COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Mizzou Football squad held its first intrasquad scrimmage of fall camp Saturday morning on a sun-splashed Faurot Field, and the defense came out on top in the situational practice by a 19-7 score.

The Tiger defense collectively accumulated 17 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, seven pass break ups, and four quarterback hurries, while sophomore S Thomas Wilson gathered the only turnover of the day, when he scooped up a fumbled lateral pass and ran 46 yards the other way before whistles blew. Wilson led the defense with a scrimmage-high 10 tackles and added one tackle behind the line as well.

Senior LB Clarence Green had two tackles for loss (tied for team high along with true freshman DL Marcell Frazier), and he added eight tackles in all, including one sack. Green was joined at eight tackles by junior CB John Gibson (1 PBU) and senior LB Kentrell Brothers (1.5 TFL, 1 sack).

The highlights weren’t limited to the defense, however, as the Tiger offense found the endzone six different times including five passing scores and one rushing score. The Mizzou quarterbacks had several big plays, as they combined to go 52-of-85 passing for 652 yards and the five scores, including two touchdown tosses each by redshirt freshman Marvin Zanders (10-of-15, 191 yards, 2 TDs) and true freshman Drew Lock (14-of-19, 139 yards, 2 TDs).

Junior QB Maty Mauk also had a solid day as he completed 10-of-22 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, on a beautiful 35-yard strike in the back of the endzone to senior WR Wesley Leftwich (2 catches, 40 yards, 1 TD) which came against the number-one defense. Sophomore QB Eddie Printz also was effective today, as he hit on 11-of-20 passes for 141 yards, including a 65-yard TD pass on a catch-and-run by sophomore WR J’Mon Moore. Moore led all Tiger receivers with 105 receiving yards, on just five receptions, while true freshman WR Emanuel Hall had a scrimmage-high six catches that went for 63 yards. Joining Leftwich in the touchdown catch highlight reel were true freshman WR Justin Smith (60-yard TD), sophomore TE Jason Reese (11-yard TD), redshirt freshman WR Ray Wingo (23-yard TD) and true freshman TB Marquise Doherty (14-yard TD).

The Mizzou offense ran for 192 yards total, with senior TB Tyler Hunt leading the way with 37 yards on five carries. Senior starter Russell Hansbrough was limited to just six carries by coaching design, and he produced 32 yards, good for a 5.3 per-carry average. True freshman TB Ryan Williams scored on a two-yard run in the two-minute drill late in the day, as he ended his day with 21 yards rushing on seven carries.

A handful of Tigers were held out of action today due to injuries, including senior S Ian Simon (hamstring), senior PK Andrew Baggett (back), sophomore OL Andy Bauer (hip), and redshirt freshmen receivers Richaud Floyd (rib) and Thomas Richard (hamstring). Redshirt freshman S Tavon Ross (shoulder) and true freshman WR Johnathan Johnson (ankle) left the scrimmage early and were not able to return.

The Tigers will enjoy Sunday off – marking the first day off since camp started on Aug. 6th.  Sunday serves as moving day as the team moves out of campus dorms and into their permanent housing. Practice will resume Monday at 7:15 a.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball head coach Tim Jamieson has announced the hiring of J.C. Field, a Mizzou standout from 2005-06, as the program’s volunteer assistant coach. Field is an up-and-coming coach with a résumé that includes coaching stints at North Dakota and Southeast Missouri. He joins Mizzou after spending the last seven seasons at North Dakota, including the last two as the program’s associate head coach. At UND, Field oversaw the team’s hitters, catchers and outfielders while leading the team’s west coast recruiting efforts.

“We are thrilled to have J.C. back at Mizzou,” Jamieson said. “He embodies the characteristics that we feel are important to our success here at Mizzou. I know he has a great passion for our program and everything that we stand for. He is a tireless worker and was a tough competitor for us who played on two NCAA Regional teams here. I know he will bring those attributes to our coaching staff. He is a guy who has worked his way up the coaching ranks after a great playing career and is someone who our players can look up to and learn a lot from.”

“I am really looking forward to coming back to Mizzou,” Field said. “It’s a place that has been very special to me. Over the years, I have stayed close to Coach J, Evan Pratte and Hunter Mense, and always hoped that I would have the opportunity to come back and work with those guys. It is an unbelievable opportunity to come back. I’ve seen where the program has been and where it’s going and I am excited to be a part of that and continue the winning tradition that has been built under Coach J. I also want to thank to Coach Jeff Dodson at North Dakota for giving me a start to my coaching career. I am extremely thankful for everything he has done and the opportunity that he gave me – I wouldn’t be here today without it.”

