Help Us Name the Upper Deck and Tailgating Terrace: Round Two

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Mizzou Fans, your recent fan vote was very helpful in giving us some ideas for naming opportunities with several new areas around The Zou.

The overwhelming favorite for the name of the new club section (part of the east side expansion project) was the “Tiger Den,” so we’re happy to report that’s the name we’ve selected. 

The vote for the Upper Deck and Tailgating Terrace weren’t quite as clear, so we’re holding a second round of voting among the top few choices. (We also had a couple of outstanding suggestions from fans on the tailgating area, so we’ve added a couple of those to the mix as well.)

Voting is open from June 26-July 2. We appreciate you taking the time to voice your opinion during these exciting times at Mizzou! We’re only 66 days away from the 2014 season opener against South Dakota State, so don’t wait to get your season tickets here!

Fill out my online form.

Mizzou Made: Where Are They Now?

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After graduation and the NFL, members of the Mizzou Football Family spread out across the country to take the next step in their careers. Find out what these Mizzou Made student-athletes are up to now:

 

Jaron Baston: Defensive lineman from 2005-2009

He played in the NFL for one season with the Detroit Lions following his Mizzou career. Today, he is the CEO of Top Flite Management Group.

 

John Birdwell: Offensive lineman from 2008-2011

He is a financial management trainee at Graybar in Orange County, Calif.

 

Steven Blair: Defensive lineman from 2004-2007

He is in the United State Navy, based in Rota, Spain.

 

Quinn Brown: Offensive lineman from 2008-2011

He is an offensive graduate assistant for Wyoming Cowboy football.

 

Tony Buhr: Safety from 2007-2010

He is the travel director at Maritz Travel Company in St. Louis, Mo.

 

Jimmy Burge: Defensive lineman from 2009-2012

He is an independent Petroleum Landman in Houston, Texas.

 

Travis Cardoza: Safety from 2004-2007

He is an engineer at Boeing Company in Philadelphia, Pa.

 

Brock Christopher: Linebacker from 2005-2008

He works at Forest Pharmaceuticals as a pharmaceutical rep in Columbia, Mo.

 

Brandon Coleman: Quarterback from 2002-2006

He is the offensive coordinator and QB coach at Central High School in Springfield, Mo.

 

Bart Coslet: Defensive lineman from 2006-2010

He is the owner and partner of H&C Copper Plus in St. Charles, Mo.

 

Joel Clinger: Offensive lineman from 2002-2006

He is the owner, operator and keeper at Big Joel’s Safari Petting Zoo and Educational Park in Wright City, Mo.

 

Adam Crossett: Kicker from 2003-2007

He was a member of the Indianapolis Colts in 2008. Today, he is the lead financial analyst at AT&T in Dallas, Texas.

 

Chase Daniel: Quarterback from 2005-2008

He has played for three NFL teams and is currently a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also the owner of 10 Star Apparel, a custom-apparel manufacturing company, based in Dallas, Texas.

 

Matt Davis: Running back from 2007-2010

He is a biomedical engineer at Cerner Corporation in Columbia, Mo.

 

Brendan Donaldson: Defensive lineman from 2007-2010

He does white glove storage and delivering in San Marcos, Texas.

 

Brad Ekwerekwu: Wide receiver from 2003-2006

He is a career talent advisor at Avenue Scholars Foundation in Omaha, Neb.

 

Atiyyah Ellison: Defensive lineman from 2002-2004

He is an assistant football coach and the freshman boy’s basketball coach at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.

 

Elvis Fisher: Offensive lineman from 2007-2012

He was a member of the New England Patriots in 2013. Today, he works at Whiskey Wild Saloon in Columbia, Mo.

 

Will Franklin: Wide receiver from 2004-2007

He is a basketball coach at Madison Prep in St. Louis, Mo.

 

Brandon Gerau: Wide receiver from 2007-2011

He works at Landmark Bank in Columbia, Mo.

 

Jeff Gettys: Linebacker from 2007-2010

He is the assistant director of operations at the office of the governor in Jefferson City, Mo.

 

Matt Grabner: Punter from 2009-2010

He is a sales representative at Anheuser-Busch in Alton, Ill.

 

Kurtis Gregory: Offensive Lineman from 2005-2009

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Kurtis owns a farm in Marshall, Mo.

