Column: Enjoy the ride

By Mark Levitt
Oct. 9, 2008

Words do not do justice to what happened in Lincoln, Neb., last weekend. The Missouri football team was more than dominating. The game was better than thrilling. Chase Daniel was, well, Chase Daniel. But never in my time here at MU did I expect to be on the winning end of a 52-17 victory against the Cornhuskers.

The Tigers have moved on since last Saturday's victory over Nebraska, as they should have. A tough Oklahoma State squad rides into Columbia on Saturday, a week after its 56-28 beating of Texas A&M. The Cowboys were rewarded in the polls, jumping to No. 17. Their potent offense will keep the Missouri secondary busy in a game the Tigers must win before their highly anticipated matchup with Texas.

So though it is necessary that coach Gary Pinkel keep his team focused on what's ahead, the rest of us can afford to take the time to celebrate a monumental win for the program. Missouri football fans have waited through 30 years of frustration for a single W in front of the daunting "Sea of Red." Chase and company delivered in an emphatic way.

The offense? 462 total yards. Six touchdowns: three passing and three rushing. Zero turnovers. With Daniel in the game, not one drive resulted in a punt. The only possession that did not result in points for this offensive juggernaut was a missed 58-yard field goal as time ran out in the first half. They didn't need it.

People need to take a moment to appreciate just how good of an offense this is. Daniel's completion percentage currently stands at 76.3 percent. That is brought down by his still good performance against Illinois. Derrick Washington is averaging 100 yards a game to go along with his absurd 10 touchdowns. He currently leads the nation in scoring. Everybody knows about the joystick that is Jeremy Maclin. This kind of performance is not an everyday occurrence, unless you consider video game football a part of daily life.

The "struggling" defense? Had it not been for a meaningless touchdown to end the game, the Tiger D would have held the Huskers to a mere 10 points. Brock Christopher made up for seven of those 10 thanks to a nifty pick-six at the end of the second quarter. They played solidly, if not great. They will be tested again in the next two weeks.

Other fans are thinking that last week does not matter unless Missouri continues to win. They think our focus, like that of the team's, should be on the upcoming game at Faurot Field. They are caught up in the rankings, in the possible end results of this special season. Those feelings are completely understandable. I too move from game to game hoping with nervousness that the magic doesn't dwindle.

The difference between this year and last is that last year each win was another surprise on our way to the top of the rankings. Nothing was expected, so every week was like opening another present on our birthday. Pure joy. This year, the team is supposed to be in this position and compete for a National Championship. Each victory is now followed with relief more than it is joy.

And though it is important to keep our eyes on the grand prizes of the Big 12 and beyond, let's not forget to celebrate the path that leads to those goals. Missouri won a football game in Nebraska for the first time in 30 years last week. Enjoy it.

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Column: Enjoy the ride

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