Field began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at SEMO in 2008, where he also coached with Dodson, who was the program’s pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

Field, a 2006 graduate of the University of Missouri with an emphasis in sport management, communications and sociology, had a successful stint as UND’s assistant coach from 2009-13 and associate head coach from 2013-15. As the team’s hitting coach in 2013, UND led the Great West Conference in hitting and runs. He guided catcher Taylor Peterson to a pair of all-conference honors and the backstop led the team in nearly every category as a senior in 2014.

Field helped guide UND to a 16-win season in Western Athletic Conference (WAC) play and a fourth-place finish in 2015. He had three players notch a .300 average or better, highlighted by Tyler Follis’ .405 clip, which ranked seventh nationally. Follis also set the school record for hits (74) in 2012 under Field’s guidance.

Also under his tutelage, senior Jeff Campbell hit .365 with 11 homers and 48 RBI, last season. Campbell won the 2015 College Baseball Home Run Derby at TD Ameritrade Park on July 2 and was a first team All-WAC pick. Campbell, who was coached by Field all four years at UND, finished in the program’s top five all-time in homers, doubles, RBIs and total bases. Campbell was a Freshman All-American in 2012.

In his two seasons at Mizzou, Field helped guide the Tigers to an NCAA Regional in 2005 and a Super Regional in 2006, catching the likes of major leaguers Max Scherzer and Doug Mathis. He started 96 games in his two years as a Tiger and earned All-Malibu Regional honors in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, helping Mizzou become the first ever No. 4 seed to win an NCAA Regional.

A native of Tucson, Arizona, Field also played two years at Pima Community College, earning all-conference honors as a catcher while receiving an associate’s degree in liberal arts in 2004. He also caught Major Leaguers Jamie Vermilyea and Tim Wood while playing there. Following his collegiate days, he played with the Evansville Otters in the Frontier League.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball head coach Robin Pingeton announced staff updates on Wednesday. RaeShara Brown has been named an assistant coach, while Willie Cox has transitioned into the role of director of recruiting.

“A lot of thought and conversation went into these moves within my staff,” Pingeton said. “We are constantly evaluating everything we do within our program. I believe these new roles and responsibilities align with RaeShara and Willie’s strengths individually and within our program.”

Brown, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, spent the past season as the director of recruiting and player development, where she played a crucial role in the program’s day-to-day operations. Prior to that, she was a graduate assistant for the Tigers from 2012-14 and has been instrumental in marketing and social media initiatives for the program.

“Coach Brown was an incredible player for us at Mizzou and has since served in a variety of roles within our program,” Pingeton said. “She is very driven, passionate and knowledgeable. She has an outstanding basketball IQ and truly understands what it takes to be successful at this level. There is no doubt in my mind that she will do an outstanding job on the recruiting trail as well.”

A mainstay in the Mizzou backcourt from 2007-11, Brown appeared in every game she was eligible for while wearing a Tigers uniform. She was a 3-year starter and opened all 31 games as a junior and senior. Following her senior season, Brown was named second-team All-Big 12 with an average of 16.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition as a sophomore and is the program’s all-time steals leader with 273 during her career. Brown received a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Mizzou in 2011 and a master’s in educational psychology in 2014.

Cox has served as the recruiting coordinator for the Mizzou coaching staff since Pingeton arrived prior to the 2010-11 season. His vast experience and networking capabilities have played a large part in recruiting efforts during the revitalization of the program over the past five seasons. Prior to moving to Columbia, Cox was an assistant coach at Illinois State from 2003-10 under Pingeton, and he also was previously the head coach at Peoria (Ill.) Central High School.

“I have worked with Willie for over 12 years,” Pingeton said. “I don’t know that you can find someone that is more loyal. Willie adds so much value, experience and knowledge to our staff. As our program has grown, the need for a director of basketball recruiting has become apparent. I believe Willie is going to do an incredible job for us in this position.”

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball’s 2015-16 non-conference schedule will include the Tigers’ participation in the highly regarded CBE Hall of Fame Classic (Nov. 23-24) at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, as well as nine home contests inside Mizzou Arena.

Head coach Kim Anderson’s program will take on a challenging slate in its warmup for its 2016 Southeastern Conference schedule, including road contests at Xavier (Nov. 17) and at Arizona (Dec. 13). The Tigers will face North Carolina State at home on Dec. 19, ahead of the 34th Annual Braggin’ Rights Game vs. Illinois at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on Dec. 23.

“We have once again put together one of the best and most challenging schedules in the country,” Anderson said. “Our non-conference opponents will provide a great test for our young team and hopefully prepare them for the rigors of an always tough Southeastern Conference schedule. Last year, we played one of the top schedules in the country and this one is set to match or exceed that.”

