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Missouri Tigers
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The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia. The name comes from a band armed guards called the Missouri Tigers who, in 1864, protected Columbia from plundering Union squads as well as Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War. The University of Missouri (often referred to as Mizzou or MU) is the flagship institution of the University of Missouri System.
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Encyclopedia
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia. The name comes from a band armed guards called the Missouri Tigers who, in 1864, protected Columbia from plundering Union squads as well as Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War. The University of Missouri (often referred to as Mizzou or MU) is the flagship institution of the University of Missouri System. The women's teams are sometimes called the Lady Tigers, but often both the men's and women's teams are simply called the Tigers. Mizzou is a member of the Big 12 Conference and is the only NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision program in Missouri.
Varsity sports
The Missouri Tigers are represented in the following NCAA Division I sports:
Football
The university's first football team was formed in 1890 by the sophomore class of the "Academic School" (now the College of Arts and Science). They challenged a team of Engineering students in April of that year upon encouragement of Dr. A. L. McRea, a university professor. Interest in the sport quickly grew among the students, professors, and administrators, and a Foot Ball Association was formed at a meeting on October 10, 1890. The first intercollegiate game for the university took place on Thanksgiving Day, 1890, when Missouri played Washington University before a crowd of 3,000 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Washington University team, which had already been playing for several years, easily defeated the University of Missouri team by a score of 28–0.
Basketball
Missouri has both men's and women's basketball programs, both of which have been successful over the years. The men's program has produced several prominent NBA stars (including Anthony Peeler, Kareem Rush, Keyon Dooling and Linas Kleiza. The Tigers were regularly a national power under Norm Stewart, but failed to reach the Final Four during Stewart's four-decade spanning tenure despite their high rankings. The team advanced to the Elite Eight under Quin Snyder in 2002 (setting a record for lowest-seeded team ever to do so, at 12th), but scandals forced him to be fired in the midst of an abysmal 2006 season, replaced with current head coach Mike Anderson.
The current head coach of the women's basketball program is Cindy Stein. The 2008–09 season will be Stein's eleventh as head coach at Missouri.
Baseball
The first Missouri Tigers baseball team was in 1868. The first recorded season was in 1891, when the Tigers went 2–2. The presence of former Missouri Tiger baseball players in professional baseball continues to grow each year. In 2007, two players signed contracts, bringing the number of former MU players signing pro contracts to 142. Current MU head coach Tim Jamieson has seen 40 players in his 13-year tenure sign pro contracts. Notable Tiger baseball alum include Tim Laudner, who played for the 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins, and Phil Bradley, who played for several teams in 1980s and early `90s. In 2006, Max Scherzer became the highest draft pick in Mizzou history, when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the first round with the 11th overall pick. In the 2008 MLB First Year Player Draft, Aaron Crow became the highest draft pick in Mizzou history by being picked 9th overall by the Washington Nationals. Current Major Leaguer Ian Kinsler is a former Tiger that also played for Coach Jamieson.
Rivalries
MU vs. KU
The Tigers' biggest rival is the Kansas Jayhawks, with whom they compete in the annual Border War. This is one of the most intense rivalries in college sports, as it goes back to a time of actual armed conflict between pro- and anti-slavery residents in Missouri and the Kansas Territory known as Bleeding Kansas.
The Missouri–Kansas football series is the second-most-played rivalry in college football history. The teams first matched up in football on October 31, 1891. The all-time series is tied at 54–54–9. There have been 9 ties in the 117 games played. Missouri claims the 1911 football game in Columbia, Missouri as the world's first Homecoming. An important meeting between the Tigers and the Jayhawks occurred on November 24, 2007 when the two teams played for the Big 12 North Championship and a shot at playing for the Big 12 Championship and a possible National Championship. The Tigers defeated the Jayhawks 36 to 28. This is regarded as the biggest victory in Missouri's history, which also occurred in the best season in Missouri's history. The Tigers best season ever later resulted in a trip to the Cotton Bowl, where they defeated Arkansas 38–7.
