MSSU-UNO Game Notes (MIAA.com)

• Missouri Southern: The Lions and the Mavericks have never met on the gridiron... Southern seeks its first win over a top-five nationally-ranked team since becoming a Division II member in 1989... The Lions received votes in the AFCA D-II Top 25 this week... Southern is ranked 12th nationally in Division II rushing offense (229.3 ypg), total offense (466.3 ypg) as well as scoring offense (41.7 ppg), and 14th in sacks allowed (0.67 per game).
• Nebraska-Omaha: The Mavericks enter their first road game as an MIAA foe ranked third nationally in pass efficiency (188.33 rating) -- senior QB Zach Miller ranks fourth in the category (192.86 rating)... UNO also has the fifth-highest scoring offense in Division II (45.0 ppg)... Miller completed a career-best 19 passes in the win over ESU... Sophomore K Greg Zuerlein extended his school-record total of consecutive point-after kicks to 58 with five vs. ESU.

Larry Beard To Be Remembered at PSU Contest

A moment of silence in honor of Larry Beard will be held Saturday night before the start of the game. Larry, 61, the husband of Athletics Director Sallie Beard, died Tuesday night at their Joplin home after a long battle with cancer. Please keep Sallie and her family in your prayers.

Motivation easy to find for Southern

By Jim Henry (Joplin Globe)

Motivation won’t be a problem for Missouri Southern in Saturday night’s MIAA opener at No. 7 Pittsburg State. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Lions running back Toderick Hunt said. “A lot of people, the adrenaline is going to be pumping. I know for me when it’s like that, that’s when I perform the best because it’s time to go. It’s time to go.” A sold-out Carnie Smith Stadium likely will be at a higher pitch as they view the new $1.7 million “Jungletron” for the first time. “I’m looking forward to (the game) a lot,” cornerback Justin Cowper said. “The last time I played there was 2006 as a freshman. The crowd and the atmosphere, it doesn’t so much bother you. It amps you up more and gives you adrenaline so you can play more to your ability.” Then there’s the streak. The Lions haven’t beaten Pittsburg State since 1993, and they haven’t won at PSU since 1983. The Gorillas’ 31-28 victory last year in Joplin — the Lions scored twice in the final five minutes to whittle a 31-14 deficit — was the smallest margin of victory since a 15-14 decision in 1995 in Joplin. The Lions’ last lead against PSU was 12-7 in the second quarter in 2002 (PSU won 50-12), and the Lions’ last halftime lead was 7-0 in 1996 (PSU won 21-7). However, streaks aren’t the primary focus of the Lions. And, this week won’t make or break the season. “None of us came here to beat Pittsburg State,” Lions head coach Bart Tatum said. “Joplin people are going to be mad about that because that’s what they care about, beating Pittsburg. “But that’s not why we’re here as coaches and players. We’re here to build a championship-caliber program. It doesn’t matter what happens Saturday. We have eight games left after Saturday, and everything we want will still be right there in front of us. No matter what happens, win, lose ... we have to regroup Sunday. We have the No. 5 team in the country (Nebraska-Omaha) coming to town next Saturday.” Hunt ran for 175 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 66-9 victory over Haskell in his busiest game since suffering a knee injury in November 2006. “

Haskell - Thursday Night

Media Guide Online

2008 Missouri Southern Football Media Guide

From MIAA.com

• HINSPETER UPDATE: Missouri Southern senior QB Adam Hinspeter's record-setting effort against Harding (Ark.) last Saturday (Aug. 30) allowed him to leap from sixth to third on the MIAA's career passing yardage list. Hinspeter's school-record 422 passing yards vs. the Bisons give him 7,595 for his career -- leaving the Lions' signal-caller 1,503 yards from moving into second place on the list. Hinspeter needs just 24 yards of total offense to crack the MIAA's career top 10 in that category.

• Missouri Southern: The Lions are playing Haskell for just the second time in school history... Junior WR Mark Henderson, a transfer from Southern (La.), caught nine passes in his MSSU debut for 228 yards and three touchdowns and added a 22-yard run as well... Senior QB Adam Hinspeter's five TDs vs. Harding tied the school record set in 1993 by Matt Cook vs. Truman, and he needs 12 more to pass Cook's career mark of 64.

Game Week

By Jim Henry (Joplin Globe)

• Some new words were heard early this week at Missouri Southern’s football practice. “Coaches for the first time in eight months were saying ‘game week,’ ” Adam Hinspeter said. “It kind of picked us up a little bit and got us going in practice. “It is time now in the first week to figure out how good we are after all that training, after the spring ball and summer conditioning and now through preseason camp. We’re excited to go.” The Lions, coming off their first winning season in 10 years, open the 2008 campaign on Saturday night against Harding (Ark.). Kickoff is at 6 at Fred G. Hughes Stadium for the first of seven home games. Hinspeter, the Lions’ senior quarterback, became the full-time starter early in his redshirt freshman season. He begins his final season with 7,173 yards passing, the sixth highest total in MIAA history. He needs just 274 yards to climb into third place behind Missouri Western’s Kasey Waterman (10,025) and Truman State’s Eric Howe (9,097). “We were very productive in year one throwing the football, and he was a big part of that,” Lions head coach Bart Tatum said. “He really took a leadership role and was uncanny accurate. He picked up our offense from day one, a very smart football guy. “Then last year we just sold out to shore up our running game. We doubled our rushing output (from the previous season). It had a little bit of a negative impact on our passing game, but he still had a pretty good year. “I think this year if we can put everything together, he could really have a breakout season. That’s what I want for him in his fifth year. He’s invested a lot in this program.” Hinspeter, however, isn’t worried about personal achievements. “Whatever we can do to win games, I just want to run the offense, get the ball to the right guys and hopefully they can make plays,” he said. “Really we just want to score however we can. If it’s how we did it last year and really emphasize the running game, or if it’s through the air ... whatever we have to do. I think this year we have the ability to adapt to what the defense is doing.” “He’s going to be ready to have a breakout season,” Tatum said. “He has all of our records throwing the football already, but I really think he could have a good season.”
  

Running Back Feature

Check out the latest Joplin Globe feature, this one on the Running Back position.

Position Features

The Joplin Globe is running a series of features detailing our position groups. Here are the initial features linked below.

• Linebackers
• Wide Receivers
• Quarterbacks

Tropical Storm Fay

Has affected two of our Lions. Read the Joplin Globe article here.

One Week Away

The Lions continued their opening game preparation this morning with a "mock" game. Such contingencies covered this morning included kick-off after a safety, onside kick, hail mary, and victory to name a few.

Chris Bingham

Check this news feature on 1st year Lion, TE Chris Bingham.

Training Camp Conclusion

A traditional version of training camp broke last Saturday after the Fall Scrimmage. You can access footage here and read the Joplin Globe article here. The Lions begin preparations for Harding today and will practice every day this week. With school starting today, it marks the end of two-a-day practices and the introduction of the scout teams which are utilized to mimic the opponents.

Practice Four

One day away from the Lions 1st full padded practice. Players gathered again at 6:30 this morning for breakfast, position meetings, and a brief devotional service led by OL coach Matt Plunkett. They were then given a few hours to go to church or catch up on some sleep. The practice today is scheduled to begin at 3:15.

Brawner Has Respect

Interesting article found here about our MLB Jared Brawner and how the conference coaches feel about his playing ability. (From the Kirksville Daily Express)