Mizzou’s opening opponent in the CBE event matches the Tigers against former conference foe Kansas State (Nov. 23). The Black & Gold have battled it out in historically even fashion against the Wildcats, with the all-time series at 117-118 to KSU. Kansas State posted a 15-17 (8-10 Big 12) record a season ago.

Mizzou will face either North Carolina or Northwestern in its second game of the event at the Sprint Center. UNC advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2015 NCAA Tournament, finishing the season with a 26-12 (11-7 ACC) overall record. Northwestern compiled a 15-17 (6-12 Big Ten) record last season.

Anderson’s group get rolling at home to begin its 2015-16 schedule, first with an exhibition matchup against Missouri Western on Nov. 6. The Tigers begin the season in earnest the following week vs. Wofford (Nov. 13) and vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore (Nov. 15) in a pair of host site games for the CBE Hall of Fame Classic. Wofford (28-7, 16-2 Southern) fell in its opening game of the 2015 NCAA Tournament, dropping a 56-53 result to Arkansas in the second round. UMES posted an 18-15 (11-5 MEAC) overall mark a season ago.

“We are always looking forward to being able to bring our team to great venues across the state with two games at the Sprint Center in Kansas City and the annual Braggin’ Rights game at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Combined with an overall 18-game home schedule, Tiger fans around Missouri will have many opportunities to see us play.”

Mizzou hits the road for its contest at Xavier on Nov. 17, before it begins CBE games at the Sprint Center from Nov. 23-24. The Musketeers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season, finishing with a 23-14 (9-9 Big East) mark. The Tigers battled Xavier last season at Mizzou Arena, dropping a 74-58 result on Dec. 13, 2014.

The Tigers return home from the CBE with a three-game home stretch vs. Arkansas State (Dec. 1), vs. Northern Illinois (Dec. 4) and vs. Omaha (Dec. 9). The Red Wolves went 11-18 (6-14 Sun Belt) last season, while Huskies posted a 14-16 (8-10 MAC) record. The Mavericks compiled a 12-17 (5-11 Summit) overall record a season ago. Mizzou holds a combined all-time record of 7-0 against the three opponents. The Tigers most recently took down Northern Illinois by a score of 97-61 on Dec. 27, 2010.

Anderson’s team heads to the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 13, to face Arizona, an Elite Eight squad from a season ago. The Wildcats posted a 34-4 (16-2 Pac-12) overall record last season, spending the majority of their campaign ranked within the nation’s Top 5.

Mizzou’s Dec. 19 contest vs. N.C. State pits the Tigers against potentially its fourth opponent that advanced to last season’s Sweet 16. The Wolfpack posted a 22-14 (10-8 ACC) overall record in 2014-15.

Mizzou closes its non-conference slate with two games over the holiday break, first facing Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Dec. 29) and followed by Savannah State (Jan. 2). The Golden Lions posted a 12-20 (9-9 SWAC) overall record a season ago, while the SVSU Tigers went 9-20 (5-11 MEAC) in 2014-15.

Tickets for the CBE’s championship round games at Sprint Center are available through www.axs.com, www.cbehalloffameclassic.com, by phone at 1-888-929-7849 or in-person at the Sprint Center Box Office.

Game times and network designations for non-conference games will be announced at a later date by the SEC.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Mizzou Department of Athletics will hold its 13th annual Football Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, August 9, at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium. Gates will open to the public at approximately 3:15 p.m., and the team and coaches will be on hand to sign autographs until 4:45 p.m. Admission to this fan favorite event is free.

At Fan Day, Mizzou’s followers will have the opportunity to go onto the field and meet Tiger players and coaches and get autographs. Players will be limited to signing one item per fan, with free schedule posters available on the field for those interested. Guests bringing multiple items to the gate will be asked to return additional items to their vehicle.

Fans should enter the stadium via Gates 1 or 2W beginning at 3:15 p.m. Those with disabilities should enter through Lot G and park in the area south of the stadium and enter through the southwest field level gate. There will be free water on hand at field level, but fans are encouraged to bring their own sealed bottled water to help beat the potential heat as well. Other outside food and beverages will not be permitted.

Parking for the event is free, and fans are encouraged to park in the lots to the west and south of Memorial Stadium (Founder’s Lot A, Lot C, Lot D and Lot G).

— MU Sports Information —

HOOVER, Ala. — The competitiveness of the Southeastern Conference was showcased in the annual media voting at SEC Media Days, as for the first time in the 23-year history in the poll, media were divided on divisional champion and overall SEC Champion. By a narrow margin, the Auburn Tigers were picked by media in attendance to capture the 2015 SEC Championship. Auburn received 96 SEC Championship votes, while the Alabama Crimson Tide was close behind with 80. The Georgia Bulldogs were third with 28 votes.

