COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -No Missouri defensive player came into 2008 with higher expectations than senior free safety William Moore.
After being slowed by injuries early in the season, he’s rounding back into the form that made him an All-American in 2007.
“We tell all of our guys that we want them to play their best at the end of the season and that’s what you have been seeing out of him especially,” defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said.
Moore had 12 tackles in the 12th-ranked Tigers’ season-opening 52-42 win over Illinois in St. Louis, but sprained his foot in that game. The injury slowed Moore for an extended period. Then just as it got better, he experienced problems with his shoulder.
Moore had eight interceptions and 117 tackles last season, helping Missouri to a 12-2 record and No. 4 ranking. He had forced only two turnovers through the first 10 games this season – both fumbles.
“Interceptions don’t come free,” said Moore, who has 11 career interceptions. “You got some of the best quarterbacks in the country and there are no excuses so you have to be in the right place at the right time.”
e was in the right place in the second quarter of his last game, Missouri’s 52-20 win over Iowa State on Nov. 15. He broke on a pass from quarterback Austen Arnaud and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. It was his first interception of the season and fourth score of his career, a school record for a defensive player.
“It felt good, man,” Moore said. “First of all to break that record was one of my goals and taking one back for a touchdown really got me back into the groove of things.”
He ranks fourth on the team with 69 tackles. Eberflus said Moore seems to be getting his swagger back at a critical juncture in the season. Eberflus knows the effect the early injuries had.
“When you’re out there and not 100 percent its not the best feeling, you know?” Eberflus said. “But when you’re going into battle you want all of your weapons and I think he is gaining those back.”
Missouri (9-2, 5-2 Big 12) closes out the regular season Saturday at Kansas City against rival Kansas (6-5, 3-4).
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STAYING NEUTRAL: If Texas coach Mack Brown thought it could have any impact at all, he would be rooting for Oklahoma on Saturday. Instead, he’ll just watch.
M, Brown will want the Sooners to beat Oklahoma State.
“I think it will be a great game, but for me to sit and pull for either one really doesn’t make a difference,” Brown earlier this week. “What I will hope is obvious. And that’s what’s best for Texas, period.”
M (4-7).
The Longhorns need a dominating performance against their bitter rival to influence voters in the coaches and Harris polls who will be able to watch on national television Thanksgiving night.
Oklahoma (10-1) leapfrogged idle Texas in the polls this week after the Sooners’ 65-21 dismantling of Texas Tech (10-1) on Saturday night.
But Texas moved up to No. 2 in the latest Bowl Championship Series standings, only .084 points ahead of Oklahoma.
If Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech all win and are tied for the Big 12 South, the BSC standings would be used to break the tie and pick a team to face Missouri in the Big 12 championship game.
Texas Tech would seemingly be out of that equation since the Red Raiders are down to seventh in the BCS. That would leave Oklahoma and Texas, which beat the Sooners six weeks ago.
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel laughed when asked if he would reveal whether he had the Longhorns or Sooners ranked higher on his ballot – and never said. His Tigers lost 56-31 at Texas last month, but hasn’t played Oklahoma.
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, whose team beat Texas by scoring with 1 second left, voted the Sooners ahead of the Longhorns.
“Oklahoma beat us, so I put them ahead,” Leach said.
Colorado lost 38-14 in its Big 12 opener against the Longhorn, and hasn’t played Oklahoma. But Buffs coach Dan Hawkins acknowledged he had the Sooners ranked higher.
“I think I put Oklahoma No. 1,” Hawkins said. “When you get into the circle of I beat you and you beat (another team) and (the other team) beat me, it’s kind of who’s hottest in the moment, particularly when you have a team like Oklahoma, that did what they did Saturday.”
There could also be a four-way tie at 6-2, if Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma and Texas and Tech both lose. In that case, Texas Tech would clinch the Big 12 South.
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WELCOME BACK SNYDER: Three years after retiring, 69-year-old Bill Snyder has returned to Kansas State to replace his fired replacement.
“I was a lot more surprised when he retired than I was when I heard he was coming back,” Kansas coach Mark Mangino said.
g. But K-State also hadn’t yet fired coach Ron Prince.
“We spent some time talking about family more than anything, and some old times,” Mangino said. “Kansas State football and KU football did not enter the conversation very much, or at all.”
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, an assistant on Synder’s staff at Kansas State from 1989-95, said it’s exciting to have coach Snyder back in the Big 12.
While expressing their respect for Snyder, Missouri’s Gary Pinkel and Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said they couldn’t see themselves retiring and returning several years later.
“I told some of my staff, if I do that when I’m 69, I hope somebody comes and takes me out,” Pinkel said.
“Probably not,” Leach said. “But Bill Snyder is one of the most impressive coaches in the history of the game.”
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PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Sooners linebacker Travis Lewis were named the Big 12 players of the week.
Bradford completed 14 of 19 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns without playing the final 14 minutes in the Sooners’ victory over Texas Tech. Lewis had 13 tackles and a 47-yard interception return.
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