I have to. (Missouri rant)

[sjt18]

Every Mizzou fan that I have met has been humble.

They are midwestern. Which generally means they're polite and have better sportsmanship than most other SEC fanbases.... but they're learning and especially their younger fans.

They are pleased to be in the SEC, and they know that they have been the beneficiaries of a down SEC East division.

This part isn't true in my experience. Few have any memory of the SEC when the East was strong and actually stronger than the West. Some if not most think the last couple of years have been the "norm".

Even if and when the East division returns to glory, Mizzou won't fall off as much as many think, as long as Pinkel is there.

I believe they and USCe will fall to about the same level assuming Spurrier hangs on a few more years or they get a decent replacement. Missouri doesn't produce a lot of blue chip players in part because of the way the school districts are organized. Outside of the more urban areas you find a lot of really small schools.... public schools with graduating classes of 8 or so that are less than 15 miles from other schools that graduates 20-50.

Mizzou is a good school but even further away from talent concentrations than UK.

Folks also haven't factored in how much their DC meant to them. Their D made them great. Pinkel is an O guy... not a D guy. His O isn't a mystery to SEC DC's any more.

 

[99gator]

Even? They should pass them like they're sitting still. Mizzou was thin and had holes in their roster. Then they lost Loud. VERY good chance they lost Brantley today because of an auto accident. They have no WR's with experience or proven ability to produce. Mauk is wildly inconsistent. They have one RB who has performed in the SEC.

If this were our team, the sky here would have already fallen.

This pretty much could have been copied and pasted from before the season last year and they still won the East.

I made comments about the East being really, really bad and not someone out there being good.

However, until the other schools prove they have their act together I'm not going to snicker at the prospects of the one team that actually handles their business against the teams you are "supposed to beat"

 

[dcm3w]

To be fair, we had the worst defense in the world in 2012 and they beat us by three in overtime. Man, that year really upset me. We could've had a 9 win season that year if we had just a DECENT defense. I know a lot of people rip on Tyler Bray and Chaney but that offense was potent and what we've lacked the last two years.

 

[TrueOrange]

Don't underestimate the power of off-field distractions especially when it involves and undisputed leader and passionate sideline vocalist. His absence was felt immediately. And this is just on the sidelines.....

On the field? It was the same if not worse.

Mizzo caught a break in '14.

Honestly, it seemed to be a lot more about their defense having their way with our offense (especially our offensive line) until near the end of the game than it being about their offense doing well/taking advantage of our defense.

 

[keithpowers]

I live in Northwest, TN.

10 minutes from the Missouri border.

It's borderline torture.

Well, you can go visit Sheryl Crow's hometown, then!
YOU LUCKY FELLA!

 

[08Vol]

Don't underestimate the power of off-field distractions especially when it involves and undisputed leader and passionate sideline vocalist. His absence was felt immediately. And this is just on the sidelines.....

On the field? It was the same if not worse.

Mizzo caught a break in '14.

UT gave them the opportunity and they took advantage of it. No astric next to their win. Maybe this year the captain of our defense won't sexually assault a girl the week before the game. And maybe Randolph won't go head hunting in the 2nd half of a blow out over UK.

A young team needs its leaders on the field and we were missing two of them (Randolph played the 2nd half) due to their own actions. We keep saying "if we can stay healthy" heck, how about "if we can stay out of trouble." I'm more upset with the UT players that let their team down by not being there than the Mizzou players that took advantage of it.

 

[ptcarter]

Every Mizzou fan that I have met has been humble. They are pleased to be in the SEC, and they know that they have been the beneficiaries of a down SEC East division.

Even if and when the East division returns to glory, Mizzou won't fall off as much as many think, as long as Pinkel is there.

Anybody remember how you felt when the SEC let in South Carolina and Arkansas? I still feel a little weird about THOSE TWO! Change is difficult.

 

[LA vol7]

Not worried about Mizzou. They will soon be just another KY or Vandy to us.

I hope they have enjoyed the past 2 seasons because it's about to get real.

