Artwork by
Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

Red Tide Turned Back
Amanda Schad, Corner Post Reporter

Oct. 12, 2003-After 25 years and 24 lost games, the tide finally turned in favor of the Mizzou Tigers and coach Gary Pinkel. They won the contest on Saturday evening against the Nebraska Cornhuskers 41 to 24, leaving the Tiger fans energized and excited.

Most fans coming away from the game could talk only of the amazing 4th quarter. The Tigers succeeded in scoring more points in the final quarter than most teams had been able to score in a game against Nebraska all season.

"We just started pouring it on in the 4th quarter," said Leah Putting, a sophomore who watching from the 20 yard line. "We turned into a scoring machine."

"We went from the most conservative team in the nation to a run and gun, shoot 'em up team," said Peter Schulte, electrical engineering.

Conservative is definitely not a word to describe the game, especially with a fake field goal and a throwback pass in the mixed bag of tricks.

"Coach had some balls tonight," said Putting. "We pulled every trick play in the book."

The successful trick plays were even confusing to fans.

"The guy holding it just took it away," said Amy Evans, horticulture, about the fake field goal.

But Evans was happy it worked.

"I'm glad we won," she said.

Toward the end of the game, TBS, who had been broadcasting the game, removed their cameras from the field to avoid the inevitable destruction of the goal posts. After the win, a huge wave of fans rushed the field.

"I helped tear down the goal posts," said Putting.

Some loyal Tiger fans weren't surprised at the win. All day long Aaron Merritt told the customers coming through his checkout at Sam's Club that the Tigers were going to win.

"I predicted this," said Merritt. "…but it was sweet to go out that way-just crush them at the end."

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