Mizzou Made in the NFL: Week 4

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Mizzou Made Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Brad Smith scored his first touchdown of the season on Sunday.

The 30-year-old recovered a fumble in the end zone to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead over the San Francisco 49ers. Smith also helped the Eagles out in the passing game, catching a pass for 11 yards.

Fellow Mizzou Made star and Smith’s teammate, Jeremy Maclin, was the Eagles top pass-catcher for the game, hauling in four passes for 57 yards.

For more updates on #MizzouMade players in the NFL, visit MUTigers.com.

SEC Defensive Line Player of the Week: Shane Ray

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end Shane Ray’s latest performance, an eight-tackle, two-sack handling of the South Carolina Gamecocks, was impressive enough to earn Ray his second SEC award. The junior from Shawnee Mission, Kan., was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in Mizzou’s 21-20 comeback win over South Carolina.

Ray won his first SEC honor after Mizzou’s 38-10 win over UCF, in which he recorded two sacks to go with 7 tackles (including four tackles for loss) and a forced fumble.

Ray’s eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss lead the nation, and he’s registered at least one sack in all five of Mizzou’s contests this season, including another two-sack outing against Toledo on September 6.

Ray and the rest of his defensive counterparts held a potent Gamecocks offense to season lows in several categories, including points, passing yards, total yards, and first downs. Mizzou’s defense didn’t give up a single yard to the Dylan Thompson-led Gamecocks in their last two series, setting up Maty Mauk and co. for a comeback drive.

Ray’s accolade marks the third time this year that a Mizzou player has won a conference award. Mauk, the sophomore quarterback from Kenton, Ohio, received the SEC Offensive Player of the Week award for his six total touchdowns and 325 passing yards against Toledo.

Following the bye week, Ray and the rest of the team will face the Georgia Bulldogs (3-1) on Oct. 11 for an SEC Eastern Division face-off.  Kickoff time is TBD. Check GaryPinkel.com or follow MIzzou Football and Coach Pinkel on Twitter for updates on where and when to watch the Tigers.

Mizzou Tiger Talk with Mike Alden

Athletics Director Mike Alden joined Mike Kelly, the voice of the Tigers, for Tiger Talk on September 29.

The show opened up with Kelly announcing that Mizzou defensive end Shane Ray was named the SEC Defensive Lineman Player of the Week. Through five games Ray has eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

Then Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel joined the conversation over the phone.

Pinkel opened up by explaining how proud he is of his players and staff for persevering against South Carolina and coming away with the victory, 21-20.

“It’s hard to win a game like that, hopefully that’ll have a huge impact on our team,” Pinkel said.

Kelly then turned to Alden, and the two talked about the great fan support Mizzou had in Williams-Brice Stadium.

“They showed up in big numbers in Columbia, South Carolina, and they were loud,” Alden said. “They were loud and they were getting after it.”

The two then discussed the undetermined time slot for Mizzou’s October 11 game against the Georgia Bulldogs at The ZOU. Alden explained how the uncertainty doesn’t really affect the Athletic Department as much as the fans’ preparation for game day.

Kelly then asked about the feedback regarding the new renovations to The ZOU.

“The responses we’ve seen to that have been overwhelmingly positive,” Alden said.

To see the show live, attend Tiger Talk at Buffalo Wild Wings at 7 p.m. every Monday night. Mizzou fans can also watch live on GaryPinkel.com to hear the Mizzou Football Family talk about the season and a wide range of other topics.

 

 

 

Mizzou Football Wins 21-20 at South Carolina

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placekicker Andrew Baggett secured the extra point after running back Russell Hansbrough scored his third and final touchdown with 1:36 left on the clock to lead Mizzou Football to a 21-20 victory over South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in the third annual Mayor’s Cup.

With the win, Mizzou Football (4-1, 1-0 SEC) sits atop the SEC East as the sole team without a conference loss.

Mizzou came out firing, stopping South Carolina’s attempt to convert on fourth-and-1 from their own 42 on the opening series. The Tigers scored four plays later. Linebacker Kentrell Brothers leveled the South Carolina running back at the line of scrimmage, and then two completions to Bud Sasser and an offsides penalty on the Gamecocks set Hansbrough up for an 18-yard touchdown scamper to put Mizzou up 7-0.

Maty Mauk connected with Sasser for 41 yards down the left sideline on the first play of Mizzou Football’s ensuing possession, then found Wesley Leftwich on a crossing pattern that the junior wide receiver marched all the way down to the one yard line. Hansbrough then had a highlight reel reversal, in which he took the misdirection handoff, went left, cut right, and trotted into the endzone untouched to bring Mizzou Football within six with 6:49 to go.

