MIZ-DGB: Commentary for the Tigers' New Star

It's official--Springfield, Mo native Dorial Green-Beckham has decided to "continue his education" at the University of Missouri. Green-Beckham, a 6'6, 220 pound wide receiver from Hillcrest High School, is the consensus number one recruit in the nation as well as the U.S. Today Offensive Player of the Year. He decided on Mizzou this morning after considering other college football giants such as Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama. "DGB" is probably the greatest recruit ever brought in by the Tigers, but what lured this sure-fire NFL first rounder to Mizzou?

National top football recruit, Dorial Green-Beckham, at a University 

of Missouri basketball game with MU offensive football coordinator, David 

Yost. During his signing interview, DGB joked that he wants to convince 

Yost to cut his hair, revealing some sort of early personal connection

 between the star and his future coach. 

It's obvious that there are school's with greater prestige and talent than MU right now, particularly at the QB position, so why did DGB choose us? Well a for sure reason is that it is close to home, DGB has a brother battling cancer and wants to stay close by to support him (a noble cause). Another reason is the allure of Mizzou to SEC and the Tiger community. DGB took a recent trip to an MU basketball game where students and fans made his presence felt, cheering MIZ-DGB and creating signs specially for him. This type of support let DGB know as soon as he steps onto this campus that he is going to be a focal point and star player on the team. Mizzou making the move to arguably the best football conference in the nation probably didn't hurt either, and going into the weaker, east-side of the conference gives Mizzou tremendous upside heading into the SEC with DGB.

I really like this signing decision by the young star, not only because I study at Mizzou (obviously), but because it shows tremendous self-confidence in his own ability. He could have easily taken the easier road and gone to a better overall team with more supportive talent around him, but this signing shows he wants and will demand the ball all the time. He is going to be the best player on the team as soon as he steps on the field, and I love the swagger he has to be the go-to-guy right away. He has a tall order ahead of him, however, as Mizzou will have a tough schedule next season--taking on powerhouses Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Moving onto DGB the player, I believe his athleticism and skill set are most comparable to that of Detroit star receiver, Calvin Johnson ("Megatron"). Tall, fast, and extremely physical--they are both the type of player where a QB could just lob the ball in their general vicinity and have confidence they will raise up and snatch it every time. These types of plays will be key to Mizzou's success with DGB, considering they do not have the most pass-savvy or accurate QB (unless Franklin vastly improved in the offseason). His ability, along with fellow receiver T.J. Moe, to catch mid-range passes will be crucial to opening up the part of the field where DGB truly shines--deep, down-field passes. No matter what happens, it is obvious that DGB will have a great career where-ever he decided to go to school, but I'm more than ecstatic to have him in a Missouri Tiger uniform.

What's your take on the DGB signing--good or bad decision? Can he make an instant impact? Where will Mizzou end up in the SEC now that they have him? Be sure to comment below and let's get a discussion going!

-John Jr.
follow on twitter @JJ_OConnor

M-I-Z S-E-C?

It is official--the South Eastern Athletic Conference has announced the University of Missouri has been accepted to join starting in the academic year of 2012-2013. After a lengthy exchange between Mizzou and SEC presidents and chancellors over the period of a several weeks, the Tigers were voted unanimously to join the conference along with fellow Big 12 competitor Texas A&M. For official details about the move click here.

Now to the point, was this a good or bad move for the Tigers? On pen and paper, it looks like a solid new fit for most Missouri athletics besides wrestling (The SEC doesn't have wrestling, go figure). The majority of Mizzou fans are really excited about the move out of the Big 12 and into the SEC, but there is pivotal point that they fail to realize about the transition--THE SEC IS BEST FOOTBALL CONFERENCE IN THE NATION. 

Let's be honest, no one gives shit about softball or wrestling or any other college sport for that matter. It all boils down to football, that is all the fans really care about, and in terms of football this move was a terrible decision. "Being in the SEC will lure in better recruits," a Mizzou fan will tell you. Wrong, going 3-9 will not bring in better recruits, especially when Mizzou can't even secure the best recruits from it's own state. "We will at least be able to beat Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss," wrong again, people fail to realize the size and speed difference of the athletes in the SEC, even from the lower tier teams such as those listed above. They are big and fast and can actually play defense, unlike most teams in the Big 12. 

Mizzou was sitting pretty right where it was, playing in the incredibly over-hyped conference known as the Big 12. Point in example, Mizzou has lost it's past two bowl games to out of conference opponents although they were ranked in the top 25 (and one of them was a blow-out to Navy!). This is because the Big 12 is a conference will smaller athletes and less defense, which plays right into the hands of Mizzou's Spread and shoot-out style offense. Leaving the Big 12 was probably the worst thing that could happen to Mizzou's football program, especially in what they would consider a rebuilding year (they are 4-5 after a loss to Baylor last night). 

Some will read this and think I'm bashing Mizzou, no I am not all, I am bashing Mizzou's ignorance. Mizzou needs to know what they are--a mid-tier team in an over-hyped conference. In the Big 12, Mizzou is almost guaranteed a bowl game every year (I mean come on, they play Kansas and Iowa State every year), as well as a top 25 ranking. People are going to tell me they didn't just change for football though, and I will tell them right back "Yeah that is why they joined a conference with no wrestling when Mizzou has been a national contender in wrestling every year for the past 4 years." 

They clearly don't care about the other sports, this was a football move and a business move, and if you were a student at Mizzou you would realize the university is just doing what it can to get it's greedy hands on a little more of that green. 

-John O'Connor