Bowl, to be high scoring as well. Missouri was the only team in major-college football during the 2007 regular season ( 12 games) to score more than 30 points in all of its games. That streak was broken in the 38-17 Big 12 Conference title game loss to Oklahoma. “I don’t know if I have ever seen a quarterback who is so consumed with his team or the game,” Herring said. “They run extremely well and will stack up with talent we see in the SEC.” Arkansas, as McFadden got healthy and revved up his game, won five of its last six contests and scored 44 or more points in all those victories. The only loss during the stretch was a 34-13 decision at Tennessee. With McFadden showing his versatility by running and sometimes throwing the ball out of various formations, Arkansas has been a juggernaut. It also has another strong running threat in Felix Jones, who ranks third in the country in kickoff returns.
But McFadden, a junior who is probably headed to the NFL after this sea- JJuniioor Feelliixx JJooneess,, tthiirrd iin tthee naattiioon iin kiicckkooffff son, is the focal point. He has rretturrns,, iinclludiing ttwo fforr ttouchdowns,, earned averaged 143. 7 rushing yards a game SEC sspeecciiall tteeaamss pllaayerr ooff tthe yyeearr hoonoorrs.. on his way to a second straight Doak of senior Martin Rucker and junior Chase
Walker Award, which is given to the best Coffman was not intact for the first time running back in the country, and the Wal- during the 2007 season in the title-game ter Camp Player of the Year Award. loss to OU. And it showed. Coffman, out Arkansas ranks third in the country in rush- with an ankle injury, is expected back ing offense and ninth in scoring offense. against Arkansas.
“He is a great player,” Pinkel said of Mc- Missouri ranks seventh in the country Fadden. “It is a really great football team. in passing offense and fifth in total offense One player doesn’t beat LSU. He obviously behind Daniel who ranks fourth in total of-is strong, quick and explosive. He can fense and has thrown 33 touchdown change direction and accelerate. That is passes this season. He was one of three fi-what great backs are all about. When I nalists for the Davey O’Brien Award, which heard Arkansas was accepting, that was is presented to the best quarterback in col-the first name that popped in my mind – we lege football. “We have seen every forma-have to defend this guy.” tion known to man in the SEC,” Herring
Missouri’s spread offense, directed by said. “We have played several teams in the the unflappable Daniel, is prolific when spread offense. That is nothing knew. The everybody is healthy. Daniel’s tight end duo difference will be the quarterback and con-
fidence the players have. Chase Daniel is as confident and as mobile and as motivated of a quarterback as I have seen. He looks like a cross between a Doug Flutie and a Brett Favre.
“I have watched them on TV, ” Herring added. “I am extremely impressed in the job Pinkel has done. I coached at Oklahoma State in the old Big Eight. And the job I have seen him do the last three years is as good a job as there has been done in America. To get them to the point they are ranked No. 1, to me, that’s the greatest coaching job in America. I really have to tip my hat to them. I have tremendous respect for them.”
Neither team expects to keep the other down for long offensively. The Tigers’ pass defense ranks only 100th in the country, allowing 261.4 yards a game. A bright spot in the Tigers’ secondary is junior defensive back William Moore, who has intercepted seven passes. Arkansas ranks 112th in the country in passing offense, so it is arguable whether MU’s sometimes porous secondary will be a factor.
Mizzou’s freshman All-America Jeremy Maclin, who ranks second in the country in all-purpose yards with 208.69 a game, could definitely be a factor on special teams and as an offensive threat. He has amassed 2713 yards this season (349 rushing, 1023 receiving, 302 on punt returns and 1039 on kickoff returns), the most ever by a freshman.
“Missouri ranking 6th in the BCS ( standings) is pretty incredible for us,” AT&T Cotton Bowl executive director Rick Baker said. “To match Missouri up with Arkansas with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, a match-up with a team that beat LSU in triple overtime…The star power we have in Daniel and McFadden, I am not sure another bowl has the two star players like we have in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.”
10
References:
Archives