Alabama, however, was picked to win the SEC Western Division with 1,405 total points, while Auburn was second with 1,362. Alabama received 92 first-place votes in the West, while Auburn collected 108. The Crimson Tide won the Western Division vote due to receiving just three votes for fourth place or lower in the Western Division, while Auburn received 26 such votes. Points were awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.

Georgia was selected to win the SEC Eastern Division with 1,498 points, including 166 first-place votes. Tennessee was second with 1,231 points and 36 votes to win the division, while Missouri was third with 1,196 total points. The two-time defending East representative in the SEC Championship game also received 20 votes to win a third consecutive division title.

Five times since 1992 the SEC Media Days predicted champion has proceeded to win the SEC Championship, including Alabama last season.

SEC Champion
School     Points
Auburn     96
Alabama     80
Georgia     28
LSU     9
Arkansas     3
Ole Miss     3
Tennessee     2
Texas A&M     2
Florida     1
Mississippi State     1

Eastern Division (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
Place     School     Points
1.     Georgia (166)     1498
2.     Tennessee (36)     1231
3.     Missouri (20)     1196
4.     South Carolina (1)     830
5.     Florida (1)     768
6.     Kentucky (1)     534
7.     Vanderbilt     243

Western Division (1st Place votes in parenthesis)
Place     School     Points
1.     Alabama (92)     1405
2.     Auburn (108)     1362
3.     LSU (10)     870
4.     Arkansas (6)     821
5.     Ole Miss (3)     732
6.     Texas A&M (4)     628
7.     Mississippi State (2)     482

— SEC Press Release —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou football’s Russell Hansbrough (Arlington, Texas) has been named to the 2015 Doak Walker Award Watch List as announced by the PwC Athletic Forum on Thursday (July 16). The Doak Walker Award is given annually to the nation’s top collegiate running back. This is the second major preseason watch list for Hanbrough, who landed on the Maxwell Award Watch list on July 7.

A veteran tailback who has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in his Mizzou career, Hansbrough is on the Doak Walker Award Watch List for the first time in his career. He led Mizzou with his first 1,000-yard season in 2014, totaling 1,084 yards, a mark that ranked sixth in the SEC despite starting just three games – he was also seventh in the SEC in rush yards per game. Hansbrough was SEC Offensive Player of the Week and National Tailback of the Week following a 199-yard outburst at Texas A&M, the 10th-best single-game rush total in program history.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists on November 18, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the three finalists, who will be announced on November 24. The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 30 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2015 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 10, on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held in Dallas in early 2016.

The award, which will name its 26th recipient in 2015, is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

— MU Sports Information —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Missouri forward Montaque Gill-Caesar is transferring after an injury-interrupted freshman season.

Coach Kim Anderson said Wednesday that the school would help Gill-Caesar, who would have been the school’s top returning scorer (9.1 points per game), in his efforts to relocate once the player completes his academic obligations. He has not decided where to transfer.

Gill-Caesar scored in double figures in 13 of 27 games. He injured his back against Illinois and missed the first three SEC games, averaging 12.6 points pre-injury and 6.9 points post-injury.

Johnathan Williams III, the top scorer and rebounder last season, has transferred to Gonzaga.

— Associated Press —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou football head coach Gary Pinkel was one of 23 head coaches to be named to the Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List, announced by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Pinkel is one of eight SEC coaches to land on the list, which is designed to recognize the nation’s top head coach.

The list includes 23 of the nation’s top college football coaches representing all Power 5 conferences, the Mountain West Conference and Notre Dame. The head coaches on the watch list represent programs with the highest ideals of leadership, scholarship and integrity on and off the field – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s philosophy. Each coach sits at the helm of programs with winning records, superior Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores and graduation rates, along with a strong commitment to service within their respective communities.

Pinkel is the reigning SEC Coach of the Year and has led Mizzou to five conference division titles in the last eight seasons (2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014), which is tied for the best in the nation in that span. Mizzou has won 76 games since 2007, which ties Ohio State for the fifth-most wins nationally in that span. Pinkel is the winningest coach in Mizzou history (113-66) and is the 25th-winningest coach in FBS history.

Not only have Pinkel’s teams seen tremendous success on the field, but they have excelled in the classroom. In 2013 and 2014, Pinkel’s teams have ranked in the NCAA top 10 in APR. The Tigers were third in the SEC in APR in 2015 and led the league in 2014.

Pinkel will be among Mizzou’s contingent at SEC Media Day on Wednesday (July 15) in Hoover, Alabama. Mizzou is slated to meet the media from 1-4 p.m.

— MU Sports Information —