On Saturday night, Nov. 20, FOX Sports Midwest has a conflict in the St. Louis, Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma markets, as they are televising the St. Louis Blues, Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder games, respectively, in addition to Mizzou/Iowa State. Cable customers outside of those markets will see the Tigers on their normal FSN Midwest/Southwest channel. In St. Louis, DFW and Oklahoma, and on DirecTV, Dish and AT&T u-Verse, however, the Mizzou game will air on FSN Midwest/Southwest's secondary channel.

MIZZOU FOOTBALL WEEKLY NOMINEES & NOTES

Team Notes

·         Missouri improved to 8-2 on the season and snapped a two-game losing streak with its 38-28 win over Kansas State, giving the Tigers a 5th-straight win over the Wildcats.  Missouri has won at least eight games for five consecutive years. The Tigers won eight games last season as well, but the five consecutive years with eight or more wins is a program best...

·         After a back-and-forth first half, the Tigers broke open a 21-14 halftime lead by scoring 17 straight points after halftime to pull away for a 38-14 lead.  Ten of those points came as a result of turnovers forced by the Tiger defense, including a sack/fumble returned for a TD by junior DE Jacquies Smith and another fumble that led to a field goal.  Mizzou's defense gained four turnovers on the day against a Wildcat team which came into the game ranking 15th nationally in turnover margin.  Kansas State's first six possessions in the second half netted 45 total yards, before a couple of Wildcat stat-padding drives ended in TDs in the final seven minutes to account for the final score...

·         Missouri's senior class, which played its final home game at Faurot Field, is now tied with the 2009 senior class as the winningest class in school history. The group has now won 38 games, and they'll go for number 39 this Saturday night at always-tough Iowa State, in a 6 p.m. game which will be televised on FOX Sports Net...

·         Mizzou will be going for win #9 on the year Saturday in Ames, a win total that has been reached only six times in MU's previous 119 years of existence (began play in 1890).  The 9-win seasons include:  1899 (9-2); 1960 (11-0); 1969 (9-2); 2007 (12-2); 2008 (10-4).  Head Coach Gary Pinkel, with two 9-win seasons, is currently tied with College Football Hall of Fame Coach Dan Devine for most 9-win seasons in MU history, and a win Saturday would make him the first Tiger coach with three.  He's already the only MU coach with two double-digit win totals...

·         Missouri won its fifth consecutive game vs. Kansas State. All five of those wins have been by double figures for the Tigers, including today's 10-point win. Missouri is 60-31-5 all-time vs. the Wildcats. The 60 wins vs. K-State is the most vs. any single opponent for the Tigers. Missouri has won 59 vs. Iowa State...

·         Mizzou continued its strong play vs. Big 12 North opponents. The Tigers are 15-3 vs. the likes of Nebraska, Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado and Kansas since 2007. That's the best winning percentage vs. the Division by any Big 12 school during that stretch...

·         Mizzou flashed great balance offensively in Saturday's win. The Tigers threw for 208 yards and two scores and rushed for 232 yards and two TDs en route to 440 total yards of offense.  Mizzou averaged a solid 6.1 yards per carry on its 38 rushes against the Wildcats.  Over the last two games Missouri has rushed for a combined 492 yards, including a season best 260 yards last week at Texas Tech...

·         Missouri's defense made some big plays on Saturday, recovering three fumbles, including one for a score. The Tigers also had an interception, recorded four sacks and seven total tackles for loss...

·         After its four-sack day, the Tiger defense now leads the Big 12 Conference, and ranks 6th in the NCAA overall, in QB sacks, with its average of 3.00 per game...

·         Mizzou's defense held K-State below its rushing average of 201.22 ypg coming in (ranking 20th entering the game in the NCAA), as K-State ran for 187 yards.  Star TB Daniel Thomas was held to 66 yards, well below his pre-game average of 122.4 ypg...

·         MU's players of the week are junior QB Blaine Gabbert and sophomore DE Aldon Smith (see following notes for details)...

·         Sophomore WR T.J. Moe enjoyed the first multi-TD game of his young career. Moe caught scores of 25 yards (first quarter) and four yards (fourth quarter) and now has six receiving TDs on the year, tops on the club.  He ended the game against Kansas State with 5 receptions for 36 yards, while also carrying the ball twice for 32 yards and attempting one pass (incomplete)...

·         Junior DE Jacquies Smith scored his third career touchdown, as he returned a K-State fumble 53 yards in the third quarter to help break open the contest.  Smith scored two TDs in 2009.  He returned an interception 43 yards vs. Furman and then recorded a 24-yard TD reception on a fake field goal vs. Colorado.  Smith had two total fumble recoveries on the day (including a crucial cover of a K-State fumble at the MU 2-yardline right before halftime) and now has three for his career...

