Column: Tigers' success must come Sooner rather than later

By Zach Mink

Published Oct. 20, 2010

The sun shines bright over the six columns on the Quad at the University of Missouri campus. The aura is a calm one, the vast space inhabited by a few students studying, playing catch and relaxing in the imposing shadow of Jesse Hall. But come Saturday, all this will change.

Hoards of students will pack the normally tranquil site to be a part of the biggest college football stage in the nation. With ESPN College GameDay entering Columbia for the first time in school history, the attention puts the Missouri Tigers in a make-or-break situation. Win and be recognized; lose and be thrust back into the unknown.

For a team like Missouri, the spotlight does not come calling often, and, amid the conference realignment frenzy this summer, the nation got a taste of just how underappreciated the Tigers had become.

Once at the center of discussion as one of the teams potentially moving to the Big Ten, Missouri found itself on the outside looking in as the Big 12 faced possible destruction. While the dust eventually settled and the Tigers ended up staying put, Missouri now has a score to settle. The Tigers deserve some respect, and Saturday is the opportunity to earn it.

Missouri and Oklahoma have both compiled 6-0 starts to the season, making them two of only 10 unbeaten teams in the country. Although this feat puts the Tigers in good company, they’ve yet to prove themselves on the national level. With the first true test of the season coming against the Sooner powerhouse, coach Gary Pinkel and his players will have the entire nation watching every move they make.

However, Missouri has been here before. While the allure of GameDay hasn’t graced ‘The Zou’ until now, the Tigers have been the featured game on the road four times since the program started in 1993. Missouri went 1-3 in those contests, with the lone victory coming against then No. 2 ranked Kansas in 2007.

The win eventually propelled the Tigers to No. 1 in the BCS and AP polls, and the Tigers ended the season one game shy of playing for a national championship. A win for Missouri on Saturday would undoubtedly put them in the BCS top-10 and could give the team the momentum it needs to propel it into a consistent national spotlight.

On top of the excitement that GameDay has brought to the student body, the contest also marks the 99th anniversary of Homecoming. Missouri is said to have started the tradition that is now a trademark on many college and high school campuses, and the historic ritual only adds to the grandeur of the scene for Saturday’s matchup. A win would throw the campus into a state of mass hysteria. A loss would spell devastation for hopeful Tiger fans around the country.

There is a quiet buzz around campus that gets louder with each passing day. Walking across the historic campus, the whispers of anticipation are unmistakable. The time is now for Missouri to pave the path to success. The fans, the school, and the atmosphere will all shine in the spotlight on Saturday. But the question is: will the Tigers?

GameDay airs at 9 a.m. ET on ESPNU and from 10 a.m. to noon on ESPN Check out College GameDay’s website at www.collegegameday.com Follow College GameDay on Twitter @GameDayFootball. College GameDay’s new Facebook page is www.facebook.com/collegegameday