 

Dedrick Harrington: Linebacker from 2002-2006

He is a personal lines underwriter at State Farm in Tempe, Ariz.

 

Jake Harry: Punter from 2007-2008

He is a sales executive at NANA Management Services in Anchorage, Alaska.

 

Andy Hille: Offensive Lineman from 2004-2005

He is a brewer at Perennial Artisan Ales in St. Louis, Mo.

 

Trey Hobson: Defensive back from 2007-2011

He is a life insurance agent at Primera Inc. in Kansas City, Mo.

 

Matt Hoenes: Punter from 2004-2006

He is an associate at Lenox Advisors in Chicago, Ill.

 

Andrew Hoskins: Wide receiver from 2002-2006

He is a professional DJ at KC Sound Design and a math teacher at Liberty Public Schools.

 

Kenji Jackson: Safety from 2008-2011

He is a defensive graduate assistant for Northwestern Football.

 

Andrew Jones: Tight end from 2008-2011

He is the senior mortgage loan officer at North American Savings Bank.

 

Wes Kemp: Wide receiver from 2008-2011

Today, he is a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual in St. Louis, Mo.

 

Kirk Lakebrink: Offensive lineman from 2008-2010

He is the marketing manager and art director at Blaine Labs in Kansas City, Mo.

 

Luke Lambert: Linebacker from 2007-2011

He is a credit analyst at Landmark Bank in Columbia, Mo.

 

Tyler Luellen: Offensive lineman 2003-2007

He was a member of the San Diego Chargers in 2008 and played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League from 2009-2012. Today, he is an associate sales representative at Veran Medical Technologies in St. Louis, Mo.

 

Gahn McGaffie: Wide receiver from 2008-2012

He is an entrepreneur in Kansas City, Mo.

 

Jack Meiners: Offensive lineman from 2009-2012

He is a financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch in Clayton, Mo.

 

De’Vion Moore: Running back from 2007-2011

He is a learning specialist for Columbia Public Schools and a football coach at Hickman High School.

 

Marvin Norman: Offensive lineman from 2007-2011

He is the manager at a McDonalds in Columbia, Mo.

 

Jayson Palmgren: Offensive lineman from 2007-2011

He works for North Kansas City School.

 

Louis Pintola: Offensive lineman from 2005-2006

He is the general manager at Rubio’s (a Mexican restaurant) in Los Angeles, Calif.

 

Joe Plevel: Wide receiver from 2008-2012

He is a sales representative at Pic 1 Medical in Columbia, Mo.

 

Munir Prince: Defensive back from 2008-2010

After double majoring in Business Management and receiving a Master’s Degree in Financial Planning at the University of Missouri, he is now Wide Receivers and Tight Ends Coach at Drake University.

 

Tony Randolph: Linebacker

He is the assistant strength and conditioning coach for Ole Miss Football.

 

Jason Ray: Wide receiver from 2003-2007

He is the wide receivers coach at Oklahoma State University.

 

Grant Ressel: Kicker from 2007-2011

He is currently attending dental school at the University of Missouri (Kansas City).

 

Martin Rucker: Tight end for Mizzou from 2003-2007

Since playing at Mizzou, he has developed “Body by Ruc,” a one-month boot camp based in Overland Park, Kan. Before “Body By Ruc,” Rucker played for the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and then the Jacksonville Jaguars before he was placed on the injured list during his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs.

 

Tommy Saunders: Wide receiver from 2004-2008

He is the creator of the Rock 360, an ab-workout device, and owner of FEWDM Fitness.

 

Forrest Shock: Wide receiver from 2007-2010

He is the vice president at Huntleigh McGehee in Clayton, Mo.

 

Paul Simpson: Cornerback from 2006-2007

He is a public safety professional Stockton, Calif.

 

Brian Smith: Defensive end from 2002-2006

He was a fourth-round selection of the Jacksonville Jaguars and was a member of the team until 2008. He is currently a banquet server and bartender at Norwood Hills Country Club in Saint Louis, Mo.

 

Corey Sudhoff: Defensive lineman

He is a teacher and freshman football assistant coach at Blue Springs South.

 

Chris Tipton: Offensive lineman from 2004-2007

He is a Flight Medic in Hannibal, Mo.

