WELCOME BACK TO PREGAMIN’ HERE’S YOUR JAM OF THE WEEK
Rock music is back, Rock-M-ixology is back, Mizzou Football is back.
Rock-M-ixology
I appreciate all of the comments last week celebrating the return of Rock-M-ixology. Honestly, I wasn’t aware of how much I missed it until I sat down to look at some recipes this week. I’ve turned into much more of a social drinker these days, and it does motivate me knowing there are people out there looking to try some stuff alongside me and that I’m not putting all this alcohol
down for nothing.
I’m trying to ease us back into things this week. Not a lot of frills, no fancy ingredients. Just a basic recipe of stuff that most people will have in their cabinet or have easy access to elsewhere. So let’s make Bartend Long Island’s Fall Margarita:
2 oz blanco tequila, 1 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau or triple sec), 1 oz fresh lime juice, 0.75 oz apple cider, 0.25–0.5 oz cinnamon-maple syrup (to taste), Pinch of fine salt (optional, brightens citrus), Garnish: cinnamon-sugar rim, lime wheel, thin apple slice, Ice
Wait, hang on. That’s just a tequila with some apple cider and extra sugar dumped in. Nah, we can do better than that. Let’s mix this up a bit just a tad (and remove the garnishes because I don’t have time for that):
1.5 oz blanco tequila, 0.5 mezcal, 1 oz dry curacao, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 0.75 oz apple cider, 0.25 maple syrup, few drops of saline, ice
I promise you, splitting the base with some mezcal makes a world of difference. This already sort of tastes like a flavored margarita, but the addition of some mezcal smoke elevates it into something entirely new. If you’re like me and a little averse to smoked drinks, don’t worry, the smokiness of the mezcal isn’t overpowering and mellows out as the drink dilutes. Serve this ice cold and crush one or two in front of a bonfire.
- In what feels like an odd bit of synergy, the two most prominent pieces of pop culture the last time Mizzou beat Alabama in football — September 8, 1975 — were Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’ll tell you what, I could go for a time warp come 11 a.m. on Saturday!
- It’s not really relevant anymore, but before Oklahoma and Texas joined the SEC in 2024, Missouri was the closest to having a winning or .500 record against the tide of any other SEC opponent at 2-5 (now 2-6). Alabama currently holds a winning record over every other program in the conference… save Texas and Oklahoma, both of whom have the historical edge over the Tide.
- Tuscaloosa’s nickname of the “Druid City” is, by far, the most unexpected nickname for a college football town I think I can conjure off the top of my head. Apparently it’s because of the amount of oak trees in the city and ancient Celtics reverence of the tree. Can’t imagine the good folks of ‘Bama are too happy about that.
Well that was a restful bye week! How are you feeling? How’d you spend your time not watching Mizzou Football?
Josh Matejka, Deputy Site Manager:
Sammy Stava, Staff Writer: I definitely enjoyed a stress-free Mizzou bye week. Watching Texas and Penn State lose was also good. And Bama beating Vanderbilt was also a good thing for the intrigue and anticipation leading up to this game.
Matthew Gustafson, Football Beat Writer: I was up in Kirksville doing some boating and kayaking, then I called the Mizzou Volleyball match against Arkansas for the student radio station, KCOU 88.1 FM. On Saturday, I watched my hometown Cubs (to the delight of many folks reading this article, I’d imagine) get dismantled by the Milwaukee Brewers to start the NLDS.
A few results went in Mizzou’s favor during the bye week, and the Tigers are now looking like a CFP bubble team. Are you believing the hype?
Josh Matejka: I think I need to see the Tigers get that win in order to fully buy in. Beating kansas and South Carolina is nice, but that’s not gonna move the needle when it comes down to the wire. But knock off another contender? That’ll do it. And, uh, I think they’ve got an opportunity coming up pretty soon!
Sammy Stava: I think this Mizzou team will be in contention for the CFP as the season heads down the stretch. 10-2 probably would get them in. Am I believing the hype? Just win tomorrow and I will.
Matthew Gustafson: Mizzou controls its playoff destiny with a win tomorrow. A loss doesn’t knock them out of contention, but makes a playoff appearance far less likely due to the tough schedule down the stretch. The Tigers certainly have the talent to reach the CFP, but they’ll likely need to win a series of close games and get the right bounces to make it happen – as any team does.
Kalen DeBoer has had a rocky start to life in Tuscaloosa, but Alabama is Alabama. What do you make of the Tide post-Saban?
Josh Matejka: I actually check in on Tide fans fairly regularly, because I’m genuinely fascinated by life after having the greatest coach of all time. I get that people like to make fun of ‘Bama fans for being too demanding, but I do have some sympathy for them. It has to be maddening to have the standards that Saban set and then go to another coach who has to revamp the program according to his own ideas and culture. It’s going to take time, of course, and DeBoer deserves that time to get going. But it’s got to be hard for fans who spent the better part of two decades with championship-or-bust expectations.
Sammy Stava: Obviously, they’re still a very good program, and they’re still one of the nation’s elites. Having said that, they’re beatable.
Matthew Gustafson: Alabama isn’t what it used to be, sure, but anyone that expected a continuation of the Saban dynasty simply wasn’t being reasonable. It’s incredibly tough to replicate the success of one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport, especially when you are his successor. I think DeBoer has the ability to bring a national title back to Tuscaloosa, given time, but any dynasty in the new era of college football would be a surprise to me.
PICK ‘EM! ‘Bama has hung in as a -3.5 favorite. Can Mizzou finally get that long-awaited win over the Tide?
Josh Matejka: If I can’t pick the Tigers to beat ‘Bama here, I can’t ever pick them in a situation like this. Mizzou grabs a marquee win and jettisons itself into the CFP conversation, 34-31.
Sammy Stava: Mizzou is coming off the bye week, and this is in COMO. Just a gut-feeling but the Tigers find a way to get it done. Eli Drinkwitz and the boys make a statement, 35-31.
Matthew Gustafson: The Tigers have had at least two weeks of preparation for Saturday’s game, and Faurot Field will help the team against a tough Alabama squad. I think this game ends up extremely close no matter the victor, but I’m taking Mizzou to win 34-31.
