Missourinet

Your source for Missouri News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Football

Kurt Warner voted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

By

Kurt Warner chats with Albert Pujols following a game in which Warner played for Arizona against the Rams (photo/Bill Greenblatt)

Kurt Warner who led the Rams to their only Super Bowl title in franchise history (St. Louis or Los Angeles) was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. The two-time NFL regular season MVP and MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV becomes the fourth member of those Greatest Show teams voted into the Hall of Fame.

He joins running back Marshall Faulk, defensive back Aeneas Williams and left tackle Orlando Pace.

Warner quarterbacked the high-scoring Rams who became the first team in NFL history to score 500 points in three consecutive seasons from 1999-2001. The ’99 team beat Jeff Fisher’s Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV; the ’01 squad was upset by New England in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Warner joins kicker Morten Andersen, running back Terrell Davis, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and defensive end Jason Taylor.

Wide receiver Isaac Bruce, a target of Warners and the late Don Coryell, who coached the exciting “Cardiac Cards” teams in the mid 1970s  were not voted in.

Brotherly love–Barry hires Brian to coach outside linebackers at #Mizzou

By

Brian Odom (photo/WSU)

Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom hired his younger brother, Brian Odom, to serve as outside linebackers coach.  Ryan Walters, Mizzou’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, will now coach all defensive backs moving forward.  Defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross will work with inside linebackers.

Brian Odom will be on his second stint with Mizzou, where he began his career in athletics as an administrative and defensive graduate assistant coach on Gary Pinkel’s staff in 2005.  He comes to Mizzou from Washington State, where he was the defensive quality control assistant for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.  At WSU, Brian was instrumental in the Cougars’ defensive turnaround, working under Defensive Coordinator and former Mizzou assistant coach Alex Grinch.

Prior to Washington State, Brian spent three years running the football strength and conditioning program at the University of Houston (2012-14), after spending seven years working with the football performance program at the University of Arizona (2005-11).  Additionally, for five seasons (2006-10), he assisted UA’s football operations director by coordinating advance travel arrangements for all away games.

“I am extremely grateful this opportunity, and I’d like to thank Coach Odom and his staff and Director of Athletics Jim Sterk for giving me the opportunity to come back to Mizzou,” said Brian Odom.  “I’m excited to get my family back to the great town of Columbia and be part of a school that I’ve followed closely for over 20 years now.  I’m really excited about the future of the program and it’s an honor to coach in such a prestigious league as the SEC and represent the state of Missouri.  I’m looking forward to doing great things with this outstanding staff,” he said.

“I’m excited to have Brian join our staff, he will be a great fit for us in a variety of roles,” said Head Coach Barry Odom.  “He has an understanding of the defensive structure we’re going to run, he’s been around it extensively his last couple of years at Washington State, and he and I have spent a lot of time together personally prior to that studying and sharing defensive philosophies.  He’s got a great mind for football, and he has a strong background in leading, mentoring and motivating players to improve themselves and attain goals.  I know what I’m getting with Brian, and I know the opportunity to be back at Mizzou means a lot to him,” he said.

 

Odom “really excited about this group,” as Mizzou signs 2017 class (VIDEO)

By

University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom and his staff have unveiled their second recruiting class today as part of National Signing Day.  The newest group of Tigers comprise an outstanding haul of talented student-athletes from all over the country who will look to help the program reach its championship goals.  As of Noon central time Wednesday, 23 standouts representing 15 different states signed their names to National Letters of Intent to attend and play football at Mizzou.  If more student-athletes join later in the day, their information will be released when available.

The coaching staff found a lot of success in the footprint of the Southeastern Conference, as 15 of the 25 members of the 2017 class hail from SEC states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

“We are really excited about this group,” said Head Coach Barry Odom.  “We’ve nationally identified some very talented guys, and our staff has done a tremendous job in finding young men who are great fits for our program.  They fit what we want culturally and schematically and help us with our needs at each position.  We’ve found a group of guys who are very like-minded and determined, who want to be Mizzou Tigers.  They will have the opportunity to be a special class moving forward,” he said.

