Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Chase Daniel steps onto Faurot Field for the final time in his career Saturday night.

 
Senior Night, Blackout Close Home Season

23 Seniors take the field for the final time at home

Nov. 3, 2008

Kansas State Wildcats (4-5, 1-4)
at #13/13 Missouri Tigers (7-2, 3-2)
Nov. 8, 2008 – Faurot Field – Columbia, Mo.
SENIOR DAY/BLACKOUT

TIGERS CLOSE 2008 HOME SEASON
   

The 13th-ranked Missouri Tigers (7-2 overall, 3-2 in Big 12 action) return to the friendly confines of Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium for one last time in 2008, as they close the home schedule by playing host to the Kansas State Wildcats (4-5, 1-4). Kickoff for the game is set for 6 p.m. (central) and will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net.

The Tigers are coming off a hardfought 31-28 win at improving Baylor, in a game that saw MU hold off a late BU rally and drive for the game-winning field goal (from 34 yards by All-America/Groza Award candidate Jeff Wolfert) with 2:31 left. Then, the Tiger defense sealed the win when senior LB Brock Christopher grabbed the first interception ever off of Baylor QB Robert Griffin on the ensuing possession to seal the deal. The win was MU’s 2nd straight.

Kansas State is looking to stop a 3-game losing streak as it comes to town Saturday night. The Wildcats dropped their Big 12 opener to Texas Tech (58-28 in Manhattan) and then claimed a 44-30 road win at Texas A&M to reach 1-1 in league play. Since then, however, the Wildcats have dropped consecutive ballgames at Colorado (L, 14-13), at home to Oklahoma (58-35) and at in-state rival Kansas last Saturday (L, 52-21). K-State is 1-3 on the road in 2008, with a 38-29 loss at Louisville in September joined to the above league road contests.

Kansas State features one of the nation’s top passing attacks, led by QB Josh Freeman, who is 12th in the nation in total offense (304.89 ypg) while directing a Wildcat offense that ranks 13th nationally in passing (288.78 ypg) and 18th in scoring (36.56 ppg).

23 SENIORS TO TAKE FIELD ONE LAST TIME SATURDAY ON SENIOR NIGHT
   Twenty-three Tiger seniors will suit up for one last time at Faurot Field Saturday when they don the Black & Gold for the 2008 home finale vs. Kansas State.
   This class has been a very key group of players and leaders who have helped lead Mizzou to new heights. They have helped MU to 34 wins over the course of the 2005 season through now, and that represents a record for any four-year period of time, with last Saturday’s win at Baylor giving them the mark (see chart below). This class is on pace to join the 1981 senior class as the only other in Tiger history to play in four bowl games in a four-year span (Mizzou played in bowls each year from 1978-81, and has done so each of the last three years, as well).
   Here’s a look at the most prolific senior classes at Mizzou, in terms of wins…

SENIOR CLASS ROSTER/NOTES
   Here’s a quick glance at the 23 seniors who have helped Tiger Nation stand proud for the last few years…

