♫ Different fabrics mixed together ♫
Once upon a time, the uniform post MEANT something around these parts. We would all collectively lose our shit over the prospect of which combination of threads the Mizzou Tigers would play in. Black helmets with gold shirts? With black pants? With gold visors?? ALL WHITES??? ANTHRACITE?!??!???
These days, I don’t know what to think anymore. The uniform post is a lost art. An art that carried significance. An art that generated clicks. I miss it.
…
I also reserve the right to redact this entire eulogy
should a dope-ass uniform post pop after the publication of this post.
- According to that great bastion of knowledge Wikipedia, Central Arkansas’s home city, Conway, is nicknamed “The City of Colleges,” due to the presence of not one, not two, but three secondary education institutes. If only there were another city somewhere in the United States – even better, one in the Midwest? – with all of three universities!
- An exhaustive list of the schools Central Arkansas is tied with for 377th on the U.S. News list of Best National Universities: Eastern Michigan University, East Texas A&M University, Indiana State University, Mary Baldwin University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Regent University, the University of Akron, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Montana, and Western Kentucky University.
- Did you know Scottie Pippen is the school’s most famous alumnus? And without him, we wouldn’t have the best Future song. Thanks, Central Arkansas, for your contribution to the culture!
WWWWWELCOME BACK, TIGER FANS!! It’s been a long-ass summer, but we’re finally here. What’d you miss most about Mizzou Football?
Josh Matejka, Deputy Site Manager: I could get romantic and say Truman tail spins, the Missouri Waltz or Randy Moehlman’s dulcet tones. Really, though, I missed doing Pregamin’ and the Revue. Been keeping my Looney Tunes energy penned up for too long.
Sammy Stava, Staff Writer: Man, summer is absolutely the worst season of the year. The hot weather is brutal and it’s pretty much the slowest time for sports. What I missed most about Mizzou Football was just getting back into the routine and writing about this team again. College Football Saturdays are back and it’s a glorious thing.
True Deck, Staff Writer: Besides the fact that I missed sports as a whole this summer (I’m not the biggest baseball fan), I missed the atmosphere that Faurot Field brings! This season will be my first time in the press box versus the student section and I couldn’t be more excited!
Nathan Hurst, Staff Writer: I maintain that July is the second worst month of the calendar (outside of January, for obvious reasons) and only part of that is because it’s so damn hot. But we are through July and football season is here. I’ve most missed pre-game tailgates and the cool, crisp air inside Memorial Stadium. We’re back, baby!
No bigger story has dominated fall camp than the battle between Beau Pribula and Sam Horn. What’s your take on the battle for QB1?
Josh Matejka: My take is that there isn’t actually a QB battle. On one hand, you’ve got a QB on whom you spent seven figures to lure away from one of the country’s best programs. On the other hand, you’ve got a perennially injured former blue-chipper who has already turned in his exit notice after signing a professional baseball contract. I’ve been calling for weeks that both would get game time against Central Arkansas, it’s just all about making Lance Leipold sweat a little bit.
Sammy Stava: I just think Pribula winds up being QB1 after securing a $1.5 million NIL deal. Sure, he didn’t play a whole lot at Penn State, but he was the backup to one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Drew Allar. And if he was good enough to be recruited by Penn State — there’s clearly some upside. He’s the guy.
Meanwhile, Horn as the backup isn’t the worst thing in the world with the arm talent he has.
True Deck: What a tough one. There have been a million things said about this race, and although I think Sam Horn might be the more accurate passer, I think Drinkwitz prioritizes the run this season with Ahmad Hardy and Beau Pribula. I’ll take Pribula to win the starting spot for Week 2.
Nathan Hurst: To be honest, it seems like following the whole thing closely might have been a waste of time for us all. Was there truly a real quarterback competition? Yeah, probably. But I think it was decided way sooner than the coaching staff is leading us to believe. Regardless, I’m excited to see both Pribula and Horn take snaps Thursday even if it’s been a foregone conclusion that Pribula has the job locked down.
There are quite a few new faces to watch this season. Give us the one you’re most excited to watch and why.
Josh Matejka: I made sure to type these questions up early and be the first to answer so I could say Damon Wilson II. A five-star EDGE coming from the most defensively dominant program in the country? I’m going to cherish every minute of his time in Columbia.
Sammy Stava: After the departures of Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr. — Mizzou’s wide receiver core is still looking talented. I’ll go with the St. Louis native and Mississippi State transfer Kevin Coleman Jr. He’ll have a big year and my bold prediction is that he’ll land on first team all-SEC honors when it’s all said and done.
True Deck: Similar to Sammy, I am super excited to see this new wide receiver class. After the massive bowl game that Marquis Johnson had last season, he’s poised for a super good season no matter who’s under center. I’m excited to see Johnson’s speed in action.
Nathan Hurst: There are too many to pick here, but one guy I’m really excited to see is veteran journeyman safety Jalen Catalon. He has been really good for a a really long time and I’m thrilled to see him step into what was last year a weak link on the team. I think his presence along with the improvement of the rest of the secondary will really make this Tigers defense scary.
PICK ‘EM! Will Mizzou lay the biggest egg of all time as a -36.5 favorite or send in the subs by the third quarter?
Josh Matejka: If I don’t get to see Javion Hilson, Donovan Olugbode and Daeden Hopkins play at least five snaps each, I’m going to lose it. That, and only that, is my criteria for a successful blood-donor game. So while I’m not sure Mizzou will cover that 36.5-point spread, give me a 45-10 Mizzou cakewalk.
Sammy Stava: I don’t think the Tigers end up covering, but Mizzou easily takes care of business here — and we’ll see the backups and freshman get some playing time early in the third quarter. We’ll go with a 38-3 final score.
True Deck: I’m with Josh on this one. It’ll be quite disappointing if this is a ‘game’ all the way through. I think the Tigers take care of business, but wave the flag early and don’t end up covering. I’ll go 42-13.
Nathan Hurst: Drinkwitz doesn’t like running up the score on the little guys, but I think Mizzou will cover the spread anyway. 48-7 Tigers!
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