Just a couple quick notes before Saturday. First off, the above pic comes from Rock M's Front Page Friday. Agents Smith and Smith is definitely the nickname to roll with for Aldon and Jacquies. I still like Coultergeist for Brian Coulter.

I was at the Mizzou/Illinois game and EventChaser made it happen.

http://www.eventchaser.com/2009/09/arch-rivalry-missouri-tigers-football
-at-edward-jones-dome-in-st-louis-missouri/

Ok, if your 'sit-tayyyyy' means Maryland Heights Hotshots for the Bowling Green/Mizzou PPV, and by 'we' I mean Hazelwood's Most Wanted and myself. I'm in StL for a quick get-the-hell-out-of-Vol-Country weekend, and Hotshots was thrown out as a possible beeramid construction zone.

The Hotshots in Bridgeton was tossed out via email. Then this conversation happened (names redacted to protect the innocent/handicapped).

So, um, Maryland Heights Hotshots it is. Double high five! Feel free to say 'hello'. I'll be the guy with all the ladies on me because I own a black Blaine Gabbert jersey. Oh yeah!

Fastidious Hat and True Son will have weekend duties, so nobody knows what's truly going to happen here. If there are still four walls and a roof here at Mizzourahblog HQ, I'll be surprised.

Coming off a 37-9 win over an Illannoy squad that was picked by some to contend for the BCS title as a 7.5pt dog, this Mizzou team is riding high. Bowling Green isn't here to get their asses pounded like a 5th grader that dresses up like Liberace for Halloween. How's this thing work out?

Rock M Nation will be doing up the live blog, and have their numbers crunched for the BTBS preview. I'm going to agree on this one; with the line going up and up, Mizzou is now a 20pt favorite, and I'd avoid this bet at all costs. Too many variables for a 20pt win. I'm sticking with a bit closer; Mizzou wins this one 35-17, and it's Victory Whiskey for all.

The genie had some close calls on a couple of mayjah upsets last week (looking at you Iowa State and K-State), but the upset ones were Colorado who got left out. Apparently the 8-ball broke itself when we got to the Colorado State/Colorado game...thankfully. Let's do this.

Colorado 24 Toledo 17
There is no way the Buffs could look worse than they did on Sunday, right? I'd think again. Tyler Hansen coming out saying he's going to redshirt pretty much tosses Cody Hawkins under the pain train. I like Hansen at QB a hell of a lot more than Hawkins, who's shown nothing but to garner PT while somehow pissing off his own dad. And how long until I can officially write off Darrell Scott as being awful? Thanks for a Friday nighter ESPN!  

Iowa 24 Iowa State 13
I'll be honest: This is one of my favorite rivalries outside of Mizzou's. I'm unabashedly gay for Iowa in the B10 conference. Not sure why to be honest. This rivalry has led to one of my favorite blog posts of all time. Oh, and to the game...both teams looked horrible in their first games. Iowa at least has some talent. The only thing going for ISU this year is it's in Ames. I'll say it's close until the Hawkeyes pull away late in the fourth quarter. 

Nebraska 55 Arkansas State 17
Keep us impressed Bo. Seriously, another pussy team? You might have a shot at the Sun Belt title with this schedule. Order restored.

Texas 42 Wyoming 10
As much as I like Dave Christensen and his Wyoming Pokes, this isn't happening. If it did, it would be cooler than a combination of Randy Savage and Mr. T. Wyoming looked horrid last week in their "win". This one is in Laramie, which if you've been there, that makes two of us. The things I'll admit in a blog post... 

Oklahoma State 49 Houston 10
I like Houston, and if any sort of upset is happening this week, this is it. Kevin Sumlin is a damn good coach for the Cougars, but I still don't see it. Okie State looked very good after some adversity in the Gawwwwgia game, and Gawwwwgia is a better team than Houston. I've never been the greatest at math, but this equation is solved; Okie State > Gawwwwgia > Houston.

Oklahoma 64 Idaho State 3
Sorry Idaho State. Had to happen to someone, and that someone is you. There hasn't been a beating like this since Jesus was on the cross, but even then, he was nailed up to that thing. You could actually not show up...he didn't have a choice.

Kansas State 21 Louisiana-Lafayette 10
K-State actually has to travel to Lafayette for this one? Wow, nice scheduling. Says enough about the state of affairs and the program that THEY HAVE TO GO TO LAFAYETTE! The Mildcats can't look worse than they did against UMass though, right? (See Colorado/Toledo preview) Well, this one is on the road, so the answer is 'yes, possibly'. For the pride of the conference, I'll go play with my Willie and a Power Towel.

Texas Tech 56 Rice 10
Remember when Rice was good the last two years? Yeah, not so much now.

Kansas 35 UTEP 14
People are picking this as an 'upset special'. I'd love to see it. Todd Reesing's Heisman campaign should get some good numbers in this one. UTEP lost a heartbreaker to Buffalo last week, and just made a truckload of mistakes. Of course, kU has a shaky LB corps, and they'll get tested by Trevor Vittatoe at QB for UTEP. Still, sadly, it doesn't happen.

