Sorry you feel we came in "cocky". Not the impression I have gotten. I think most thought we had a chance to win 3-4 conference games. No one anticipated all the injuries to our offense, many before the season started. We are really struggling to move the ball and score points, not only against SEC teams, but even our non-con games. This really a bizarre year for us. We are used to having a solid offense. This year has just been one of those years.
To your second point, not true. Not true at all. However, I will say that the loss to Vandy last week was an absolute buzzkill to fan enthusiasm for this team. Fans were stoked for this year and the season has been a disaster. Fans are frustrated with Pinkel. Frustrated with Yost. Frustrated with the players. The fact that we had 70k show up for the garbage we are fielding this year in a downpour against a team "fixing" to whoop us says something I think about the appetite our fan base has for a good football program.
If you were not aware, we sold a record number of football season tickets for this season (50k), and secured 200 million in donations to upgrade our football and a few other facilities. By 2015, we will have a stadium with 85k capacity and will be on par with the big boys in the SEC.
You guys have a great football program and team. The athleticism on the field yesterday was as good as I have seen on Faurot field, and I have seen some damn good teams visit Columbia, including National Champ caliber teams like the 97 Huskers, OU, Texas, Ohio St and K-state in the late 90's. We got whooped, plain and simple. We are better than this. This team just isn't right this year. The injuries, the QB play, the coaching, the chemistry, have all been putrid. But I can promise you we will get better. I am hearing big money donors are putting a lot of pressure on the AD to force Pinkel to make changes to his staff.
Unlike the 80's and 90's, which we Mizzou fans term the "dark days" of Mizzou football, Missouri football is front and center on the sports landscape now. It has helped that the rams and chiefs have been basically terrible for a decade. People are following them, interested in them. Hopefully we can turn the corner sooner rather than later.
For the fans that visited Columbia, hope you enjoyed yourself in spite of the cruddy weather. Good luck the rest of the year. Looks like you are headed for a showdown with Oregon.