My thoughts exactly. I don't hate Missouri Mizzou or whatever the heck their name is (They can't even get all their fan base to use the same name). I hate Florida, Georgia, SC, Vandy, and Alabama, but I don't hate Missouri, I just don't think about Missouri at all, and when they are Kentucky I will think about them even less!

 

[Dooley Noted]

I live in Northwest, TN.

10 minutes from the Missouri border.

It's borderline torture.

Yep, well I live in St Louis. I can honestly say the people around here are genuinely shocked that we have such an amazing fanbase considering the lower to mid-level team they all think UT has.

I used to just tell 'em to look up some history and get back to me, but I gotta tell you that line is played out. I need a W in Columbia this year like no other. I see the question asked all the time "What is the pivotal game for the Vols?" Well for the Vols it's probably FL or GA, but for me it's Mizzou. The Vols have to win that game this year....

...or I may have to move back to TN.

 

[sjt18]

Latest report on Brantley is that he has ligament damage in his left knee, a broken tibia that required surgery, and broken ribs.

His career at Mizzou is likely over. Sad day for the young guy but in practical terms this hits MU very hard.

For those who like to look at the facts (and stats), Mizzou now returns 4 DL's that recorded a tackle in '14. The 4 of them total 53 tackles with Augusta tops at 22. To put that in perspective, Vereen and O'Brien both recorded 23 tackles with O Williams at 21. Barnett alone had 72 with Maggitt at 48.

 

[sjt18]

This pretty much could have been copied and pasted from before the season last year and they still won the East.

I made comments about the East being really, really bad and not someone out there being good.

However, until the other schools prove they have their act together I'm not going to snicker at the prospects of the one team that actually handles their business against the teams you are "supposed to beat"

In fact, UT should have beaten MU last year even with the circumstances. They didn't get it done.

This year, the rosters aren't close. The only position group where MU may have an advantage is OL.

 

[UTodd01]

In fact, UT should have beaten MU last year even with the circumstances. They didn't get it done.

This year, the rosters aren't close. The only position group where MU may have an advantage is OL.

We have a roster advantage on everyone we play this year except for Alabama and MAYBE Georgia (depth wise)...

We have to get it done on the field this year.

 

[TrueOrange]

Latest report on Brantley is that he has ligament damage in his left knee, a broken tibia that required surgery, and broken ribs.

His career at Mizzou is likely over.

(Just going to talk about this part...I don't like spring boarding news about a college kid's health after a bad car accident like that one a day ago into points for "and this is why this team will be good/bad" debates, at least not this soon.)

If the hospital and school says - per ESPN - that he's expected to "make a full physical recovery" (the tibia operation was successful; he should be out of ICU and into a regular room tomorrow), isn't it possible that he could still end up playing down the road? Clearly not this year of course - especially with the knee surgery alone and any injury rehab - but a year or two later?

I'm just trying to understand - due to my own unfamiliarity with this area - which aspects of these injuries sustained at the parts making this likely to be career-ending.

 

[norrislakevol]

Mizzou will have a hard time on offense this year with having to replace a boat load of receivers again this year. I checked out their recruiting for the last few years at that position and they have a couple of ok looking guys, but nothing on the level like we have. Their DL will now be just a shell of their former self. I bet we beat them in their house by at least 2 scores this year. They deserve it!

 

[give_him 6]

Current losing streaks

Mizzou - 3
Georgia - 5
Bama - 8
Florida - 10

This is a big year for Butch to end at least 3 of those streaks.

 

[TNVolunteerGrad]

Current losing streaks

Mizzou - 3
Georgia - 5
Bama - 8
Florida - 10

This is a big year for Butch to end at least 3 of those streaks.

Let's shoot for the moon and hope for all four to end.

 

[sjt18]

We have a roster advantage on everyone we play this year except for Alabama and MAYBE Georgia (depth wise)...

We have to get it done on the field this year.

According to Daj, I think those two and UF are the 3 teams with more "star" talent than UT. UT and UF are close. UT and UGA are within a fairly close range iirc. Bama still has a gap.

 

[sjt18]

(Just going to talk about this part...I don't like spring boarding news about a college kid's health after a bad car accident like that one a day ago into points for "and this is why this team will be good/bad" debates, at least not this soon.)

