Ten Things to Love About This Football Season

What comes out of an 8 a.m. tailgate? Pancakes. (Photo credit: Shannon Whitney)

Yesterday morning, the alarms started to go off at 6:10 a.m.

Sound early? Well, not when you’ve traveled to St. Louis to watch Mizzou’s first game of the year. Not when you drove with 10 people the night before to see the game together. Not when you’ve got to get three hours of good ol’ Mizzou tailgating in before an 11:30 start.

Welcome to football. Welcome to dedication. Welcome to college.

When the game against Illinois ended (Mizzou won, 23-13) and our group began walking back to my car, plans and ideas for the following weeks were already being thrown out. It’s our senior year, and it’s not just about the game anymore. It’s about the friends. The memories. And the fact that if you think about it, eating chocolate chip banana pancakes classifies as black-and-gold spirit.

Ten Reasons to Choose Mizzou

Today was one of only two times I’ve given a tour to someone I knew.

These people just happened to be my immediate family.

My sister, Nicole, is a junior starting the often exhaustive, always inevitable process of deciding which college to attend, a process that often results in a yearlong game of mental see-saw. Especially if you, like my sister, don’t quite know what you want to do with your life. And rightfully so…it’s tough asking a 17-year-old to make life decisions. (Or 2o-year-olds for that matter.) After this week’s visit, my sister and mom will spend three days hitting up other in-state schools…leaving my sister with her options.

I was definitely an exception–after deciding on journalism, I briefly entertained the idea of looking into Northwestern before touring the University of Missouri…and falling in love. By the time I had left the MU campus in March 2006, I knew it was Mizzou. No other schools. No other applications. No other research. I was sold, plain and simple.

And I know that’s not the way it’s usually done, nor do I expect others to follow in my footsteps (although I fully encourage it.) My college process involved a one-hour tour and five-minute application, but for most, it’s not that easy. There are pros and cons and concerns and excitement and gut feelings.

In short, it’s not easy.

So why Mizzou?

Several weeks ago, I enlisted the help of a few friends and alums to find out why they chose and love Mizzou. And today, after listening to and watching the reactions of 24 people whose Mizzou experiences were indefinitely altered, I knew it was the perfect time to share ten reasons why for me and many others, Mizzou has become home.

Ten Reasons to Choose Mizzou

1. The People: This will always remain my number one, and for good reason. Whether it was my mom telling me how much easier it was to interact with the MU Office of Admissions or individual schools or my personal experiences, Mizzou wouldn’t be what it is without the type of people that work and go to school here. No matter whether my day is devoted to class or people, I’m surrounded by smiles, laughter and a feeling of comfort I didn’t think would ever be possible. Because of the friends I’ve made and the people I’ve met, Mizzou has become one of the places I feel most comfortable and content.

Top Ten Places to Be Productive At Mizzou

I know what you’re thinking…you wrote an entire blog post on how to be productive?

I spend more times jumping into lakes with my friends than doing homework.

My junior year, and this semester in particular, has consisted of 10 percent actual academic time and about 90 percent everything else, including work, Mizzou things and friends. And just because I haven’t dedicated as much time to academics as I did freshman year (where it was probably the opposite percentage), doesn’t mean I haven’t succeeded just as much. Thanks to less credit hours with classes more focused to my interests, my grades have remained unchanged.

What my shift in time has meant is that when I do study, it needs to be focused and productive. This week in particular has been a challenge based on the sheer amount of work due on one day, so I thought this post would be both timely and helpful to not just my fellow upperclassmen, but especially freshmen who may have not quite hit that need for hardcore study sessions.

Happy studying! (And wish me luck.)

Ten Places To Be Most Productive At Mizzou:

1. Ellis Library: I’ll admit it. I didn’t have my first Ellis Library study experience until last semester. Not counting a time when my roommate and I attempted to study macroeconomics freshman year (and failed miserably), I was always hesitant to study at Ellis because I didn’t feel like I was going to be productive with people constantly moving, shifting or talking. But after I spilled lemonade on my computer last semester (remember that?), I was forced to hunker down at an Ellis computer to finish my portfolio.

Dear Future Mizzou Freshmen…Top Ten Edition

Again, happy Tuesday! With a full six hours of class behind me (including an embarrassing moment where I shouted “George Michael!” as an answer in class, only to be wrong), I’m now catching up on some homework in the j-school lounge, and of course, updating the blog! Tonight’s going to be a busy one, with a student reception at the Chancellor’s Residence, as well as Relay For Life kickoff in Stotler Lounge, then of course, homework once I finally get home!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed increased blog traffic for search words like “what to know as an MU freshman” and “what to know about Mizzou,” so I’ve decided to dedicate a Top Ten blog post to the types of things MU freshmen should know, beyond the typical residential life and admissions information. A lot of it is meant to be funny, but a lot are things I’ve simply learned along the way the last two and a half years. Enjoy!

