The conference has changed.  Opinions have changed.  But one thing remains the same.

(Video courtesy of wearemizzou.com)

Two teams, seven months, and dozens of anonymous sources later, the dust in the Big 12 Conference appears to have settled. From the possibility of superconferences and Armageddon, Mizzou has been relegated to the anticlimactic reality of life in a ten team Big 12. So the question is, now what?

As fans so often do, Mizzou supporters seem to disagree on this one. There are those of you who are relieved. Finally, the speculation is over. Mizzou keeps its BCS status, gets more money, and fans no longer have to worry about dragging their tiger tails to a Mountain West showdown against someone like New Mexico.

Then there are those of you who feel the way I do: disappointed. Remaining in the Big 12 is safe, but playing things safe rarely takes you to new heights. Weeks ago we were assured by many sources that Mizzou was a lock for the Big 10. Our beloved university was destined for equal revenue sharing, more money, and increased respect in a new college landscape. Then, earlier today it looked like Missouri might be SEC bound. Incredible football and a chance to be a “big dog,” in hoops presented an intriguing option.

Instead, we are “rescued,” by Texas and their “generosity,” for staying in the Big 12. Let’s make this clear. Texas is not saving anybody. They are strictly acting in their own best interest. In this weakened Big 12, Texas stands to make more money, start their own television network and further the gap between the Big 12 “haves,” and “have-nots.” If only Missouri could have acted so aggressively.

Missouri coaches and fans griped about the old Big 12 on three main accounts:

1. Revenue was not shared equally.
2. Mizzou was repeatedly snubbed for bowl games.
3. In general, Mizzou was deemed “second-tier,” compared to certain schools in the conference.

Well, this new conference that the brain trust of Deaton and co. are so proud to be part of solves exactly zero of those problems. If Dan Beebe’s new TV deal actually comes to fruition, Mizzou will make more money than it did. That is the good news. However, the money will not be shared equally. Texas is reportedly guaranteed up to $25 million in the new deal and other teams like Mizzou will get $14-17 million. In addition, MU is about to sign into this punishment deal for 18 years.

The conference bowl selection process remains the same, so like it has happened so many times before, a team with a worse record could still be chosen for a better bowl game. Given Mizzou’s national perception lately, I don’t like the Tiger’s chances.

Finally, if this week proved nothing else it is that Missouri is definitely perceived as “second-tier.” Now, I know that the University of Missouri is not second-tier. I am proud to attend school here. In football, only UT and OU have won more games in the past three seasons. In basketball, as long as MU has Mike Anderson at the helm, the Tigers are a force to be reckoned with.

However, perception is reality for Missouri. The Tigers were passed over by the Big 10 for the Nubs, an afterthought for the SEC, and even on the radar for the Mountain West Conference. As if that’s not enough, Nebraska gave Mizzou one last cheap shot by blaming them for “starting the whole process,” and meanwhile T. Boone Pickens refuses to acknowledge Mizzou’s presence in the new Big 12, stating the conference only has nine teams. This mess has certainly given Missouri a nice helping of humble pie.

The situation stinks. Mizzou thought it was Big 10 bound and then dropped the ball. Fans have the right to be upset. However, at the end of the day this is the university that we support. This is the team we’ve come to love. Are you a Mizzou fan because they play in a particular conference? Are you a Mizzou fan because they played Nebraska and Colorado every year? Or are you a Mizzou fan because this is the team you grew up loving? Because this is the school you went to? Or the state you live in? At the end of the day this is our University and our team. I don’t give a damn who we play. I don’t go to games to see the opponent. I don’t support Mizzou because they play in a particular conference. I support Missouri because this is my school. This is my team.

So go ahead Nebraska, run to the Big 10. We can’t blame you. And go ahead Texas, keep your arrogance and fat TV deal. I am going to continue to support Mizzou.

As the signs all over the Mizzou Athletic Training Complex say, “We Are Mizzou.” And that remains true no matter who we play or how much money we get for doing so.

For all of the talk about Mizzou being in trouble if the Big 10 doesn’t take them on, I think there may be a fairly nice alternative. Everyone is panicking: Mizzou could go to the Mountain West. Oh No! Well, how about Oh Yes!  It certainly isn't the SEC, but it's not the Sun Belt either.