·         Brad Madison added to his team-leading sack total with 1.5 QB stops. He now has 6.5 sacks on the year, just ahead of Aldon Smith. Smith had 1.5 sacks as well and now has 4.5 sacks on the year.  Madison now ranks 2nd in the Big 12 Conference, and 34th overall in the nation, with his 0.65 sacks-per-game average.  The Tigers now have 30 total sacks this season after having 31 all of last year...

·         Senior S Jasper Simmons led the charge defensively for MU, as he recorded a season-high 10 tackles vs. K-State.  He also made an athletic interception early in the 4th quarter, which was his 2nd of the season and 3rd of his career...

Offensive Player of the Week

Blaine Gabbert - QB, Jr., 6-5, 235, Ballwin, Mo.

·         Blaine Gabbert helped lead the Tigers to a much-needed win Saturday, as he accounted for 297 yards of total offense in Mizzou's 38-28 win over #24 (BCS) Kansas State.  Gabbert was an efficient 17-of-25 passing for 208 yards and two TDs (one interception), while also ran for a season-high 89 yards (only five shy of his career high) and a TD, which came on a season-long 32-yard scoring run...

·         Gabbert had his most efficient day of the 2010 season, related to QB rating, as his 156.29 passer rating eclipsed his previous season-best of 152.42 against Miami (Ohio)...

·         Gabbert came out of the gates on a mission, as he completed 7-of-8 passes for 62 yards and 1 TD in the 1st quarter...

·         The win improved Gabbert to 16-7 as a starter at Mizzou...

Defensive Player of the Week

Aldon Smith - DE, Soph., 6-5, 260, Raytown, Mo.

·         On a day where the Tiger defense had a lot of worthy candidates, Aldon Smith stood out for the impact play he made from a position he's not technically supposed to be playing.  A defensive end by trade, Smith lined up at every position on the line during the course of the game, and on one play in the 3rd quarter, he got free from the tackle position to sack K-State QB Carson Coffman and force a fumble that was returned 53 yards for a TD by fellow DE Jacquies Smith.  That play extended MU's lead to 28-14 with 5:34 to play in the 3rd quarter, and started a run of 17 consecutive points for Mizzou that broke open a tight ballgame...

·         Smith ended the day 3 tackles, including 1.5 QB sacks and the forced fumble.  He also broke up a pass in the 4th quarter - all of this in spite of the fact that he's still not 100 percent, as he's playing with pain still associated from his cracked fibula back on Sept. 18th against San Diego State.  The 1.5 sacks were the first for Smith since returning to the lineup on Oct. 23rd against Oklahoma, after missing three games following the injury.  His last QB sack prior to K-State was vs. San Diego State, and he now has 4.5 on the season...

Clearances have been determined for FSN's broadcast of Mizzou's final home game vs. Kansas State. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field is set for 11:30 a.m. Mizzou grad Joel Meyers will call the game, and will be joined by analyst Dave Lapham and sideline reporter Jim Knox.

Week 9 was an exciting one for several former Mizzou players who now play in the professional ranks. Two Tiger alumni made key contributions on offense, while two more played well on defense and another earned his first significant experience in the NFL.

By Ryan Schmitz, Mizzou Media Relations

The topic of Mizzou's offense and its performance near the goal line was a popular one this week in media circles, and for understandable reasons, as the Tigers were forced to kick a 23-yard field goal last Saturday at Nebraska after getting a 1st-and-goal from the 1-yardline.  It was the second straight game where MU had a 1st-and-goal situation but couldn't punch it in for 6, and instead had to settle for a chip-shot field goal.

With that, I took a look at the numbers from the 2010 season to see how we've done all year long when we've been close to the goal line.  This is not a simple regurgitation of our red zone numbers, because those show that we have scored 32-of-36 times we've penetrated the opponents' 20-yardline, a success rate of 89% which ranks as 17th-best in the nation.  That breaks down to 20 TDs (12 rushing, 8 passing) and 12 field goals.

I have one problem with how the red zone numbers are calculated: it accounts for any single snap inside the 20, even if it comes on 3rd and long from the 19-yardline.  Against Illinois this season, we had a situation like this.  In the 2nd quarter, we drove from our 48-yardline to the Illinois 29-yardline, where we faced a 3rd-and-12.  Blaine Gabbert hit T.J. Moe for 10 yards to the Illinois 19-yardline, and on 4th-and-2, we tried a 37-yard field goal, but the kick missed.  Because T.J. got 10 yards on the 3rd down play, and not 8 (to the 21-yardline), it goes down as a missed conversion from the red zone.