Dear Future Mizzou Freshmen,

This letter is a promise.

A promise from me and almost 31,000 others just like me that the time you have here will go faster than any other period of your life. It may seem like your high school graduation couldn’t come any sooner, but trust me, you’re going to blink your eyes and your life as a student will be almost over.

What does that mean? It means you have four years to make a difference. No matter what you want to do…be a doctor, teacher, professional wrestler…you’re going to learn it within the red and white of the MU campus. No matter how you want to make a difference in the world, the next four years are going to be a defining stop on the way to those dreams. You’re going to arrive here with potential and leave with a passion for whatever your life’s commitment will be.

The best news of all is that you’ve chosen Mizzou to help make that happen. So what’s next?

Ten Things To Get To Know At Mizzou, Part 3

Hope everyone’s Wednesdays are continuing to go great! After a tour and an interview this morning, I’m back at my desk in the Alumni Association…feels good to be back. My schedule this semester is pretty different, with class only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so it’s been pretty weird to be on campus running around and working without having to go to class. Nevertheless, it’s been a busy day, and I still haven’t conquered the homework that’s due tomorrow. But hey, it’s all in a day on the MU campus.

Ten Things to Get to Know At Mizzou, Part 3

Memorial Union: Thanks to some research I did as part of MAA’s Tiger Trivia game (want to play? check it out here), I’ve learned a lot about Memorial Union over the last couple of days. Not only does Memorial serve as a bustling hub for student living, the tower also has a rich history that only intensifies tradition at MU. With its Starbucks, couches and conference rooms, Memorial Union often serves as my stop between classes as well as a meeting place for not only campus activities, but also some classes.

Fundraising for Memorial Union began in 1921, along with Memorial Stadium, in honor of 117 MU students who died during World War I. Both students and alumni were asked to pledge funds to the tower’s construction, thus serving as the first university building to be funded entirely by student/alumni fees. The Memorial Union tower was completed in 1926 after three years of construction.

Ten Things To Get To Know At Mizzou, Part Two

Happy Monday! Despite being couch-ridden the past week, I am back to business with a lot of work in the MU Tour Team office this week. We’re not as busy in the office as we are during the school year, but I still gave a tour and spent a good while making a Mizzou package for a nine-year-old girl from North Carolina who was doing a project on Missouri. Needless to say, Kyle and I had a good time finding every packet we could for her, including making a special trip to the storage room for “I Love the Quad” stickers.

And as my weeks return to normalcy, I also am getting back to regular posting, posting the second of my “Ten Things to Get to Know At Mizzou” series…I’ll post the remaining three in the series the rest of this week. Enjoy!

Ten Things To Get to Know At Mizzou, Part Two

Tiger Plaza: The bronze tiger statue and fountain that lies on the south end of Carnahan Quad, although now a recognizable landmark on campus, is one of the newest additions to MU’s campus tradition. The plaza was constructed in large part to MU alumni contributions: in fact, over 2,100 names of MU’s lifetime membership alums are engraved on the Tiger Plaza plaque. The Mizzou alma mater is also etched into the stone behind the fountain.

Dedicated on October 25, 2002, the bronze tiger was created in Colorado by sculptor Trevor Hart and driven through Kansas, where the Tiger spent a symbolic night in Lawrence, Kansas. When the tiger arrived in Columbia, members of the Alumni Association Student Board guarded the statue overnight, despite rain and cold. Over 450 alumni, students and faculty attended the dedication ceremony. 2002 Homecoming Grand Marshal John Anderson unveiled the Tiger, which had been placed in the spot with blue and red feathers stuck to its mouth.

Tiger Plaza is meant to symbolize pride in Mizzou for all Tigers, helping continue a lifelong bond between alumni and the university.

Chancellor’s Residence on the Quad: A few weeks ago, I was walking past the Chancellor’s Residence when I heard a student say, “Who gets to live in the house anyway?” I know that I have an unnecessary amount of Mizzou knowledge, but I still think the Chancellor’s Residence is something everyone MU student should know about!

The home, built in 1867, stands as the oldest building on the MU campus. It has been home to eleven chancellors and presidents of the University, standing as the epitome of campus history and tradition. It is not the first Chancellor’s Residence; the original home burned down in 1865. Believe it or not, the home that stands today cost $8,000 at the time of its construction.

The Chancellor’s Residence has been home to a birth, a death and three weddings. In 1874, one of the home’s first occupants, President Daniel Read’s wife Alice, died in the home. Rumors spread over the next decades of ghostly apparitions in the home’s third-floor windows. Today, “Alice’s room” is used as a guest bedroom and an office by Anne Deaton.

The Residence has also played host to a variety of visitors, including Harry S Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Twain Walter Conkrite, Joseph Pulitzer and my personal favorite, Howard Cosell. Today, students can visit the Residence during Open Houses a few times a year, including Family Weekend in September and during the holidays in December.