Ran across this gem while I was trying to find some of the previous Mizzou football videos. Anyone who has seen Metro Sports' documentary "Border War" knows what a crazy bastard this guy is. Check it out as he repeatedly rubs up on some foxy sideline reporter during last week's kU-Colorado State game.

Am I the only one who gets an uncomfortable feeling during this video when I can't tell where his left hand is?

The last several weeks we’ve been discussing what improvements could be made to Mizzou’s pre-game atmosphere to get the fans and players more amped and to provide a more unique overall pre-game experience. Specifically, what could be done to improve the Tigers’ run-out.

For some reason I’ve always loved watching how different teams run out of the tunnel right before kickoff. I think it started when I saw Ray Lewis’s Super Bowl dance in 2001. And with a new video board and sound system at Faurot Field, this seems like the perfect time to come up with the ideal run-out/pre-game atmosphere.

Ultimately, the biggest thing that’s going to make the pre-game atmosphere electric is this fans. There obviously has to be lots of ‘em and they have to be jacked. For years this was impossible because Mizzou football sucked and therefore there weren’t going to be many people there and the people that were there were likely on their way home before the start of the third quarter.

But now that’s changed. The athletic department wants 70,000 fans for Saturday’s game at Bowling Green. I doubt they get that many but they’ll likely be in the upper-60s. It was only a couple years ago that 70,000 fans was a stretch for most Big 12 teams outside of kU/Nebraska/Texas/OU let alone a mid-major non-con like Bowling Green.

The last couple weeks we’ve argued about what would be the best song to have played right before the Tigers run out. It’s really difficult to find a song that gets everyone pumped and hasn’t been used by at least another dozen schools and hundreds of high schools. If you have unique music for your run-out you can bet it won’t be unique longer than two seasons.

I’ve decided I kind of prefer music without lyrics, at least for the pre-game videos. Something along the lines of the Contender theme song or the “Lux Aeterna” used in last year’s basketball video. But really, you just need something to get people’s adrenaline flowing. If it’s cliché then so be it.

But you need the video to be unique. I think the video’s huge for setting the stage. It’s also another thing I think the university has improved pretty dramatically the last couple years. The athletic department hit a gold mine last year with their video for the men’s basketball team (double-take on that byline) but we’ve yet to see the same finished product on the football side.

That’s not a knock on last year’s football video, which I thought was very good in its own right. Really liked the Contender soundtrack and the clip of where Todd Reesing evolved into Sod Reesing. My only complaint was that the video didn’t conclude with the Reesing sack. How do you not end on that note? What highlight is going to top it?

(Note: I looked all over youtube for last year’s intro and couldn’t find it. If anyone can find the clip please link to it in the comments section.)

But the best pre-game college football video I’ve ever seen is the one Oklahoma uses. (I know you’re surprised I didn’t say “Cowboys Forever.”) Every year the Sooners do something to incorporate their prestigious tradition into their videos. Take a look at this one:

I hate everything about that program and I still get chills every time I watch that. In the past doing something similar to this would have been impossible for MU. After decades of ineptitude there was no tradition to speak of. But after the Larry Smith-Corby Jones mini-revival of the late ’90s, the Pinkel-Smith re-birth and the celebrated class of ’08 the university suddenly has a plethora of former stars they could use to make one kickass video.

Here’s some random clips to include in the video that I’m just going to rapidly throw out there: James Wilder lowering the shoulder vs Nebraksa in ’78, Kellen Winslow making a catch in the Liberty Bowl, Roger Wherli making a pick, Corby Jones getting flipped at the goal line against the Huskers, Brad Smith *any number of breathtaking plays made*, J-Mac returning a punt return against Illinois, Chase Coffman hurdling someone, Chase Daniel threading a needle in Armageddon, etc.

This is just an idea off the top of my head but show a Mizzou legend with the typical tough guy expression saying something along the lines of “Mizzou is cliché adjective” and then shoot to an iconic play from their career. Then alternate doing this between Mizzou legends and current Tigers. You’re telling me you wouldn’t run through a brick wall after hearing Corby Jones say “Mizzou is fearlessness,” followed by a clip of him doing a 360 into the end zone? Or what about a clip of Chase walking off the field at Armageddon followed by a highlight of Gabbert with him saying “Mizzou is continuing tradition.” I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it.

A cookie cutter highlight package with AC/DC or Guns and Roses blaring is OK. We’ve lived with that in the past and if the team is winning it will always get us jacked up. But including personalities that have been icons for your program could take the pre-game atmosphere to the next level.

Bowling Green's Ty Pronty, who had a pretty good game for the Falcons last Saturday (six catches, 30yds), is out this week against Mizzou. Of course, BG still has their leading wideout, Freddie Barnes, who smoked some Troy ass (15 catches, 157yds, 2 TDs). Uh, yeah, might want to keep an eye on Barnes.

Of course, rumors are true: De'Vion Moore is donezo this week for the Tigers.

