OTC: MU’s Mike Alden Hints That Illini/Mizzou Football Rivalry Is Toast
“On the other side of the state, we have two more years (on the contract for the annual football game with Illinois in St. Louis). We’re going to continue to evaluate that and see if that’s something we want to continue to do.”
Mike Alden, Mizzou’s athletic director, 810 AM
GH: Steven St. John, aka MU Rock, interviewed Alden on his WHB morning show Thursday and I was happy I had tuned in. What I was not pleased with was that it appears MU and Illinois are ready, willing and more than comfortable walking away from one of the highlight games of the non-conference schedule. Many Big 12 and Big 10 football fans have come to look forward to this annual border war. Read on.
“We’re very pleased to announce this agreement. Mizzou and Illinois enjoy such a passionate and competitive rivalry that I believe represents the best in college athletics. We’re looking forward to bringing this event back to the great city of St. Louis.”
Mike Alden, in August of 2007 after the four-year contract was signed by both Illinois and Mizzou, stlsports.org
GH: Only two years later and Mizzou and Illinois are talking like this series is DOA.
“Maybe taking a break from that (Illinois matchup) in St. Louis – not the one in Kansas City – and perhaps just doing some home and homes for a few years and analyze it from there. That’s something we’re looking at right now.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: This comment had me thinking maybe Alden had just soured on the venue and would be happy to continue playing the Illini in a home-and-home. But the more he talked, the more it sounded like it was Illinois that MU wants no part of no matter where they play. But an informed source contacted me after reading the OTC and reports that it is Illinois, not MU, who would like to end this late-summer scrap. Read on.
“That one in St. Louis, we may be taking a break from that for a couple of years and substituting a BCS opponent.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: “Substituting a BCS opponent.” That sounds a lot like the MU/Illini series is on life support. Where is Mizzou going to find a more fitting, worthy and satisfying opponent? Playing against the Big 10 is what MU and the Big 12 need to do more of – not less. let’s hope Alden is talking to Iowa (we know what happened last time the Hawkeyes were on the Tigers’ schedule). That would be a fun rivalry for both schools’ sets of fans.
“This is a great series for our program and just as important for our fans. I was very impressed with the atmosphere in St. Louis when we played this game previously. It was a big-time atmosphere that was an unforgettable experience for everyone in our program.”
Gary Pinkel, MU head coach, in August of 2007, stlsports.org
GH: Pinkel says it all with this two-year-old quote. This is an important game for MU’s football program and for their fans. I wish St. John would have pushed Alden on this subject and made him explain why the Illinois series was in jeopardy. I walked away from the interview convinced MU was the one looking to get out of the matchup.
“I think the neutral site games have been great for both (Kansas and Missouri) teams and both communities. I’ll tell you, that matchup we’ve had at Arrowhead the last few years has been, I mean it’s been a home run! I just see that thing hopefully, getting bigger and better. I think that matchup in Kansas City has been terrific.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: The matchup with Illinois in St. Louis has been at least a triple. I think losing the Illinois series something MU will regret. A lot of St. Louis and Illinois high school kids looked forward to playing in the Dome each August.
“We’re dwarfed by those (two conferences). I mean significantly dwarfed! Something has to be done about that revenue stream.”
Mike Alden, on the millions of dollars in revenue being generated by the Big 10 and SEC with their television packages, 810 AM
GH: Money governs all NCAA sports programs – especially the revenue producing sports like football and men’s basketball. The Big 12 doesn’t have its own TV network. Is this why Mizzou wants to stop playing Illinois? Is it no longer a fair fight?
“Time is of the essence, and I mean that. In the immediate future our board and our directors in the Big 12 and our leadership in the Big 12 are going to have to take the bull by the horns here. I know they will and move this forward to see what we can do to generate more revenue in whatever format that takes.”
Mike Alden, on the money woes affecting the Big 12, 810 AM
GH: I love college sports but hate that everything is now all about money. Every year it’s the same message no matter what school you root for – send us your money or we won’t be able to compete.
“The Academic Progress Rate (APR) is actually a better gage (than graduation rates) as to how well your kids are doing academically. For us to lead the Big 12 in those areas, knowing how specific those measuring sticks are, says a lot about our academic staff, our faculty at Mizzou and certainly the way our student athletes adhere to their first core values.”