Tiger (Jersey)	Pos.	Hometown	Career Notes
Van Alexander (5)	LB	Columbia, Mo.	Has 93 career tackles in 37 career games
Mack Breed (24)	S	San Antonio, Texas	Has contributed on special teams and on defense
Castine Bridges (21)	CB	Richmond, Calif.	12 starts, 99 tackles, 6 PBUs in 2 years as a Tiger
Colin Brown (61)	OL	Braymer, Mo.	Originally a walk-on who has started 23 games on OL
Adam Casey (28)	WR	Chesterfield, Mo.	Respected walk-on who has been out w/injury in 2008
Tommy Chavis (48)	DE	Orange, Texas	Productive player over 3 yrs., 12 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 4 FF
Brock Christopher (34)	LB	Kearney, Mo.	MU’s active career leading tackler with 294 stops
Chase Coffman (45)	TE	Peculiar, Mo.	NCAA FBS alltime leading pass-catching TE (230 rec.)
Chase Daniel (10)	QB	Southlake, Texas	Record-shatterer was MU’s 1st-ever Heisman finalist in ‘07
Justin Garrett (8)	S	Baton Rouge, La.	Hard-hitter has started 18 games over 2 yrs.; 114 tack.
Earl Goldsmith (7)	WR	Denton, Texas	Versatile offensive talent has played TB, WR and KR/PR
Ziggy Hood (94)	DL	Amarillo, Texas	Needs 1 more sack to reach #10 on MU career top-10
Jimmy Jackson (1)	TB	Caruthersville, Mo.	Mr. Touchdown has 14 career TDs, 807 rushing yds.
Ryan Madison (76)	OL	Bethany, Mo.	Has most active career starts among MU O-Line (31)
Zach Milligan (59)	DL	Hardin, Mo.	Staff Sergeant in Army Reserves is an inspiration to all
William Moore (1)	S	Hayti, Mo.	10 career INTs ranks 6th-best in MU history
Aaron O’Neal (25)	LB	Creve Coeur, Mo.	Was lost on July 12, 2005; His memory lives on at MU
Chase Patton (14)	QB	Columbia, Mo.	Has passer rating of 147.31 in 2008; 15 gms. played
Steve Redmond (18)	LB	Kansas City, Mo.	34 games played; 17 tackles, 1 PBU & 1 forced fumble
Tommy Saunders (84)	WR	Kearney, Mo.	Ranks 9th on MU career receptions chart (119)
Stryker Sulak (38)	DE	Rockdale, Texas	18.5 career sacks ranks #4 on MU career charts
Tru Vaughns (11)	CB	Patterson, La.	Sparkplug has 33 tackles, 2 PBU so far in 2008 season
Jeff Wolfert (99)	PK	Overland Park, Kan.	On pace to set NCAA accuracy mark for combined kicks

MIZZOU-KANSAS STATE SERIES
   Mizzou and Kansas State will square off for the 94th time when they meet Saturday in Columbia, with MU holding a 57-31-5 lead overall in the prior 93 meetings.
   The 57 wins is tied for the most by MU over any opponent, along with the 57 wins the Tigers hold alltime over fellow Big 12 North rival Iowa State (57-34-9 overall, with a Nov. 15th game to come in Ames next week).
   While Missouri holds the historical edge in the series, the Tigers are still trying to play catch up from a recent period of domination by Kansas State. While the Tigers have won the last two times out (41-21 in Columbia in 2006 followed by a 49-32 win in Manhattan in 2007), K-State holds a 10-2 lead in the series since the Big 12 began play in 1996.
   Mizzou’s win in 2006 broke a 13-game losing streak to Kansas that dated from 1993-2005. The Tigers’ win last season in Manhattan was historic as well, as it was MU’s first there since 1989 – the first season for former KSU coaching legend Bill Snyder.
   Prior to K-State’s 13-year stranglehold on the series, Mizzou had dominated the rivalry, holding a 55-18-5 advantage in the series ledger after claiming a 27-14 win in Columbia in 1992.
   Mizzou holds a 25-14-1 lead in games played in Memorial Stadium, and a 28-17-3 lead overall in games played in Columbia.
   The Tigers will be going for their third straight win over the Wildcats, and if they achieve that Saturday, it will mark the first time since 1988-90 that the Tigers won three straight over Kansas State. That was on the tail end of a five-game MU win streak from 1986-90.

LAST YEAR IN MANHATTAN: #6 MIZZOU 49, KANSAS STATE 32
   Jeremy Maclin scored three touchdowns and had a Missouri-record 360 all-purpose yards to set the NCAA single-season freshman record for all-purpose yardage, helping No. 6 Missouri set up a winner-take-all showdown the next week against rival and fellow top-10 team, Kansas, with a 49-32 win at Kansas State.
   The Tigers took care of Kansas State by winning in Manhattan for the first time since 1989.
   Quarterback Chase Daniel kept his burgeoning Heisman Trophy hopes alive with a solid day in the win, as he completed 28-of-41 passes for 284 yards and 4 touchdowns, with zero interceptions.
   The Tigers took awhile to find their groove offensively, and also allowed a blocked punt return for a touchdown in a back-and-forth first half that ended with MU holding a slim 21-18 lead at halftime.
   But Missouri pulled away early in the third quarter, with Daniel throwing a pair of touchdown passes to turn a 21-18 lead into a rout. The victory secured the second 10-win season in school history - first since 1960 - and gave the Tigers six conference wins for the first time since 1969.
   Maclin caught an 8-yard TD pass 67 seconds into the game, making a sliding grab in the end zone two plays after William Moore intercepted Josh Freeman’s second pass of the game. Maclin followed Brooks Rossman’s 18-yard field goal by breaking two tackles and streaking down the sideline for a 99-yard touchdown on the ensuing kickoff to make it 14-3 Tigers.
   It was Missouri’s first kickoff return for a TD since Ricky Doby scored on a reverse against Oklahoma State in 1982, the nation’s longest drought, and it broke a string of 287 games and 976 kickoff returns between touchdowns. That play also pushed him past the NCAA freshman season record of 2,026 all-purpose yards.
   Maclin then put the game all but out of reach midway through the third quarter, somehow sneaking up the middle unnoticed for a 44-yard TD catch that put Missouri up 35-18.