Ten Things To Get To Know At Mizzou

Me and some Tour Teamers staying warm in the Missouri cold. (Photo credit: Linda Habibi)

Hi, blog family! I hope everyone’s having a great start to their holiday vacations! I’m relaxing (read: doing nothing) at home, so I thought it would be an excellent time to catch up on the blog while I also catch up on one of my favorite TV shows, LOST. Also, because campus is empty, campus news is rather slow, so I’ll be giving you Ten Things You Should Know More About at Mizzou spread over the course of this week. With two new items per day, the anticipation will give you a reason to keep checking back this week!

As most MU students and faculty should know, tradition is what makes the University of Missouri so much different than other universities not only in our conference, but throughout the country. As the first university west of the Mississippi, we pride ourselves on not only educating and empowering over 250,000 living alumni, but also instilling in each student a sense of belonging in the university, as well as respect for those who came and did so many things before us. Mizzou is more than a school; it’s a history.

Incoming students are trained early: on tour, through admissions information, Summer Welcome and a variety of things at the beginning of the freshman year. Because of that, we all know a lot about Mizzou traditions–but do you know the whole story? Do you know why we still have the columns? Do you know what happened the night the bronze tiger in Tiger Plaza was installed?

Looks like it’s time for you to get your read on!

Ten Things You Should Know About Mizzou:

1. The Columns: Easily the most identifiable landmark at Mizzou, the six ionic columns stand as a reminder of the original administration building, Academic Hall, which burned down on January 9, 1892 (rumored to be because of one of Thomas Edison’s original electric light bulbs.) Constructed from limestone taken right from the nearby Hinkson Creek Valley, the columns survived the fire, but many were undecided on what to do with them.

In 1893, despite originally planning to keep them, the Board of Curators voted to remove the columns, calling them both “unsightly” and unsafe. MAA President Gardiner Lathrop, along with local Columbia resident Jerry Dorsey and others, pleaded with the board to not only maintain the columns’ position, but create a quad in which the columns would serve as the focal point. The Board conceded.

Today, the columns continue to serve as an enduring sign of university pride. Each fall, MU freshmen stand at the south side of the quadrangle and run through the columns toward Jesse Hall symbolizing their entrance into the university. Alumni, returning students and Mizzou spirit squads arrive to celebrate the moment with the newest members of the MU family. In the spring, Tiger Prowl (a.k.a. Senior Send-Off) celebrates the successful academic careers of Mizzou seniors. Similar to freshman year, the senior class gathers in front of Jesse and runs back through the columns, symbolizing their departure from campus and their entrance into a family of 250,000 MU alumni.

Some fun column facts:

-They are the second most-photographed spot in the state of Missouri. (They have recently surpassed the Kansas City Plaza, but remain behind the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.)

-They stand as six wireless poles, enabling wireless Internet access throughout the quad.

-If you ever refer to them as the “pillars,” you will get a distinct look of disgust from me.

My friend Kate and me at the 2009 Tap Day ceremony. (Photo credit: Megan Pieper)

2. Tap Day: On April 23, 2010, the University of Missouri will celebrate its 83rd annual Tap Day, recognizing the induction of the most exceptional students and faculty members into six secret honors societies: QEBH, Omicron Delta Kappa, the Rollins Society, Mystical Seven, LSV, and Mortar Board. The ceremony takes place beneath the columns on the David R. Francis Quadrangle and begins with the ringing of the bells of Switzler Hall, which rings on just three occasions each year. Inductees walk in a procession of hooded robes from Jesse Hall and are unmasked as the societies introduce each member.

While the exact qualifications of each organization are kept secret to the outside, each year’s inductees exemplify outstanding academics, community service, character and personal integrity while serving the university and its missions and values. Tap Day induction is said to be the highest university honor an MU student can recieve.

While each individual organization keeps their purposes and mission largely secret, students are most commonly inducted and revealed in their junior year, with the exception of the Rollins Society, which inducts graduate students, and LSV, which reveals their female inductees senior year, only after they have served the organization’s mission in complete secrecy for a year. Students must apply to be inducted into Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa, while it remains secret how the remaining organizations select their inductees.

If you haven’t been to the ceremony, I definitely recommend attending in the spring. The pride you feel in being an MU student while watching this is pretty incredible.

Check back tomorrow for two more!

Ten Things To Do Before You Graduate Mizzou

It’s official—the end of the semester is almost here.

It seems like yesterday that I took eleven trips back and forth to my car back in August, started my classes and prepped for the start of football season. That, for all intents and purposes, is over. I have gone to my last football game of the season, I am just a week and a half from the end of my classes and I’m already looking for housing options for next year. Where has this year gone? It scares me that first semester went by so fast…who knows how fast the spring is going to fly? Eh…let’s not talk about it.