In basketball, the Tigers trail the series 94–167, but even though Kansas often comes into the game ranked, Missouri has frequently played the spoiler and upset the Jayhawks. Such as in 1997 when the Tigers ended the Jayhawks previously undefeated run in double overtime.
MU vs. Nebraska
The Missouri-Nebraska football series is the other major historic rivalry along with the MU–KU series. The Missouri–Nebraska series is the second oldest rivalry in the Big XII, dating back to 1892. The two teams have met 102 times, with Nebraska leading the series 63–36–3. The large lead was the result of a 24 year Nebraska winning streak from 1979–2002. The rivalry has seen renewed interest following the infamous Flea Kicker game of 1997. The two teams play for the Victory Bell trophy, which was first awarded in 1927.
MU vs. Illinois
There is also a relatively new basketball rivalry with the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference referred to as the Braggin' Rights Game. The Braggin' Rights game debuted in 1980 and has been played every year since 1983. The start of football season also often matches up the two schools in the Arch Rivalry Game. Mizzou leads the series with an all-time record of 14–7 since 1896.
Traditions
Homecoming
The University of Missouri claims to be the originator of the tradition of homecoming. Before 1911, games against the University of Kansas were played in Kansas City. However, a change in conference regulations required intercollegiate football games to be played on campus starting in 1911. Fearing that game attendance would be low, the new Missouri coach, C. L. Brewer, appealed with great success for the "Old Grads" to "Come Back Home" to boost attendance and help dedicate MU's new football field. The fans responded, swelling the crowd at Rollins Field in Columbia to more than ten thousand. MU, The NCAA, Trivial Pursuit, and Jeopardy! all verify that this game in 1911 was the first homecoming game.
Several schools, notably Baylor University, Illinois, and Indiana University also claim to have had the first homecoming with Baylor claiming they held their first homecoming game in 1909, and Illinois claiming their first homecoming game on October 15, 1910, and Indiana claiming October 21, 1910.
Harpo's goal post tradition
Since 1971, there has been no doubt about the destination of the goal posts anytime they have been torn down following a home football game. 1971 marked the first year in which the goal posts ended up at Harpo's Bar and Grill at 29 S. Tenth Street in Columbia. Although no concrete reasoning is known behind the tradition, it is suggested that Harpo's became the destination because of its popularity among alumni returning to Columbia on game days and because the restaurant is one of the few places that had remained under consistent ownership without any name changes, so alumni and students all easily identify with the establishment. 2005 was the last year in which the goal posts made their voyage from Memorial Stadium to Harpo's, by way of a trip past the columns. Following the 2005 season, removable goal posts were installed, which are lowered at the close of each home game.
Alma Mater
The Alma Mater for the University of Missouri is Old Missouri. It was written in 1895 and is sung to the tune Far Above Cayuga's Waters and has two verses. Before and after athletic events, sometimes only the first verse is used. The first and second and second verses are more commonly sung at student orientation and at commencement/graduation ceremonies. Both verses are followed by the chorus.
First Verse
Old Missouri, fair Missouri
Dear old varsity.
Ours are hearts that fondly love thee
Here's a health to thee.
Chorus
Proud art thou in classic beauty
Of thy noble past
With thy watch words honour, duty,
Thy high fame shall last!
Second verse
Every student, man and maiden
Swells the glad refrain.
'Till the breezes, music laden
Waft it back again.
Chorus
Proud art thou in classic beauty
Of thy noble past
With thy watch words honour, duty,
Thy high fame shall last!
Fight Songs
The fight song(s) are used in several different combinations. The most recognizable (and longest) is Every True Son, Mizzou Cheer, and Fight Tiger all in a row. Fight Tigers can be used on its own and may have also been known as The Tiger Song of U of M many years ago.
Every True Son
(To the tune of Long Way to Tipperary)
Every true son, so happy hearted
Skies above us are blue.
There's a spirit so deep within us
Old Missouri, here's to you! (Rah! Rah!)
When the band plays the Tiger war song
And when the fray is through
We will tramp, tramp, tramp around the columns
With a cheer for old Mizzou!
Mizzou Cheer
Hit it!
Hooray! Hurrah! Mizzou! Mizzou!