LAST TIME OUT: #14 MIZZOU 31, BAYLOR 28
   A fast start and a strong fourth quarter propelled the 14th-ranked Missouri Tigers to a 31-28 win at upstart Baylor, as the Tigers got a 34-yard field goal from dependable PK Jeff Wolfert with less than three minutes left to break a tie ballgame, and iced the game with the first interception of the season of Bear QB Robert Griffin on the next series.
   It looked early on as if the Tigers would continue their momentum from the previous week’s 58-0 shutout win over Colorado, as MU took the opening kickoff and promptly marched downfield for a quick 7-0 lead, as the Chase Daniel-to-Chase Coffman connection hooked up for the first of two beautiful TD passes on the day – this one from 3-yards out to close a 10-play, 65-yard drive. After the Tiger defense held, Daniel and company went 80 yards in just 6 plays consuming only 1:29 off the clock and after Tommy Saunders’ 19-yard TD grab, it was 14-0 Mizzou just like that.
   With the Tigers driving yet again for what looked like a knockout blow, on the 1st play of the 2nd quarter, Daniel was intercepted in the endzone on a 3rd-down pass from the Baylor 8-yardline. Instead of taking a 21-0 lead, or at worst, a 17-0 lead, the Tigers saw Baylor promptly go the other way on a long drive, as Griffin engineered a 13-play drive and scored from 4 yards out to get the Bears back into the game, at 14-7. After the teams traded possessions, Daniel led a 93-yard, 13-play drive just before half that ended on a 1-yard TD plunge by TB Jimmy Jackson to give the Tigers back their two-score lead, 21-7.
   A funny thing happened in the 2nd half, as the Bears came out of the lockerroom determined to make their Homecoming game a memorable one. Instead of succumbing to the heavily-favored Tigers, Baylor dug in and made play after play over the next quarter-and-a-half to give the several thousand Tiger fans in attendance some consternation. The Bears showed early on that they were in it to win it, as they went for a risky 4th-and-2 from their own 39-yardline on their opening possession of the 2nd half, making it as Griffin kept for 4 yards. That propelled the Bears to a TD drive, and after MU went 3-and-out for just the 7th time in 2008, Baylor answered with another sustained drive for a TD to tie the game at 21-apiece late in the third.
   Staggered momentarily, the Tigers got their rhythym back on offense and drove 76 yards for a TD to regain the lead, overcoming a 2nd-and-22 situation after being called for an illegal block during the drive. Daniel hit Coffman for their 2nd score of the day, this one from 13 yards out, on the first play of the 4th quarter as Coffman made yet another circus catch and toe tap in the back corner of the endzone for a 28-21 lead.
   Once again, plucky Baylor wouldn’t go away, as the Bears got some help from a roughing the passer penalty on MU freshman DE Jacquies Smith on what was an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-14 from their own 16-yardline to extend their next drive. Floyd Casey Stadium erupted in loud cheers as Baylor tied the game with 9:54 left on a 36-yard catch-and-run by Jay Finley. Those cheers got even louder on MU’s ensuing possession, as a promising Tiger drive was snuffed out on an interception near midfield after a tipped Daniel pass. But the Tiger defense dug in and held their ground, forcing a Baylor punt that was fair caught by MU’s Jeremy Maclin at the MU 10-yardline with 6:27 left.
   A Daniel 19-yard pass to WR Jared Perry was followed by an option keeper for 15 yards to get some breathing room, and a crucial 9-yard pass to Maclin on 3rd-and-5 just shy of midfield extended the promising drive. After reaching the Baylor 15-yardline, the drive stalled. Trusty PK Jeff Wolfert was called on to get the lead back and he did just that, as he calmly booted a 34-yard field goal – despite icing tactics by Baylor coach Art Briles – to give MU a 31-28 lead with 2:31 left.
   Starting deep in their own territory and without any timeouts left, Baylor quickly faced a 3rd-and-8 from their 23-yardline. Griffin, who had amassed 316 yards of total offense to that point in the game, finally made a mistake that went along with his overall inexperience, as he forced a pass over the middle that was picked off by wily MU veteran LB Brock Christopher at the Baylor 34-yardline with 1:40 left. Christopher’s pickoff sealed the deal, as the Tigers took a knee three times to end the game and give Mizzou a hardfought 31-28 win to move to 7-2 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 Conference play, while Baylor fell to 3-6 and 1-4 on the year.