Mike Alden, Mizzou’s AD, on the announcement that MU’s athletic teams led the Big 12 in APR for the second year in a row and led the nation in 2008p/, 810 AM
GH: While Memphis deals with possible academic fraud due to new allegations about Derrick Rose’s grades, it is rewarding to hear Mizzou’s athletic program has put together back-to-back years of excellence.
“It’s almost immeasurable. You have six guys who have been drafted and another six signed as free agents. That’s unbelievable, and the message that sends to potential recruits, the fan base, the current players, all those people associated with Mizzou, I mean you can’t buy that kind of coverage.”
Mike Alden, on the positive vibe created around the MU football program after their success in the recent NFL draft, 810 AM
GH: I still hold out hope Chase Daniel will regain his deadly accuracy and make an NFL roster. He was too good for too long to not deserve a shot.
“It sends significant messages that Mizzou is a program that is committed to winning, and winning the right way academically and athletically.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: This might have been a veiled shot at the two schools to the west of Columbia. Mark Mangino has had some academic issues while at KU and KSU’s current “secret contract” debacle is a hot topic.
“Have I heard of those things happening before in college athletics? Yeah, maybe.”
Mike Alden, while discussing the K-State scandal and secret contract between Ron Prince and Paul Krause, 810 AM
GH: Yeah, maybe? Alden did not elaborate and unfortunately, St. John never pressed him.
“We don’t ever choose to go in that direction (of a secret contract with a coach). We’re a pretty transparent organization.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: Who would of thought MU and Alden; home of Ricky Clemons, the Head of State tapes, the Tropicana and Quin – would now be the transparent organization with the above board moral code?
“This year sure has been a high-water mark for us – winning four conference championships.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: Mizzou also made it to the Big 12 championship game this academic year in football, basketball and baseball – capturing only the basketball crown.
“I would say the state of our (football) program is good, it’s really good – academically and socially. I would say we believe we are building a solid foundation for continued success. Our fan base has been terrific and very supportive for a long time, in particular the last several years. And we need them to keep coming to be able to help us economically.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
“It’s a great (new video) board. We actually just took out the old video board that’s been at Faurot Field for the last 11 years. It’s gone. They’ve taken it away. The new board they are putting up in the north end (of the stadium). It’s three-and-a-half times the size of the old board. It’s all HD. It’s a phenomenal, a phenomenal addition to what we think is one of the finer college football stadiums in the country. It will be ready to go (for the home opener).”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: It’s about time! Maybe the huge new HD video board will be the thing that lures the Tiger fans back into the stadium after halftime. I have never seen a college crowd so obsessed with the parking lot between halves.
“Missouri was held to three hits until Marla Sha-Sh-Shitz-a-burger hit a solo home run. (Chuckle) I’m sorry, Marla!”
Jack Harry, while playing highlights of Mizzou loss to Arizona State in the College Softball World Series, KSHB TV 41
GH: Harry couldn’t help chuckling over his Lenny-like mispronunciation of the former Raytown South grad, Marla Sweisberger’s, surname. And the way he made it sound like a large scale attack of diarrhea, neither could I.
Greghall24@yahoo.com
May 29th, 2009 at 6:08 am
You are right, GH, this is all about money. But I think Alden is angling for a bigger payday from STL not backing away from the Illini necessarily.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Missour wants into the big 10. Missouri is on
a record fund raising pace. I saw numbers where
the university endowment fund is outraising Texas. Missouri
academically and financially would be smart
to say bye to the big 12. The money, the prestige and the stature is not in the big
12. We heard this rumbling before but now that
the big 10 is thinking of adding additional
schools like syracuse Missouri needs to make the
leap and move into the upper echelon of schools
in the nation.
I’m sure the curators and heads of MU are looking
at all kinds of revenue enhancements since it looks like state funds for universities might
not be coming as easily during this recession.
And best of all…Missouri wouldn’t have to
face Bill Self and his mini NBA team. Wow…
has bill done an incredible job inLawrence?
And he’s one of the coolest guys in sports.
