Web posted
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
High hopes for Tigers during spring drills
By TROY SCHULTE
For The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Excitement is high, and so are expectations, as Missouri goes through spring football drills.
The Tigers are coming off one of their most successful seasons ever, a 12-2 season that saw them win the Big 12 North, reach No. 1 for a week and beat Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. Missouri was one win away from reaching the national championship game, losing the Big 12 title game to Oklahoma.
''We accomplished a lot last year but we didn't accomplish our ultimate goal. So we still have a lot to prove,'' coach Gary Pinkel said.
The Tigers began spring drills Tuesday. All told, they'll hold 13 practices before the Black and Gold game on April 19. As a nod to the increased respect for the once downtrodden program, the scrimmage will be televised live on ESPNU.
Missouri returns 16 starters, including Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Chase Daniel, who will be a senior. Ten of 11 starters return on defense.
''When you're one game away from the national championship game, or playing in one, it sort of lights a fire underneath you,'' Daniel said.
Missouri's stellar 2007 season and the fact that so many starters are back have some speculating the Tigers will be a top-five team when the season starts. Daniel's Ok with the increased expectations.
''We've always had high expectations of ourselves,'' he said. ''We wanted to do a great job every single year. But this year, everything fell into place and we're going to try and follow the pattern in the way to do it.''
Defensive tackle Ziggy Hood, a two-year starters, and Daniel were among five juniors who toyed with the idea of making themselves available for the NFL draft. All five decided to stay.
''It just seems like everybody has the right state of mind, not thinking of themselves but thinking of the team,'' Hood said. ''It's the team, but it's a family coming back. You can't leave each other.''
Pinkel noted that in addition to talent, Missouri has strong leadership entering the 2008 season. He's out to prove Missouri was no one-hit wonder.
''I don't think that defines you in any way -- one good year,'' Pinkel said. ''Can we have another high-level year years in a row? We haven't done that yet. Stay tuned.''
NOTES: Quarterback J.P. Tillman has left the program, a Missouri official confirmed. Tillman never saw the field last season and would have been a sophomore in 2008. His departure leaves Missouri with three scholarship quarterbacks, Daniel, Chase Patton and Dominic Grooms. ... Coaches from two schools attended Tuesday's practice. The entire defensive staff from Washington was there, as was Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.
|