4TH QUARTER FOCUS THE DIFFERENCE IN WACO
   It’s always dangerous to let an underdog hang around, and that’s just what was taking place last Saturday at Baylor, as the Bears parlayed a strong 3rd quarter that saw them outscore MU 14-0 into a lot of confidence. The Bears tied the game at 21-apiece in the 3rd, and responded with a long drive to tie it at 28-all midway through the 4th quarter to give BU fans hopes of a big upset win.
   But the Tigers dug in and played like the veteran team they are, making the plays a seasoned club makes to win ballgames. All facets of the team contributed heavily in the last 8:54, as that’s when Baylor took over just shy of midfield after intercepting a tipped Chase Daniel pass. Just when it looked like the Bears had the upper hand, the Tiger defense stiffened, holding the Bears to 6 yards on 3 rushing attempts, with DE Brian Coulter and S Justin Garrett combining for a huge stop for no gain on 3rd-and-4 to force a BU punt.
   Mizzou’s offense took over on its own 10-yardline with 6:27 left, knowing that one mistake could turn out disastrous. Undaunted, QB Chase Daniel calmly led the crew on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate just under 4 minutes off the clock before stalling out. That’s when Mr. Dependable, PK Jeff Wolfert, trotted onto the field and drilled a 34-yard field goal to make it 31-28 with 2:31 left.
   Special teams continued doing its job as Wolfert’s ensuing kickoff went to the Baylor endzone, and the game nearly ended as Tiger LB Luke Lambert forced a fumble on the return, but the Bears recovered at their own 21-yardline with 2:31 left, where they started their last-ditch drive.
   But the defense again rose to the occasion, as any potential game-winning drive was snuffed out by LB Brock Christopher, as he stepped in front of a Robert Griffin pass on 3rd-and-8 at the Baylor 34-yardline to ice the game.
   The 4th-quarter heroics marked the first time since MU’s thrilling 38-31 win over South Carolina in the 2005 Independence Bowl where Mizzou broke a tie with a game-winning drive in the final period to win a game.

MIZZOU-BAYLOR WRAP-UP NOTES
   Some random news and notes to come from the Tigers’ 31-28 win at Baylor last Saturday…

• QB Chase Daniel had another solid day, going 30-of-38 passing for 318 yards and 3 TDs. He completed passes to 7 different receivers, and led the Tigers on a game-winning 4th-quarter drive that began at MU’s 10-yardline with just 6:27 left in the game…
• Senior WR Tommy Saunders had a career day, as he caught 7 passes for a career-best 109 yards, with one grab going for a 19-yard TD from Daniel in the 1st quarter that made it 14-0 Missouri. He had a 29-yarder late in the 1st quarter that he took inside the BU 10-yardline, and later in the game threw a 19-yard pass to TE Chase Coffman on a gadget play. Also serving as the team’s sure-handed holder for place kicks, he was flawless in getting the ball down cleanly for PK Jeff Wolfert’s game-winning 34-yard field goal with 2:36 left…
• Senior LB Brock Christopher was the obvious defensive hero of the day as he intercepted Baylor QB Robert Griffin with 1:40 left on the BU 34-yardline to clinch the win for Mizzou. The pickoff was the first of Griffin’s career, and put an end to his NCAA record run of 209 consecutive passes to begin a career without an interception. Christopher ended the game with 8 tackles and 1 pass breakup to go with his INT (the 4th of his career)…
• Junior DE Bryan Coulter continues to make strides, and he was an unsung hero on the Tiger defense at Baylor, as he was credited with 6 tackles, including 1.5 QB sacks of BU QB Robert Griffin, who is actually a distant cousin of Coulter’s (he didn’t find that out until being told by family last week). Coulter got his first start as a Tiger at Baylor, subbing for the injured Tommy Chavis, and he now has a QB sack in consecutive games…
• Mizzou’s offense was its own worst enemy in the game, as it was forced to punt only one time by Baylor. In all, the Tigers scored on 5-of-9 possessions, with the other 3 non-scoring drives resulting in Tiger turnovers (2 interceptions and 1 fumble). All 3 turnovers came in Baylor territory, with 2 coming in the first half as MU couldn’t capitalize on the chance to put the game away when they held a 14-0 lead early on…

