Missouri team wins the crystal football trophy.
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel held the crystal Big 12 North trophy this past Saturday night. Though he had three losing seasons in the previous six years, Pinkel never wavered, neither did his players who celebrated at Arrowhead Stadium after beating then-No. 2 Kansas 36-28.
Just one more win in the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma on Saturday, and the Tigers will play for their first national title in school history. Missouri moved to No. 1 in the Bowl Championship Series standings and the Associated Press media poll Sunday, just ahead of West Virginia.
As Coach Pinkel held the rectangular crystal football trophy after his team handed the Jayhawks their first loss, he looked ahead to the next goal. “Now I’d like the rounder one,” he said. As in the crystal football that goes to the national champion? “I’m talking about the Big 12 championship trophy. Let’s not jump the gun here.”