2017 Mizzou Football Recruiting Class Full Packet

Three from the group are already enrolled in classes at Mizzou this semester, and are gearing up to take part in spring drills, beginning in March.  Joining Mizzou for the spring semester are OL Pompey Coleman (Indianapolis, Ind.), OL Yasir Durant (native of Philadelphia, Pa., transferring from Arizona Western Community College) and RB Isaiah Miller (Baldwin, Fla).  They will be on hand for spring drills as the Tigers prepare for the annual Black & Gold Game set for April 15th (1 p.m. central time) at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium.

National Signing Day–List of 2017 recruits for Mizzou

By

Some of the suspense of National Signing Day has been lost as the frenzy to be the first to report new commits covers the college football landscape in Missouri.  Between national recruiting sites, local papers and bloggers, we already have the list of recruits who will be coming to play for the Missouri Tigers.  There could always be a last minute surprise, but at this point all head coach Barry Odom and his staff is waiting for are the official letters that will begin streaming in this morning.

After a late addition with 5’7 wide receiver O’Shae Clark of Cypress, Texas, the Tigers expect to have 23 new players.

Follow Missourinet.com for breaking or changing news and be sure to follow me on Twitter @Missourisports today at 1:30.  I’ll have live video of Barry Odom and assistants talking about the class of 2017.

2017 Missouri commits

— WR O’Shae Clark, Cypress Springs High School (Cypress, Texas)
— DT Walter Palmore, Eastern Arizona College (Thatcher, Ariz.)
— DT Kobie Whiteside, Alief Taylor High School (Houston)
— QB Taylor Powell, Fayetteville High School (Fayetteville, Ark.)
— S Tyree Gillespie, Vanguard High School (Ocala, Fla.)
— S Jordan Ulmer, Belleville High School (Belleville, Mich.)
— CB Adam Sparks, Dutchtown High School (Geismar, La.)
— OL Yasir Durant, Arizona Western College (Yuma, Ariz.)
— RB Isaiah Miller, Baldwin High School (Jacksonville, Fla.)
— RB Larry Rountree III, Millbrook High School (Raleigh, N.C.)
— DE Nathaniel Anderson, New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, N.M.)
— DT Rashad Brandon, ASA College (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
— CB Terry Petry, Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas)
— DE/OLB Chris Turner, Hammond High School (Hammond, La.)
— S Joshuah Bledsoe, Dekaney High School, (Spring, Texas)
— ILB Aubrey Miller, Whitehaven High School (Memphis, Tennessee)
— C Case Cook, Carrollton High School (Carrollton, Georgia)
— ILB Jamal Brooks, Bessemer City High School (Bessemer City, Alabama)
— OL Larry Borom, Brother Rice High School (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
— TE Logan Christopherson, Lemont High School (Lemont, Ill.)
— OL Pompey Coleman, Ben Davis High School (Indianapolis)
— OL Hyrin White, DeSota High School (DeSoto, Texas)
— Ath Da’Ron Davis, Lee’s Summit North High School (Lee’s Summit, Mo.)

Chiefs’ Travis Kelce named offensive Pro Bowl MVP (AUDIO)

By

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce hams it up for ESPN’s cameras after his touchdown

In a competitive game that saw some creative play calling and a close finish, the AFC beat the NFC 20-13 in the Pro Bowl played in Orlando on Sunday night.  The winning AFC players each took home $61,000, while the NFC team members settled for $30,000.  Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce took home Offensive MVP honors.

Kelce finished with three catches for 36 yards and caught a touchdown from Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton. He also caught a shuttle pass from punter Dustin Colquitt on a fake field goal try and picked up a first down.

Kelce on what it meant to play in the Pro Bowl.


Alex Smith was 6-for-8 for 74 yards and the punter Colquitt averaged 48.3 yards per punt. Tyreek Hill fumbled once, but also showed his punt return ability with a run back that gave the AFC possession inside NFC territory after fielding a punt at his own 25.

More from Kelce on why he’s becoming a household name.

