Three words to sum up being a Mizzou fan in New York: It's Always Michigan

For the first time in my sports rooting life the University of Missouri is ranked in the Top 10 in college football (#9 in both the AP and USA Today polls). Being a Mizzou fan in New York is tough, though, to tell the honest truth being a Mizzou fan in general is tough after three of the most famous loses in college sports history (we will get to those later) even if one lives in St. Louis or Kansas City. In St. Louis Mizzou is often overshadowed by Illinois and in Kansas City they have to share the stage with Kansas and Kansas State. In New York though I find we are always overshadowed by of all things The University of Michigan.

Now hear me out a bit on this one because I am sure Michigan fans and alumni do not even realize this yet. To begin with, it is quite difficult to find other Mizzou fans in this city to start. Needless to say we do not have an overwhelming alumni population in this part of the country. On the other side of the coin, I swear I can not swing a dead cat and not hit someone that graduated from Michigan (in full disclosure I dated three girls in a row who went to Michigan who had no relation to each other and met them all randomly ... this is how big the pool of Michigan alumni are in New York!!!). Couple this with both schools starting with the letters 'M-I' with six letters following and very similar school colors and you have one sad central park runner (me) who gets excited every time he sees a big 'M' on a yellow shirt running his way only to find out that yes ... every single time ... it is always Michigan. And they are a cocky bunch, on the first day of the season at a local sports bar we asked if we could watch the Missouri vs. Illinois game and we were roundly mocked by a table of Michigan fans ... and this is after they just lost to Appalachian State at home!!!!

The University of Missouri is famous for really three things: Brad Pitt attended (did not graduate), our alumni consists of two national villains in Kenneth Lay and Randal "Duke" Cunningham, and the fact we can lose like no other school can lose. I know every fan of any college program can list their bad losses over time, but can you list three examples of losses that still appear on montages before big games that all lead to the opponent winning a National Championship? Let us review all three games that can each be summed up in two words.

Fifth Down
October 6th, 1990

I hate even writing about this considering Missouri plays Colorado this week. Missouri leading 31 - 27 with 40 seconds left in the game and Colorado has the ball near the goal line on 1st down. On their first play they spiked the ball to stop the clock. Second play they run for little gain. Third play they run for no gain. Colorado spikes the ball again to stop the clock and on the next play ran a quarterback sneak to win the game with no time left on the clock. Yep, five plays. The officials forgot to switch the down marker on one of the plays. End result: Your National Champion Colorado Buffaloes!


Tyus Edney
1995 NCAA Tournament

Missouri leading 74-73 against number one seed UCLA with 4.8 seconds left in the game. Tyus Edney gets the inbound and runs the length of the court, never passes, shoots and scores to win the game. You may remember this highlight because it is run before EVERY NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME SINCE 1996!!!!! End Result: Your National Champion UCLA Bruins!


Flea Kicker
November 8th 1997

I was actually at this game. I was one of the legions of Mizzou fans getting ready to storm the field and take the goalposts down to Harpo's after finally beating Nebraska for the first time in 18 years. Do you know what it is like to actually believe for a good 10 seconds that you actually won!? This, to me, was the worst of the worst. Missouri winning 38-31 with seven seconds left and the Huskers at the 12 yard line. Nebraska's last play was a pass to Shevin Wiggins who dropped the ball after being tackled. Game over ... Missouri wins ... the fans rush the field ... but wait. As Wiggins was falling he kicked the ball with his foot (which is illegal if intentional) flipping it up into the air only to be caught with a diving catch by Matt Davidson. Game tied, Nebraska goes on to win in overtime. End Result: Your National Champion Nebraska Cornhuskers!



So yeah Michigan fan, us Missouri fans have been through quite a lot together. We seek out each other to find some consolation in this crazy world that only we live in, so do not take offense when I get excited to see your school paraphernalia only to be fooled yet once again. And to the rest of the title contending teams on Missouri's schedule this year: Deep down every Mizzou fan knows "The Horrific Loss" is coming and one of you will be the lucky recipient of "The Horrific Loss". I am looking at you (dare I say it), Kansas, or even possibly you again, Oklahoma. No matter when or where it happens, at least we know who our next National Champion will be.