The 2007 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Gary Pinkel and played their home games at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
The team was led by junior quarterback Chase Daniel, a Heisman Trophy candidate who finished fourth in voting behind Tim Tebow, Darren McFadden, and Colt Brennan. In the preseason, the Tigers were picked by some to win the Big 12 North.
On November 24, Missouri won their 11th game of the season by beating their arch-rival Kansas Jayhawks 36–28, in the Border Showdown at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The victory sealed Mizzou's berth into the 2007 Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma.
The Tigers won over 9 games in a season for the first time since 1969, and were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the first time since 1960. This ranking lead to the Tigers' first ever appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The Tigers also achieved their highest BCS ranking in history, at No. 1 after the Border Showdown.
After losing the Big 12 Championship game 38–17 to the Sooners, Missouri was chosen to play Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, in which the Tigers prevailed 38–7 to complete their 12–2 season.
Five Tiger starters were named to the Associated Press All-American teams. Senior tight end Martin Rucker and freshman wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (as an all-purpose player) were named as first team selections, while junior quarterback Chase Daniel and junior safety William Moore were named to the second team. Senior center Adam Spieker was a third team selection.
The Tigers finished the 2007 season ranked 4th in the AP Poll and 5th in the Coaches Poll. The Anderson & Hester rankings listed the team as National Champions; however, the school does not claim the title.Missouri #1 rank
Schedule
Game summaries
Vs. Illinois
Statistics MIZILL First downs 25 23 Total yards 429 435 Rushing yards 70 119 Passing yards 359 316 Turnovers 3 5 Time of possession 29:23 30:37 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri Passing Chase Daniel 37/54, 359 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tony Temple 17 rushes, 33 yards Receiving Martin Rucker 10 receptions, 86 yardsIllinois Passing Eddie McGee 17/31, 257 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Daniel Dufrene 6 rushes, 58 yards Receiving Arrelious Benn 5 receptions, 74 yards
At Ole Miss
Statistics MIZMISS First downs 29 26 Total yards 548 534 Rushing yards 218 229 Passing yards 330 305 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 28:27 31:09 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri Passing Chase Daniel 31/42, 330 yards, 5 TD Rushing Tony Temple 17 rushes, 123 yards Receiving William Franklin 8 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDOle Miss Passing Seth Adams 23/41, 305 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing B. J. Green-Ellis 33 rushes, 226 yards, TD Receiving Mike Wallace 7 receptions, 136 yards, TD
Western Michigan
Statistics WMUMIZ First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
No. 14 (FCS) Illinois State
Statistics ILSTMIZ First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
No. 25 Nebraska
Statistics NEBMIZ First downs 20 32 Total yards 297 606 Rushing yards 74 195 Passing yards 235 411 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Chase Daniel 33-47, 401 yards, 2 TD Rushing Chase Daniel 11 carries, 72 yards, 2 TD Receiving Martin Rucker 9 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD
At No. 6 Oklahoma
Statistics MIZOKLA First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri Passing Rushing Receiving Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving
No. 22 Texas Tech
Statistics TTUMIZ First downs 23 23 Total yards 388 422 Rushing yards -9 212 Passing yards 397 210 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 31:44 28:16 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Tech Passing Graham Harrell 44/69, 397 yards, TD, 4 INT Rushing Shannon Woods 10 rushes, 30 yards Receiving Danny Amendola 11 receptions, 94 yardsMissouri Passing Chase Daniel 14/19, 210 yards, TD, INT Rushing Derrick Washington 9 rushes, 66 yards Receiving Chase Coffman 3 receptions, 53 yards
Iowa State
Statistics ISUMIZ First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
At Colorado
Statistics MIZCOL First downs 25 7 Total yards 598 196 Rushing yards 169 84 Passing yards 449 123 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri Passing Chase Daniel 26/44, 421 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT Rushing Derrick Washington 8 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD Receiving Will Franklin 2 receptions, 109 yards Colorado Passing Rushing Receiving
Texas A&M
Statistics TAMUMIZ First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
At Kansas State
Statistics MIZKSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri Passing Rushing Receiving Kansas State Passing Rushing Receiving
Vs. No. 2 Kansas
