Graham Watson: Hey guys, and welcome to the chat. I'm live at football practice in the Devine Pavilion. I'll be on for a bit, then I'll have to leave. But I'll be back to finish whatever I don't get done.

Bear with me, the internet isn't exactly strong in this building.
Thanks for stopping by. Let's begin.

David: Hey Graham,

So I've been really encouraged to see Fox pushing the Cotton Bowl game in their "Bowl Bash" promos. It appears that Fox is almost equating the game with the other BCS games. Am I right in that assessment? Either way, it's gotta be a great promo push for Mizzou.

Vahe Gregorian: Yeah, I saw that during the Cowboys game last week. Traditionally, the Cotton Bowl is considered the best of the non-BCS bowls, so it's not surprising that Fox would be pushing it. Plus, nearly every article I've read about the various bowls calls this year's Cotton Bowl one of the best bowls to watch.

When the BCS bowls are reassigned and the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium is built, the Cotton Bowl will become a BCS bowl so this is probably Fox's way of pushing that as well.

show me mojo: Graham,
Just curious, if there is a site available that lists the profiles of current redshirt athletes at Mizzou? I am also interested in knowing if the O and D lines were addressed significantly in the prior recruiting year, since those areas have been minimally addressed (thus far) in this current class. TIA

Vahe Gregorian: You can find the profiles of all Missouri's players on mutigers.com, but you'll have to know who you're looking for.

As far as the offensive and defensive line prospects in the recruiting class, the ones to watch are on the offensive line. Travis Ruth and Brad Madison headline the O-line. Both are brothers of current MU players, and both are three-star recruits. I've heard a ton about Travis Ruth. He's the smallest of the offensive linemen height-wise, but probably the heaviest of the group at 300 pounds.

The defensive line wasn't as pressing this year. However, MU did pick up a quality D-end in Raytown's Aldon Smith. He's about the same size as Brian Smith was when he left, but I imagine he'll be up to about 250 by the time he’s ready to play.

michael: Graham
How does Mizzou's offensive line match up against Arkansas? Will they be able to give Chase Daniel time to pick them apart or will he be scrambling out of the pocket to buy time? When Mizzou's offense is "on" it is a thing of beauty to watch.
Thanks
Michael

Vahe Gregorian: I was actually looking at this matchup yesterday, and I think the Arkansas line is going to be a lot like Kansas State's. There isn't really a star. The Arkansas offensive line is really where the quality is.

Arkansas will come at Chase, but I don't think it's going to be as tough as Oklahoma. I would hope MU's offensive line would feel like it needs to atone for its Big 12 championship performance. If Chase is scrambling around, Mizzou won;t be able to get anything going on offense.

Larry Morgenthaler: I am a Mizzou grad who has lived in the Southeast the last 12 years and as a result have seen a lot of SEC football. I congratulate Mizzou on their terrific season, but they should be very concerned about Arkansas. McFadden is the best back in college football (think he is every bit as good if not better than Adrian Peterson who is now playing for the Vikings) and his running mate Jones is also excellent. I was fortunate to see Mizzou play several games on TV this year and although their offense is fantastic, saw nothing that would make me think they can stop Arkansas's running game. Sure hope I am wrong!

Vahe Gregorian: I think Arkansas' running game is fantastic, but Missouri's best defensive weapon all season has been its ability to score points quickly. If Mizzou can put Arkansas in an early hole, Casey Dick will be more involved, which plays to Mizzou's advantage.

I think beyond McFadden and Jones, MU has to watch out for Peyton Hillis. That fullback is not only a great rusher, but also a great option out of the backfield. Not only are those three the Razorbacks' top rushers, they're also the top receivers.

Missouri will have its work cut out for it, but I think watching the film of Arkansas/Tennessee will help. Tennessee had a suspect rushing defense as well, but found a way to be successful. If the Tigers can score consistently, they should win the game by double digits.

kimberly: We all know what kind of a student and a player that Chase Daniel is. He seems like a very cool guy. What kind of a " person " is Chase? Describe what he is like to be around?

Vahe Gregorian: Chase is a lot of fun. During practice, he's always cracking jokes with his teammates. I don't think I've seen a practice where he wasn't laughing. I've known CD since he was 15, and I've never had any problem with him. Yeah, he's confident, but his teammates seem to like having him around.

I also heard he likes long walks on the beach and reading poetry by candlelight... My chat is becoming eGrahamLive.com.