Kevin and I (second and third from the left) with ESPN's Erin Andrews and other MU tour guides before last year's Oklahoma State game.

For the seniors who are graduating in December, this really is it. This is the last three weeks of their college careers before they are out in the real world doing real work. My friend and fellow tour guide Kevin Wright, who will begin his new job at Under Armour in Baltimore in January, suggested that my next Top Ten post be dedicated to the final things seniors should make sure to do before leaving Mizzou for the last time as a student, and I couldn’t agree more. He got me thinking…what would I want to do before leaving Mizzou?  Here’s what I came up with—I dedicate these ten things every Mizzou student should make sure to do (excluding any unofficial traditions) to all the seniors I love and have been privileged to get to know. You’re going to make Mizzou proud!

Ten Things to Do Before Graduating Mizzou

1) Participate in Senior Send-Off: I know senioritis may grip many seniors, but do not pass up your last true Mizzou tradition. As a freshman, we all participated in our first Mizzou tradition with Tiger Walk, running through the columns toward Jesse Hall, most of us feeling thoroughly awkward taking part in such an event with people we didn’t even know that well. (Not to mention it POURED the day of our Tiger Walk!) Looking back on it, I realize how truly special and important that day was meant to make me feel. After all, they don’t hand out free Tiger Stripe to just any old kid. The columns remain for me the most defining spot on our campus because it represents so much of our past tradition. What better way to respect the university and the four years you spent here? Go on. Run back through the columns. Embrace adulthood. And for you December grads, stage your own senior send-off! Just because it isn’t organized doesn’t mean you still shouldn’t take part in a tradition you rightfully earned. So if you didn’t do it back in May, I’d be happy to take a picture for you…I’m sure no one will stare.

2) Eat at a Dining Hall: You may have been one of those people who happily wished their dining hall experiences goodbye, but how big of a part was Plaza 900, Rollins or Dobbs to your college experience? I still get to eat at dining halls twice a week thanks to my job, but for those of us who have moved off campus and only get the rare opportunity at a dining hall, eating one last time at the hall that gave us countless meals could be the perfect way to end your Mizzou career. Think you can live without this final moment? When was the last time YOU had a carnival cookie or Plaza pancakes? That’s what I thought. You deserve one final goodbye to the food that gave you so much…maybe more than you wanted. I think we all know where everyone’s going for that graduation dinner…

3) Exercise Your Athletic Side: I know that when I first visited campus back in 2006, I was convinced that I would become this workout queen, thanks to my easy access to the student recreation complex and Stankowski field. Of course, that pipe dream didn’t really materialize, thanks to reality rearing its ugly head on numerous occasions. However, we don’t have Stank for no reason—take a jog around the field (3 times equals a mile!), take a whack at the racquetball courts (just call one day in advance to reserve a room) or invest $7 in a TigerX class. Whatever it may be, take advantage of the little warmth we have left and get in some high-class Mizzou exercisin’. Don’t leave Mizzou without taking advantage of the facilities—you’ll regret it. This may also be the perfect time for you to hit up that Tiger Grotto you promised yourself you’d go to at least once a week. (Yes, it’s still there!)

4) Hit Up Downtown: And while this is not directly related to Mizzou, downtown Columbia is still an integral part of almost every MU student’s college memories. Whether it’s grabbing pizza at Shakespeare’s, making friends at El Rancho or stopping one last time into Flat Branch, seniors should take advantage of their last weekends at Mizzou and hit up their favorite downtown destinations. Chipotle, anyone? Earn extra bonus points and take the Shakespeare’s pedicab to your favorite spot…you won’t be sorry.

5) Laugh it Up: If you’ve never experienced the wonder that is Comedy Wars, you’ve only got three Wednesdays left to enjoy free comedy with 250 other Mizzou students. Set up very much like Whose Line Is It Anyway?, I promise you will not be disappointed. You may have read about Comedy Wars in my “Stuff I Like” section, but for good reason. Especially if you’re graduating in December, make it a point to enjoy some free stress relief. A break from that Harry Potter research paper (if you’re like me) will be well worth the chuckles.

6) Have Your Last Tiger Stripe: If you’ve been following the blog, this dates back to an earlier post from two weeks ago, but Buck’s Ice Cream Place is definitely worth the trip for that final bit of Tiger Stripe ice cream. And if you’re having trouble accepting the fact that you’ll no longer have that vanilla and dark chocolate perfection gracing your mouth on a regular basis? Have no fear—I’m sure someone could ship you the wonderful stuff. But still, there’s a different feel to eating it right on campus.

7) Get to Know the Alumni Association: While many of us are True Tigers while at the university, it’s even more important for you to consider the benefits of becoming an annual member to MAA as an alum. If you purchase a Grad Pack from the University Bookstore, you get your first year of membership included. If you didn’t, consider investing in the future of the university to help students who come after us. By joining the Mizzou Alumni Association, you can make a connection with other MU grads, no matter where you go through local chapters. Young alumni can also get special ticket deals for football games for up to 3 years after graduation. Cool stuff. Think it over…the benefits are pretty great.

