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College World Series Champ 1954 for the Tigers
In the first round, Missouri defeated the Lafayette Leopards by a score of 6-3. Missouri was then knocked into the loser’s bracket after a 1-4 second-round loss to Art Brophy and Rollins College. Behind lefthander Ed Cook, the Tigers then defeated the UMass Minutemen 8-1.
Missouri defeated Oklahoma A&M Aggies 7-3 in the behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Norm Stewart and home runs from Jerry Schoonmaker and George Gleason. Tied 3-3 with the Michigan State Spartans heading into the ninth inning, Emil Kammer singled home Buddy Cox to propel Missouri into the championship game for a re-match against Rollins College and Art Brophy.
Missouri bested Rollins 4-1 in the championship game behind a great outing from Ed Cook and a Buddy Cox home run.
With seven triples, Missouri tied Holy Cross’s record for triples in a College World Series.
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Missouri Tigers – Kellen Winslow
A native of East St. Louis, Ill., Kellen Winslow redefined the tight end position at the collegiate and professional levels during his playing career. At MU, he caught 71 passes for 1,089 yards and 10 TD’s from 1976-78, earning All-Big Eight honors in 1977 and `78, and consensus all-America status as a senior. He went on to play in the East-West Shrine and Senior Bowls before being a first-round pick by the San Diego Chargers in the NFL draft. At San Diego, he caught more passes than any tight end in league history from 1979-88. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
Since 1971, there has been no doubt about the destination of the goal posts any time they have been torn down following a home football game. 1971 marked the first year in which the goal posts ended up at Harpo’s Bar and Grill at 29 S. Tenth Street in Columbia. Although no concrete reasoning is known behind the tradition, it is suggested that Harpo’s became the destination because of its popularity among alumni returning to Columbia on game days and because the restaurant is one of the few places that had remained under consistent ownership without any name changes, so alumni and students all easily identify with the establishment. Following the 2005 season, removable goal posts were installed, which are lowered at the close of each home game.
In 2010 the goal post tradition was revived following the victory against BCS #1 ranked Oklahoma. Thousands of fans began to swarm the field before the final play had even ended. Although there were event staff and highway patrol encircling the field, security was unable to prevent fans from storming the field and removing the north end zone goal post from the stadium.
College Sports Established
1907
Location
Columbia, Missouri
College Name
University of Missouri
Collegiate History
1973 – Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 – 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1907 – 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States
Conference History
2012 – Present / SEC Conference
1996 – 2012 / Big 12
1928 – 1996 / Big Eight Conference
1907 – 1928 / Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Nickname
Tigers – The nickname “Tigers,” given to Mizzou’s athletic teams, traces its origin to the Civil War period. At that time, plundering guerilla bands habitually raided small towns, and Columbia people constantly feared an attack. Such organizations as temporary “home guards” and vigilance companies banded together to fight off any possible forays.
The town’s preparedness discouraged any guerilla activity and the protecting organization began to disband in 1854. However, it was rumored that a guerilla band, led by the notorious Bill Anderson, intended to sack the town. Quickly organized was an armed guard of Columbia citizens, who built a blockhouse and fortified the old courthouse in the center of town. This company was called “The Missouri Tigers.”
Soon after Missouri’s first football team was organized in 1890, the athletic committee adopted the nickname “Tiger” in official recognition of those Civil War defenders. Their spirit is now embodied in the MU mascot – “Truman the Tiger.” The Tiger was named Truman in 1984 because of a contest held by the cheerleaders. Previously MU had two mascots, a male and a female, but neither had an identity.
This contest was held on campus, over a period of a few weeks, to develop a name for the Tiger mascot. The winner, a student, submitted the name Truman (after Missouri-bred President of the United States Harry S Truman). The name stuck and has been popular ever since.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 1
1954
Men’s Basketball 0
Women’s Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
