Mizzou Network: Texas Pipeline

Our Mizzou Tigers have arrived in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl and have wasted no time in getting into practice mode in preparation for the big game.

Thirty-two members of the Mizzou football team come from the state of Texas, where surprisingly enough, this game will feel like a home game to many of them. Sophomore safety Ian Simon summed up his feelings well, saying: “I mean ‘cool’ doesn’t even describe it. This is amazing. This is a dream come true. Been a Cowboys fan all my life, grew up in this stadium, been around this area all my life.  I mean this is amazing. It’s just fun being back home.”

Senior linebacker Donovan Bonner’s trip back to the Cotton Bowl is a little bit off of the beaten path.

“In 2007 I didn’t know anything about Mizzou, I just knew Chase Daniel because he’s a big guy here,” Bonner said. “I went to the Cotton Bowl, the Arkansas-Mizzou game. I was working the concession stands selling corndogs, raising money for a school basketball trip. It’s crazy I’m back in the Cotton Bowl for my last game.”

Senior quarterback and team captain James Franklin talked about the importance of the Texas pipeline to Mizzou, especially because he was one of the bigger recruits out of the state himself.

“Mizzou’s done a great job of getting players from Texas,” Franklin said. “Seems like 80 percent of the guys are from Texas. I know there’s a lot of them. It does feel like home, even to some guys who are three or four hours away. It still feels like they’re at home because it’s where they’re from. It does pretty much feel like home. I’m excited to be here and I’m excited to play in the game next Friday.”

If you can’t make it down to Arlington for the Cotton Bowl between Mizzou and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, you’ll be able to watch the game that will be shown on FOX. Stay close to GaryPinkel.com for inside interviews and stories as we march toward kickoff on January 3 at 7 p.m.