 

Lorenzo Williams: Defensive lineman from 2003-2007

Williams played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 and the Carolina Panthers from 2008-2009. Today, he is the head football coach at Central High School in Springfield, Mo.

 

Marcus Woods: Running back from 2003-2007

He is the assistant branch manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Kansas City, Mo.

 

Monte Wyrick: Offensive lineman from 2003-2007

He works in computer software and FedEx Express in Columbia, Mo.

Maintaining Success: How To Avoid Complacency

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” –Will Rogers

As the famous quote from actor and comedian Will Rogers tells us, you’re only as good as your last game. In order to be truly successful, you have to constantly strive to be better.

It’s easy to bask in the glory of a win and become complacent. As a student-athlete on a prominent team, you will receive both deserved and undeserved praise. However, if you don’t get over the complacency that success brings, someone else who is working harder will come up from behind and knock you down from the top.

Remember that for every success you have and piece of praise you receive, you will endure failure and criticism. There are countless examples of people who reached success but then quickly let it slip away. Avoid failure and irrelevancy by matching a victory with more determination. Don’t be a person that only enjoys short-lived success—work hard for enduring success.

Adversity is certainly a challenge we all must face throughout our lives. However, success is just as difficult. A win can make it hard to maintain focus because you don’t have the type of motivation that a loss inspires.

Losing is provocative; winning is satisfying.

After a win, it takes discipline to keep working and remain focused because you are caught up in emotion and detached from the rigor of routine. Give yourself a day to enjoy the triumph and then move on to setting new goals and working tirelessly toward them.

Again, remember: you are only as good as your last victory.

After winning the 2014 AT&T Cotton Bowl and becoming SEC East Champions, the Mizzou Football Family got right back to training. They moved past a success, set more ambitious goals and are putting in the time, energy and dedication to realize those goals. Right now the team is spending the summer gearing up for the 2014 season by training regularly. In a nod to Will Rogers, the players refuse to be overlooked.

About the quote:

Will Rogers was a 1920s and ‘30s comedian, actor and writer. He was famous for his vaudeville performances in the early 1900s and his roles in dozens of films including Doctor Bull (1933), Judge Priest (1934) and Steamboat Round the Bend (1934). His most well known quote is, “I never met a man I didn’t like.”

Pat Ivey and Gary Pinkel Chat at Mizzou Positive Coaching Workshop

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The Missouri Institute for Positive Coaching hosted a workshop Monday, June 16, through Thursday, June 19, where Mizzou Football head coach Gary Pinkel and Pat Ivey, the assistant athletic director for athletic performance, were featured speakers. Pinkel and Ivey talked about how Mizzou Football implements positive coaching.

One of the ways they do this is by having various dinners throughout the season, where 15 players from different positions go to different coaches’ houses and have dinner and share their experiences. This gives players from different positions an opportunity to get to know each other better, and it allows the coaches to find out more about the players on a personal level. This helps to create the positive infrastructure that Pinkel has worked so hard to create within the Mizzou Football Family.

During the workshop, Pinkel spoke about how he focuses on nurturing, caring for, and developing his players. A part of that process is pushing the players to graduate with a degree. Education is a crucial part of Mizzou Football, and Pinkel’s last five years have seen incredible academic success, with 97 percent of players leaving with a degree.

Being respectful of women and the cultural differences of other people are two key themes that Pinkel, Ivey, and the other football coaches instill in their players throughout the season.

One principle of positive coaching is “building the foundation.” This is exactly what Pinkel and Ivey have done and hope to continue to do for many years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mizzou Wins Seventh Annual SEC Sportsmanship Award

The Mizzou Football Family has proven again and again that they always strive to be the best they can on and off of the football field. And this year, the SEC took notice.

Mizzou Football won the seventh annual SEC Sportsmanship Award, in light of linebacker Michael Sam’s decision to come out to not only his teammates, but the entire world as well.

Sam and his teammates decided to focus on football and shut out outside distractions, leading to a historic season as winners of the SEC Eastern Division and the Cotton Bowl.

Mizzou was one of four schools within the conference to receive this award, joining Tennessee’s men’s basketball team, Georgia’s equestrian program, and the women’s golf coaches of the SEC.

