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HOMECOMING SPECIAL SECTION 36 FALL 2004 How is CoaC.n Gary PinKeL tltrnin9 the Tigers into contenders? He's sticking with a plan thatwor~s. IIP.N MISSOURI FOOTBALL Pinkel devotes his time to players. " He think about it," he says. " \Vben I can be W Head Coach Gury Vinkel always pushes you," says quarterback myself, when I'm on the field, that's sat hill three kids down Brad Smith. " He really sticks with you, when I get to have fun. It all works." and told them he wanted three grand. and I'm glad he doesthat." Of course, Pinkel knows that you kids from each of them, he didn't quite \Vben Pinkel first arrived in 2001, he can't build a national contender around get the reaction he'd hope<! for. His unvciled his "pyramid of objectives." At one player. WIthout a strong offensive daughter has since given birth to his the top of that pyramid is an eventual line, there would be no holes for Smith first grandchild, but at the time of his national championship, and near the top to pick, only angry dcfcnders ready to speech, his kids just got up and left. are a Big 12 championship and consis put him on his back. The line lost top That's notlluch an easy thing to do tellt bowl victories. Going into his graduates in A.J. Ricker and Roh Droege, for MU football players. For them, fourth season, his team includes players but Pinke! hopes to build on players with self· interest and individual goals mUll[ who have been here sillce tbat pyramid's starting experience, including Tony be secondary to Pinkel's villion for the cOllception. Add to those veteran players Palmer and Joe Gianino at guard and program; if they want to be a part of this younger ones and top recruits, and Scott Vaffrath at tackle. Redshirt ever· improving team, they have to get Pinkel might just be building the talent freshman Adam Spieker likely will play with Pinkel's plan. necessary to reach his goals over time. center. These players have huge shoes to Piolel's a detail man who knows But everyone needs to stick to the fill, literally - Ricker wore a size 17. and controls all things, large and small, plan. "\Vben the toughest moments MU also lost its career rushing associated with the program. "I use this come, wedon't deviate," Pinkel says. leader, Zack Abron, but Damien Nash word 'aware,' "says John Kadlec, the "We actually embrace what we do showed big_play potential in 2003 TIger Radio Network color commentator because we know what wc do works." when he rushed for 462 yards and who has seen his share of great Mizzou scored five touchdowns as a backup coaches over the past half century. Getting Off the Ground " Pinkel is aware of everything that goes vinkel is quite fond of the description on around his football team, everything " high.level. " particularly in wanting from how much weight you can bench to mold high-level players and create a press to what your grades are." consistently high-level team. \Vhen you Pinkel also forbids excllS(!s. No one is think of high-level players at MU, one allowed to blame poor performance on name comes to mind immediately: injuries, bad weather, screaming fans or Brad Smith. any other obstacles. Piolel himself The quanerback, a cover model for makes no excuses for the team's bad preseason footba.ll guides and the subject record on the road in 2003, with a loss of Heisman speculation, was the 2Oth to Arkansas at the Independence Bowl best rusher nationally last year. and four losses in the regular season, \Valching Smith run is a study in 'Zen including a painful one to Kansas. " \Ve like athleticism, what with his seem· weren't mature enough to focus and do ingly preternatural ability to pick holes what is necessary to win on the road," and change direction. he says, and he takes the blame for that Such gushing deseriptions- and there's no lad.:. of them - could seem lack of maturity. QuorttTboek Brod Smith tQkn HtismQn hy~ But maturity comes with time, and like pressure, but not to Smith. " I don' t Qnd high op«tQtions in srridt. F'At.t.2()(H 37 tailback. On hjj tail is Marcus Woods, change includes as~ redshirt freshman. SWitching toa The Tigers ha' "e had success on the 4-3 defense and ground, but passing has been weaker. moving Dedrick "'M! have to become a better passing Harrington from team," Pinl:el says. "That isn't just on rover to illllide ]Smith], but certainly it starts w ith him. " linebacker to hoI It doesn't end with him , though, and sterathleticism Pinkcl wants more consistency from his