Statistics MIZKU First downs 29 23 Total yards 519 391 Rushing yards 151 42 Passing yards 368 349 Passing: comp–att–int 41–50–0 28–49–2 Turnovers 0 2 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri Passing Chase Daniel 40/49 361 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tony Temple 22 carries, 98 yards Receiving Danario Alexander 8 receptions, 117 yards, TDKansas Passing Todd Reesing 28/49 349 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Brandon McAnderson 14 carries, 41 yards, TD Receiving Dexton Fields 8 receptions, 116 yards, TD
Vs. No. 9 Oklahoma (Big 12 Championship Game)
Statistics OKLAMIZ First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
Vs. Arkansas (Cotton Bowl Classic)
Statistics MIZARK First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri Passing Rushing Receiving Arkansas Passing Rushing Receiving
Roster
2007 Missouri Tigers football roster (as of August 31, 2007 )Wide receivers 2 William Franklin Senior 4 Jason Ray – Senior 6 Sanford Gooden - Freshman 8 Jared Perry – Sophomore 9 Jeremy Maclin – Freshman 28 Adam Casey – Junior 30 Drew Yanker – Freshman 31 Michael Oldroyd – Freshman 36 Tyrone Reece – Sophomore 81 Danario Alexander – Sophomore 84 Tommy Saunders – Junior 85 Greg Bracey – Senior 86 Chris Gares – Sophomore 87 Lucas Null – Senior 88 Forrest Shock – Freshman 89 Blake May – Sophomore
Offensive line 51 James Stigall – Sophomore 54 Chris Tipton – Senior 55 Jayson Palmgren – Freshman 57 Tony Ploudre – Freshman 58 Brendan Donaldson – Freshman 60 Bryan Webb – Freshman 61 Colin Brown – Junior 62 Tim Barnes – Freshman 63 Ryan Schleusner – Freshman 65 Mike Prince – Freshman 66 Austin Wuebbels – Freshman 67 J. T. Beasley – Freshman 68 Dain Wise – Sophomore 69 Jesse Hernandez "Redshirt Freshman 71 Monte Wyrick – Senior 72 Elvis Fisher – Freshman 73 Thomas Hellm – Freshman 76 Ryan Madison – Junior 77 Adam Spieker – Senior 78 Kurtis Gregory – Sophomore 79 Tyler Luellen – Senior
Tight ends 33 Levi Hamilton – Junior 43 Jon Gissinger – Sophomore 45 Chase Coffman – Junior 48 Caleb Medley – Freshman 49 Joshua Biship – Sophomore 82 Martin Rucker – Senior 93 Andy Loyd – Freshman Quarterbacks 5 Dominic Grooms – Freshman 10 Chase Daniel – Junior 11 Jimmy Costello – Freshman 13 J. P. Tillman – Freshman 14 Chase Patton – Junior
Running backs 1 Jimmy Jackson – Junior 3 Marcus Woods – Senior 7 Earl Goldsmith – Junior 22 Tony Temple – Senior 24 Derrick Washington – Freshman 26 De'Vion Moore – Freshman 46 Shawn Scott – Sophomore
Defensive line 38 Stryker Sulak – Junior 39 Tyler Crane – Freshman 47 Jaysen Corbett – Junior 48 Tommy Chavis – Junior 50 Jason Townson – Junior 53 Terrell Resonno – Freshman 59 Zach Milligan – Freshman 75 Brandon Shipman – Sophomore 90 Dominique Hamilton – Freshman 91 Charles Gaines – Senior 92 Andy Maples – Junior 93 John Stull – Freshman 94 Evander Hood – Junior 95 Chris Earnhardt – Freshman 95 Steven Blair – Senior 96 Jaron Baston – Sophomore 98 Bart Coslet – Freshman 99 Lorenzo Williams – Senior
Linebackers 2 Connell Davis – Sophomore 5 Van Alexander – Junior 12 Sean Weatherspoon – Sophomore 18 Steve Redmond – Junior 25 Aaron O'Neal – Junior † 30 Marquis Booker – Freshman 33 Luke Lambert – Freshman 34 Brock Christopher – Junior 40 Andrew Gachkar – Freshman 41 John Ruth – Senior 45 Marlon Galbreath – Freshman 49 Michael Keck – Freshman 53 Jeff Gettys – Freshman 64 Joe Schumacher – Sophomore 74 Stephon Hayden – Sophomore Safety 14 Scipio Daniels – Freshman 16 Devin Lenauer – Freshman
Strong Safety 1 William Moore Junior 8 Justin Garrett – Junior 10 Gilbert Moye – Freshman 13 Cornelius Brown – Senior 24 Mack Breed – Junior
Free Safety 4 Travis Cardoza – Senior 15 Del Howard – Sophomore
Defensive backs 3 Darnell Terrell – Senior 4 James Aldridge – Freshman 6 Paul Simpson – Senior 7 La'Roderick Thomas – Freshman 11 Tremane Vaughns – Junior 19 Carl Gettis – Freshman 20 Kevin Rutland – Freshman 20 Erik Ruin – Sophomore 21 Castine Bridges – Junior 28 Hardy Ricks – Sophomore 31 Trey Hobson – Freshman 33 John Gill – Sophomore 35 Matt Davis – Freshman 41 Ryan Sutherlin – Freshman 43 Tony Buhr – Junior 26 Terris Phillips – Sophomore
Punters 36 Jake Harry – Junior 90 Adam Crossett – Senior
Kickers 99 Jeff Wolfert – Junior † Starter at position † LB Aaron O'Neal died on July 13, 2005, but remained on the Tigers' roster for the remainder of his eligibility
Coaching staff
Name Position Yearsat MU Alma mater (Year) Gary Pinkel Head coach 7 Kent State (1975) Dave Christensen (assistant head coach) Offensive coordinatorQuarterbacks, Offensive Line 7 Western Washington (1985) Matt Eberflus (associate head coach) Defensive coordinatorSafeties 7 Toledo (1993) Cornell Ford Cornerbacks 7 Toledo (1991) Andy Hill Wide receivers 12 University of Missouri (1985) Brian Jones Running backs 7 Connecticut (1981) Craig Kuligowski Defensive line 7 Toledo (1991) Dave Steckel Linebackers 7 Kutztown (1982) Bruce Walker Tight endsAssistant offensive line 7 Central Washington (1983) David Yost QuarterbacksRecruiting coordinator 7 Kent State (1992) Barry Odom Assistant ad for football operations 5 University of Missouri (1999) Nick Otterbacher Director of football recruiting 4 Toledo (2002)
Coaching staff from:
Rankings
Statistics (through Cotton Bowl Classic, Jan. 1, 2008)