Thursday, October 4, 2007

We've Moved...

Update your bookmarks:

Every True Son is proud to announce its new partnership with the guys over at Mizzou Sanity for our new venture, Rock M Nation.

The new frontier has been in the works for several weeks, and we're extremely happy to see it off and running. The new site will allow us connections to outstanding existing SB Nation sites, as well as give us the opportunity to create a community for Missouri fans. Rock M Nation allows users to create their own login and post diaries to the site, rather than relegating reader opinions to comments.

So, head on over, sign up, interact, and help make Rock M Nation the definitive voice of the Missouri Tigers.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Spanning the Globe

With such a potentially large game looming, let's look at what others sources have to say about Missouri, Nebraska, and Saturday's showdown at Faurot:

-- CBS Sportsline takes Mizzou over NU, by a count of 4 writers to 1.

-- ESPN.com pitches in a game preview with statistical comparisons.

-- Scout.com breaks down the game and like Mizzou by a 41-27 final. I guess 41-24 is too cliche...

-- Don't forget Mizzou's biggest fan, Vegas. The Tigers are 3-0 against the spread this year and are favored by 6.5 to 7 points across the board.

-- The Tribune's Dave Matter adds the latest installment of Cut to the Chase.

-- Our colleagues at Corn Nation confirm that lovers of the Big Red should be quite nervous about Saturday.

-- For some background on the history of MU-NU, make sure to spend some time checking out what our amigos at Mizzou Sanity have dug out of the archives.

-- If you're looking for Big 12 analysis and have a fascination with soda/coke/pop/soft drinks, you might want to stop here.

-- But, of course, no Nebraska-Missouri game would be complete without the help of our good friend, Huskerh8er.

As for me? Predictions, previews, and analysis to come later this week.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Big 12 Round Table - Rise of the North

This week, our friends over at Clone Chronicles have been kind enough to host the Big 12 Round Table, focusing this time on the "Rise of the North."

Were Saturday's games a sign that the Big 12 North may be on its way back?

-- I think it was a combination of the rebirth of the North mixed with a down year for certain teams in the South. Teams like Colorado and Kansas State are certainly on their way back to matching the success they had in earlier days in the Big 12, and teams like Mizzou and Kansas are trying to establish the foundation of conference success. In the South, Texas has looked nothing like the powerhouse they claim to be. Oklahoma State and Texas A&M have not taken the steps forward that everyone expected and have most likely taken steps back. In the North, what was supposed to be a two-team race all of the sudden looks like one of the most compelling divisional races this side of the National League West, with five teams now thinking San Antonio.

How seriously do we take the hot starts at Mizzou and Kansas?

-- All biases aside, I think you can take Missouri's hot start very seriously. The win over Illinois looks more and more impressive as the weeks pass, and don't overlook the road win at Ole Miss. The surprise, however, is Kansas. I really have no idea what to make of this team because they have played teams with the collective talent of an inner-city middle school. However, if the Jayhawks come out and beat Kansas State and get on an early conference tear, I reserve the right to label KU as a bona fide contender.

Pick one team from the opposite division that you truly hate, and say why; follow this up by picking another team from the opposite division that you don't mind pulling for, and say why.

-- In the South, I truly hate the Texas Tech Red Raiders for a variety of reasons that really don't apply in any logical forum. I have quite a passionate disdain for all things Lubbock, and my hatred of the football team stems from that, rather than the other way around. From a football standpoint, though, I hate any comparison between Missouri and Tech based on the "pass offense/little defense" concept. As for a team to pull for, I generally pull for every other school, but if I had to pick one, I pull for Texas A&M because of family connections.

The NCAA has enacted a rule allowing you to bring back one senior that graduated last year to play for your team for the rest of the season. Would you do it? And if so, who?

-- Brian Smith. The much maligned Missouri defense was outstanding in the early portion of last season with a healthy Smith at defensive end. However, once Smith injured his hip against Kansas State, the defense and the season took a turn for the worse. Stryker Sulak has provided sparks of a pass rush several times throughout the season, but the loss of Smith (in combination with Xzavie Jackson) has been an immeasurable subtraction from the program.

Rank the conference teams

1. Oklahoma - Don't care that they lost. They still have the capacity to destroy most Big 12 teams on any given day.
2. Missouri - Saturday night will tell a lot about how the '07 version of the Tigers responds under pressure.
3. Kansas State - Last week I said they were flying under radars. I'm thinking people are paying attention now.
4. Kansas - Will return to bottom half of power rankings if Kansas State takes care of business this weekend.
5. Colorado - In hockey, it's not a series 'til a team wins one away from home. Colorado held serve in Boulder; now what?
6. Texas - Mack Brown's honeymoon is over. Welcome back to mediocrity, your old room is still open.
7. Texas Tech - Well, now we know the defense can hold a lower-division school in single digits. Congrats?
8. Nebraska - Husker fans relieved to have defeated Iowa State. Stop printing the shirts - order is now restored.
9. Oklahoma State - Is Saturday night's match-up at Kyle Field really to determine the South lead?
10. Texas A&M - Not extremely impressive over Baylor, but convincing win over Pokes could move the Ags back up the ladder.
11. Baylor - Still have the capacity to sneak up on teams, but I still don't think the Bears go bowling.
12. Iowa State - Look for ISU-Baylor to duke it out all-season for the Nos. 11-12 spots on the power rankings.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Nebraska 1997/2003

Mizzou's main video man ZouDave checks in with this excellent effort, just to fuel the fire ready to be ignited this weekend:

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Sunday Poll Watch

A brief edition of the Sunday Poll Watch begins:

The coaches weigh in for the USA Today poll, putting Missouri one spot behind Texas at No. 17. Points of interest:

-- After upsets of Oklahoma and Texas, neither Colorado nor Kansas State are viewly highly enough to by coaches to crack the Top 25, much less the Top 30.
-- The potential clash of Top 7 teams in the Red River Shootout has been relegated to a clash of No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 16 Texas.
-- Cal now gets the nod for third-best team in the country.
-- Boston College, Kentucky, and South Florida all crack the top 10. Just like everyone predicted, right?
-- Nebraska drops one spot to No. 23.
-- Don't look now, but Illinois is starting to get some votes and some respect.

The Associated Press Top 25 poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll once again completely agree regarding Mizzou, with the AP also putting the Tigers at No. 17. Point of interest:

-- The above notes regarding Cal, BC, Kentucky, and South Florida all stand.
-- Texas freefalls to No. 19.
-- Missouri sits one spot behind Hawaii. Can you imagine the final score of a Missouri-Hawaii game?
-- The Big 12 North takes the final two spots in the poll, placing Kansas State at No. 24 and Nebraska at No. 25.
-- Interesting discrepancy in votes for Kansas between the writers and the coaches.
-- LSU overtakes USC for the top spot by only one first-place vote and a total of two points.