Missouri welcomes Texas for Homecoming showdown

No. 3 Longhorns rank highly in many offensive and defensive categories.

By Sean Leahy

Published Oct. 23, 2009

Last year's Homecoming game featured Missouri smacking Colorado with a 58-0 loss.

On this Homecoming weekend, points might be harder to come by.

The Tigers (4-2, 0-2 Big 12) welcome No. 3 Texas (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) Saturday to Faurot Field for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Longhorns feature the nation's best rushing defense (35.83 yards per game) and sixth-best total defense (246 yards per game).

"You're aware of who you are playing," coach Gary Pinkel said. "You're playing one of the best defenses in the nation and that's the challenge."

Texas can also put points on the board as its 42 points per game is tops in the country.

Leading that offensive charge is senior quarterback Colt McCoy.

Although the 2008 Heisman Trophy runner-up has thrown seven interceptions, McCoy still leads the Big 12 in pass completion percentage.

"He is the key," senior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. "We know that it all starts with him. If you don't get to him, then he's going to be accurate. Those are just how the great quarterbacks are."

Pinkel mentioned McCoy's experience in big game situations and his high completion percentage.

"He threw about 78 percent completion last year," Pinkel said. "He's got all the experience. It's a great challenge, he's one of the best quarterbacks in the country."

One of the main weapons at McCoy's disposal is senior wide receiver and kick returner Jordan Shipley.

Shipley leads Texas in receiving yards and leads the Big 12 in punt return average with 16.4 yards a return.

He and redshirt freshman running back D.J. Monroe are part of the reason why Texas is second in the nation in kickoff return average (32.11).

With those offensive assets and more, the Longhorns have scored more than 40 points in half of their games.

"They pass the ball extremely well," Tiger junior linebacker Andrew Gachkar said. "That's our top concern as the defense. You got to watch what they do and how well they pass the ball to Shipley."

Texas is the only team in the Big 12 with an unblemished overall record and sits atop the Big 12 South Division.

The Longhorns are coming off a 16-13 triumph over then-No. 18 Oklahoma last weekend.

Although Texas' fortunes are looking up, Missouri is working to get back in the win column after two straight losses.

The Tigers fell 33-17 last week at the hands of then-No. 16 Oklahoma State.

"We weren't doing the little things right the last two weeks," Gachkar said. "Getting little penalties and stuff like that. We're definitely going to try to put those away for this week and put all our things together."

Missouri is looking to overcome its recent troubles and score its first victory over Texas since the 1997 Homecoming game.

"You look at yourself and focus on yourself trying to get better," Pinkel said. "That's my frustration a bit. I don't think we are improving like I'd like to improve. That's my job."

Pinkel has faith the Tigers are taking the steps to improve.

"We're working hard and I think we are working with the right people," he said. "I think we have the making of a good football team."