8 ) Take advantage of your student discounts: With graduation, out goes any hope of being able to use that coveted student discount on anything as a regular old member of the workforce. Go see a movie! (New Moon for the third time?) Buy software at the bookstore! (Can you say desktop Mac with Adobe CS4?) Go to Coldstone Creamery for the Buy 1, Get 1 event on Tuesday (Gotta have it…you’re working out at the Rec, remember?) These are the last times you have where it is still socially expected that you have no money—take advantage! Do what you can now before you have to mooch off those of us still in college.

9) Cheer A Final Time in the Student Section: If you’re graduating in May, you have plenty of time to hit up a baseball or basketball game, but if you’re graduating in December, the time has come to make sure you get in to see a final game! There are still a few basketball games before the big day, so don the black and gold and support your team from the student section a final time. This may not be your final time as a Mizzou fan in the stands (at least I hope not!), but it is most likely the last time you’ll be surrounded by your peers, true students who actively embody what it means to be a Tiger. So make your final Mizzourah as a student and remember how much pride and entertainment MU athletics has given us in our short time here.

10) Remember Your Time: Whether its visiting your favorite campus spots (mine is a tie between the columns and the spot behind Stankowski where Jesse Hall and Tiger Plaza line up perfectly with the field) or visiting professors and friends who have made an impact, take the time to remember the last four or five years of your life. We all enter college as young, often naïve 18-year-olds, unsure of what the next chapter of our life is really going to be like. Seniors, you are now leaving this place to become productive citizens ready to make a difference in the world, thanks, in large part to your time at Mizzou. In academics, student life and campus experiences, you will leave Columbia a better person who hopefully has a better sense of the person they are and the person they want to be.

Yes. This is me, freshman year, jumping off a column.

Some of you are probably ready to graduate and move on. Some of you are dragging your heels, hoping time moves slower and your time at Mizzou will extend (that will be me, no worries.) Whatever your readiness, remember the people that made a difference in your time here. Thank them. Stay in contact with them. Let them know they made a difference. (Extra style points if you do so while standing in Speaker’s Circle.)

Remember campus. Remember everything you’ve done. Decide what has defined your college experience and embrace the memories. Take what you’ve learned, done and experienced from your time here and be prepared to apply it to the rest of your life. For me, this time of reflection will probably involve wearing black for a month (mourning period, of course) while walking around campus in a haze of nostalgia while I prepare to leave everything from David R. Francis’ nose and the funny piece of art work on Lowry Mall behind.

When you leave Mizzou for the last time as a student and the first time as a graduate, you will be joining a network of 250,000 other Tigers who have taken these steps you are just now encountering. Find them. Share your experiences. And embrace alumni life. You earned it!

The next step? Preparing that return visit…

Ten Things You Should Know About the MU/kU Rivalry

Okay, gang. I know we’re all at home, preparing to celebrate Turkey Day in just four short days. (Trust me, I’m excited.) But something almost as important is looming on the horizon for Saturday. A moment so very important that I am leaving my family in Chicago a day early to take part in it. What is it? Well, if you don’t know, it looks like this blog post couldn’t have come a day too soon.

It’s MU vs. kU.

Now I might have been a tad dramatic, but this rivalry is pretty darn important. Almost immediately after choosing MU, one of my mom’s best friends, a kU grad, started “talking,” including sending me condolence candy wrapped in kU napkins after a Tiger loss. Almost every tour I give, and especially to the families who visit from out-of-state, I impress upon them the importance of our rivalry, and casually mention that the sooner they realize that a Tiger is significantly cooler, larger and more awesome than a Jayhawk (not to mention it’s a REAL animal), the better off they will be. Now I’m also a classy tour guide, so I do refrain from saying anything negative about the university, but I will ‘fess up wholeheartedly to sharing everything I know about the best college rivalry this side of the Mississippi.

For those of you headed to the game next Saturday, be sure to visit the Mizzou spirit rally outside Arrowhead (Gates B and C) at 1:15 p.m.! It’s sure to be a good time, full of LOTS of alma-mater singing, Mizzou fight song singing and general Mizzou lovin’. Can’t make it to the game? You can still support the Tigers by visiting MAA’s site to learn more about how we plan to beat kU both on and off the field with our virtual food drive, the Border Hunger Showdown! Visit, donate and let’s M-I-Z, beat-k-U!  Hopefully I’ll see everyone there…I’ll be the redhead wearing an obnoxious amount of black and gold!

For the MU/kU rivalry, past records and season stats go out the window. This is a rivalry. Anything goes.

But I don’t want condolence candy wrapped in a kU napkin.