In my estimation, true red zone numbers should reflect situations where you have a 1st-down snap inside the 20-yardline.  Then, you get a true feel for just how successful your offense is at converting on those opportunties from close in.

My research shows that we have had 31 opportunties of 1st-and-10 OR 1st-and-goal from inside the 20-yardline.  We've scored 28 times (90%), including 17 TDs (11 rushing, 6 passing) and 11 field goals.  The three non-conversions came on an interception in the endzone just prior to halftime against Miami, Ohio, and that was followed by us taking a knee late in the game against Miami, Ohio, as well as an interception thrown on the 15-yardline late in the game against Colorado, when the outcome was already decided.

So, back to the earlier thought about how we've done close to the goal line? 

Breaking things down even further, I count that we have had 15 1st-and-goal situations this season.  We've been able to punch in for 6 points on 11 of those chances, and got field goals on the other four that came up short of the endzone.  Naturally, you'd like for every time to be a touchdown, but that seems like a pretty reasonable result.  The last three weeks, though, have been concerning, because we have managed only three TDs in seven 1st-and-goal situations in games at Texas A&M, at home against Oklahoma, and at Nebraska.  That's why the coaches and team are working very hard this week to get better in this area.

Here's a breakdown per game on how we've done on 1st-and-goal situations...

• vs. Illinois -- N/A, no opps.
• vs. McNeese -- 4 opps., 4 TDs
• vs. Miami (Ohio) -- 3 opps., 3 TDs
• vs. Colorado -- 1 opp., 1 TD
• at Texas A&M -- 3 opps., 2 TDs, 1 FG
• vs. Oklahoma -- 3 opps., 1 TD, 2 FGs
• at Nebraska -- 1 opp., 1 FG

By Keegan Goudie

As the NFL season nears it midway point, we take another look at the former Tigers in the NFL.

By Ryan Schmitz, Mizzou Media Relations Student Assistant

While Mizzou fans continued to savor Saturday night's momentous win over Oklahoma, many former Tigers made key contributions Sunday in the professional ranks. Here's a glance at the Mizzou alumni who played this week in the NFL.

MIZZOU FOOTBALL WEEKLY NOTES

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

QB - Blaine Gabbert, 6-5, 235, Jr., Ballwin, Mo.

·         Blaine Gabbert was spectacular once again for the undefeated Tigers, as he helped lead Mizzou's first-ever win over a #1-ranked team (any major poll) as MU downed #1 (BCS) Oklahoma, 36-27 Saturday night in Columbia, Mo.  The junior finished 30-of-42 for 308 yards and a score...

·         Gabbert was at his best in crunch time, as he completed 8-of-9 passes for 95 yards and one TD in the 4^th quarter.  Oklahoma led, 21-20, heading into the 4^th quarter, but he led a crucial 5-play, 72-yard drive to begin the quarter which ended in a 38-yard TD pass to WR Jerrell Jackson for a 26-20 lead (the two-point try failed).  That score put the Tigers up to stay in what was MU's first win over Oklahoma since 1998 (breaking a string of seven consecutive losses to the Sooners)...

·         Gabbert also ran for 26 net yards on the night, including a sneak for 2 yards on a 4^th-and-1 at the OU 45-yardline in the final minutes which helped Mizzou milk the clock...

·         In his last two games Gabbert is a combined 61-of-89 for 669 yards, four TDs and zero interceptions...

·         Mizzou's passing offense ranks 16^th in the NCAA through 7 games, averaging 286.43 yards per contest, while Gabbert also ranks 16^th individually in passing yardage, at 271.29.  He is 26^th nationally in total offense (271.29) and 39^th nationally in passing efficiency (137.85 rating)...

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

LB - Zaviar Gooden, 6-2, 225, So., Pflugerville, Texas

·         Was part of an impressive defensive charge which held Oklahoma well below its season averages in most categories during MU's 36-27 win.  Finished the game with 5 tackles, but made one of the biggest plays of the night when he stepped in front of an out pass to notch his first career interception in the 4^th quarter.  That play, which came at the OU 22-yardline with Mizzou leading, 26-21, set the Tigers up for a field goal with 9:44 left which would prove to be the winning score of the game...

·         Gooden's efforts helped the Tiger defense hold OU RB Demarco Murray to a season-low 49 rushing yards, some 61 yards shy of his season average coming in (110.5).  In all, Mizzou held Oklahoma to just 99 rushing yards, well below their season average of 155.33 coming in...

·         In his first year as a starter, Gooden is tied for the team lead with 45 tackles through 7 games, and he leads the team with a pair of recovered fumbles on the season...