May 29th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Why would the Big-10 want missouri? What national title have they ever won? what do they bring to the table? Wow – you guys go to the sweet 16 and now suddenly you’r a national power. All 11 schools know who the most obnoxious idiots are in the conference, hands down…
Frankly, I’d be happy to see them go to the MVC – but just having them in the conference provides comic relief every year when their national championship aspirations (pick the sport) are shown to be as fraudulent. Without a doubt the most hated school in the conference and, certainly, the most laughable…
And no, I’m not a KSU or KU alum…
May 29th, 2009 at 7:38 am
This Big 10 talk is so laughable and it comes up every frickin decade. WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THE BIG10 GIVE A RATS @SS TO HAVE MU IN THEIR CONFERENCE? Their women’s softball team?
They didn’t let Penn State in because of their basketball team.
Every time some idiot from Missouri starts talking about going to the Big 10 – 11 other alumni think (after they get off of the floor from rolling around laughing) good riddance!
But, but, what are we going to do about all of the revenue the school brings into the conference with their women’s softball wins?
May 29th, 2009 at 7:39 am
wow – a couple of wins in football and a Sweet-16 APPEARANCE and suddenly the tiggers are NOtre Dame.
Typical MU
May 29th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Best way to make stuff like this go away is for the NCAA to institute a playoff system in football just like they do in basketball, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse, bowling, tiddly-winks, golf and every other NCAA sport. There will certainly be MORE MONEY and the whole BCS formula, as we know it today, can go bye-bye. Too many teams schedule weak non-conference opponents to avoid losses early in the season that kill you at Bowl Time.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Hey Greg, Missouri won the Big 12 basketball tourney this year. They did lose the football and baseball championship games, but the Tigers won in basketball.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Muley,
What the hell was I thiinking? Thanks for the fix.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Greg,
This was talked about last year, and it is the Illini that is wanting out of the deal. They were unhappy that the last two years they lost the first game of the season and they didn’t want anymore of it. Alden is just towing the AD line and is not going to say anything about another school.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:13 am
I don’t know what article Jeoff and ISU read, but I think they are idiots.
Its a little too early for such hostility.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Wow, we ahve smart ones above. Last time I checked they made it to the elite 8 this past season. You must have been thinking of the beakers, dummies.
This is also the first time in the history of the Big 12 that the same school has made it to the conference championship game in the big 3 sports (football, basketball and football). It’s called being a well rounded program, someting the rest of the conference wouldn;t know about with the possible exception of OU. Why wouldn’t the big 10 want a team that is competitive the entire year and not just Decemeber-March.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Bob,
You might be correct, Illini may be the one who wants out, but Alden made it sound like it was Mizzou who was souring on the series. It may also be as Glow mentions above, that Alden is not happy with the payout from St. Louis. But again, he just made it sound like they weren’t interested in continuing the Illinois series but did not offer an explanation as to why.
I hated that they bought out the Iowa contract a few years ago instead of playing the Hawkweyes. That would be a great home-and-home series for fans of both teams.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:22 am
yes, congrats on getting to 3 conference championship games and getting your ass kicked in 2 of them. There was the monumental win over Baylor in the b12 tourney. Congrats on that. And how about the softball coach blaming his loss on the field- whatta douche.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I think Missouri and Illinois both want out because whoever loses has an uphill road to get to a bowl. Pre-conference you want to come out undefeated so that no matter how terrible you are you can go to a bowl. Missouri may see the downside of it this year whereas Illinois has seen the downside that last couple of years. Yes it is all about money and bowls mean money and exposure for your program. I see a BCS cupcake if there is one out there for both schools when the contract ends.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Mizzou-Illinois isn’t a tremendous rivalry; not on the scale of Missouri-Nebraska, and not even on the same scale as Missouri-Kansas. Up until the mid-’80s, the Tigers and Illini played each other only about once every four years on average. Growing up a Tiger fan on the St. Louis side of Missouri, I never considered it much of a big deal to play Illinois in football; the annual basketball game was far more serious.
So if Alden thinks dropping Illinois for a non-BCS opponent is in the program’s best overall interest, I’ve got no qualms about it and am not the least bit nostalgic. By my estimation, the Big XII is a tough enough test of the mettle of any program; Mizzou only need to prove its worth by how it performs in Big XII play.