I want a gigantic Tiger banner that says “We don’t care about waiting until basketball season. We’ll beat you then, too.”

Ten Things You Should Know About MU vs. kU:

1) The Rivalry Was Meant to Unite: For those of you who grew up in either Missouri or Kansas and learned about all that fun state history in elementary school, you might know this is a rivalry that didn’t just start because two schools wanted to play a game. Oh, no. Ever wonder how the nickname “Bleeding Kansas” got started? Back in the 1850s, Kansan C.R. Jennison and his group nicknamed “the Jayhawkers” plundered western Missouri towns and killed anyone pro-slavery or anti-Union (Missouri was one of just two states that was both a slave state and part of the Union.) In retaliation, William Quantrill and his group of followers looted Lawrence, destroying the town and killing about 150 men. So following the Civil War, early athletic events involving the University of Missouri and kU were meant to heal and cool the tempers and ill-will between the two states, as neither state would be quick to forget what the other inhabitants did.

It is very important to realize that our rivalry is strong and spirited enough without using our past as ammo against the other team. War isn’t funny, it isn’t something to laugh about and it isn’t anything to use as a line against a fellow university. Times were different, but our rivalry should no longer be based on the decisions of those who came 150 years before us. Yes, it is this rivalry’s history, but in my opinion, should not be something used as rationale to draw others against either team.

2) Rivalry is Over 100 Years Old: The first MU/kU game dates back to Halloween 1891. (Coincidence?) kU was also Mizzou’s first Homecoming opponent, way back in 1911. The game ended in a 3-3 tie, but we get to now claim the largest student-run Homecoming in the nation. (Winner.)

Crowd reaction from the 36-28 MU victory on Nov. 24, 2007.

3) We Owe kU Big Time: In the spirit of a friendly rivalry, I hope everyone thanked kU and Jayhawk fans alike. Why, do you ask? In 2007, the Tigers and Jayhawks entered the Border Showdown ranked #4 and #2, respectively. The Tigers, who defeated the Jayhawks 36-28 (in the best and most emotional game I’ve ever seen in person) would not have risen so highly in the rankings (to be #1, in this case) if they hadn’t defeated such a highly ranked opponent. So, thanks for making the highlight of my freshman year, Jayhawks!

4) It’s More Than the Game: The rivalry doesn’t just stay on the field, it goes for everything. Famed MU basketball coach Norm Stewart chastised any player who bought food in Kansas and asked the bus driver to fill up before crossing the border, refusing to contribute anything to the Kansas economy. Former kU coach Don Fambrough even reportedly scoffed at a doctor who recommended he get treatment at a Kansas City, Missouri hospital. And trust me, if it wasn’t for Wamego (the birthplace of Oz), there would have been very little to say besides “Boo” as we passed the kU exit on I-70 back in October.

Feeling in the rivalry mood? Read these MU/kU rivalry alumni memories, entitled “Why I’m not a Jayhawk”! Take some ideas, maybe? 🙂

5) We Have kU Tradition on Campus, Too: We all know that Mizzou is what is it because of tradition, and we’re not without our fair share of kU lore on campus! The bronze tiger in Tiger Plaza, which was dedicated to the spot in 2002, was unveiled with blue and red feathers sticking out of its mouth, fueling the myth that the Tiger had a Jayhawk placed in the stomach of the statue during its creation. While that myth is regrettably false (although please feel free to continue its spread across the Kansas border), there is one myth on campus that is very, very TRUE. Tucker Hall, which sits just to the south of Memorial Union and houses the biology department, has a strange arrangement and size of its windows. Why? Because when the architect designed the building, he constructed the window pattern so that if someone put that exact pattern on a computer punch card (pre-PC days for us young’uns), it would read M-I-Z, beat-k-U, complete with the little ‘k’!

6) kU’s Chant Doesn’t Make Any Sense: Could someone please explain to me what “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” even means? I can tell you what “Mizzou-Rah” means, I can tell you what “tramp around the columns” would sound like to an outsider, and I’m pretty sure that I’ve helped pump up a crowd of 2,000 with a well-executed “Fight Tigers, Fight for Ole’ Mizzou!” And the day you find something better than 68,000 people waving their hands for the Missouri Waltz, shouting “M-I-Z-Z-O-U” back and forth and swaying to the sounds of the alma mater, just let me know. Because I’m pretty sure that beats any “kaaaayyyy youuuu” you might have had planned. M-I-Z…way better than kU.

7) We Want the Drum: As can be found in every self-respecting rivalry, we share a trophy that visits each school, depending on which team won the most recent meeting. MU/kU shares the Indian War Drum, one that has been passed along in its three different forms since the 1930s. And trust me. We want that drum. We want that drum back. Why? Because when MU wins it, it stays with the Mizzou Alumni Association. And where do I work? That’s right, the Mizzou Alumni Association. So who would get to see and take pride in this drum? I’ll leave that one up for you to decide.