 

Mother and son arrested in Vegas for the shooting death of Missouri State football player Richard Nelson

By


Tianna Thomas (also know as Tianna Douglas) — (Photo: Las Vegas Police Department)

Las Vegas Police arrested a teen suspect and his mother in the fatal shooting of a Missouri State football player Richard Nelson, who witnesses say tried to stop a fight involving his sister in front of their house over the weekend.

Police arrested 37-year-old Tianna Thomas and her 17-year-old son. The teen was charged with murder and his mother was charged with accessory to murder with a deadly weapon after police believe she drove her son from the scene before they arrived. Witnesses told police Nelson pulled a person away from his sister before he was shot.

The Clark County coroner says Nelson died of multiple gunshots.  Missouri State will hold a public memorial service on Sunday, the 29th for in the Plaster Student Union Theater on the Springfield campus, starting at 1 p.m.

Missouri State will conduct memorial service for Richard Nelson, football player shot and killed.

By

Missouri State University will conduct a public memorial service on Sunday, January 29 to pay tribute to freshman student Richard Nelson who was shot and killed in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada on Jan. 14.

The service will take place in the Plaster Student Union Theater on the Springfield campus, starting at 1 p.m.

Nelson, 18, was a tailback on the MSU football team and redshirted during his first year with the Bears. He is a graduate of Chaparral High School in Las Vegas.

Chiefs-Steelers move kickoff to Sunday night

By

Weather has affected Sunday’s NFL Divisional Round games.

The NFL announced Friday it has pushed back the start time for Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Kansas City Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium f7:20 p.m. CST. The matchup will be broadcast on NBC.

The decision to make the time change was made after consulting with state and local officials as well as both teams.

The Green Bay Packers-Dallas Cowboys game will still be played at 3:40 p.m. CST on Sunday.

Columbia Public Schools hires new football coaches for Rock Bridge and Hickman

By

Van Vanatta

Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools will welcome new head football coaches next school year. Van Vanatta has been selected as the Rock Bridge High School head football coach. Trevor Rubly has been selected at the Hickman High School head football coach.

Vanatta has been a coach at Hazelwood Central High School in Florissant, Missouri, since 2007. He has been the head coach at Hazelwood Central since 2010. Prior to his roles at Hazelwood Central, he was the head baseball coach at Central Methodist College. He began his coaching experience as the head baseball coach and assistant football coach at University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, in 2001.

Vanatta has 10 years of teaching experience and is certified in both physical education and health. He holds a master’s degree in education foundations from Central Methodist University. In addition to his role as the head football coach, Vanatta will also be a full‐time teacher at Rock Bridge High School.

Rubly will be joining Hickman High School from Enid, Oklahoma, where he has been the defensive coordinator and assistant head football coach at Enid High School since 2015. Rubly has more than 13 years of coaching experience, including coaching positions at Bacone College, University of Missouri, Cisco Junior College and Warrensburg High School. He holds a master’s degree in education school and counseling psychology from the University of Missouri and a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Central Missouri State University. In addition to his role as the head football coach, Rubly will also be a full‐time teacher at Hickman High School.

Trevor Rubly

“We are excited to welcome two new coaches to our CPS family,” Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said. “Both will bring positive coaching experience to our schools and continue the work to build a strong community among our students, families, faculty and staff.”

Bye week helped Chiefs get healthier. Reid optimistic about LB Justin Houston playing

By

“Everybody that was banged up is good to go now,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters as his Monday press conference.  That includes linebacker Justin Houston and running back Spencer Ware.

Ware is coming back from sore ribs after he was left out in the season finale at San Diego which basically became a game-time decision.  Having a healthy Ware in the lineup will help against the Steelers.  While he didn’t start in that week four loss, Ware gained 62 yards on 13 carries, one of his better games of the seasons.

Houston missed the game in Pittsburgh as he was recovering from off-season surgery.  Houston has made an impact in the short amount of time he has played this season, registering four sacks in five games.

“Justin will practice and we’ll see how he does,” Reid added of Houston.