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Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

Tigers Become Bowl Eligible
Adam Buckallew, Reporter, CAFNR Corner Post

October 26, 2003 - Missouri Tiger fans could find themselves cheering for a second team this holiday season. Tiger fans always have the pleasure of watching the Missouri basketball team perform in December and January. Following their 62-31 victory over Texas Tech, the Missouri football team should be playing during the college football bowl season.

This is the first time that MU has been bowl-eligible since 1998, when Corby Jones and Devin West led the Tigers to the Insight.com Bowl. MU is again led by a strong quarterback and tailback duo, Brad Smith and Zach Abron. Smith and Abron have led the Tigers to a 6-2 record and the team is now nationally ranked 24th in the ESPN/USA Today Coach's Poll.

The Tigers could even end up playing in the Big 12 championship game if they keep up their high level of play. MU is currently 2-2 in the Big 12 and trails only Nebraska (3-1) in the Big 12-North division. If the Tigers can manage to at least tie the Huskers number of wins in the Big 12, then MU would advance to the championship game. But it will be important for the Tigers to focus on each individual game and not look to far into the future. MU still must travel to Manhattan, KS to take on the K-State Wildcats. The K-State game will be very critical to the Tigers Big 12 success.

Missouri will next play at Colorado on November 8. Colorado has been very inconsistent so far this season with a loss to Baylor and win over Kansas. If MU coach Gary Pinkel allows Brad Smith and Zach Abron the chance to grind out another win with the Tigers outstanding ground game, then MU should emerge victorious. Following the Tigers impressive victories over Nebraska and Texas Tech, it seems that Pinkel knows exactly what he is doing.

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