Gary Pinkel’s season five and season three of “The O.C.” should be sold as a holiday box set this month. Fans of both recognize it’s better than it was, but they’re both still falling short of expectations. The Tigers will be bowling for the second time in three seasons and head coach Pinkel has a short list of signature Big 12 wins in five years in Columbia. But like the hurried
story lines and paper thin acting from the kids on Newport Beach this season, Tiger fans know it should be better than this.
Finding a Tiger fan content with the success of the program is harder than dodging drunk frat boys in the streets of Columbia before a game. Mizzou’s 6-5 record is good enough for bowl eligibility and that post season check will be cashed by the athletic department before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. For only the second time in 25 years, an MU graduating class has gone to
multiple bowl games. Plus, Mizzou’s historic ‘03 upset of tenth-ranked Nebraska on national TV is in bold print on Pinkel’s resume.
Despite all these positives, though, there’s a queasy feeling of underachievement. In Brad Smith’s four years, MU will have only two ower-tier bowl games to show off. Big Play Brad will go down in college football history as one of the most dynamic quarterbacks/play makers ever. Witness being the only player EVER to throw for 8,000 yards and run for another 4,000.
Combine that with his 200/200 day against the Huskers this year and a barrel of breathtaking touchdown scampers, Smith was a player that could simply play at a different speed. Yet, hanging there like moldy misteltoe, Smith never reached a conference championship game or a major bowl.
Pinkel’s 28-30 record in Columbia defines the mediocrity he’s accomplished. But it’s his record against MU’s rivals that stinks worse than Faurot Field’s parking lot after homecoming. Three straight losses to KU looks pretty good compared to having never beaten K-State. Pinkel is a robust 2-8 against the schools from other side of the state line and winless against the Sunflower State since 2002. Worse, the Tigers have been the more talented team in most of those games and somehow lacked the necessities to win. Pinkel has appeared to be out coached by every team in the conference at some point during his run in the
Big 12. And during this losing streak to KU, he appears to keep slamming his head into the same wall without any answers for his headache.
It’s a confounding predicament for those in black and gold. Pinkel has done a solid job closing the state borders and keeping Missouri prep talent at home. He’s also recruited stars beyond the state, going to Ohio to grab Smith and Texas to pluck
his next quarterback, Chase Daniel. He’s collected more weapons than Halliburton, nabbing Chase Coffman, Tee Rucker and Tony Temple for his 2006 spread offense. Yet, one wonders if this is as good as it gets. If he could only find a way to squeeze two insignificant bowls out of a stallion like Brad Smith, what should expectations be next year? A Fort Worth Bowl? A Houston Bowl? Keeping everyone healthy?
The fact is, Pinkel never found a way to properly utilize Smith’s abilities. Brad’s junior season was wasted when Pinkel insisted on developing Brad into a pocket passer, which is kind of like forcing Kate Moss to be a champion eater. By the time Brad’s senior year rolled around, you could see the desperation on Pinkel’s face. Priority one was salvaging something, anything from the flaming wreck. Hey, forget about becoming the dominant team in the North and earning a spot in the Big 12 title game, let’s just get to the post season.
It will once again be a frustrating New Year’s for Tiger fans. Yes, Gary Pinkel took over a stagnant program and brought it to two bowls in three years. Yes, the Missouri Tigers are better off than before he was hired. Yes, there’s still more talent being pumped into Columbia. But, no, the Tigers have never lived up to expectations.
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one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
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Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
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Gary Pinkel’s season five and season three of “The O.C.” should be sold as a holiday box set this month. Fans of both recognize it’s better than it was, but they’re both still falling short of expectations. The Tigers will be bowling for the second time in three seasons and head coach Pinkel has a short list of signature Big 12 wins in five years in Columbia. But like the hurried
story lines and paper thin acting from the kids on Newport Beach this season, Tiger fans know it should be better than this.
