St. Louis Post-Dispatch Bernie Miklasz column: Missouri coach Gary Pinkel has a huge task ahead next season

Nov 29, 2008 (St. Louis Post-Dispatch - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- BUD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Now that he has been rewarded with a lush contract that makes him the third-highest paid coach in the Big 12, the pressure is on Missouri's Gary Pinkel to sustain his recent success and take the Tigers higher.

Going into today's game against rival Kansas, the Tigers have 21 wins over the past two seasons, tied for the most in the nation.

Skeptics downgrade Mizzou's resurgence for several reasons: (1) Pinkel hasn't defeated Texas or Oklahoma in a high-stakes game; (2) Mizzou hasn't yet won a Big 12 title; (3) the Big 12 North has been conveniently soft; (4) a cushy non-conference schedule.

There's obviously some truth in those accusations, but some of these so-called flaws are overstated by short-attention-span whiners who presumably slumbered through the Woody Widenhofer and Bob Stull years.

Mizzou's overall strength of schedule ranks pretty high in calculations done by Jerry Palm of CollegeBCS.com. And why should we deduct points from Pinkel just because his team exploited the downturns at Big 12 North programs Nebraska, Kansas State and Colorado? Isn't that what he's supposed to do?

When the power shifted, Pinkel had built his program to the point where MU could move up and into the vacuum. The Tigers took advantage of a transitional phase in the North. Pinkel is to be commended, not penalized, for that.

Here's the deal: Next season, we'll find out a lot more about Mizzou's ability to maintain. Pinkel will lose 23 seniors, and that list includes QB Chase Daniel, tight end Chase Coffman and three other starters on offense, seven starters on defense, kicker Jeff Wolfert and several key reserves. It's possible that Mizzou also will lose underclassmen Jeremy Maclin and Sean Weatherspoon to the NFL.

Pinkel and staff have recruited very well, and MU seems to have a good group of younger players to plug into the openings. But you don't lose a QB like Daniel without dropping off some.

The challenges will be more formidable in the near future. In his first season at Nebraska, Bo Pelini won five of his final six conference games and moved the Cornhuskers into second place in the North with a 5-3 record. Nebraska is clearly on the way back.

Kansas State should get a spark from the return of iconic coach Bill Snyder. And even though Kansas slumped late this season, coach Mark Mangino seemingly has the Jayhawks in solid position. KU lists around 70 freshmen or sophomores on the 2008 roster.

Reviving a fallen program is an excruciating challenge, and Pinkel pulled it off. But now he'll have to keep Mizzou ahead of the pack in the Big 12 North. And staying on top can be just as difficult as getting there.

READING TIME,

3 minutes:

Free Orlando Pace.

Pace still wants to play, wants to compete, and will do so Sunday on a gimpy knee. Yes, Pace is being paid a lot of money, so I realize he's just doing his job. But Pace could have easily waved off the rest of the season, and he didn't. He wants to get his struggling team going.

Pick: Mizzou 44, Kansas 30. ... Congrats to St. Louisan Dennis Currier, who this season coached Dayton's men's soccer team to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Currier was the highly successful men's soccer coach at Harris-Stowe from 1993 to 2000. Dayton (15-4-3) lost in the first round to Illinois-Chicago.

Best of luck to our friend Scott Bonanni, who has left his post as the Blues' assistant director of public relations to move to his native Pennsylvania, where he'll work in the insurance business with his father. ... As part of the NFL's "Take a Player to School" program, Rams running back Steven Jackson will join fifth-grader Andrew Linzie at Barrington Elementary in Florissant on Tuesday morning.

Jeff Cooper, leader of the effort to bring Major League Soccer in St. Louis, met with MLS commissioner Don Garber and league president Mark Abbott last weekend in Los Angeles during MLS Cup. ... Supporters of Cooper's quest have formed a group, The Eads Brigade. Check it out at www.eadsbrigade.org. ... Bits contributor Frank Cusumano informs us that Pinkel has offered a scholarship to junior Parkway West HS quarterback Tyler Gabbert, the younger brother of Mizzou freshman QB Blaine Gabbert.

Nothing stops Dr. Ed Wolfgram, age 75. After undergoing open-heart surgery in January, he has competed in three Ironman competitions over the past three months, including the world championship in Hawaii. ... Trainer Dan O'Donnell, based at Acceleration in Chesterfield, has been tabbed as trainer for the West high school squad in the annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 3.

Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom was a producer of the acclaimed documentary "Fuel," which won a major award at the Sundance Film Festival. Now "Fuel," which examines the U.S. dependency on foreign oil, has made it to the list of 15 documentaries being considered for an Academy Award nomination. ... Phillies slugger Ryan Howard will introduce the Rams before one of the December home games.

Buck Smith of Fleishman-Hillard's sports team designed the new logo for St. Louis Athletica, which will begin play here next spring in the new Women's Professional Soccer league. Smith also designed the third jersey the Blues unveiled last weekend and will wear today vs. Edmonton. ... Good luck to the retiring Bruce Hudson, Anheuser-Busch's longtime sports marketing executive for soccer and the Olympics.

Platinum Sports & Entertainment president Nick Brockmeyer has merged with Scott Cassanover and MAC Sports & Entertainment. Combined, the St. Charles-based firm represents or advises more than 40 baseball clients. The agency is based in St. Charles. ... Our town's Allison Nieters (Lutheran HS) had a big sophomore season for Iona College's volleyball squad. Her honors included All-MAAC first team and MAAC defensive player of the year.

THE NICE SECTION:

-- Dan McLaughlin hosts an annual Trivia Night at his alma mater, Vianney, to fund a scholarship in the honor of his late friend, Tom Cella. This year there will be two events in one on Dec. 6, beginning at 6 p.m. There are 10 rounds of trivia, and Mizzou fans can also enjoy a Big 12 Championship Watch Party. Tables of 10 go for $200, and that includes refreshments. To make reservations, call Pete Cerone at 314-965-4853.

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