For the last few years, the Mountain West conference has been one of the best in football. Utah has won two BCS games in the last 5 years and deserved a shot at the National Championship in 2005 and 2009. TCU went to a BCS game last year. BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall hasn’t hidden the fact that he wants to bring the program up to the level of its glory days in the 80s and 90s, when under LaVell Edwards they were a top program. Think that win against Oklahoma to open the season raised some believers? Boise State is now onboard and who can forget their two undefeated seasons in the last five years. People (including myself) have knocked on their weak scheduling, but been silenced when they steamroll opponents in BCS games. It is obvious that Utah, TCU, BYU, and Boise State have been light years better than the collective Big 12 North over the past five seasons.

So now it’s reshuffling time. Here is my proposal: We break up the Mountain West and take the remaining Big 12 teams to form a new conference. Let’s call it the Great American Conference. Here’s what it would look like:

Mizzou

Kansas

Kansas State

Iowa State

Baylor

Utah

BYU

TCU

Boise State

UNLV

Air Force

New Mexico

This grouping would legitimately make the Great American Conference very, very good. I know I am going to pick up some critics for this, but I honestly believe Missouri would only be the 4^th best football program in the conference behind Utah, TCU, and Boise State (not in any order). BYU would follow up as a very strong 5^th team.

Make no mistake: The Mountain West has premiere football programs, including TCU.

I’m telling you, all of the Midwesterners and Mizzou fans need to get off their high horse and realize how good the top of the Mountain West Conference is. Utah, TCU, Boise State, and BYU are not kidding around. The conference has four teams at its head that want to play in BCS games every year. The addition of Boise State all but seals the conference as having four teams at the top that could compete with anyone else’s top four, except for the SEC.

For those of you thinking that there is still some weakness to the bottom of the conference, then you could think about removing a couple of the teams from the picture and making it an even stronger 10-team conference. The most likely removals would be New Mexico, Air Force, Iowa State and Baylor.

From a basketball perspective, the Great American Conference is pretty impressive too. Kansas would undoubtedly be the top program and the Mountain West has let it be known that they covet Kansas for its hoops team. Around Kansas would be a deep group of good programs, with none of them marking themselves as the clear No. 2. Mizzou, Kansas State, Baylor, BYU, New Mexico and UNLV were all tournament teams in 2010. Mizzou was a 3-seed in 2009. Kansas State, Baylor and New Mexico were all top 3-seeds in 2010. Utah has had a good program historically and used to be one of the top programs in the country when Rick Majerus was there in the 90s. The Utes generally make the tournament every other year, but expect visits to the Dance to become more frequent in the coming years. New Mexico is famed for “The Pit” and its home court is considered one of the toughest places to play in the nation.

The basketball layout is good and deep, but outside of Kansas it lacks some of the powerhouses at the top. The football layout has those powerhouses; they just need a chance to prove it. Of course it would be better for Mizzou if we hooked up with the formerly named Pac 10 or Big 10 conferences. But, from the rumors swirling, that is unlikely to occur. If we are being shunned everywhere else, why not make the Great American Conference happen?

We interrupt your conference expansion coverage and return to some sense of normalcy with the return of Facebook Friday.

This week's player is Jerrell Jackson.  The Houston native who came to Mizzou as a rivals.com two-star recruit emerged last season making 37 catches for 458 yards and two touchdowns.  If Mizzou has any chance of replacing the production left by Danario Alexander, Jackson is going to have to have a big year in 2010.

Jerrell Jackson, good guy,

graduated from the streets,

Mizzou might be alright after all.

The sports world has been polluted with so much crap in the last 24 hours it's hard to keep it straight.  Yesterday, I made a post about how Mizzou looked like it was on the outside looking in when it comes to conference expansion.  After thinking things through a little longer, I think everything is going to be just fine.

All reports are say Mike Alden was very calm yesterday.  He, along with everyone else at Mizzou hasn't had much to say about conference realignment.  The silence can be frustrating at times for fans.  However, yesterday Alden went so far as to say Missouri is in, "a good place."  On the verge of getting left out is not a good place.  Would he say that if really thought Mizzou was going to be left out?

Why would Mizzou maintain such a strict silence if the Big 12 was about to dissolve and leave Mizzou out in the cold?  Wouldn't they be calling the Big 12 South schools pleading them to keep the conference together?  Kansas has had to beg other schools to stay because they have no alternatives.  Missouri hasn't done that.  I don't think Missouri would be playing it so cool it was about to be forced into some second rate conference.