COFFMAN IS NCAA’S MOST PROLIFIC PASS-CATCHING TIGHT END IN HISTORY
   Mizzou’s John Mackey Award candidate TE Chase Coffman continued his All-American caliber play in last Saturday’s win at Baylor, as he caught a game-high 10 passes for 75 yards and 2 beautiful TD grabs that were definitely key plays in MU’s 31-28 win in Waco, Texas.
   Coffman’s two TD grabs, from 3 yards and 13 yards out in the 1st quarter and 4th quarter, respectively, both were of the highlight reel variety, with both coming in the corner of the endzone against tight coverage where he made the catch in traffic, secured the ball and got his feet down to boot. Both plays were reviewed after being ruled as TDs, but both stood after replay confirmed the calls. Coffman actually played much of the 2nd half with a sprained left big toe (turf toe) that was bothering him after the game enough to have X-rays performed (they came back negative). His status for Saturday’s game against Kansas State wasn’t known as of Monday morning.
   Coffman had yet another performance for the record books against Colorado, as he caught 7 passes for 50 yards and 1 TD (a ridiculous one-handed grab in the back of the end zone in the 1st quarter to make it 14-0 Tigers). While his numbers might not by eye-popping from the game, they certainly were historic in nature, as they gave him 220 career receptions, which makes him the NCAA’s career record holder for all Div. I-A (FBS) tight ends.
   The previous FBS record for catches by a tight end was 217, held by Louisville’s Ibn Green (1996-99). Coffman entered the CU game with 213 grabs (already an MU record for all players), and he quickly went to work, tying Green’s record by the end of the 1st quarter. The NCAA record-breaker came on a non-descript 4-yard reception from QB Chase Daniel in the 2nd quarter, but it was typical Coffman, as he made the grab in traffic on 3rd-and-1, and pushed the pile ahead for the first down that kept alive a drive that culminated in a TD to make it 28-0 Tigers.
   After the Baylor game, Coffman now has 2,491 career receiving yards, which puts him in range of Green’s FBS TE record of 2,830. He also holds MU’s record for most receiving TDs (any position), with 27 entering the K-State contest.
   Prior to the CU game, Coffman turned in an All-American performance in MU’s loss at #1 Texas. The senior from Peculiar, Mo. caught 12 passes for 140 yards and 1 TD, and was seen breaking tackles, hurdling defenders and making difficult catches in traffic all night long. The receptions and yards marked a career high for Coffman, who also made history with his 3rd catch, which gave him the MU career record of 204, surpassing the previous mark of 203 formerly held by TE Martin Rucker (2004-07).
   Coffman has 40 catches for 369 yards and 4 TDs in his last 4 outings, after catching 11 passes for 104 yards against Oklahoma State three games ago. One of those grabs included a spectacular catch on MU’s opening drive where he leaped backwards near the left sideline to snare a ball out of the air with one hand and bring it in for the catch – all while the OSU covering him was being flagged for pass interference. The gain went for 21 yards and extended MU’s drive that resulted in a short field goal for a 3-0 lead.
   He now has 4 100-yard outings in 9 games in 2008, to match his 120-yard performance against Illinois and 127-yard day against Nevada already this year.
   Coffman is the NCAA Division I-A (FBS) active career leader for tight ends in both receptions (230) and yards (2,491), and he ranks #4 on the list among all players. His career yardage total ranks 11th overall among all active players, and he is the only TE on the top 20 of both lists compiled by the NCAA.
   For the 2008 season, Coffman ranks #2 among all tight ends in receptions (73), as well as 3rd in yards per game (91.00), and he is the clear leader among BCS school tight ends. His stats are enough to rank him 3rd in the NCAA in receptions among all players, and he also ranks 21st nationally among all players in yardage.