Hooray! Hurrah! Mizzou! Mizzou!
Hooray! Hurrah! And a Bully for Ol' Mizzou!
Rah rah rah rah!
Mizzou-Rah! Mizzou-Rah! Mizzou-Rah! Tigers!
Fight Tiger
Fight, Tiger, fight for Old Mizzou.
Right behind you everyone is with you.
Break the line and follow down the field.
And you'll be, on the top, upon the top!
Fight, Tiger, you will always win.
Proudly keep the colors flying skyward.
In the end you'll win the victory,
So, Tigers, fight for Old Mizzou!
Give a Cheer
This song is a more recent addition, written by alumnus Carl E. Bolte.
Give a cheer for Mizzou's Tigers!
We will show 'em how to play.
Give a cheer for Mizzou's Tigers!
And our Tigers will win today.
We've got the team that will never retreat;
We've got the team they can never defeat!
Give a cheer for Mizzou's Tigers!
And our Tigers will win today!
Give a cheer for Mizzou's Tigers!
And our Tigers will win today!
The Missouri Waltz
The Missouri Waltz is the official song for the state of Missouri. It is always played before and during athletic contests.
Tiger Rag
Just like Auburn, Clemson, LSU, and Princeton, Missouri uses Tiger Rag as a secondary song.
Other Sports
National Titles: (All Sports)
- Baseball- 1954
- Indoor Track and Field- 1965
Notable Athletes
- John Anderson, former high jumper, now anchor on ESPN SportsCenter
- Ben Askren, Missouri's first individual wrestling national champion (2-Time)
- Phil Bradley, standout football and baseball player who became an All-Star outfielder for the Seattle Mariners
- Christian Cantwell, former thrower on track team, current world-class shot putter, 2004 and 2008 IAAF World Indoor Champion. 2008 Summer Olympic Games Silver Medalist.
- Lloyd Carr, former football player and former head coach at the University of Michigan
- Rob Fitzgerald, former football player and played the character Johnny in Bud Light's "I love you man" commercials
- Justin Gage, wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
- Kyle Hawkins, head lacrosse coach, first male openly gay coach of a men's team sport at the NCAA level
- John Kelly, Low Amateur at The 2007 Masters
- Ian Kinsler, current player for the Texas Rangers, an AL All Star in '08
- Linas Kleiza, current NBA player for the Denver Nuggets
- Jim Leavitt, former football player is now coach University of South Florida
- Anthony Peeler, former NBA player from 1992-2005
- Derrick Peterson, former Missouri middle distance runner competed in 800-meter run at 2004 Olympic Games for the United States
- Kareem Rush, current NBA player for the Philadelphia 76ers
- Max Scherzer, starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Brad Smith, NCAA record-holder as a dual-threat quarterback, now a wide receiver/kick returner for the New York Jets
- Doug Smith, former NBA player from 1991-1996
- Gene Snitsky, former Missouri football player, now WWE wrestler
- Hans Uldal, current Missouri decathlete competed in 2004 Olympic Games for Norway
- Roger Wehrli, Pro Football Hall of Fame 2007 inductee.
- Kellen Winslow, former Missouri football player now in College and Pro Hall of Fame
Tiger media
As one would expect from a university whose journalism school is often ranked among the top journalism schools in the world, the Tigers have an excellent presence on the radio and television. The Tiger Radio Network is anchored by KMBZ in Kansas City, KFRU AM/KBXR FM in Columbia and Jefferson City, and KMOX in St Louis. Mike Kelly is the commentator for both sports, with John Kadlec and Chris Gervino serving as analysts for football and Gary Link filling in for basketball.
For indoor sports, Mizzou operates the Missouri Sports Network, a syndication package that airs on FSN Midwest and/or Metro Sports. It mainly broadcasts volleyball and basketball. Dan McLaughlin handles play-by-play for all sports, and is joined by a rotating group of color commentators, most notably Tigers coaching legend Norm Stewart for men's basketball games.
See also
- "Fifth Down" (The infamous "5th" down during the 1990 Colorado-Missouri football game)
- "The Flea Kicker"
- Marching Mizzou
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