6B
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008
Expectations for fall soar at Mizzou spring scrimmage
BY R.B. FALLSTROM ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri basked in the glow of its first 12-win season on Saturday, with the Black and Gold intersquad scrimimage that concluded spring workouts nationally televised and drawing
a crowd about twice as large as previous years.
Missouri's Jeff Wolfert, right, kicks a field goal out of the hold of Tommy Saunders during the first half of the annual Black and Gold spring football scrimmage Saturday in Columbia, Mo. Wolfert had two field goals of more than 50 yards during the scrimmage.
Attendance was announced at 26,322 despite damp conditions and temperatures in the 50s, with countless fans attaching Tiger
highest ever
— and with 16
returning start-
ers expecting to
begin the fall in
the top 10.
tails to their bumpers for the drive and then tailgating in the parking lot just as they would before a big game.
"That's awesome," quarterback Chase Daniel said after going 22-for-28 for 195 yards and two touchdown cepion. "There should be even more next year. The weather wasn't great, so that really says something about our fan base, that they're out here to support us."
It was just another payoff for a school that finished No. 4 — its
"They went through a lot of adversity to get there. I'm so proud of those guys."
Coach Gary Pinkel spent a good portion
tions for one of the country's rising programs. Missouri opens Aug. 30 against Illinois in St. Louis.
"People all over the country were watching and certainly a lot of kids in high school who are choosing schools, and see this kind of environment," Pinkel said. "And on really a day weatherwise that
ASSOCIATED PRESS
GARY PINKEL
Missouri coach
was one of the worst for a spring game that I've had. I think they're excited."
The scrimimage also served as a send-off for departing stars from the school's first
Big 12 North championship team and first to play in a Jan. 1 bowl game since 1966. Seniors received oversized platinum-based Cotton Bowl rings from their 38-7 rout of Arkansas during a halftime cer-
"This is why we came here, to get all these people excited about Mizzou football."
MARTIN RUCKER
All-American tight end
went through a lot of adversity to get there. I'm so proud of those
"Those guys, look what they did for Mizzou football," Pinkel said. "Certainly, they had as good a stretch as anybody and it was tough, they
with one inter
emony.
"There's more of an air of confidence around us. That's good. It's not cockiness, it's confidence."
CHASE DANIEL Missouri quarterback
of the scrimmage in the ESPNU broadcast booth discussing aspira-
guys."
All American tight end MartinRucker, among a handful of the school's NFL draft hopefuls next weekend, was impressed with the turnout Last year
about 10,000 showed up to watch Missouri coming off an 8-5 season
and a Sun Bowl berth.
Now, expectations are soaring.
"This is why we came here, to get all these people excited about Mizzou football," Rucker said. "Different teams around the country have this times two or three at their spring game and that's what we want to do.
"This was the dream that Coach Pinkel sold us when he was recruiting us."
Pinkel said there's plenty of hard work yet to go, and has pushed players throughout the spring to keep challenging themselves. The goal is a repeat Big 12 North title.
"There's more of an air of confidence around us," Daniel said. "That's good. It's not cockiness, it's confidence."
Pinkel judged the No.1 offense
and defense even, despite the first string's success moving the ball in the first half. Jeremy Maclin caught a 15-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive and Jared Perry had an 11-yarder, and kicker Jeff Wolfert showed off a strong leg with field goals of 53 and 51 yards although he did not have to contend with a rush.
defense, needing only to replace nose tackle Lorenzo Williams, but has some health concerns. Safety William Moore missed spring workouts recovering from shoulder surgery, linebacker Van Alexander tore a knee ligament and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will undergo surgery for a torn labrum on Monday.
Missouri has 10 starters back on
FOOTBALL
Defensive battle ensues during K-State preseason game
BY JON GARTEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANHATTAN, Kan. — After being shut out of all spring practices for the first time in coach Ron Prince's tenure, Kansas State fans' first look at the 2008 Wildcats probably wasn't much to
wasnt much to remember.
"They were trying to win the game," he said. "There weren't a lot of balls in the air. It might not have been
At least not for fans who like to see a lot of offense.
Josh Cherry scored the games only points, a 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give the White team a 3-0 victory Saturday at Bill Snyder Farm
Prince, who didn't coach either side and didn't appear concerned by the offensive struggles, said he understood why coordinators Dave Brock and Tim Tibesar called conservative games.
"There weren't a lot of balls in the air. It might not have been aesthetically pleasing to some, but I understand it."
RON PRINCE Kansas State coach
The Purple team outgained the White 128-76 in total yards. The game used a running clock except during the last two minutes of each
aesthetically pleasing to some, but I understand it."
at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
half.
Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman breaks through smoke as his team takes the field for a spring football game in Manhattan, Kan. Saturday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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"We definitely have to get (some confidence) back," said safety Chris Carney, who helped the White team pitch the shutout. "This is a good time to do it — get it now and carry it on to next season."
Backup Tysyn Hartman played most of the final three quarters for the White team.
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Josh Freeman, the White team's starting quarterback, completed 1-of-4 passes and only played on the first two drives. Gary Chandler picked off Freeman's second pass of the game.
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For a defense that finished the 2007 season in a huge slump, Saturday's game might have been the first step to regaining its swagger.
"The plan was that Josh would get a quarter" Prince said. "I really wanted to see Tysyn, to see Carson (Coffman). We're pretty well established on what Josh can do. ... As you can imagine, Josh was lobbying pretty hard on the sideline to get back in. But I wanted to see what Tysyn could do."
The Purple team had two good opportunities to score during the game, but came up empty on both tries.
On the first drive Coffman drove his team 54 yards, but that drive ended when Courtney Herndon forced tight end Jeron Mastrud to fumble at the 1-yard line.
Later in the first half, the Purple team blew another opportunity when Jared Parker mishandled a snap on a 45-yard field goal attempt. Kicker Brooks Rossman ended up getting sacked near midfield, and then was flagged with a 15-yard penalty for
spiking the ball after the play.
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Walk-on running back Keithen Valentine led all rushers with 104 yards on 15 carries. Valentine said he declined offers from other schools because he knew he wanted to play for Kansas State.
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"You guys have heard how excited I am about him," Prince said. "I think he's a neat kid, very focused. We've got good competition at that position, but it's pretty clear he's going to help us."
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Starting right tackle Ben Liu was injured with less than a minute left in
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the game. Liu had to be helped off the field with an apparent right leg injury. Prince said it was too early to tell how serious the injury is.
Starting offensive linemen Alesana Alesana and Jordan Bedore did not play in Saturday's game. Prince said he expected them to return for summer workouts.
Saturday's attendance was 15,523. In 2006 — Prince's first year as head coach — a record 31,875 fans attended the Kansas State spring game. The 2007 spring game drew 16,732 fans.
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