WOLFERT ON PACE FOR NCAA ACCURACY RECORD
   Mizzou PK Jeff Wolfert has put up incredible numbers over three seasons of booting the ball, as he’s made 215-of-225 (95.6%) combined kicks in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Those numbers break out to 52-of-62 (83.9%) on FGs and a perfect 163-of-163 on PATs (that’s 100.0% for any non-math types out there).
   In fact, Wolfert is on pace to break an NCAA career record for best accuracy for combined field goals and PATs. Wolfert’s combined career mark of 95.6% is currently ahead of the record of 93.3% set by UCLA’s John Lee from 1982-85 (116-of-117 PATs, 79-of-92 FGs). The minimum standard to qualify for this record is 50 career field goals.
   His accuracy helped play a huge role last time out against Baylor, as he was crucial to MU’s 31-28 win in Waco, Texas. Wolfert was perfect on all 4 PAT tries, but was called on for a 34-yard FG try with the game tied at 28-apiece with just over two minutes left. He drilled it, of course, accounting for the final score, as the Tiger defense forced a turnover on the ensuing Baylor possession to end the game.
   Wolfert’s kick was the first 4th-quarter game-winning FG for a Tiger kicker since 2005, when Adam Crossett booted a 26-yarder in OT to beat Iowa State in Columbia, 27-24.
   Much more on Wolfert’s considerable exploits can be found elsewhere in the PDF edition of the game notes. 

MACLIN BREAKS MIZZOU CAREER ALL-PURPOSE RECORD
   Mizzou’s Mr. All-Everything WR/KR/PR Jeremy Maclin enters Saturday’s game against Kansas State as the Big 12’s #1 all-purpose player, with a league-best 189.67 average per game (that also ranks 2nd in the NCAA). He’s coming off a 161-yard outing at Baylor where the Bear defense held him in check offensively, as he was held to 5 receptions for 31 yards (his lowest receiving total in 2008 since game #2 against SEMO, when he played just 1 quarter in a Tiger blowout win). But, Maclin contributed with 161 all-purpose yards overall, as he rushed 5 times for 26 yards and returned 5 kickoffs for 104 more yards.
   One of those kickoff returns, his 2nd one in the 3rd quarter against Baylor, was historic in nature, as it pushed him past former Tiger great Brad Smith for the MU career record for most all-purpose yardage.
Maclin entered the game at Baylor with 4,322 career all-purpose yards, needing only 98 to pass Smith’s mark of 4,419 from 2002-05. He now stands atop the chart with 4,483 entering the Kansas State game.
   A year ago at Kansas State, Maclin erupted for an MU single-game record 360 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs, featuring 143 receiving yards (2 TDs) and 194 yards on kickoff returns, which included a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD (MU’s first since 1982).
   Much more information on Maclin can be found elsewhere in the PDF edition of the game notes. 

TIGERS LEAD NATION IN FEWEST FUMBLES
   While all coaches preach ball security until the cows come home, Mizzou has taken that mantra to heart in 2008. The Tigers have fumbled just 5 times total in 2008, and they’ve run 624 plays from scrimmage – meaning they’ve fumbled just once every 124 plays on average. The fumbles (all being recovered by the opponents) have come in 3 games, with one in the opener against Illinois, and one last time out at Baylor, with the other three coming in game #4 against Buffalo.
   All five fumbles happened in opponent territory, with four coming from Tiger receivers.
   No other team has put the ball on the ground fewer times than Mizzou, as MU stands tied with Middle Tennessee State for fewest total fumbles in the nation heading into the Kansas State game, with 5.

SULAK LEADS NCAA IN FORCED FUMBLES
   While the Tiger offense has proven trustworthy in holding onto the ball, Mizzou’s disruptive DE Stryker Sulak has proven quite adept at getting the ball out from the grasp of opponents. The Rockdale, Texas native has forced 5 fumbles in 9 games in 2008, and that per-game average of 0.56 forced fumbles per game is tied for highest in the nation coming into Saturday’s game against Kansas State.
   Sulak had a strong game last time out against Baylor, as he notched 7 tackles (the most since opening the season with 8 tackles against Illinois) and was credited with a half QB sack, raising his career total to 18.5 (4th on the MU career list).
   For his career, Sulak has forced 13 fumbles in 48 games as a Tiger. The next-most by any active Tiger is 5 forced fumbles by Ziggy Hood in 45 career games.