Watch where you step! I may have dropped some knowledge over there. I traded emails with BJ from FalconBlog, a Bowling Green blog. We got to know each other in a very non-sexual way...I'm talking about our teams. His questions and my responses are over at FalconBlog, and his responses to my drivel are below.

1). With the Falcons having a new coach in Dave Clawson, an offensive mind, what changes have you seen one game in to the Clawson Era? New offensive or defensive scheme?

Well after a year of reading horror stories from Knoxville, I expected to see a defense only Marilyn Savant could understand.  As it turns out, normal humans can grasp the Clawson attack--perhaps the Volunteers had other problems.  Clawson says he is not a "system guy" and will the plays that get his best players the ball in space.  With that in mind, we certainly ran a hybrid offense with lots of spread sets but also some more "West Coast" sets.  We were supposed to run more, though you didn't see that against Troy.  What you did see what remarkable success along the line of scrimmage--perhaps the best performance on the line of scrimmage that I can recall going back to the Meyer years.  You also saw the passing offense go deep a lot more than it used to.  On defense, we blitzed a lot more than we did previously, and had more success pressuring the QB against Troy then we have in a long time. 

2). The MAC has always had a strong crop of QBs. Where does Tyler Sheehan rank in MAC QBs for '09?

Going into the season, I thought Tyler was the third best QB in the MAC, behind Dan Lefevour of CMU and Tim Hiller of WMU.    Neither of those guys had good starts to the year, but at the same time, they were playing on the road against BCS Competition. If Tyler continues to produce as he did last week, he has the ability to be as good as Hiller, and as good as Lefevour when he isn't running, which it appears he is not.  Sheehan is already on target to be the most accurate QB in school history and if he can start to add some yards to that total, he could have a very exciting senior year.

3). If I read this correctly in Street and Smith's Preview, BGSU has all new players on the DLine and at LB. How will this inexperienced line stop Derrick Washington, one of the better backs in the B12, with one of the best OLines in the Big 12 Conference in front of him?

That's pretty much correct, the entire front seven either graduated or "left" the program with the exception of LB Jerrett Sanderson.  The answer to your question is that I didn't know how we were going to handle Troy's line, so I'm sure I don't have any idea how we will handle Missouri's.  (When asked how BG would handle Troy's strong D-Ends, Coach Clawson said "We need to block them" so you can tell I don't have a lot to work with here). 

In other ways, though, this is not a new story.  BG has won games at BCS schools over the past few years, including a LeSean McCoy led Pitt team.  In all cases, we are facing bigger lines and quality backs.  I think the answer is partly that we try not to get in a slug-it-out game, we try to control the ball on offense, and perhaps most importantly of all, our players bring their very best for the biggest stage.  On at least a couple of occasions (two years ago @MSU and last year with Minnesota, those teams tried to play their offense for the first half, and then when faced with a close game, they lined it up and smacked it between the tackles.

Finally, the front four is new.  However, one of the linebackers is a returning, and Cody Basler (MLB) had some very high quality games as a reserve, and the third LB is a JUCO transfer. Our linebackers have the potential to be a pretty strong element, in fact.

4). Josh Harris was to Bowling Green as Brad Smith was to Mizzou. Any clue what Josh is doing now? The guy was automatic in NCAA '04 for me.

That's a great analogy.  Josh Harris was an incredible player and winner for our program.  I remember one game when we needed a TD in OT, and Meyer ran Harris on every play until we scored and won, and Meyer just said afterwards that no one else was going to touch the ball.  He carried teams on his back like that.

After bouncing around NFL training camps, Josh lives in the Columbus area where he works in sales.  I know he and his wife have started a family as well.

5). As a Mizzou fan, we've seen several previews that had the Tigers finish anywhere from 1st to 4th in the B12 North. We think that's pretty crazy, but then I've seen BGSU predicted anywhere from 1st to 6th in the MAC East. Realistically, narrow this down...where will the Falcons finish?

I picked the Falcons to finish fourth.  I'm feeling a little better than that after the Troy game, but that was only one game.  The real reason for the disparity has more to do with the divisions than it does with BG.  The MAC East is very soft.  Every team has flaws, and, with the exception of Miami any team could win the East. It will come down to health and some luck.  Also, BG's cross over games with the West include CMU, which will be a tough assignment.

Ok, kinda.

Over the weekend, we came up with the decision to buy the domain BlaineGabbertForHeisman.com. Now, do we doubt that Gabbert can contend for the Heisman at some point? No way. Hell, that was the point that we bought it. We were creeped at the thought of a Buckleshoe or Husker fan buying it up and having it direct to something else when Gabbert gets the wheels rolling on a campaign (hopefully).

Then this- we purchased ToddReesingForHeisman.com. We did it just for the reason that we tried to protect BlaineGabbertForHeisman.com from; for a rival fan to totally dick-around with. In our giddiness, we posted Reesing's announcement on Monday, when 95% of you were working off a hangover. Just figured it was worth a repost.

Now, for a fun fact.

ToddReesingForHeisman.com: $8/yr
BlaineGabbertForHeisman.com: $11/yr

Yes, a player that has started one (1!!!) game his entire collegiate career has a more expensive domain name than a three year starter.