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

WR - Gahn McGaffie, 5-10, 185, So., Galena Park, Texas

·         Set the tone for Mizzou's win over #1 (BCS) Oklahoma Saturday night when he returned the opening kickoff of the game for an 86-yard touchdown and a quick 7-0 Tiger lead just :14 seconds into the game...

• McGaffie's opening kickoff return for TD was the first of his career.  It was also the first for Mizzou since 2008 when Jeremy Maclin took a kickoff 99 yards for score in the season-opener vs. Illinois in the second quarter...
• The last time a Tiger took the opening kickoff back for a score was 1967 when Roger Wehrli raced 96 yards vs. Iowa State...

·         The longest kickoff return by Mizzou in 2010 prior to McGaffie's feat was 39 yards (twice by Marcus Murphy)...

TEAM/PLAYER NOTES

·         Mizzou jumped to #7 in this week's Associated Press Top-25 poll, and #8 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll, thanks to the big win over Oklahoma...

• The Tigers earned their first victory over a #1 ranked club. OU is ranked #1 in the BCS standings and entering today's game Mizzou was 0-11 all-time vs. Associated Press #1 teams.
• Some apologists in the media are suggesting that Oklahoma "gave" the game away Saturday night.  We'd like to point out the fact that OU held a 21-20 lead to begin the 4^th quarter, and had possession of the ball.  With the game in the balance, MU turned up the heat and scored 16 unanswered points to bolt to a 36-21 lead.  Only a long kickoff return which set up a short TD drive late in the game kept the Sooners from being shut out in the final period...
• A comparison of the 4^th-quarter stat comparisons:  1^st Downs - MU 8, OU 1;  Total Offense - MU 192, OU 16;  Passing Yards - MU 95, OU 0;  Rushing Yards - MU 97, OU 16;  Time of Possession - MU 13:15, OU 1:45...
• The Tiger defense was excellent in the second half. OU racked up 301 total yards in the first half, but were limited to just 101 total yards in the final 30 minutes. Landry Jones was limited to just 60 yards passing in the second half after throwing for 248 in the first.  In the decisive 4^th quarter, MU's defense held Jones to 0-of-7 passing with 1 interception...
• Junior TB De'Vion Moore had a big game for the Tigers on Saturday, as he carried 10 times for 73 yards and one TD (his 4^th of the season).  Included in his total was a 39-yard 4^th-quarter run which saw him dragging two OU players on his back for at least 15 yards.  His efforts helped the Tigers rush for 178 yards, the most by MU this year against a BCS Conference opponent (119 vs. Colorado was the previous high)...
• The Tigers got a big boost Saturday in the return of sophomore DE Aldon Smith, who had missed the previous three games due to a fractured right fibula suffered on Sept. 18^th against San Diego State.  Smith made one of the plays of the game when he jumped to snag his first career interception at the MU 14-yardline to thwart a Sooner drive.  Smith, still playing at less than 100%, raced 58 yards the other way before being tackled at the MU 12-yardline.  That set up an eventual TD run by TB De'Vion Moore to begin the 2^nd quarter which gave MU a 14-7 lead at the time.  Smith ended the night with 2 tackles and the interception...
• Missouri is 7-0 for just the third time in school history. Mizzou was 7-0 in 1960 and also 7-0 in 1899. The Tigers are just one of seven remaining unbeaten clubs in FBS play...
• Saturday's attendance of 71,004 was a sellout at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium.  It was the first sellout since last season's game vs. Texas and tied for the 10th largest crowd in school history...
• Missouri earned its first victory over Oklahoma since 1998 (20-6)...
• Missouri recorded its 10th and 11th interceptions of the year on Saturday. The Tigers had just eight INT's all of last season...
• Missouri won the turnover margin once again on Saturday and the Tigers have now claimed 29 consecutive victories when winning the turnover battle (minimum of plus-one on turnover margin)...
• Gabbert's top target was Jerrell Jackson. The junior enjoyed his best game of the year, making a career high nine grabs for 139 yards and a score. Jackson's career high for receiving yardage was 142 last year vs. Iowa State...
• Kevin Rutland recorded his third sack of the season in the first quarter. The cornerback is now second on the team with those three QB sacks...
• Grant Ressel made his 13th consecutive field goal for the Tigers. Ressel is 13-of-14 this year after actually missing his first attempt of the year vs. Illinois back in the season-opener. The three-makes equals a season high. He also made three field goals vs. Illinois. His career high in a game is four makes last season vs. Kansas and Nevada...
• True freshman QB James Franklin scored his second career TD on the ground.  The freshman had an eight-yard TD carry vs. McNeese State earlier this season...