NOW SHAKE IT UP, BABY!
In football and at the movies, it’s good to remember to have fun. Like many things — but I also think these two topics specifically — it’s easy to forget how to enjoy football and movies. Football, especially college football, feels primal in its appeal to tribalism. You may be cheering for the regional school where you’ve never stepped foot on campus or have your DNA wrapped up in the quads and buildings where you spent four-plus years. Either way, it’s difficult to feel the thrum
of fight-song-washed, black-and-gold-soaked euphoria and not feel drawn to your inner Cro-Magnon. That sort of blood rush to the head can activate your fight-or-flight response to what is ultimately an organized wrestling contest between two teams wearing different sets of costumes.
Similarly — and god knows this is me — it’s almost impossible to not watch 1,000 movies and forget why you fell in love with them in the first place. It’s difficult to remember the thrill of watching a John Hughes movie as a high schooler when you’re neck deep in a Czech New Wave marathon in your early 30s. Of course you’re not going to enjoy those movies. Who out there enjoys The Cremator or The Devil’s Trap? You’re not there to be entertained, you’re there to make yourself feel smarter and more cultured than your friends and family. Get out of here with your, “it’s important to engage with global cultures in an effort to gain a shared sense of our humanity,” bullshit.
You know what we need as an antidote for feeling overly serious about college football and the movies? A film about youths. A film about youths who just don’t give a darn. A film about youths who skip school and steal cars and thumb their nose at authority.
It’s been a little too long since I saw Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, I’ll admit. But you know the resonant feeling I have from all my past viewings? Fun! Fun fun fun fun fun! Do I remember any of the film’s flaws? Hell no! Do I care? Hell no! Will I revisit it from time to time because of how it makes me feel? Hell yeah!
Mizzou’s win over Louisiana was a lot like that, you know? Sure there was a little bit of tension in that second quarter, but that’s not really why I came to that game or why I left feeling so satisfied. It’s like that part of Ferris Bueller where Cameron is talking about his dad and YAWN get out of here with your daddy issues, Cameron (I kid, that’s actually a very important part of why the film works, but I digress.)
When I rewatch Mizzou vs. Louisiana 2025 highlights, something I’ve already done several times outside of the required 5 or 6 for work, the Beau Pribula tip-drill interception isn’t going to stand out. Nor is Robert Meyer’s missed field goal in the second half. I’ll probably forget about those moments before the season is over. I honestly forgot about them before I finished writing this piece!
You know what I won’t forget? Pribula snapping off a touchdown throw to Jamal Roberts while falling to the turf. Damon Wilson, Zion Young, and Khalil Jacobs barreling into the Ragin’ Cajun backfield like wild animals. Ahmad Hardy puttin’ the team on his back do. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads – they all adore him. They think he’s a righteous dude.
Get out of here with any semblance of tension or stakes. I just want to scream “Twist & Shout” and watch Kevin Coleman run end-arounds for hours. For real, though, if anyone in the past few years has been a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder… it might be Kevin Coleman!
And here’s the thing… the good times don’t always last. Ferris Bueller grows up, loses his hair and has back problems. John Hughes goes on to direct Sixteen Candles (“Make a wish // It already came true,” give me a break, dude.) The blow outs have to stop at some point! And, I hate even writing this, but Mizzou can’t possibly go undefeated, right? Of course not, of course not…
But why do we need to think about that during a game like Louisiana? That’s for Eli Drinkwitz to worry about and then tell the SEC Network team in between the third and fourth quarters.
Your responsibility is to enjoy your life. It moves pretty fast, after all. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
For putting on a fun display of football that I couldn’t get two rips about being perfect, Mizzou gets 5 out of 5 vintage Gordie Howe jerseys. Terrible team choice, but iconic look, I must admit.