Also, consider the possibility that the Big Ten might expand in waves.  They said that was a possibility from the very beginning. First they take Nebraska.  The Big 12 South schools have said without Nebraska, the Big 12 will fall apart.  They didn't say the same thing about Missouri.  So the Big Ten steals Nebraska first, which forces the Big 12 South (minus Baylor, plus CU) to join the PAC-10.  At which point, the Big 12 officially falls into chaos. At that point, the Big Ten then scoops up Missouri who not only wouldn't be blamed for ruining the Big 12, but they may not have to pay exit fines for doing so.

In addition, Mizzou is still the same appealing choice to the Big Ten it was months ago.  The number of TV sets (the driving factor in all this) in the state hasn't changed, the revenue capabilities of the Mizzou athletic department hasn't changed, and the academic standards of the university have not changed.  The only thing that has changed is that more and more "journalists," are in such a hurry to break news that they're doing themselves more harm than good.

Finally, don't believe everything you read.  Personally, I think local sites like Powermizzou.com and the Columbia Tribune have a better read on Mizzou than anything you'll hear on ESPN.  Also, many of the idiots on sports radio are clueless.  Kevin Kietzman has no idea what he's talking about when he says "a bomb has been dropped on Columbia," and people in the Mizzou's athletic department are walking around shocked and dazed.  Much more reliable sources say that is far from the truth.

With all the crap out there, it is easy to get worked up.  Missouri is getting virtually no love from anybody right now.  A lot of that has to do with the fact that Mizzou administrators have remained silent on the whole issue.  They're acting professionally and respectfully.  Journalists write about people who call them back and Missouri isn't necessarily doing that.  In the next few days, things might sound pretty grim.  But in the end, I think things will be OK.  Missouri's silence might prove to be golden.

(UPDATED: 8:55 PM at bottom of post)

The expansion thing has gotten old.  I've tried to abstain from writing about it for as long as possible.  But in light of Nebraska's apparent departure from the Big 12, I'm pressing the panic button.

When these rumors began months ago, it looked like Mizzou was destined for greener pastures.  More money and more exposure were certain to come Missouri's way when it joined the world's first "superconference."

Now, a feeling that is all too familiar as a Mizzou fan is sinking in.  We're about to get kicked in the nuts.  Everyone from Joe Schad to the infamous Chip Brown is reporting Nebraska is going to the Big Ten.  Initially most people assumed Nebraska and Mizzou were a package deal.  The fact, that Nebraska is about to make this announcement and Missouri is not, is troublesome.

Here's the latest ways Mizzou gets screwed from what I've read (take this for what it's worth):

Screwing number 1: The Big Ten adds Nebraska and no one else.  The Big 12 South schools (maybe Colorado instead of Baylor), bolt for the PAC Ten and Mizzou is left in the dust with kU, K-State, Iowa State, and Baylor/Colorado.

Screwing number 2: The Big Ten adds Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Rutgers.  The Big Ten obviously wants Notre Dame and they end up choosing the TV sets of NYC over Missouri.  The Big 12 South situation happens as described above.

Meanwhile, I could be overreacting (very possible) and tomorrow I could be writing about Mizzou's move to the Big Ten.  For now, I'm not holding my breath.

- On a side note, how messed up is the Big 12?  You know a conference is bad when every conference member is forced to look out for themselves only.  It just shows how poor of a job Dan Beebe and co. have done with the conference.  There is no leadership and no unity.

Alright, rant over.

UPDATE - Here's a new situation not many people have brought up.  A new rumor says that Mizzou, Texas, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame will join Nebraska in the new Big Ten.

I buy it because:

There have been reports that Texas and Texas A&M will be meeting soon to discuss conference realignment.  Originally, everyone assumed this meant discussing the PAC 10, but maybe not.

Notre Dame said a few weeks ago they would only join a conference if it looked like super-conferences were the direction college sports were heading.  If true, this would be one very, very powerful conference.

I don't buy it because:

I can't see A&M and Texas ditching Texas Tech.

I can't see Texas joining a conference where they would have to take a backseat to established powers like Ohio State and Penn State.

Why would Texas be dogging Mizzou like they have been if they're both going to the same place?

How come this information is just coming out now?

The waiting game continues....

Here at Mizzourah we haven't said much about the whole conference realignment situation chaos.  I'll be honest, I have no inside information and my guess is as good as yours.  I figured you'd rather get your updates on Dan Beebe's idiocy from real sportswriters rather than me.  But finally, we're able to bring you a video that pretty much sums up the entire situation.  It's pretty good stuff if you're familiar with characters like reporter Chip Brown and Dan Beebe.  Enjoy.

