Big XII Farewell #1: Missouri

[This post begins the series of last Big XII conference games for CU. I will commemorate each with a special salute to our soon to be former conference mates.]

Saturday will mark the final time that our Buffs will play long-time foe, the Missouri Tigers.

CU & MU have played nearly every year since 1930 with the exception of some brief depression and war-era hiatuses. Mizzou leads the all-time series with a record of 40-31-3.

I don't have a problem with Missouri, I've always kind of liked them. Shoot, they wear Black and Gold, they are the alma mater of two legendary Buff coaches (McCartney & Barnett) and they despise Nebraska almost as much as we do. Almost. The most annoying thing they do is run up the score on us during the Hawkins administration and I can forgive that.

The other thing that is sort of inspiring about Mizzou is their current coach, Gary Pinkel. Pinkel came to Mizzou from a mid-tier school, Toledo, where he had experienced extraordinary success. But upon arriving in the big time of the Big XII, his performance became middling to poor for 4 or 5 years. He seemed to be a bit of a bone-head and was solidly in the the proverbial hot seat. Does this story sound familiar so far? But then suddenly in year 5 of Pinkel's administration, the ship began to right itself and the hot seat became a hot streak which persists to this very day. It's an inspiring story of redemption and Dan Hawkins would like you to remember that.


My favorite player from Missoui was QB Chase Daniel. Chase was short, slow, white and pudgy. The only reason that a guy who looked like him should be allowed onto a Division 1 football field is to mow it. But Chase was an incredible quarterback and beat the hell of the Buffs and most everyone else he faced for 4 years. It was as amazing as it was frustrating to see him methodically complete pass after pass after pass. His is an inspiring story of a superlative talent in an atypical package and Cody Hawkins would like for you to remember that.

But of course the enduring memory of this long time series is the "5th Down". And, god, am I sick of hearing about it! Possibly the best thing about the Buffs leaving the Big XII is that we will no longer have to hear this story and all of the associated Missouri whining ever damned year. Look people, for the LAST time - yes, there were 5 downs, the officials made a mistake. But 5 plays were not run at the end-zone, only 3 were. The other two were spikes. If the down marker would have said 4 instead of 3, the Buffs would not have spiked the ball, they would have run it into the endzone as they did on the play where the marker actually read 4. So shut up. Forever.

Unlike so many of our Big XII and Big 8 conference bretheren, I'll sort of miss Mizzou. I wish them well. When the Big XII collapses, as it inevitably will in the next couple of years, I hope that Mizzou finds a good home. Possibly in the Big Ten or the SEC.

Fair thee well, old friends. But let our last encounter be sour for you as the Buffs go out with a bang and edge Mizzou in over-time. And needing only 4 downs to do so.