“Sportsmanship, civility, and social responsibility are marks of character that last a lifetime,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “We are proud of these teams from Missouri, Tennessee, and Georgia and the women’s golf coaches of the SEC for setting an example for us all.”

SEC athletic directors voted on the awards. Mizzou tied with the Volunteers for the men’s award, and Georgia and the women’s golf coaches tied as well.

Coach Pinkel will head up a strong-willed Mizzou team as they kick off the 2014 season against South Dakota State on August 30.

Overcome Adversity

“There is no shortcut. Victory lies in overcoming obstacles every day.” – Anonymous.

Challenges in athletics aren’t a new concept. Think of Jackie Robinson, Remember the Titans and Rocky; the list could go on and on. Stories of adversity in sports are ubiquitous because obstacles are unavoidable on the field, in the locker room and at home. As this week’s quote by an unknown author says, we cannot have victory without obstacles. The question is, how will you handle those obstacles? It’s an issue we’ve discussed before, but we keep coming back to it because finding strategies to cope with adversity is essential. Here are four steps to follow in order to face adversity head-on.

  1. Adjust Your Attitude.

Adversity is inevitable in life: on the field, in the classroom, in relationships and in families. When you’re faced with a new obstacle, the very first thing you need to do is adjust your attitude. Instead of getting down on yourself or others, try to embrace any challenge as an opportunity to grow and learn.

  1. Choose Optimism.

Once you’ve accepted that adversity happens, it’s time to choose optimism! Always remember than in your life, you have the power to decide how you react to situations. Each time you are faced with an obstacle is a new chance to choose positivity over negativity. Practice choosing optimism – the more you do it, the easier it becomes!

  1. Push Ahead.

Know that there are good days and bad days, always. When there are good days, enjoy them and be thankful. On the bad days, once you’ve adjusted your attitude and chosen to be optimistic, you just have to stick it out. Sometimes there’s nothing else to do, but if you can push through the bad times, eventually you’ll come out on the other side having overcome the obstacles.

  1. Have a Plan.

Even when you have good days, it’s important to plan ahead so that the next challenge doesn’t catch you off guard. Think about potential problems you could face and map out a realistic plan for how to deal with those problems. For example:

Potential Problem: Injury.

Plan: Meet with your coach to make sure that you are both aware of your prognosis and your recovery plan. Observe all practices and pay attention to new plays, drills and strategies. When the doctor allows, attend rehab and physical therapy to start getting back into shape.

Once you make this plan, you are prepared for the worst in case it actually happens. If it doesn’t happen, you are lucky and you can continue on knowing that you are prepared for anything.

The Mizzou Football Family, like any team, has faced both challenges and victories every single season. The 2014 season will be no different, but by using these four strategies for overcoming adversity, we can face any challenge head-on.

Win 2014 Mizzou Football Tickets: Give Us Your Feedback

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If you’ve driven past The Zou in recent months, you’ve probably noticed quite a few changes since last season. We’re in the midst of building a brand-new upper deck, club area, and tailgating zone on the east side of the stadium. But now we need to name them.

Starting this week, we want your input! We’ve narrowed down the options, and now we want to hear what you think. Vote for your favorite or submit your own idea for consideration from June 13-18.

At the end of the voting period, one randomly selected voter will win two free season tickets for Mizzou Football! Here are the current contenders for the three new areas:

Upper Deck:

  • Show-Me Deck
  • Upper Deck
  • Tiger Deck

Club Level:

  • Tiger Den
  • Rock M Club
  • Columns Club

Tailgating Terrace:

  • Tiger Town
  • Tiger Village
  • Tiger Territory
  • Tiger Terrace

Get involved with the Mizzou Football Family, cast your votes for the best name, or be creative and suggest your own idea!

“We want to be able to communicate with Mizzou fans,” Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel said last month, speaking to fans during a Google+ Hangout. “We want to be transparent and give you an opportunity to learn more about the athletic department here at Mizzou, the University of Missouri, and also the football program.”

Enter To Win On the Form Below

When you vote, you will earn entry points. You can also earn extra points and improve your chances of winning tickets by completing other fields on the form below, such as liking Mizzou Football on Facebook or following on Twitter. Enter below. Good luck!

