5:30 on Saturday.  That is what I repeatedly heard from head coach Gary Pinkel, quarterback Chase Daniel and a host of other Missouri Tiger football players.  By 5:45 it was apparent this game was in the books.

Hoping to put the past two losses behind them, the Tigers focused their entire season this game against Colorado.

The Tigers used just four plays in the first 1:09 of the game to jump out to a 7-0 lead on Derrick Washington’s Big 12 leading 15 th touchdown of the year as Mizzou beat Colorado on homecoming.

Tyler Hanson, Colorado’s true freshmen quarterback started over coach Dan Hawkin’s son Cody and fumbled his first snap losing nine yards.  Stryker Sulak then sacked the freshmen and 3 rd and 18 and the Buffs first drive came to a quick end.  Then punter Tony Poremba fumbled the snap and was tackled at the five.  Three plays later, after Washington was stopped, Daniel threw a jump pass to Chase Coffman who grabbed the ball one handed and got both feet in.  Less than five minutes into the game, Mizzou was up 14-0.

The Tigers then put together a 13 play, 55 yard drive chewing up over five minutes to extend their lead to 21-0. 

With 10:39 to go in the first half, Daniel hit Chase Coffman on a four yard pass giving Coffman the most career receptions by a tight end, breaking Louisville’s Ivn Green’s record of 217 catches from 1996-1999.

Daniel added a 10 yard touchdown pass to Tommy Saunders after throwing an interception earlier in the second quarter to give Missouri a 28-0 lead.

Equally as impressive in the first half was Missouri’s defense.  The Buffs didn’t get their second first down of the game until converting a 4 th and 1 with 5:50 to go in the first half.  Then, the Tigers’ Stryker Sulak stripped quarteback Cody Hawkins of the ball giving the Tigers right back at midfield.  Mizzou drove down for a Jeff Wolfert 23 yard field goal to go up 31-0.  After another three and out, Wolfert hit a 44 yarder to make the score 34-0 at the half.

The Tigers held CU to a total of 33 yards on 25 plays in the first half, with their longest play being a 21 yard pass from Hawkins to Patrick Williams.  That means the Buffs gained 12 yards on 24 plays.

The Buffs were able to move the ball a little bit better, although just about anything could be better than .5 per play for 24 plays.  The Tiger made it 41-0 on a four yard pass from Daniel to Alexander.  The only question with six minutes to play in the 3 rd quarter would be if Mizzou could pitch the shutout.  CU had just 108 yards of total offense through three.

With 1:08 to play in the 3 rd quarter, Daniel hit Jeremy Maclin on a 30 yard pass, his fifth tying his own school record to make the game 48-0.  I was wondering if Daniel was in late in the third quarter up by 41 to pad his stats for the Heisman?

Jeff Wolfert hit his third field goal, this one from 46 yards to make it 51-0.  Daniel finished 31-37 for 302 yards with five touchdowns.  His completion percentage was also a school record.

This is the first shutout by a Tiger team since 2004.