8 ) We Can’t Let Them Wait for Basketball: Any time I talk to a kU sympathizer, as we shall call their fans, they always say, “We’ll beat you at football. But if we don’t, just wait for basketball.” First of all, true fans don’t need to give a back-up win, they want the first one. Secondly, I know kU is the heart of James Naismith and his invention of basketball, but what they don’t know is that we have Mike Anderson and the 40 fastest minutes in basketball. What they don’t know is that we have a team that’s willing to fight as a TEAM, and not one that only acts that way on the court. We have a team that has MIZZOU pride, not just basketball pride. We have a school that supports not just one sport, but all sports. We have fans that want victories for the pride, not just the numbers. We also have the Big 12 Tournament champs and a school that unites. So while we fully intend to come into Arrowhead with pride and respect and leave with victory, we’re going to show up for basketball, too.

We don’t have players (Brandon Rush) who would say, “I’m not really big on that whole rivalry anymore.”

We have players that run off the field after the Iowa State game, chanting the good old “M-I-Z” chant, just slightly altered.

9) Our School’s Simply…Better: I’ve never been one for the kU jokes, and the blatant degrading of another university, I’ll save that for other people. But what I will do is tell you what I know, and that is that University of Missouri is simply a better place to be. Although quite comparative in size (Mizzou outdoes kU by 700 students and about 300 acres), but the atmosphere, the school and the pride points are simply better. Click on our traditions page, and you’ll see over 2,000 words about all that MU is and will ever be. Click on kU’s page and you get a video with cheers. We excel in education, health sciences, journalism and agriculture. Yes, they have the national champion debate team, but do they have the Mizzou mafia? Do they have the columns? Do they have the quad? Do they have a student body that embraces spirit and athletes who support one another, not divide amongst each other’s egos?

10) Enjoy What You Have: I’m assuming that, unless you’ve stumbled across this Web site by mistake, that you’re bleeding black and gold; naming pets in your family Truman, Tiger, and David R. Francis; and arguing with your family about how much gold should’ve been on the new Nike jerseys. (MORE GOLD!) But no matter what your affiliation (M I Z…), do not take this rivalry for granted. Sure, sure. Rivalries bring along unnecessary phone calls from bragging family members, major letdowns when your teams lose and fluff stories from your rival school, they still unite fans around a common cause that we can all get on board with. We’re in a unique position of being so close to our rival…kU is just a hop, skip and a jump away from Columbia down I-70. And while it’s definitely not the most memorable drive, it’s still one that can be made in less time than it takes to watch Titanic, and that’s not something every rival can say. And yes, that’s me hugging a column.

Sure, our rivalry builds intense dislike and enmity, but it also breeds pride and respect for the small stuff, and of course, for your alma mater. It builds friendships, allegiances and in times like these, something that stays the same no matter what president or economy or budget cuts may exist. It’s the same. It’s MU/kU football. Change the names, change the coaches, change the fans, but the rivals are still there. The line is still drawn. The fight is still on. And that’s something we can all look forward to, and we can all be proud of.

More victory celebration from Nov. 24, 2007.

You might root for the wrong side of the border, but at least we’re all rooting. At least we’ve taken the time to come out for our team and at least we all have something to feel so strongly about. I could go on about Missouri, but I don’t have to. This article won’t change any minds, but it’ll light the fire for both sides.

With that being said, GO TIGERS. I don’t want another kU napkin this year.

Ten Things to Be Thankful for at Mizzou

When asked what my favorite month is, my answer is always, without fail, November. And while my roommate would tell you it’s because of her birthday, I really love everything about fall, from the changing colors to the cooler weather to the urge to buy sweaters and scarves. November also reminds of me elementary school where I colored endless cornucopias and drew turkeys by tracing my hand. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and not just because I love the food (which I do.) I love Thanksgiving because it brings people together.

For a lot of Mizzou students, this is the first time they will be seeing their families since August, which is another reason to celebrate! So in the spirit of the holiday and as many groups of friends or organizations are hosting Thanksgiving celebrations of their own, here are Ten Things to Be Thankful for at Mizzou:

1. Tradition: Often a hard word to define, tradition really is the pulse of MU. As the first public university west of the Mississippi, our history spans 170 years. It survives through the alumni, lives through the current students and reflects on those who will come after us. Tradition impacts our university by shaping the way we view our college careers as more than just a degree program. This level of tradition is unique to MU, and it’s important for both students and alumni alike to know what was necessary on behalf of their predecessors to make what we now have possible. People know why freshmen run through the columns every year, but many don’t know the courage or commitment it took of men like Gardiner Lathrop to keep those columns in the first place. Tradition is our history; it’s the reason we have events like Tap Day and the first and largest student-run Homecoming in the nation. Without tradition, MU would simply be a spot on the map and the students would simply be numbers. But because of it, MU is a hub for students and alumni to connect the past and the present, and it’s the way we can preserve not only the history of our university, but the values we hold sacred. Tradition is why when students leave Mizzou for the last time, they feel like they belong to a bigger purpose, and not just an institution.

