Mizzou Soccer at Memorial Stadium: 10 video games, 100 years of historical past

As Mizzou prepares to have a good time the a hundredth anniversary of the venerable Memorial Stadium towards Troy this week, I believed it could be acceptable to have a look again into the previous at 10 of one of the best and/or most vital video games performed on the nook of Providence Road and Stadium Boulevard since 1926.

One hundred years is a very long time. That’s round 500 video games to select from, and whereas there are lots of darkish years in Mizzou soccer historical past with few if any vital video games, there are nonetheless dozens of nice candidates for consideration. Ultimately, the factors I used to assemble this checklist got here down to 2 questions:

Notice that “Mizzou wins” shouldn’t be on that checklist, as a result of (spoilers) there have been some fairly vital video games that Mizzou has misplaced at Memorial Stadium. All 10 video games on this checklist meet not less than two of those standards, and a pair meet all three. I’ll begin by introducing them chronologically then rank them on the finish.

1926: Mizzou 15 — kansas 0

There isn’t an entire lot of details about this recreation, as it’s most likely the least identified of the video games on this checklist, however I felt it vital to incorporate for a number of causes. First, this recreation helped cap off a 5-1-2 season for Mizzou, the place they went undefeated within the model new stadium. Second, it’s the primary time Mizzou performed kansas within the nascent Memorial Stadium. Third, it’s the primary time (of many) that Mizzou beat kansas at Memorial Stadium. And fourth, did I point out it’s the primary time Mizzou performed and beat kansas at Memorial Stadium? That needs to be sufficient. It’s on the checklist.

1939: #12 Mizzou 7 — #5 Oklahoma 6

This is an old-school heavyweight upset. Mizzou entered the sport ranked No. 12 and knocked off No. 5 Oklahoma, 7-6, at Memorial Stadium because of a blocked punt for a landing. It got here simply two weeks after Mizzou’s first-ever victory over a ranked opponent, a 27-13 victory over No. 10 Nebraska. The Oklahoma victory helped propel Don Faurot’s Tigers to the Big Six championship and established the 1939 group as one of many foundational nice groups in program historical past.

1956: Mizzou 15 — kansas 13

This one will get further credit score for the circumstances, because it was Don Faurot’s closing recreation as Mizzou’s head coach. The Tigers rallied for a 15-13 victory because of a security within the closing seconds (sound acquainted?) to defeat the jayhawks, and Faurot was carried off the sphere on his gamers’ shoulders. That’s about as good an ending to a training profession as a stadium can present.

1960: kansas 23* — Mizzou 7

This one will get an enormous ole asterisk as a result of it doesn’t depend within the file books, because of the dishonest jayhawks utilizing an ineligible participant to beat the undefeated Tigers. While it was not a aggressive recreation, it’s price together with on the checklist due to it’s affect on Mizzou and school soccer nationally. At the time, Mizzou was marked with a loss and, despite the fact that they went on to defeat powerhouse #4 Navy within the Orange Bowl, the Tigers didn’t win the AP nationwide championship. Fast ahead 66 years and historic evils have been corrected because the Mizzou has officially claimed the 1960 national championship and can honor that wonderful group on the sphere Saturday.

1973: #12 Mizzou 13 — #2 Nebraska 12

This recreation deserves to be remembered by extra Mizzou followers than it presently is, most definitely as a result of it wasn’t the LAST time the Tigers beat Nebraska earlier than their lengthy shedding streak. Nebraska got here into Columbia ranked No. 2 nationally and had overwhelmed actually unhealthy Mizzou groups by a mixed 98-0 rating the earlier two seasons. The Tigers flipped the script in probably the most well-known defensive stands in stadium historical past: With Nebraska trying a two-point conversion late to take the lead, Tiger Tony Gillick intercepted the go to protect the 13-12 victory.

1990: #12 Colorado 33 — Missouri 31

Any Mizzou fan (or school soccer fan) price their salt is aware of this recreation higher because the “Fifth Down Game.” I don’t must rehash this travesty or carry again any generational trauma wrought by this recreation, but it surely actually deserves inclusion on this checklist. Besides additional burying Mizzou’s program in the course of it’s thirteen-year bowl drought within the 80s and 90s, it performed an enormous function within the nationwide panorama of school soccer in 1990. Colorado went on to win a share of the nationwide championship thanks partly to a win on this recreation. Had justice been served, they might have had a loss to a foul Missouri group on their resume and Georgia Tech would assuredly have had the complete title to themselves.

1997: #1 Nebraska 45 — Missouri 38 (OT)

Sorry to proceed to harsh your vibe, however we’ve obtained one other travesty on the books. Once once more, no must rehash the small print of the “Flea Kicker” apart from to say it was bull**** and but once more allowed a group to win the share of a nationwide championship that they didn’t deserve. Don’t fret although, Tiger followers, brighter days are coming quickly.

2003: Mizzou 41 — #10 Nebraska 24

This might be essentially the most emotionally vital Mizzou dwelling victory of the fashionable period and the primary actual signal that Gary Pinkel was the actual deal. The Tigers broke the 24-year shedding streak to Nebraska. They trailed 24-14 within the third quarter, then scored 27 unanswered factors within the fourth quarter to win 41-24. Brad Smith accounted for 303 yards and 4 touchdowns, together with three speeding scores within the fourth quarter and a 47-yard receiving landing. Mizzou followers tore down each goalposts and took them to Harpos. The evil curse had been vanquished.

2010: #11 Mizzou 36 — #1 Oklahoma 27

While the beforehand talked about recreation was maybe essentially the most emotionally vital recreation at Memorial Stadium fashionable period, this one was maybe essentially the most strategically vital. Entering the week at #1 within the BCS, Oklahoma, together with ESPN Gameday, got here to Columbia and left overwhelmed and battered. The recreation began off with a bang as Gahn McGaffie returned the opening kickoff for a landing, leading to, for my cash, the loudest pop in Memorial Stadium historical past. The Tigers went on to manage the sport and win decisively in what I imagine was probably the most vital outcomes resulting in the SEC extending an invite to the Tigers the very subsequent 12 months.

2013: #5 Mizzou 28 — #19 Texas A&M 21

This is the one recreation that bucks the Big 8 development, because the earlier 9 video games all concerned kansas, Oklahoma or Nebraska. While the SEC insists Texas A&M is a rival, they actually aren’t, however that doesn’t hold this recreation out of the highest 10 in Memorial Stadium historical past. In simply their second 12 months within the SEC, the Tigers have been poised to win the SEC East for the primary time. All that stood of their method former Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and the Aggies. A defensive battle broke out and stored scoring low and tied at 21 till Henry Josey broke by the road on third and 1 to hurry for a 57-yard landing with lower than 4 minutes to go within the recreation. The protection held on and the Tigers have been on their solution to Atlanta and their first SEC Championship Game.

Before I get to my official rankings, there are a number of honorable mentions:

So right here we’re, my closing rating of the highest 10 video games within the first 100 years of Memorial Stadium. If you disagree, pontificate within the feedback, however right here’s the place I landed:

Here’s to a different 100 years of Tiger wins (and some loopy reminiscences), Memorial Stadium. You don’t look a day over 99.