Seniors say goodbye to Faurot Field

The Tigers looked sluggish becuase of emotion at first, but held on to win 41-24.

By Nick Forrester

Published Nov. 8, 2008

Senior tailback Jimmy Jackson has never been the star player at Missouri. He’s never been the starting running back. He’s never had a game when he rushed for 100 yards. But none of that matters to him.

“Jimmy has never come in and said, ‘Why can’t I get the ball more? Why can’t I start?’” coach Gary Pinkel said. “It’s always about the team with him. Everything is always about the team and helping the team. He has his role with short yardage situations.”

On Saturday night, Jackson stepped onto Faurot Field for the last game of his college career. It was a night to remember for Jackson. Not only did he get to celebrate a 41-24 win over Kansas State, he also got to join his fellow seniors in adding to their win total that is already the most of any class in Missouri history.

Bombarded with the emotion of senior night, Missouri looked sluggish at the beginning of the game. On Missouri’s third drive, with the score still knotted up at zero, Jackson put a statement on his senior night. He had the longest rush of his career, this one for 37 yards. On the next play, sophomore tailback Derrick Washington ran for Missouri’s first score of the night.

Another senior that stepped onto Faurot Field for the final time was safety William Moore. Last season Moore led the nation with eight interceptions, but has not snagged one interception this season. Even though he isn’t picking off quarterbacks and getting touchdowns, Moore is still a leader for the defense.

“It can be frustrating at times, but at the same time, I’m sticking to my game plan,” Moore said. “I play hard every game, so it ain’t me and the way I work.”

Moore represented fallen teammate Aaron O’Neal on senior night. O’Neal died during a voluntary summer workout in 2005.

“I requested that I wanted to wear No. 25 for senior night,” Moore said. “I enjoyed it. It was emotional. I know A.O. would’ve loved to be here, so I started crying at first when I saw it, but I did it for him. It means a lot, especially with a win and the way we dominated as a defense. I feel like I went out there and wore the jersey with pride. I tried my best to.”