Our tradition is pride, allegiance, and passion. And it’s why I bleed black and gold.

2. Student Recreation Complex: The Rec, as we all call it, is always what I call the tour “jaw-dropper.” I may have given around 200 tours of the facility, but the facial expressions never get old. Neither does knowing that Mizzou is actively supporting a healthier lifestyle through intramurals and our TigerX studio classes. (Did you know they sold 2,000 passes in the first two weeks of last spring semester? Yeah.) After spending my entire last Saturday in the Rec, I definitely appreciated a facility where every MU student has automatic membership!

3. Generous and Proud Alumni: As soon as we run back through the columns that final time, we join a worldwide alumni community that’s over 250,000 strong. We will be MU alumni much, much longer than we are students, but the memories and impact of our time here will never be forgotten. MU alumni made Mizzou one of an elite number of universities to raise $1 billion in the For All We Call Mizzou campaign (over $390 million came from private alumni donors!) In addition, alumni support makes scholarships possible for students across the university, myself included! And if our annual Homecoming celebration is any indication, our alums truly enjoy staying connected to not only the university, but the student body as well. Want proof? Check out the Mizzou Alumni Association’s alumni testimonials here.

4. Downtown Columbia: MU is more than just a college campus, thanks to the adjacent downtown area. Not only is the area pedestrian friendly and a short walk past the quad, it provides students a chance to get off campus conveniently and easily. Living in Mark Twain freshman and sophomore years, I loved how close I lived to all the restaurants and stores, not to mention Ninth Street Video—the lifeblood of freshman year. “The District” is truly one of the best parts about going to MU, whether its during the Homecoming decorations, Living Windows Festival or the much-celebrated True/False Film Festival. Want to learn more? Visit The District’s site!

5. Homecoming: Don’t take this for granted—other schools simply don’t do what we do. Texas doesn’t even have Homecoming! I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t really take advantage of the Homecoming festivities until this year, but even just going to the game and enjoying the spirit did it for me. Now, after taking in skits, house decorations and the parade, I really appreciate even more what makes MU special. And trust me, when you enjoy the Homecoming festivities, it really does hurt less if the game doesn’t go our way. And while I’m definitely not excited about my graduation, I am excited that my first year as an alumna is our Homecoming centennial! Talk about a homecoming.

6.  Finding Your Niche: We now officially have over 600 student organizations on campus, which means it’s near impossible to not find an organization or club to get involved in. Going to a bigger school like Mizzou simply translates to bigger opportunities, which means every student can find somewhere they can get involved. Whether its through a service event like Relay For Life or Dance Marathon, through Greek life, or a club through a major, students really can find something in any area that might interest them. For me, these opportunities have made the difference in my college career—it’s where I’ve made my best friends.

7. We Really Do Bleed Black and Gold: You’d be hard-pressed to walk around campus and not see black and gold everywhere. I own 53 Mizzou t-shirts for a reason (yes, a lot of them were free) but also because our student body is passionate about being a Tiger. Columbia really is a college town, and it makes going to school here so much better because the area really is vested in the university. I ventured to Boulder, Colorado with a group of 25 other tour guides, and we were able to pump up a group of 2,000 Mizzou fans to do the fight song, alma mater and cheers. We were so loud in fact that we were heard on TV. Talk about spirit.

8. Dining Hall Food: This may be the nostalgia of a student who now lives off-campus, but our dining hall is pretty ridiculously good. Whether it’s just the day-to-day variety or the special themes like Kindergarten Lunch or Harry Potter dinner, there’s a reason we call it the Mizzou-22 instead of the Freshman-15. And do I need to mention carnival cookies or Plaza pancakes?

9. Speaker’s Circle: Speaker’s Circle is one of two spots in the state of Missouri you can gather and speak your mind without needing a permit. For the people who spend time on campus, this translates to an enjoyable walk to class, depending on who is currently exercising their American right. Whether it’s student protests, religious demonstrations or even musical performances, there really is something different every day. And when you walk past Speaker’s Circle and see a guy in a banana suit and a guy in a robot suit running around, you just get a big smile on your face knowing this stuff is just regular campus normalcy.

10. The Deatons: Chancellor Brady Deaton and Dr. Anne Deaton may be the coolest people that live on this campus. Living in the Chancellor’s Residence on the quad, the Deatons are right in the heart of student living. The Deatons open up their house a few times a year to student leaders, as well as families during Family Weekend, so make sure you get a chance to walk through the oldest building on campus. Three of the four Deaton children also went to Mizzou, so the Deatons really do bleed black and gold.