Today I was listening to 610AM, a Kansas City sports radio station as I was driving north on good ol' highway 63. Bob Fescoe had Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel on to reflect about the season and what possible bowl game the Tigers could be going to.
Pinkel told Fescoe that he would be pleased to go to any of the four bowl games (Alamo, Insight.com, Cotton, Holiday) because all four of these bowls are "comparable" due to the "restructuring" of the bowl games, and all are carried by ESPN. Pinkel said, "any of those would be a win for us, we just need our Missouri fans to show up."
Pinkel also told Fescoe in accordance to the MU fanbase, "You go root on your Missouri tigers, that's what they do in Nebraska, that's what they do in Oklahoma, thats what they do at Texas A&M, and I think our fans will get better and better with that."
Ultimately, Fescoe gave Pinkel the floor to make a hard sell to MU fans to get off their tails and travel to go see the hometown team regardless if the bowl game was in the lonestar state or out west in sunny Arizona.
I listened in as the two went back and forth, talking about how Missouri fans are always quick to complain about bowl selections, and even more how we seem to "not travel well". Both Fescoe and Pinkel agreed that there is more to a bowl selection than what just happens on the field, and how money plays a huge role in these bowl selections, which is frustrating but true.
While Pinkel was quick to mention stats of the 6th winningest program in the BCS for the last four years at Missouri, and getting 40 wins in the last four seasons. Pinkel definitely has plenty to be proud about as the head football coach at the University of Missouri.
But, not so fast my friends...
As I listened to this interview, I almost felt like I was being scolded as a Tiger fan and that the head football coach was displeased with my lack luster effort as a fan. Let me say this, and go ahead and get this out of the way - I believe Gary Pinkel has done one hell of a job at the University of Missouri, and I believe he is a tremendous coach and has the program moving in the right direction. I also believe that the 10-2 record for this year is nothing to glance over, and him and his staff along with the players should be thrilled with their great record and all of their hard work.
Fescoe made the comment and challenge to Missouri fans, "If you want to be considered a top notch school, then you as fans have to do your part and show up."
I completely agree with many of the points these guys were making, but I personally believe there is one major reason why the majority of Missouri fans don't just pack their bags to go watch MU play in a mediocre non-BCS game, and that is simply because they haven't arrived yet.
Do you know why Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas fans travel near and far to see their team? It's because they did arrive, or have proven they can make it to the big boy stage and win. Those three programs have a much more deep winning tradition in football than Missouri, and it is because of that winning tradition that their fans dish out cash or their hard earned money to root on their team during bowl season. Sure, Missouri fans do bitch and complain about bowl selections, a ton of fans do across the country for their respective schools. Just as much as the coach wanted to scold me through the radio about dishing out my money to go to Arizona, I wanted to say, "Coach, I would if I could - But I'm running short on money this month, and maybe if you guys would've beaten Nebraska or didn't lose that game to Texas Tech I'd be there rooting you on in a big daddy BCS game when the chips are really on the line."
Bottom Line: If you've got the money and the time and you want to go root on the tigers regardless if its the Rose Bowl or the Toilet Bowl - Do It! It's your prerogative! I believe Missouri has a great fan base in all sports and we all love our tiger sports and want to see them do well. But I honestly believe, if the Tigers made it to a big BCS game and did something like I dont know maybe win a Big XXII Championship then the masses would follow. Pinkel wants us to be at our best and be top notch fans, well how about let's get the Missouri football team over those last couple of hurdles that have been clobbering us the last few years. Like I said previously, I believe in Gary Pinkel, and believe that the Missouri Tigers will leap those last few hurdles before we (the fans) know it - and it will definitely be something for all MU fans to cheer about. But in closing I'll say this - I've heard Gary Pinkel say this more on one occasion, college football is a "business" - well it is a business, and it is unfortunate that some fans don't want to do business when it comes to making the trip to go see the Tigers play- but that is life and there are too many factors that sometimes go into making that decision over, to travel or not to travel? However, as a fan you look at it from a business standpoint too - Would I be willing to lose out on some money to go see MU play in the Insight. com bowl and beat a decent team? Maybe? Would I pick up a part time job to make extra money to see them play in a major BCS Bowl Game against a great team? Absolutely! Get there, then I'll get there...I Promise.
Here's the link for the Bob Fesoce/Gary Pinkel Interview on 610AM out of Kansas City, MO-
http://www.fileskcsp.com/fescoe/1201bfhourthree.mp3