QUICK HITTERS

• QB Chase Daniel has been named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete (and is a winner of an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship). He is now one of 16 finalists for the Draddy Award, which is known as the “Academic Heisman.” Daniel is also an O’Brien Award semi-finalist and a Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award finalist…
• PK Jeff Wolfert has been named a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top kicker, while LB Sean Weatherspoon has been named a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top defensive player…
• QB Chase Daniel needs just 7 passing yards to reach 3,000 for the 3rd straight season (no Tiger QB had ever reached 3,000 passing yards prior to Daniel). His 26 TD passes in 2008 stand just 7 shy of his MU season record of 33 achieved in 2007, and his season completion percentage of 77.2% and QB rating of 176.30 are far and away ahead of the MU season records of 68.2% (his own in 2007) and 154.3 (Phil Johnson in 1990), respectively…
• Daniel has accounted for 98 TDs in his Tiger career (88 passing, 10 rushing), and stands just 5 shy of breaking the MU career record of 102 set by former great Brad Smith (56 passing, 46 rushing)…
• TE Chase Coffman has caught a pass in 40 consecutive games, which is an MU record, breaking the previous mark of 34 by WR Justin Gage (2000-02). Coffman, with 73 receptions so far in 2008, is approaching the MU single-season receptions mark of 84, set just last season by TE Martin Rucker. The NCAA FBS single-season receptions record for a TE is within view, too (90 by James Whelan of Kentucky in 1999)…
• Coffman, with 819 receiving yards in 2008 entering the KSU game, needs just 16 yards to break the MU single-season yardage record for a TE. The mark was set in 2007 by All-American Martin Rucker, who had 834 receiving yards on 84 catches…
• Both Coffman and WR Jeremy Maclin have 7 receiving TDs entering the K-State contest, and both are within reach of the MU single-season record of 10, held by WR Sean Coffey in 2004…
• Maclin’s 2008 9-game all-purpose yardage total of 1,707 entering the K-State game is already the 2nd-most in MU single-season history, trailing only his own record of 2,776 set last year as a freshman…
• LB Brock Christopher has 294 career tackles entering the K-State game, and he’s tied for 14th on the MU career tackles list. Next up on the chart is Lynn Evans, who had 316 tackles from 1972-74 and ranks 13th…
• As a team, Mizzou ranks 3rd in the NCAA through 9 games in tackles for loss, averaging 8.81 per game. #1 on the list is Georgia Tech (8.89), followed by #2 Troy (8.88) then Mizzou in 3rd…
• Mizzou is also 3rd in the NCAA in fewest punts, with 21 (averaging 42.29 per kick). Tulsa and Texas Tech are tied for the fewest punts in the land, with just 18 apiece, followed by Mizzou and Ball State at 21. Oklahoma State ranks 5th on the list, with just 22 punts so far…
• Mizzou ranks 7th in fewest penalties per game, averaging just 3.78 flags against them (34 in 9 games).

PINKEL STANDS 3RD ON ALLTIME MU COACHING WINS LIST
   Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel is in his 8th season at MU and touts a career record of 129-76-3 (62.7%). The Illinois game to open the 2008 season was the 200th in Pinkel’s head coaching career.
   Pinkel, who has led MU to a combined record of 47-25 (65.3%) over the past 5+ seasons, and to bowl games in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007, has an 8-year record in Columbia of 56-39 (59.0%). Dating back to the 2005 Independence Bowl win over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, Pinkel has won 28 of his last 37 games overall.
   MU’s win in the 2008 opener against Illinois gave Pinkel his 50th MU win, and he now ranks 3rd on the coaching wins list at MU, with 56.
   Pinkel is in a select group of Mizzou coaches that includes College Football Hall of Famers Don Faurot and Dan Devine, as well as Warren Powers, to be the only coaches to have an MU record of above .500 (with at least one full season coached) dating all the way back to 1935.
   For the efforts in 2007, Pinkel was a finalist for several national coach of the year awards, including the Robinson, Bryant and Munger awards. He was also named the National Coach of the Year by FieldTurf in 2007.
   Pinkel has led MU to 4 bowl games, and if his Tigers reach a 5th in 2008, he will join Devine (6 bowls), and Powers (5 bowls) as the only coaches to guide MU to 5 bowl games.
   Pinkel has guided Mizzou to 4 winning seasons (8-5 in 2003, 7-5 in 2005, 8-5 in 2006, 12-2 in 2007), with those representing 4 of MU’s 6 winning campaigns dating back to the 1983 season.

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