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By the time I was 12, I was a lifetime fan of the Missouri Tigers football team. At the time I had no idea I was growing up in one of the most successful eras the team ever had. The next year, I'd start working Saturdays in my father's business so listening to the games would not be as easy. But at 12, my Saturdays were my own and every afternoon that fall that I would tune in the radio (not many TV games in those days!) and listen in bed to the Mizzou games. I wasn't just lying there. No, I was up in a crawling position ready to 'fight for the team' on every play. On offense I lunged forward delivering 'vicious blocks.' I only 'carried the ball' at the goalline and then plunged over on every play. On defensive I reared up, pretended to charge into the backfield and either batted down passes, sacked the quarterback or tackled the other ball carriers depending on what the radio told me what was happening. The mattress took a fearful beating that fall!
Oddly, that fall Missouri didn't lose every third game they played. They won and won. The harder I battled in bed the harder the real team seemed to play. Oklahoma had been the undisputed conference champion every single year since I was born. But that fall Missouri beat Oklahoma. After that, I knew no one could beat my Tigers. I wouldn't let them!
The last game of the year came against Kansas. Missouri was rated the number one team in the country for the first time ever that week. Unfortunately, everyone in Columbia got wrapped up being number one and forgot that Kansas had a pretty good team that year. In fact, Kansas would be the champions of the conference instead of Missouri if they won. The MU team overlooked Kansas because they'd already lost a couple non-conference games. That Saturday crashing down on the bed and fighting with the pillows as hard as I could failed the team, and Missouri was soundly beaten. Heart-broken I walked around in a daze for a week or so, until my father informed me that Kansas had used an ineligible player. Kansas had to forfeit the game and Missouri was the conference champion! I know well that the lone player hadn't been reason Missouri lost, but at the time I believed it. Missouri went on and got their first win in a bowl game that following New Years Day. I didn't jump around on the bed because the game was on TV. I was happy, but never forgot how MU had lost to Kansas on the field, and lost the chance to be number one in the country for that season.
This coming week, the shoe is on the other foot. Next weekend Missouri plays Kansas in the biggest game between them since I was 12. KU was pretty good off and on till I was a senior in college. MU was very good till I graduated. Since then both have had a lot of hard times. But no hard times for either this year. This year Kansas University is undefeated and has a chance to play for the national championship. Missouri is darn good this year might get the same opportunity if they beat Kansas. I would say to any eager young Kansas fans if MU happens to win next Saturday night, it isn't the end of the world. Given enough time there is always another chance.
Oddly, that fall Missouri didn't lose every third game they played. They won and won. The harder I battled in bed the harder the real team seemed to play. Oklahoma had been the undisputed conference champion every single year since I was born. But that fall Missouri beat Oklahoma. After that, I knew no one could beat my Tigers. I wouldn't let them!
The last game of the year came against Kansas. Missouri was rated the number one team in the country for the first time ever that week. Unfortunately, everyone in Columbia got wrapped up being number one and forgot that Kansas had a pretty good team that year. In fact, Kansas would be the champions of the conference instead of Missouri if they won. The MU team overlooked Kansas because they'd already lost a couple non-conference games. That Saturday crashing down on the bed and fighting with the pillows as hard as I could failed the team, and Missouri was soundly beaten. Heart-broken I walked around in a daze for a week or so, until my father informed me that Kansas had used an ineligible player. Kansas had to forfeit the game and Missouri was the conference champion! I know well that the lone player hadn't been reason Missouri lost, but at the time I believed it. Missouri went on and got their first win in a bowl game that following New Years Day. I didn't jump around on the bed because the game was on TV. I was happy, but never forgot how MU had lost to Kansas on the field, and lost the chance to be number one in the country for that season.
This coming week, the shoe is on the other foot. Next weekend Missouri plays Kansas in the biggest game between them since I was 12. KU was pretty good off and on till I was a senior in college. MU was very good till I graduated. Since then both have had a lot of hard times. But no hard times for either this year. This year Kansas University is undefeated and has a chance to play for the national championship. Missouri is darn good this year might get the same opportunity if they beat Kansas. I would say to any eager young Kansas fans if MU happens to win next Saturday night, it isn't the end of the world. Given enough time there is always another chance.