The defense continued its stellar play, forcing South Carolina into a three-and-out. With 4:40 left, Mauk brought the offense back out. A Hansbrough run on third-and-10 came up a yard short of the sticks, but Mauk hit tight end Sean Culkin on a beautifully executed play-action on fourth down to move the chains and keep Mizzou’s hopes alive.

Following a pass-interference penalty, Marcus Murphy found a hole and hurried 22 yards down to the Gamecock 2. Three runs later, Mizzou Football faced yet another fourth down. With the game hanging in the balance, Hansbrough  bulled through the line for his third score, and Andrew Baggett nailed the extra point to give Mizzou Football their first lead of the second half.

Phenomenal pass coverage forced four straight incompletion on South Carolina’s ensuing possession to seal the exhilarating one-point road victory.

Although Hansbrough was responsible for all three of Mizzou’s touchdowns, the defense also shined in the game. They held South Carolina to a season-worst 338 yards, forced nine punts, and didn’t allow the Gamecocks to gain a single yard on their final two possessions.

Mizzou got to the quarterback four times, upping their season sack total to an SEC-best 18. Shane Ray led the charge with two sacks and is now first in the nation with eight QB takedowns on the season. Matt Hoch and Harold Brantley contributed the other two, and the rest of the Mizzou defensive front provided constant pressure all night.

With the win, Mizzou Football has now won seven straight games away from home and is undefeated in SEC road games since the beginning of the 2013 season.

Mizzou Football has its first bye of the season this week before returning to The ZOU on Saturday, October 11, for an East Division showdown with Georgia. Check in with GaryPinkel.com on Monday, September 29, 2014 to find out what time the game will kick off and where to watch.

Mizzou Fans at ESPN College GameDay

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Mizzou fans, distance is not an issue when it comes to cheering on the Tigers.

Mizzou Football’s first SEC game of the season was in a different Columbia this year, but that didn’t stop fans from packing their bags and tailgating in Gamecock country.

There were fans from all walks of life who made their way down south to bleed black and gold. Students currently attending Mizzou traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, as well as many alumni and families.

No matter where the Tigers travel, Mizzou Made fans will be there to shout “MIZ-ZOU”.

Listen to Mizzou Athletics Director Mike Alden discuss the team’s 21-20 comeback victory over the Gamecocks at Tiger Talk on Monday, September 29. The show starts at 7 p.m. at Buffalo Wild Wings and can be seen via livestream on GaryPinkel.com.

 

 

 

Watch #MizzouMade Tigers in the NFL: Week 4

#91 Sheldon Richardson – New York Jets Defensive Tackle – Sunday, 12:00, FOX

#99 C.J. Mosley – Detroit Lions Defensive Tackle – Sunday, 12:00, FOX

#48 Beau Brinkley – Tennessee Titans Long Snapper – Sunday, 12:00, CBS

#50 Zaviar Gooden – Tennessee Titans Linebacker – Sunday, 12:00, CBS

#56 Jacquies Smith – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive End – Sunday, 12:00, FOX

#94 Kony Ealy – Carolina Panthers Defensive End – Sunday, 1:00, CBS

#25 William Moore – Atlanta Falcons Safety – Sunday, 3:25, FOX

#59 Andrew Gachkar – San Diego Chargers Linebacker – Sunday, 3:05, CBS

#92 Ziggy Hood – Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive End – Sunday, 3:05, CBS

#18 Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver – Sunday, 3:25, FOX

#16 Brad Smith – Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver – Sunday, 3:25, FOX

#2  Blaine Gabbert – San Francisco 49ers Quarterback  – Sunday, 3:25, FOX

#94 Justin Smith – San Francisco 49ers Defensive End  – Sunday, 3:25, FOX

#10 Chase Daniel – Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback – Monday, 7:30, ESPN

Matt Hoch Named Semi-Finalist for William V. Campbell Trophy

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Senior defensive lineman Matt Hoch has been chosen as a semi-finalist for The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame’s 2014 William V. Campbell Trophy. The trophy is awarded to the 16 best student-athletes in college football.

The Harlan, Iowa native earned his degree in middle school education, boasting a 3.97 grade point average.

Nominees for the William V. Campbell Trophy must be a senior or graduate student playing out their final year of eligibility and carry at least a 3.2 grade point average. They must also be a first-team player or substantial contributor to the team, in addition to exhibiting stout leadership.

Last season was certainly a productive one for Hoch, as he was a CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American and earned Mizzou Football’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year as well. He’s also received conference academic recognition in each of the last three years.

This year, Hoch is enrolled in Mizzou’s prestigious Positive Coaching program as a graduate student. He would like to coach in the future, in addition to his teaching aspirations.

The scholar-athlete winners, who will be announced on Oct. 30, will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and vie as finalists for the Campbell Trophy. They will also head to New York City for the 57th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, which will highlight their accomplishments in front of the biggest names in all of sports.