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An Inside Look At the New Upper Deck

The new upper deck will be ready just in time for next season. The expansion will include an indoor premium club level, outdoor premium club seats, and loge boxes. In total, its 4,200 seats will provide fans with an exclusive seating opportunity that will allow them to enjoy the game from the highest altitude in Mizzou Football history.   New East Upper Deck at The Zou East Club at The ZouTerrace rendering at The Zou

Pinkel Shoots Tigers on the Prowl Commercial

Mizzou Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel has been busy this summer—whether it’s playing paintball with the team, preparing his players for the upcoming season or shooting a brand-new commercial for Tigers on the Prowl.

Coach Pinkel met local news anchor Jim Riek at KOMU to shoot a commercial to promote its “Tigers Unleashed” event, which will take place in July. At the event, ten talented local artists will unveil the life-sized tiger statues that they were granted $250 each to construct. Afterward folks can vote for their favorite creations and make donations to the 11 charities that Tigers On the Prowl supports.

“Tigers Unleashed” will take place July 11, after which the statues stand guard at several locations around town. On October 3, the tigers will be the main attractions in a charity auction.  Last year’s Tigers on the Prowl raised $47,000 for local charities, and the tigers were featured at the Boone County Fair, the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival, University Hospital, and more.

“Tigers Unleashed” will take place at the Columbia Mall, and the Tigers on the Prowl auction will be held at The Crossing Church.

Famed Director Jack Smith Shoots Mizzou Football Commercial

Several members of the Mizzou Football Family brought their talents to the screen this summer, when legendary director Jack Smith filmed the Mizzou Football commercial.

The commercial featured Head Coach Gary Pinkel, senior defensive lineman Markus Golden, senior wide receiver Jimmie Hunt, and senior offensive lineman Mitch Morse.

Smith, a Mizzou alum and member of American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Fame, is credited for many influential commercials, including spots for Nestle, McDonald’s, and Heinz. Known as “King of the Jingle,” Smith wrote tunes for 7 Up and United Airlines before developing the theme, song, and music video for the “For All We Call Mizzou” campaign.

Mizzou Nation can look forward to the MizzouMade commercial hitting the airwaves this summer.

Five Traits of Highly Committed People

As much as we’d all like it to, success doesn’t happen overnight. As bestselling author Seth Godin puts it:

“You don’t win an Olympic gold medal with a few weeks of intensive training. There’s no such thing as an overnight opera sensation. Every great company, every great brand, and every great career has been built in exactly the same way: bit by bit, step by step, little by little.”

Instead of expecting success to fall into our laps, we have to be committed to hard work, consistency and perseverance. Committed people share certain traits that make them committed to their passions, whether it’s football, their education, their career or their families. Committed people are:

  1. Controversial

Committed people value their passions strongly and move toward their goals with full force. Because they are so committed to their passions, they don’t care about the disapproval of others. They are able to move forward toward their goals without fear of what people may think of them.

  1. Loyal

Committed people have priorities and they stick to those priorities. They develop a routine that allows them to slowly and steadily work toward their goals. They are loyal to their families, their friends, their team, their sport and themselves because they are determined to succeed.

  1. Dreamers

Committed people are committed and loyal to very specific goals, whether it’s winning the Heisman Trophy, beating a personal record or becoming a doctor. Committed people constantly make new goals and are always striving to push their boundaries and achieve more.

  1. Tough

People who are committed work hard out of habit and out of loyalty. They have a unique endurance that allows them to physically keep going because they are mentally wired to work endlessly toward their dreams. In other words, their workload doesn’t seem overwhelming because they wholeheartedly want to do it.

  1. Happy

Above all, committed people are truly happy because they have a higher purpose to live for. Each day is one step forward toward achieving their goals and dreams, and they feel fulfilled knowing that they are always moving forward.

The Mizzou Football Family knows commitment well. They’ve all made the choice to prioritize their team, their education and their sport. They know that the season doesn’t start with the first game; it starts months before with hours of practice, cross training, mental preparation and team bonding. Currently the team is in summer training regimen in preparation for the upcoming 2014 season.

About the Quote:

Seth Godin is a bestselling author of titles including Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes and The Icarus Deception. He is also the founder of Squidoo, a website that allows users to easily create single personalized web pages. This quote appeared in a 2003 article that Godin wrote for Fast Company magazine.