at that position. T«eivers, including Thomson Omboga, AtMon Sports the team's top receiver with 52 catches, ranks MU's line 466 yards and one touchdown last year; backers as the Scan Coffey, a big target for Smith; Brad best in the con Ekwerekwu, whose talent caused ference.particu Lintbocktr }amn Kinnq nuds 9.f lacklts Ihi! pinkel to pull his redshirt in 2003; and larly James Kinney. who is credited with stason 10 MOmt MU's all-limt Itodtr. redshirt freshmen O reg Bracey and 322 tackles and needs 94 tbis season to Jason Ray. There is depth at tight end , become the University's all-time leader. Welcoming the Hype with Vietor Scsay returning from an Rounding out the top contenders is Mizzou fans seem constantly to wonder, injury and Clint Matthews oo.ttling for David Richard, a converted running "Is this the year?" The only real answer the job w it h thrcc younger players. back w ho returns to his home state after to tllat question will come soon when the As for backup quarterbacks, the playing at Michigan State. team takes the ficld. In the meantime, likely candi(late is sophon,orc Bnlndon The defensive tackles are equally fans can enjoy the hype of preseason Coleman. Top re.:ruits Chase Patton and solid , if not as deep, witb Atiyyah rankings and predictions. Athlon SPOTts Darrell Jackson both couJd step up as Ellison and C.J Mosley, both coaches' picked MU over Kansas State to w in the well , but Pillkellikes to hold on to red_ all~onference picks last year. At defen- Big 12 North and finish 11th nationally, shirts whenever possible. Both recruits 5ive end, there are plenty of options, and the ESPN/USA 7"oday/AFCA are part of a quality class that represents including the experienced Zach Ville and Coaches Poll ranks the TIgers 17th. the coach's increased re.:ruiting success. sopbomoresuccesses Xzavie Jackson, who Add to that a schedule including 5tarted four game:5 as a true freshman, and nonconference games that could get the (rush the Rush 8rianSmith, who had the m05t sacks of TIgers off to a strong start, with the first The one area in which Pinkel is changing any freshman in the country in 2003. three games agaillllt Arkansas State, Troy his plan slightly is defense. He's boping The defensive backfield, which lost State and Ball State. Pivotal conference to better defend against the run in par_ two starter5, i5 the youngest part of the games likely will be two road battles ticular, an area of weakness in 2003, as defense, but youth doesn't mean inexpe against Texas and Nebraska Ilnd one at seen in tbe Independence Bowl and in rience. Nino Williams II, then a frcc home against Kansas State. Then Kansas Kansas State's Darren Sproles' rushing safety, had 105 tackles in 2003, for comes to Faurot Field on Nov. 20 for the dominance against the TIgers. example. Other strong performers higge5t grudge match of the season. " \Ve changed our defensive structure include Jason Simpson, Calvin As for all the preseason prognosticat for Signifi cant reasons," Pinkel says. " I Washington and David Overstreet. ing, I)inkcl welcomes it as a part of his think what has happened is we've had to In addition to improving tbe rush plan rather than as unwanted pressure: adjust, to become more multiple. " That defense, kicking is a concern. Redshirt " I wish people would predict that we'd freshman placekicker AleJl Pettersen is win the national championship every untested. As for punting, a top-20 rank, year. To me all these rankings mean is ing in 2002 dropped to No. 114 in 2003, that people are starting to respect our in part because of chronic problems w ith program." The coach doesn't give such # 1 ~ :=:::::,~:::!:.~:: Brock Harvey's ankle. Harvey has had prcdictioll.'l any undue weight, tbough. Split-T ott. n .. In w h. t y•• r? surgery since then, and Pinkel hopes to "We all know that the rankings next -- ....... ~, get him back to his 2002 form . January are the important ones." 38 FAL.L2004 ~ A Season to Top The Tisers' 8·S seUOD in 2003 w .. #2 :h:::::=r::r~... ~~:-r the be. t in years and provided several football Tlge,. ranked No. 17 key point. on which to balld: "'-'Oft'S1 RETURNING STARTERS Offense: • The team was undefeated at home the only playe r in Division I·A Sean (offey (12), wide receiver in 2003 but lost four regular seuon history to run for 1.000 yards Thomson Omboga (87), wide receiver games on the road. It needs to win and pass for 2.000 yards in two Tony Palmer (52), guard on the road, including at Texas and different yean, u be did in 2002.