5-0 is sweet, albeit against lousy teams. Mizzou is in for some rough times the next two weeks. I posted my predictions below for the season in advance, but my opinion of the defense went down today. I'll let the predictions stand, but I don't see Mizzou holding Texas Tech to under 35 and I don't see this offense scoring more than 21 at their place. A&M is more vanilla and mundane, as usual, but Mizzou will struggle in a low scoring affair.

I love seeing Colorado suffer. Their program has always been among the more annoying, with perpetual scandals and a tiny, unenthusiastic fan base. Bunch of pot head liberals over there in Colorado.

I'm not trying to send shockwaves through Tiger Nation. I predicted with almost complete accuracy last years Missouri basketball season at the beginning of the season after just a few games. So get ready to shudder...

I don't like Missouri's spread offense. I don't think it will succeed in the Big XII and I don't think Chase Daniel is mobile enough to keep the linebackers pulled up. With that, here's what I think:

Colorado: A dog fight. Despite the records, this game goes into the fourth quarter and maybe deep into the fourth. Mizzou by no more than a touchdown.

Texas Tech: CL
Texas A&M: CL
Kansas State: BWF
Oklahoma: L
Nebraska: W
Iowa State: L
Kansas: W

I see 4-4 in the Big XII

CL: close loss
BWF: Big win finally

The hatred directed at J.C. Louderback, head official for the infamous 5th down game, simply has to come to an end. All of this has been conjured up by the OU-Oregon controversy and got me doing a little digging.

I've read stories throughout the years about how he was overcome with remorse, had many sleepless nights and dwelled on his mistake day after day. 16 years later, he's no closer to closure.

The thing about officials is their mistakes are scrutinized by impassioned people with the luxury of a remote control, holed up in the safe confines of anonymity. I listened to the 5th down unfold on the radio while I sat in my car. I had pulled over and couldn't believe what I was listening to. The aftermath for me was more of just amazement. I marveled at what took place.

But what fan's life has ever changed because a team won or lost a game? Had Missouri won that game, great. I'd have driven home and made my kid dinner. I remember that afternoon well. When I pulled over to listen to the end of the game, it was at a park and I watched my daughter climb around on a play set. We went home, I made her something to eat, she had a bath and I read her some books. Eventually I tucked her into bed. Missouri lost, I drove home, made my kid dinner, and you know the rest. Folks, it's entertainment.

The mistakes I know people have made...mistakes that have cost lives. I know of one grandfather who took his six year old granddaughter fishing. The trailer slipped loose and she was crushed. Unimaginable grief.

For Louderback, a call at a football game was a life-changing moment. Nobody lives mistake-free, but nobody deserves to be crucified for an honest mistake in a game. Read the article. He still hears about that game. He still has a sack of hate mail. He still feels the same churning in his stomach he felt 16 years ago.

If you find your life's meaning and happiness in the outcome of a game, take a second look. For the Louderbacks, my heart goes out to them. A good man made a mistake that didn't cost anyone a thing other than a little fleeting happiness.

Missouri's in the top 25. Mike Anderson looks like a great hire. I can't remember why I don't like Mike Alden.

at CafePress. The pic below reminded me that it's there. This stuff is at cost.

The Kitty makes an appearance at the Independence Bowl. This picture ran in the Shreveport Times.

Back when Colorado had a decent team, they struggled to draw 50,000 fans. Now that their team's performance equals their moral acumen, expect crowds in the tens.

This is St. Louis talk, so if you're not from here or don't care, skip this post.

This is a random thought, but St. Louis sports radio personalities Frank Cusamano and Kevin Slaten are two opposite ends of the spectrum. Cusamano is interesting and brings a school boy's fascination with sports while Slaten is a perpetual cry horn. Slaten would criticize anyone for anything because he's hardwired that way. I can't figure out why anyone would spend time listening to his blubbering. Now sure, I busted on Bernie below, but that's obligatory for Mizzou fans.

Thanks to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch for his insight into Missouri football.

For those wanting to save 5 minutes of reading time, here's the shortened version:

1. Missouri is 4-0
2. Can Missouri go 5-0? Missouri fans have beened disappointed before
3. Time will tell

Tomorrow, Bernie explains the pencil.

KU's Crimson Girls changed their name to the more "gender inclusive" KU Dance Team. What'd they get? This guy...



I am supremely confident that Mizzou fans do not want to head in this direction. We'll let KU be the trailblazers in ruining pretty much everything associated with college football.

So the replay clearly shows that no Oregon player actually had the ball on the onside kick, which makes me wonder how, after the officials dove into the pile frantically looking for the ball, they could have awarded it to Oregon. The replay shows an OU player nonchalantly walking off the field holding the ball while the officials are tearing apart players. At what point did one of them decide to give possession to Oregon? And how in the replay could they not see the OU player pick up the ball and walk away?

That being said, the 5th down game taught us that no game will ever be changed after the fact due to a bad call on the field. OU's president needs to tone it down and move on.

Because.

So whatever happened to Mike Alden getting the can? If you read the old entries from below, you'll see an all out war on this issue. Mike is still at the helm and is yet to invite me over for lemonade.

There isn't a lot of controversy or discussion in Tiger Nation right now, which means I don't have a lot to say. Gary Pinkel has the team playing well, although I have problems with the gym short offense. I'd rather see the full house on the goal line than arena football. I don't like that we run every single play out of the shotgun. Play action out of the shotgun is nowhere near as convincing as it is from under center.

The other problem with Missouri's shotgun offense is when it isn't working, the tendancy is to pass more. New Mexico figured that out and dropped seven on every play. It wasn't until Mizzou went back to the run that they put the game away. Dropping the linebackers will take away everything underneath and over the top. We have to keep the run and better play action to keep the linebackers pulled up. Not that I understand football really...

Missouri should roll over Ohio and Colorado. If New Mexico was a generic can of peas, Ohio and Colorado are a dented generic can of peas. In fact, Colorado may be too dented for sale. Is there anything finer than seeing Colorado and K-State struggle? Sure: add a Nebraska whooping at USC.

Gary Pinkel has yet another chance at the Big XII North. With traditional powers so weak, 2006 has to be his year.