If the hospital and school says - per ESPN - that he's expected to "make a full physical recovery" (the tibia operation was successful; he should be out of ICU and into a regular room tomorrow), isn't it possible that he could still end up playing down the road? Clearly not this year of course - especially with the knee surgery alone and any injury rehab - but a year or two later?

I was assuming that when he recovers he will declare for the draft... not that he would be unable to play any more.

It is possible he won't recover. But I assume he will from the sounds of it.

 

[HoptownVol]

I live in Northwest, TN.

10 minutes from the Missouri border.

It's borderline torture.

I dont like Missouri fans either. They're all pumped up right now and I suppose I would be too, but
you can take comfort in the fact that after the 2016 season those dunderheads will still be bragging
that they are 3-2 vs. the Vols. LOL

 

[volfaninutah]

If Dooley and Bray had not let them off the hook in Knoxville the first year, we wouldn't be in this situation. They took advantage of Dooley and we have been behind the eight ball with Mizzou since. Once( this year I believe) we hit them in the mouth and let them know we aren't taking it from them anymore.. the world will be right. A&M and Mizzou have been better than we had anticipated and caught the SEC kinda off guard. A&M should be better this year with Chief. But, Mizzou will be brought down a notch this year.

 

[Other_Guy]

You can hate me for this post but keep in mind I was embarrassed when Mizzus 1st SEC was against UT, and it annoys me to death they came in and I expected them to be welcomed to big boy conference and them wish they hadn't joined but.......

Isn't it all about winning? How many years has it been since UT won any hardware? The East is down for sure and last year they were the worst East winner I've ever seeen and it showed against Bama, but guess what? They're 2 time defending East champs. That's all that.matters at the end of the day.

Also, last year they didnt catch a break against UT. They were the superior team again.

So hate me for not completely siding with you. The tide will turn and UT Georgia and the Gators will reign over them and they won't be anymore than SC has traditionally been. Then we shall laugh at their arrrogance. But lets be honest, if our boys were the crappy East team that won it 2x in a row this place would ve crowing.

 

[sjt18]

If Dooley and Bray had not let them off the hook in Knoxville the first year, we wouldn't be in this situation.

Not sure I follow you since the Vols scored 48 pts and had 585 in total O. Even before the end of regulation, they scored 28 with around 480 in O.

The D is what failed in that game.

 

[LittleVol]

You can hate me for this post but keep in mind I was embarrassed when Mizzus 1st SEC was against UT, and it annoys me to death they came in and I expected them to be welcomed to big boy conference and them wish they hadn't joined but.......

Isn't it all about winning? How many years has it been since UT won any hardware? The East is down for sure and last year they were the worst East winner I've ever seeen and it showed against Bama, but guess what? They're 2 time defending East champs. That's all that.matters at the end of the day.

Also, last year they didnt catch a break against UT. They were the superior team again.

So hate me for not completely siding with you. The tide will turn and UT Georgia and the Gators will reign over them and they won't be anymore than SC has traditionally been. Then we shall laugh at their arrrogance. But lets be honest, if our boys were the crappy East team that won it 2x in a row this place would ve crowing.

I hear what you're saying. But I will add that no matter how much we continue to improve as a program, MIzzou will almost always be a tough game.

They have a very underrated talent base to recruit from.
St Louis, and Kansas City produce good talent. Mizzou is now starting to recruit Indianapolis as well. And of course they do very well in Texas.

Also they are starting to get some talent from Georgia and Middle Tennessee which as we know is fertile recruiting ground.

I'm glad Mizzou is in the SEC. They bring a different culture to the conference.

 

[Madscientistvol]

Not sure I follow you since the Vols scored 48 pts and had 585 in total O. Even before the end of regulation, they scored 28 with around 480 in O.

The D is what failed in that game.

Playing for overtime with that D is what lost it for us. No blame on Bray but buttloads on Dooley. I remember screaming at my tv as they let the time run out.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

This thread is hilarious. We just won our first bowl game since the 2007 season, yet we're going to talk smack to a team who won the division the last two years. And I'll add a team we're winless against.