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Missouri Tigers

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Missouri Tigers
Logo
UniversityUniversity of Missouri
ConferenceBig 12
DivisionDivision I
Athletic directorMike Alden
LocationColumbia, Missouri
Varsity teams20[1]
Football stadiumFaurot Field
ArenaMizzou Arena
Baseball stadiumTaylor/ΦΔΘ Stadium
Other venuesHearnes Center
MascotTruman the Tiger
NicknameTigers
Fight songFight, Tiger
ColorsBlack and MU Gold
   
Websitemutigers.cstv.com

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. [2] The University of Missouri (often referred to as Mizzou or MU) is the flagship institution of the University of Missouri System.[3] 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

Chase Daniel takes a snap in the first quarter of the 2007 Mizzou vs. Nebraska football game.
Main article: Missouri Tigers football
See also: Missouri Tigers football under Gary Pinkel

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

Main article: Missouri Tigers men's 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) and is also well-known for The Antlers, their historically boisterous supporters' club. 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

Main article: Missouri Tigers 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.

Traditions

MU vs. KU

Main article: Border War (Kansas vs Missouri)

The Tigers' biggest rival is the KU 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.[4]

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. Missouri leads the all-time series 54-53-9. There have been 9 ties in the 116 games played.[5][6] Missouri claims the 1911 football game in Columbia, Missouri as the world's first Homecoming.[7] 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.[8] 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 93-166, 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. Illinois

Main article: Braggin' Rights

There is also a traditional basketball rivalry with the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference referred to as the Braggin' Rights Game. 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.

Homecoming

The University of Missouri claims to be the originator of the tradition of homecoming.[9] 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,[10][11][12] and Indiana claiming October 21, 1910.[13]

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.[14] 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! Hurray, hurrah! Mizzou! Mizzou!
Hurray, hurrah! Mizzou! Mizzou!
Hurray, Hurrah! And a bully for old 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

Tiger media

As one would expect from a university whose journalism school is often ranked among the top journalism schools in the world,[citation needed] 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

References

  1. ^ University of Missouri, Official Athletic Site of the Mizzou Tigers On Campus
  2. ^ University of Missouri, Official Athletic Site of the Mizzou Tigers Traditions
  3. ^ About Mizzou | University of Missouri
  4. ^ NYTimes - A Rivalry Born in Bloodshed Becomes Pivotal to the B.C.S.
  5. ^ "[1]". mutigers.com - All-Time Big 12 Opponents.
  6. ^ "[2]". "Big12sports.com".
  7. ^ Columbia Missourian - Tradition's beginnings mysterious
  8. ^ ESPN - No. 4 Missouri thwarts Kansas' perfect season, closes in on BCS title-game spot - NCAA College Football Recap
  9. ^ Columbia Missourian - Tradition's beginnings mysterious
  10. ^ http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/homecoming/history.pdf
  11. ^ http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ahx/uasfa/4120060.pdf see items 155 and 200
  12. ^ National Football Foundation
  13. ^ Indiana University Alumni Association: Programs & Events - Homecoming
  14. ^ The Maneater - What the Fudge?: Harpo's goal post tradition
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