ESPN’s College GameDay will turn its attention to Mizzou as Hoch and the rest of the team face the South Carolina Gamecocks (3-1) at 6 p.m. on September 27. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.

#MizzouMade: Fans

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are countless phrases, cheers, songs, and slogans that encompass being a Mizzou Tiger. No matter if you’re an athlete, coach, or fan, the electricity of Mizzou spirit is alive.

For Mizzou Football, being Mizzou Made means taking a proactive approach to ensure all student-athletes develop not only athletically, but socially, academically, and mentally as well.

For Tiger fans, being “Mizzou Made” looks different for everyone in each stage of life. No matter if it’s bonding with the neighboring tailgate, or showing up early to Faurot Field and staying for the fight song, bleeding black and gold is a way of life.

 

Preview: Mizzou vs. South Carolina

Mizzou Football begins its SEC schedule in the Battle of Columbia on Saturday, as they head to Columbia, S.C., to take on the Gamecocks of South Carolina.

Columbia, S.C., like Columbia, Mo., is located smack-dab in the middle of the state. There are seven cities named Columbia in the United States, but the two facing off Saturday are the only ones with Division I football programs.

Mizzou and South Carolina are similar in more than just name: Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel and South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier are the only two coaches in the country to hold the all-time wins record at two separate universities (Pinkel at Toledo and Mizzou, Spurrier at Florida and South Carolina).

Accentuating the significance of Saturday’s showdown, ESPN’s popular Saturday morning preview show “College GameDay” will be on the campus of the University of South Carolina. The show airs from 8-11 a.m. CT, and Saturday will mark the sixth time GameDay has been on location for a Mizzou game. The most recent was in 2010, when Mizzou defeated then-No. 1 Oklahoma. Mizzou brought 18,000 fans out to Francis Quadrangle that Saturday morning, setting a College Gameday attendance record that still stands.

The all-time series between Mizzou and South Carolina stands deadlocked at two wins apiece. Mizzou has won six consecutive games away from home dating back to last season and hasn’t lost on the road since 2012. The Tigers went a sterling 5-0 on the road in 2013, and are 1-0 away from The ZOU this season with a 49-24 win at Toledo in week two. The streak of six straight road victories is currently tied for the third-longest streak in school history.

Difference Makers

Mizzou currently ranks second in the SEC with 14.0 sacks and leads the conference with a total of 101 yards lost on those sacks. The Tigers are also top in the SEC in defensive takeaways with nine (five interceptions, four fumbles).

Missouri Football vs UCF - September 13, 2014 (Photo by Ben Walton)Individually, Shane Ray leads the conference in sacks with 6.0, and Markus Golden, who missed last week with a hamstring injury, comes in at No. 3 with his 4.0 QB takedowns. Each defensive end has recorded at least one sack in each game they have played in so far this season.

In the takeaway department, defensive back Aarion Penton’s two interceptions are the second-highest total in the SEC.

On the offensive side of the ball, Maty Mauk leads the conference with 15 total touchdowns, and Bud Sasser ranks second among receivers with four TD catches on the year. Sasser is also third in the conference in receiving yards with 338.

Despite last week’s loss to Indiana, Mizzou has moved on and is primed and ready.

Running back Marcus Murphy reiterated the team’s positive outlook at Media Day on Monday, September 22

“It was different than I expected. I expected some guys to be down about the loss, but everyone was enthusiastic in practice,” Murphy said. “The guys were ready to just let it go and focus on South Carolina. I can see the urgency to come out, compete, and get back on track.”

Kickoff for the Mizzou-South Carolina game is set for 6 p.m. CT, on ESPN. Mizzou Football will post live updates on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook throughout the game, and fans can also listen in via Tiger Network radio affiliates.

Mizzou Football Nike Uniform Combination: September 27

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Mizzou Football will face off against South Carolina in the Nike uniform combination of high-performance white Elite jerseys with black numbers and white pants on Saturday, September 27 in Columbia, South Carolina.

There were over 1,200 entries in this week’s fan voting contest to predict Mizzou Football’s uniform for Saturday’s game. The helmet Mizzou Football will wear was option three in the contest: matte black with a chrome tiger head.

This marks the first time Mizzou Football has worn this helmet since September 2013.

The sleek jerseys feature anthracite coloring on the shoulders and tiger-stripe accents on the sleeves.

The white Nike pants are ultra-lightweight and have anthracite accents on the sides.

One lucky voter who guessed the correct uniform combination will win two tickets to Truman’s Terrace. Stay tuned to GaryPinkel.com for the announcement of the winner.

Kickoff for the Mizzou-South Carolina game is set for 6 p.m. CT, on ESPN. Mizzou Football will post live updates on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook throughout the game, and fans can also listen in via Tiger Network radio affiliates.