Recently, I caught up with Kim English to get his thoughts on the upcoming season, the incoming recruits, and his future.

1. First of all, how have you been? What have you been up to this off-season?

“I’ve been good man, just sleeping at night and grinding hard during the day. Just playing ball a lot and trying to take my game to the next level.”

2. I’ve heard you’ve been working on your midrange game a lot. How’s that coming?

“Last year I took a lot of shots I didn’t want to take. I forced things a bit. Now I’ve realized if I improve my ball handling I can get by guys. But when I can’t get by them, now I can just stop and shoot over them. It’ll be nice to have a little midrange game to be able to do that. Sam Cassell has been up to the gym I play at a few times this summer. I’ve been working with him, trying to learn from him, because in my mind he has one of the best midrange games of all time.”

3. What motivates you?

"Whatever I do, I want to be the best at it. I want to win a national championship. I want to be the best basketball player to ever come through Mizzou. I want to be the basketball ever. Now to some that may seem far-fetched, but that’s why I’m working. I’m workin’ to be the best. It may sound like a lot, but it’s true. If I shoot for that, even if I don’t necessarily make it, I’ll still be in some good company."

“I want to win a national championship. I want to be the best basketball player to ever come through Mizzou… I’m workin’ to be the best.”

- Kim English

4. Is winning a national championship reasonable?

“Yeah, it’s reasonable. We have a good chance for a lot of reasons. We’re a talented team and if we play the right way we definitely have a good chance.”

5. The incoming recruiting class has been a popular subject for fans this summer. What are your thoughts on the incoming guys?

There is no doubt that this is Blaine Gabbert's team in 2010 (photo by Parker Eshelman, Columbia Tribune).

Part 1. Just how good was Gabbert last year?

Part 2.    How does Gabbert compare to Chase Daniel?

Part 3.    What can we expect from Gabbert this year?

----

On September 4, 2009 no one knew exactly what type of player Blaine Gabbert would be. Maybe he’d be the best Mizzou quarterback of all time. Maybe he would be a complete bust.

One day later, Gabbert threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns while completing 76 percent of his passes against the lifeless Zooksters. Mizzou Nation erupted. Jason Whitlock and just about everybody else jumped on the bandwagon. Heisman talk began. It appeared Missouri had been blessed with a QB that would make Chase Daniel look more like Kirk Farmer than a Heisman Candidate. (Speaking of Chase look-a-likes, this guy anyone)?

But mixed in with the ridiculous displays of realized potential were some growing pains. Mizzou’s Texas Bowl debacle where Gabbert completed 15 of 31 passes for 291 yards and two interceptions still lingers in some critic’s minds.

The Texas Bowl was not Gabbert's best game (photo by Chris Dunn of Words and Light Blog).

Between the blowout of Illinois and the butt kicking at the hands of Navy, we learned a few things about the type of player Blaine Gabbert is. We know he is certainly not a bust. Whether he becomes the best quarterback in Missouri history, well, that is yet to be determined. However, what is already determined is that Gabbert was one of the better quarterbacks in the nation in 2009.

He threw for 3,593 yards (the 3^rd most in MU history), 24 TDs and only nine interceptions, all with a bad ankle for much of the season. His 140.5 quarterback rating was second only to Colt McCoy in the Big 12 and good for 30^th in the nation.

Of first year starting quarterbacks only 11 had a higher rating than Gabbert. Only five of those quarterbacks play in a BCS conference.

Out of BCS conference quarterbacks returning to their team for 2010, only 7 were statistically better than Gabbert in 2009. That’s great news heading into the upcoming season if you’re a Mizzou fan. However, Gabbert wasn’t perfect in 2009 either.

Obviously, two healthy ankles might have made the story read a bit differently, but Gabbert had his share of struggles. His nine interceptions were a pleasant surprise, especially after Daniel threw 18 in 2008, but they seemed to come at particularly bad times (is there a good time for interceptions?) for MU.

Gabbert threw seven of his nine picks in the second half. Four came in the fourth quarter. I don’t think it’s a mere coincidence that the fourth quarter was also Missouri’s worst. The Tigers outscored opponents by 74 in the game’s first three quarters, but in the fourth quarter Mizzou’s point differential was a disappointing -20. In Missouri’s three game losing-streak to Nebraska, Oklahoma State, and Texas, Gabbert threw five interceptions. The Tigers were outscored 33-0 in the fourth quarters of those games.

