Link
Admit it.
You’ve doubted the University of Missouri ever since you heard it would be making the transition from the Big 12 to our beloved Southeastern Conference just three short seasons ago.
And when the Tigers finished a putrid 5-7, in their first season of play, you felt justified in your feelings that a finesse, spread-to-pass outfit wouldn’t be able to cut the mustard in a conference full of uber-physical squads that swap helmet paint on a weekly basis.
But when they subsequently won the SEC East — while finishing 12-2 — you went with the old adage: Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while.
And despite the fact that this season Mizzou had navigated the majority of its schedule with only two losses, you’ve continually pointed out the fact that one of the defeats was to the University of Indiana — at home no less.
You kept waiting for the other shoe to fall so that the University of Georgia would find its rightful place in the SEC Championship Game over the Tigers from the “Show Me State.” Well Mizzou showed you as it finished off two of the hottest teams in the SEC — Tennessee and Arkansas — and will now once again head to Atlanta to play for all the marbles (SEC-wise) against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
But in your heart you don’t feel as though Mizzou stands a chance against the mighty Tide and the game may resemble the Tigers’ other loss, a 34-0 defeat at the hands of Georgia. But au contraire mon frère; Missouri plays a brand of football that’s difficult for anyone to deal with, and it’s been that way the majority of head coach Gary Pinkel’s underrated tenure.
It’s time to recognize Missouri is a major player in the SEC, and that fact won’t be changing anytime soon.