never had anybody come up to me complaining about catches," he said. "It's all about unselfishness. It's all about winning, and everyone here understands that."
Senior tight end Martin Rucker leads the Tigers in receptions with 75, and freshman wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has 69. But sophomore wide receiver Danario Alexander, who entered the season as a starter, lost his position after he broke his wrist in the first game of the season and has just 37 catches in nine games.
Offensive Coordinator Dave Christensen said this group of wide receivers and tight ends is the most cooperative he's ever coached.
"I worry about getting different players the ball because it's my job, but the players don't," he said. "This is the most unselfish team I've ever been with. We have great kids."
Christensen said he and the rest of the recruiting staff look for "high character" players to sign.
"With our system, we don't want any bad apples," he said. "And we make sure that we don't. That's why we have great kids on this team, and that's why we're winning."