On the bright side of the interceptions is the fact that Gabbert threw no picks in the first quarter of any game. Although Mizzou only held leads at the end of the first quarter four times, at least it wasn’t Gabbert interceptions that led to early deficits.

In 2009, Gabbert easily established himself as the division’s premier passer (sorry, Sod). He should keep that title in 2010 as Missouri and Iowa State are the only teams that enter fall camp with their quarterback situation definitively wrapped up.

But how does he compare to other returning quarterbacks around the nation? Here’s a breakdown of some comparable QB’s who were first year starters in 2009 and return in 2010:

Blaine Gabbert – Sophomore – Missouri

Completion %: 58.9

Yards: 3,593

TDs: 24

INT: 9

Sacked: 19

Rushing TDs: 3

Rating: 140.5

Note: The quarterback for your Missouri Tigers

Landry Jones – Oklahoma – Freshman

Completion %: 58.1

Yards: 3,198

TDs: 26

INT: 14

Sacked: 12

Rushing TDs: 0

Rating: 130.83

Note: Not quite Ram Bradford, but definitely a good player.

Ryan Mallet – Arkansas – Sophomore

Completion %: 55.8

Yards: 3,627

TDs: 30

INT: 7

Sacked: 24

Rushing TDs: 2

Rating: 152.52

Andrew Luck – Stanford – Freshman

Completion %: 56.3

Yards: 2,575

TDs: 13

INT: 4

Sacked: 6

Rushing TDs: 2

Rating: 143.47

Note: Getting a ton of love from the hype machine also known as ESPN. Stats probably a bit low in ’09 due to the fact that he shared a backfield with Toby Gerhardt, the nation’s leading rusher.

Pundits are expecting big things out of Luck in 2010.

Greg McElroy – Alabama – Junior

Completion %: 60.9

Yards: 2,508

TDs: 17

INT: 4

Sacked: 18

Rushing TDs: 1

Rating: 140.55

Note: Not going to wow your socks off with his numbers, but here’s one stat where he led the nation last season: National Titles. I’d take it.

Scott Tolzien – Wisconsin – Junior

Completion %: 64.3

Yards: 2,705

TDs: 16

INT: 11

Sacked: 21

Rushing TDs: 2

Rating: 142.99

Note: Not really known as a great quarterback, nor is Wisconsin a high-flying attack by any means, but he fit the bill plus I wanted to get someone on here from the Big 10.

Jerrod Johnson – Texas A&M - Junior

Completion %: 59.6

Yards: 3,579

TDs: 30

INT: 8

Sacked: 27

Rushing TDs: 9

Rating: 136.7

Note: Dude is good. The world saw what he could do against Texas last season. Should have a monster year in 2010. Johnson started in ’08 but he’s a guy we’ll hear a lot about this season so I threw him on here for comparison’s sake.

Gabbert was easily an above average quarterback in 2009. Had Ndamukong Suh not ruined his ankle he might have been a top 20 quarterback in the nation.

However, he is definitely right in the mix with the guys on the list above as one of the best quarterbacks of 2009 who return in 2010.

For quarterbacks, the second season as a starter is typically where you’re going to see the most improvement. Example: Chase Daniel went from good in ’06 to The Man in ’07. Am I saying Gabbert will make that same jump? Not necessarily. Is it possible? Absolutely.

We can analyze stats all we want but perhaps this article’s most glaring omission is the most important stat: wins. If Gabbert can improve in that category, everything else will take care of itself.

Success in College doesn't always transfer to the NBA.  Kansas knows all too well.

With the NBA draft just over three weeks away, I thought it might be a good time to make some stock predictions.  Since Mizzou has no players in the 2010 draft pool, I guess I will just have to do every Mizzou fan’s second favorite thing: Ridicule Kansas.  Here’s a look at KU’s draft history over the past decade as well as the outlook for their three 2010 prospects.

This week's Facebook Friday features Freshman All American and MU single season sack leader Aldon Smith.  This dude is NFL bound soon so I thought we'd include him while we still have a chance.

Aldon at Mizzou's paintball day.

What'd be worse: Having Aldon coming at you on the football field, or playing paintball?

Wouldn't be completely shocked if he won this award in the League someday.

Aldon, Rolandis Woodland and Kip Edwards.  Three guys that need to have big years for Mizzou in 2010.