1958: The Last Time Mizzou & Vanderbilt Met in Football

Sports trivia:

When Vanderbilt faces off with Mizzou Saturday night in Columbia (6 p.m. kickoff on Fox Sports Midwest), the team with James Franklin will definitely be the winner.

Seems that James Franklin coaches Vandy while James Franklin is Mizzou’s starting quarterback. Don’t worry, they are not related, but something has to give.

Mizzou is 3-2 (0-2 in the SEC) coming off a 21-16 road win at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The Commodores were pasted by Georgia 48-3 and sport a 1-3 record (0-2 in the SEC.)

Mizzou covets a win with home games coming up in October (13th) with top-ranked Alabama and an Oct. 27 game with Kentucky (home coming).

Here comes Vandy

This is the first meeting between the schools since Dwight David Eisenhower presided in the White House in 1958. Mizzou leads the modest series 1-2-1.

Vandy can both run and pass the ball. Senior running back Zac Stacy is setting all kinds of school records, rushing for a career so far of 2,343 yards and 21 TDs. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews can go get it. He has had 5 consecutive games of more than 100 yards receiving per game. He’s a deep threat along with speedy Chris Boyd.

Feasting on home cooking

Mizzou is ready to enjoy the 3 consecutive home games during the mild month of October. The Zoo should be packed to its limit of 71,004 for each match. 

There was cause for celebration when much ballyhooed receiver Dorial Green-Beckham inked to be a Tiger last spring. He rewarded his admirers breaking away for an 80-yard TD against UCF.

Quarterback James Franklin, Corinth,TX has returned to form. He has a whole host of receivers, T.J. Moe, L’Damian Washington and company.

The Tigers have a high octane offense. Speedster tailback Marcus Murphy, sophomore, DeSoto, TX leads the nation with 3 punt return TDs.

Kendial Lawrence, senior back is going out in style. He rushed for 138 yards alone in the second half against UCF.

Franklin is helping his own cause. He went 19 for 30 passing in the UCF win with 257 yards and 1 TD.

Defensively, the Tigers are pinning their hope on tackle Sheldon Richardson who was an All American at Gateway Tech and spent two years in a California junior college. After breaking Southern Cal’s hearts, he returned to Columbia and last week, had 8 tackles, 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries. He is playing more football and talking less these days.

The Tigers tend to be focused and stingy in the Zoo. They are 33-7 at home since the 2006 season.

Prediction: Clear skies, 70 degrees: Mizzou 24, Vandy 10