Non-conference wins put Missouri in good company
The Tigers face their first conference foe, Colorado, on Saturday.
Published Oct. 5, 2010
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Junior wide reciever Jerrell Jackson loses control of the ball while in the end zone during the 2010 State Farm Arch Rivalry Game on Sept. 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The Tigers have gone undefeated this season in non-conference games.
The Missouri football team finished up its nonconference schedule with a decisive victory over Miami of Ohio more than a week ago, putting the team at 4-0 this season. But the undefeated record doesn’t tell the whole story for the Tigers, who were inconsistent in the four-game span and suffered a few ups and downs.
Week one looked troublesome when Missouri was down 10 at halftime to an Illinois team led by a freshman quarterback. But a strong defensive stand in the second half got them a win in the season opener.
The Tigers turned things around in week two with a home opener blowout over McNeese State, but it didn’t mean much since the Cowboys are probably their easiest matchup of the season.
The roller coaster continued the next week as Missouri looked flat against San Diego State. The Tigers trailed with less than two minutes remaining before a 68-yard touchdown reception bailed them out.
The Tigers responded well in week four, executing well on both sides of the ball and stomping an improved Miami of Ohio team.
No matter if it was a rout or a come-from-behind victory, junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert said he thinks a win is a win.
“We saw at the beginning of the season that we had to end nonconference play at 4-0,” Gabbert said. “We’re here today, and it doesn’t matter how we got here, as long as we’re 4-0.”
Among the inconsistency on offense, sophomore wide receiver T.J. Moe has emerged as a constant. The first-year starter leads the team with 37 receptions for nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns.
Moe and the Missouri offense have shown flashes of brilliance early in the season, but Gabbert’s new favorite target knows it’s time to take it to the next level.
“These four nonconference games are very important for us,” Moe said. “They’re goal implications especially. Now we have to starting firing on all cylinders.”
Coach Gary Pinkel values the nonconference games even more than his players do. Those wins will be crucial come Big 12 play.
“We’re fortunate to be undefeated at this point with the nonconference schedule,” Pinkel said. “That separates us from the rest of our conference.”
Missouri’s record puts it in good company in the Big 12. Joining the Tigers at 4-0 are Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas State. Oklahoma State and Texas A&M are also undefeated at 3-0.
The Tigers are ranked at No. 23 in this week’s Coaches Poll. They are joined by four other Big 12 teams in the Top 25, with No. 6 Nebraska and No. 8 Oklahoma at the highest spots in the conference. Texas is ranked No. 16 and Oklahoma State is No. 24.
Missouri has a bye this weekend before its first conference game at home Oct. 9 against 2-1 Colorado. The Tigers will then travel to Texas A&M before hosting Oklahoma for Homecoming weekend. The October schedule then ends with their toughest test of the season Oct. 30 at Nebraska.