Mizzou: The New Black and Gold-en Gods of College Football?
My old man has been a die-hard live-miserable Missouri Football fan my entire life. Because of that, I understand the magnitude of the Tigers‘ big victory, and I am going to do my best to cheer up all of you Mizzou/Chiefs fans. All of you Kansas/Chiefs fans will just have to be miserable along with us K-State/Chiefs fans for a little longer.
Well, either that or Beakers can just go to their lame it’s-basektball-season-now ace that they always pull out of their sleeves. That is one of my ten least-favorite things in the world. Seriously. Either become real fans and suffer like the rest of us, or stop pretending. Regardless, I know it burns just a little bit, so I want to make sure you can’t totally ignore what just happened. That way you will have to feel the burn.
Your fiercest rival probably just kept you from playing for the National Championship. No, not in basketball — in football. Now the #1 Tigers (I still can’t believe that) will likely play for a ’ship, and have a great shot at winning one. The weight of that crushing loss has to be bearing down on your shoulders like Mangino’s 8,000-pound frame hunkers down on the soles of his tennis shoes. And, yes, I hate the Jayhawks. Just as much as I hate the Denver Broncos, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oakland Raiders and Oklahoma Sooners. That’s saying something.
Back to the Tigers — this win was one of the biggest wins that I can remember in any sport. No, not just because Mizzou beat their biggest rival to advance to what is essentially a National Championship play-in game. Because they’ve finally distanced themselves from their long-standing reputation as chokers and losers. The ghosts looming over Faurot Field, the ones that came along with the tenures of Bob Stull and Woody Widenhofer, the “Fourth Down Game,” the “Nebraska Kick Game,” the “Phantom Holding Game,” the 13 straight losses to former perennial football doormat K-State, etc… they have been exterminated so quickly it was like Peter Venkman was on the job.
It’s a bitter pill for me to swallow, but the Tigers are winners now.
Like the Sooners back in 2000, the Tigers emerged from relative obscurity to become National Championship contenders. Oklahoma has been a powerhouse program ever since. With first-class facilities, a great school as the backdrop, K.C. two hours West, and The Lou just shy of two hours East, Mizzou appears primed to keep bringing in elite talent and finally make that same patsy-to-powerhouse jump. The rest of the Big 12 should be scared. Very scared.
Congrats to Gary Pinkel, his Tigers and Mizzou fans. I hate saying it, but you’ve finally become an elite football school. Hopefully, my Cats can regain their rightful place beside you and once again contend for both Big 12 Conference and National Championships.
Don't crown 'em yet… there's still 8 quarters of choke time yet.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:48 pmI haven't crowned them yet. I am well aware of the situation. Still, if any team is in the driver's seat, that team is Mizzou. And, remember, I could really care less — I'm a K-State fan.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:55 pm