There have been many games over the past two years as Chase Daniel led his Missouri team to victory; however, the Tigers won the 2008 Alamo Bowl against the Northwestern Wildcats 30-23 on Monday (12-29-08) not because of Daniel but in spite of him.
Daniel wasn’t on his game early on, throwing 3 interceptions, the first a deflected ball on Missouri’s opening drive that led to Northwestern’s first touchdown. The second was on an ill-advised throw to coverage that could have been a touchdown on a 47-yard field goal attempt.
Daniel was part of the go-ahead play in overtime when he threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin to put Missouri up 30-23. Playing without Daniel on defense, the Tigers sacked Wildcat quarterback CJ Bacher, forcing a fumble that left Northwestern with a fourth-and-goal from the 32-yard line. Missouri players and fans were celebrating like there was no tomorrow.
Daniel, the Tigers’ senior quarterback who finished fourth in the 2007 Heisman Trophy voting, was 27 of 44 for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bacher, Northwestern’s senior quarterback, had an even better day, going 27 of 43 for 304 yards and an Alamo Bowl-record 3 touchdowns. Without a doubt, Bacher’s day was very disappointing.
Missouri trailed in the game 10-3 in the second quarter and lacked momentum when their sensational second-year wide receiver Jeremy Maclin electrified the Tigers and their fans with a spectacular 75-yard punt return that left the Wildcats flat-footed and wondering what happened. It was Maclin’s first punt return for a TD this season and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
Maclin, who has enough speed and movement to outrun defensive backs, is arguably one of the most exciting players in college football today and arguably Missouri’s most explosive threat. Maclin caught 7 passes for 43 yards, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime, and rushed 5 times for another 43 yards.
The Tigers’ victory in the Alamo Bowl took the team to a final record of 10-4 and gave coach Gary Pinkel and the Tigers double-digit wins in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald and his Wildcats finished the year 9-4. All things considered, it was a great year for Northwestern football and an even better year for Missouri football.
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley