Missouri doesn’t know what bowl game it’ll be playing in, but the Tigers did receive some good news this week. Three players from the school’s 8-4 football team made the All-Big 12 Conference team. Four more were named to the second-team.

Junior tight end Martin Rucker and senior offensive lineman Joel Clinger made the offensive first team. Linebacker Marcus Bacon was the lone Tiger on the defensive first team.

Sophomore quarterback Chase Daniel, a two-time conference player of the week, joined tight end Chase Coffman, defensive lineman Brian Smith, and safety David Overstreet on the second team.

Rucker ranks third on the team with 47 catches for 444 yards and five touchdowns. Even more than his production, Rucker made Mizzou fans happy when he announced he planned to return to the university for his senior season.

Clinger is on the all-conference team for the first time in his career. He’s been a steady leader on an offensive line that had questions going into the season.

Marcus Bacon was named Big 12 Player of the Week for his 12 tackle performance against Ole Miss. He’s recorded 103 total tackles and three sacks to go along with two interceptions.

Related web sites:
Mizzou Official Website

College baseball season doesn’t start until the spring, but University of St. Louis baseball coach Jim Brady already has a win under his belt. The Missouri Court of Appeals decided in Brady’s favor on an age discrimination suit awarding him $1,275,000. USML was also ordered to pay Brady’s legal bills.

UMSL made Brady a part-time employee ineligible for health benefits and slashing his salary in half in 2002. Brady, now 55, and a cancer survivor believed the school did so because of his age. The university says Brady was a mere victim of downsizing the baseball program. Brady has been coaching since 1985 and with more than 600 victories; he is one of the most successful coaches in any sport among the university’s four campuses.

The Blues hosted the Sharks last night and did all they could to make San Jose feel at home. St. Louis failed to put the puck in the net as they lost 2-0.

San Jose recorded its NHL-leading fifth shutout of the season, the second for goaltender Vesa Toskala who stopped all 29 Blues’ shots. The Blues had trouble offensively all night and failed to score on its three power-play opportunities. Even worse, St. Louis only managed to get off one shot during the three advantages. In all 13 regulation losses, St. Louis has failed to score more than two goals.

Manny Legace made 25 saves, but could not get help offensively. Ryane Clowe and Joe Pavelski scored for the Sharks, who have won three in a row and five of six.