Top 5 Missouri Sports Moments of 2011
2011 was a big year for the Missouri Tigers. Let’s take a look at what were the five best moments in the Tigers’ year.
5. Softball wins first Women’s College World Series Game in 20 years– The MU softball team advanced to their third consecutive Women’s College World Series in 2011 and ended a 20-year drought with a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners on June 4. The four runs scored by the Tigers is a team record in the WCWS.
4. 2 top-10 NFL draft picks– On April 28, the Tigers showed what their impact on the NFL would be by having two top-10 draft picks: Aldon Smith and Blaine Gabbert, picked 7th and 10th, respectively. Both players are now starting for their teams, and Smith looks to be a dominant force for years to come.
3. Basketball wins CBE Classic– Many Missouri fans were unhappy with the choice to hire Frank Haith as the new basketball coach. Haith started to prove his doubters wrong during the 2011 CBE Classic on November 21 and 22, with big wins over Notre Dame and California. The Tigers beat Notre Dame 87-58, but that wasn’t as impressive as the drubbing MU put on Cal. The Tigers won 92-53.
2. 100th Homecoming game– The Tigers won the 100th Homecoming game in style, beating the Iowa St. Cyclones 52-17. This after a great day of festivities celebrating the century-old tradition started by the University of Missouri.
1. Move to the SEC– All debating aside on whether this was the right move, this was a major moment for the MU sports program. The SEC, especially in football, is the most prestigious conference in the NCAA. The school gets more money and more national exposure because of the move, and this has the potential to be a very good move for the Tigers’ future.