When MU Senior Associate Athletics Director Mark Alnutt made his opening statement to the media Sunday at Mizzou Arena, he didn’t talk about the Independence Bowl and he didn’t talk about the Big 12 Conference’s selection process in making it Missouri’s postseason destination.
Alnutt instead asked for a round of applause for coach Gary Pinkel for making a bowl game of any kind, an accomplishment Pinkel and his staff have obtained in a program record seven consecutive seasons.
“I just want to congratulate coach for a record-setting seventh consecutive bowl that the University of Missouri will be participating in,” Alnutt said. “That in itself deserves a round of hand, coach.”
The Tigers (7-5, 5-4 Big 12 Conference) will play the North Carolina Tar Heels (7-5, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 26 in Shreveport, La. The game will air at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.
The game will be the program’s final as a member of the Big 12 before moving to the Southeastern Conference.
The selection came as a surprise to some who were expecting a higher placement for the Tigers. Speculation circled around Big 12 tie-in bowls such as the Holiday Bowl, the Pinstripe Bowl and the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas. The Tigers were passed up in the selection process, however, by Texas, Iowa State and Texas A&M, respectively. All were teams the Tigers finished higher than in conference and defeated head-to-head.
“I didn’t hear anything about the Independence Bowl,” sophomore quarterback James Franklin said.
Alnutt made sure to deny claims that the Big 12 worked against Missouri due to the school’s impending departure to the SEC.
“With the structure of the Big 12, which might be unique to some conferences, a 6-6 bowl eligible team can be selected over an 11-1 bowl eligible team, just like that,” Alnutt said.
Alnutt said that many bowl scenarios took form after Saturday’s results. If Kansas State would have received a BCS at-large bid, each Big 12 team would have moved up a slot, enabling each school to play in a Big 12 bowl game.
“The Big 12 really took initiative and was proactive in searching for bowl games for a team that was going to be left out, whether it was us or Iowa State, to be able to go to,” Alnutt said.
For Alnutt, Pinkel and several players on hand Sunday at Mizzou Arena, the night focused on cherishing the opportunity of playing in a bowl game.
“It would not be wise to take going to bowls for granted,” Pinkel said. “We worked very hard. This was a very difficult season and my players battled and fought to put us in this position.”
Pinkel reinforced the long trek his staff has taken to make bowl appearances an expectation. The process began in 2003 with a trip to the Independence Bowl, where Missouri fell 27-14 to Arkansas.
Missouri’s very next bowl game came two years later at the same venue. This time, it featured Pinkel’s first bowl victory, a 38-31 come-from-behind win over South Carolina.
For a team making its third trip to Shreveport in nine seasons, the Independence Bowl experience will be much a formality for the Missouri Tigers.
“The hospitality down there is second to none. It’s first class,” Pinkel said. “I think it’s great access for our fans and students (with) our connection with Texas and Dallas and all our players from the Texas area.”
Although perhaps surprised by the destination, many players reiterated Pinkel’s excitement for an opportunity to claim an eighth victory and to finish the season ranked.
“I feel like the guys know the importance of the game,” senior captain and safety Kenji Jackson said. “We understand that it’s a business trip. We’re going down there with a mission and that’s to win a football game.”
Conversation over playing North Carolina was limited at the press conference since the ACC had yet to announce the matchup.
For the players and coaches, it’s a subject they will spend the next three weeks learning in full detail.
“I don’t know anything about (the Tar Heels),” Jackson said. “I know they’re in the ACC … I’m sure they’ll be good.”