Record crowd fills stadium for preview of 2008 Mizzou football
by Emily Schmidt, posted April 23, 2008
On a dreary cold Saturday in April, Faurot field was bubbling with activity.
The 2008 Missouri Tiger spring football game ended, of course, in a Tiger victory. With half of the stadium full of MU students, fans, parents and children, the Tigers gave a preview of the fall 2008 season. A record crowd of nearly 26,000 people supported the Tigers.
“Even though it wasn’t the best weather, I went out to support my Tigers,” said freshman Danielle Rodabaugh.
The first 5,000 through the gates received gold Mizzou Tigers football T-shirts. In addition to the T-shirt incentive, the game was televised on ESPN U.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase everything about Mizzou; including our outstanding students,” said Coach Gary Pinkel in an e-mail to the student body.
Lauren Johnson, a recent graduate of Mizzou, traveled from St. Louis to see the game.
“There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I was going to this game,” Johnson said. “It’s my first football game as a grad, and I couldn’t be prouder of the Tigers.”
The Tigers were dressed in black and white jerseys, not black and gold as the event name suggested. However, Black beat Gold 71 to 28.
At halftime, the seniors were awarded with Cotton Bowl rings in recognition of their victory in January 2008.
“On behalf of our players and coaches I want to thank you again for the amazing support you showed your Missouri Tigers throughout the 2007 football season,” said Coach Pinkel in his e-mail.
The 2008 team will kick-off its season at Illinois on Aug. 30. However, home games will begin against Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 6, 2008.