Alden should keep in mind, though, that scheduling patsies is no way to prepare for the Big XII season. After the Illini, the Tigers face Bowling Green, Furman and Nevada — juggernauts none — heading into its conference opener against Nebraska. In 2010, it’s IU, McNeese St. and three open dates. Putting in the MAC, the WAC and the SWAC may fluff up the record, but doesn’t build in much cushion for an unexpectedly Big XII loss.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Hey BS…you mean the Baylor team that wiped the floor with Sherrons man-boobs?
Yeah, Mizzou was clobbered in two of the CC games but at least they were there. Gotta walk before you run.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Why would the Big 10 want Mizzou? I guess you’re right. They wouldn’t want any part of the only decent TV markets in the Big 12 outside of Texas.
And Mr. ISU … competitively speaking, the Cyclones appear to be several notches below a lot of mid-majors these days. Maybe ISU should be looking for a new conference?
May 29th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I have it from an informed source that it is not MU who wants to end the Illinois series but the Illini who are looking to pull out. I have edited my OTC column to make me look a bit brighter but you can only do so much with text.
May 29th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
STUPID F*CKS! Look at Missouri athletics…
one of the top programs OVERALL in the nation…
final 8 basketball…top 20 football…top 10
and higher in wrestling…look at the other
sports and mu ranks very very high in many other
sports.
Now…ku obviously has a great basektball program…one of the best in the nation…
football has been okay in the last 2 years but
never won much before that and never will after
this year.
This was not about sports only. Missouri is
moving up the ladder as one of the top
veterinarian and equine schools in the nation.
Their engineering school is moving up quickly.
The journalism school still remains one the top
in the nation and with recent endowments and
programs will move up steadily. Their
academic programs in many other areas including
new biolife areas is growing. Contrary to the
nimble minded idiots who frequent this website
college is not just hoops and passes.
Its about real studies…can you blue collar
beer drinkers understand that? MU is fast becoming one of the nations top schools. Athletics is important and mu football and
basketball have made major advances in the last
few years (#5 in 2008/ above KU)…finished
higher than KU in ncaa tournament) but this
was not about strictly athletics.
Missouri has an overall athletic program that
has become big nationally. But more important
is the vast progress seen in the classroom and
with their nationally acclaimed educational
programs.
Endowment funds for all types of research has
hit record amounts far surpassing any other
big 12 school. Sure athletics is important but
long after the athletes who don’t go pro are
selling cars remains the incredible academic
records that MU is achieving.
Record enrollments. Billions coming for new
research and education. MU is on a roll.
For those idiots who screamed only about athletic you need to go back drinking your
beers…sitting on the couch…collecting
unemployment and watch sports on tv every
night and weekend.
You who jumped on my earlier comments are
no less than a joke. Can you discuss anything but free throw % or y.a.c.? Probably not because that’sall your life is about.
MU is becoming a powerful academic and educational institution far above the rest of
the big 12. And it would make sense to consider
a move to a more “powerful” and all encompassing
superior group of schools.
Its time for MU to leave behind KU/KSU etc.
..okay you guys might have a better basketball
team and coach but there are more important items to consider.
Go play your video games. Go play your pick up
games wishing you were playing for a final 8
team…you are shallow
people.
p.s….ran into bill self last night at sullivans. He is really a good guy and told the
story of a coed kissing him aftoer the ncaa
championship game. Said he is good friends with
Norm Stewart…see ku and mu people can get along.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:39 am
jojo is right. Missouri is outclassing Big XII north schools at an ever-increasing pace, in every area of athletics and academics, and it is hard for the other schools to deal with. The negative backlash can be expected to increase as these other programs are left in the dust.
May 30th, 2009 at 9:55 am
thank you mark. The ku fans have one track
minds…b ball…b ball…b ball. They probably don’t even care about academics.
They have a class basketball program in lawrence
I live in joco. I hope ku wins every game except
when they play missouri. But MU is on a roll
academically and in athletics. Noone can deny
that. And the rest of the big 12 can be proud
of their single sport accomplishments
MU has struggled to gain some national recognistion in athletics. They’ve been ranked
higher than KU both of the last 2 years in
football. And they did better than ku this
year in b ball. Take an overall look at sports
between the 2 schools and MU is superior.
MU will probablynever win any national championship in any sport but in academics we
are fast becoming a major powerhouse in the
classroom…and to me that is more relevant,
important and distinguishing.