John lively: Graham, dont you think its very important that Mizzou win this game against Arkansas? I see where USA Todays football guru is picking the Hogs by three and it appears that the media who are picking Arkansas cite the same reasoning in that its uncertain how a team who was snubbed by the BCS will perform(mental relapse). I mean its almost 2 weeks now and I find it hard to believe that this is true and will have a everlasting effect on this team. 12-2 and a win in the Cotton Bowl is a heck of a way to finish the season rather than 11-3 and losing your last 2 games. Whats your take-is this team coming out fired up or is it going to be a Mcfadden explosion? Concerned.

Vahe Gregorian: Heck yeah it's important. A win in the Cotton Bowl means a guaranteed top 10 ranking to start next season. Missouri still has to prove that it wasn't a flash in the pan. That it desereved to be in a BCS game and that it was a worthy No. 1 team. If it wins the Cotton Bowl, Mizzou can silence all its critics.

Jude Yahn: Hey GW,
Love the format. Help out some of us who are traveling to the Cotton Bowl. What color do they want us to wear Black or Gold? Besides the $100 a ticket MU New Years party where are MU fans going to ring in 2008 while in Dallas? Hope to see you at the game. TULSA ALUMNI GROUP.

Vahe Gregorian: I bet if it's cold, Mizzou will encourage fans to wear black because it's easier to find warm clothing in black. That was the deal with the MU/KU game, as well.

I heard there is a New Years party at McKinney Tavern in Uptown. It's an alumni event. I don't have much more info than that.

Graham Watson: OK. I have to take a sec to walk across the street. I'll be right back.

Graham Watson: OK. I'm back. I had to walk over to the press box. Mizzou kicks us out of the practice so it can work on super secret stuff.

Frank: Graham,
Great job on the Tigers this year. I live in KC but read your columns. Anyway my question is who will the Tigers Punter be next year??

Thanks
Frank

Vahe Gregorian: Honestly, I hope it's someone I've never met because the punter that is currently here has done nothing to impress anyone. Granted, he has an entire summer to go to camps and get better.

As of right now, the punter is Jake Harry, but there's a better punter that plays on the MU baseball team.

Chas W.: Was very glad to see the Tigers got the commitment from the talented DB Kenji Jackson this week. Any idea how many open spots are available for this recruiting class? Any new rumblings out of Columbia in regards to any other possible/pending commitments?

Vahe Gregorian: I think there are about four or five spots remaining in this class. The offers are out, it's just a metter of getting them back. No new offers will be made and if Mizzou doesn't fill those scholarships, they'll give the extras to deserving senior walk-ons.

The commitment people are waiting on is Will Compton. That's really the only one that is generating a lot of excitement. Jeremy Sanders, Dan Hoch, Jacquies Smith and Zaviar Gooden ar a few others that are on the hook.

Mike: Will Carroll's ankle injury be a season-long issue for him or is it your understanding that he just needs some extended time off to heal up? If it's the latter when, exactly, will he be able to rest?

Vahe Gregorian: He won't be able to rest until after the season, so yes, it will be a season-long injury. He's getting treatment everyday and doing the things he needs to do to get better, but an ankle injury will only completely heal with time. The more he plays on it, the more he aggravates it. Eventually, he'll just get used to playing in pain and he won’t even think about it anymore.

BCC: Graham,
If the Tigers win the Braggin' Rights game, will that generate some more excitement about this team and start filling up Mizzou Arena? When will the bad taste of Dr. Quin Medicine Man clear out of everyone's mouth?

Vahe Gregorian: I would hope that if Mizzou wins the Braggin' Rights game, people will get excited about this team. I've said it 30 times this season, this team is worth watching. Yeah, it's not going to win every game and turn into a basketball powerhouse, but it's playing hard and doing everything right.

I'm not sure what it will take for this team to win its fans back. But averaging 5,000 fans is ridiculous. I just don’t get how Missouri fans can be so fair-weather and then expect the university to bend to their ridiculous list of demands. If you want to park closer, buy a parking pass. Otherwise, wear tennis shoes. Heck, even I have to walk up Hearnes Hill.

No matter what people think, basketball is still a business. Tickets aren't going to be given away, but I think $10 is a pretty enticing way to get people in the seats.

All the other complaints are just excuses from a fanbase that's looking for a way to make itself feel better about being apathetic toward its teams. Few fanbases are more all talk and little action than Mizzou’s.

oktiger: Graham-Now that we are just a couple of weeks from Big 12 play...how do you see the Tigers' basketball team faring in conference? It seems to me you have Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M...and then a free-for-all. I would think we would have a realistic shot at fourth or fifth and a NCAA bid.

Vahe Gregorian: I think Mizzou will be decent in Big 12 play especially after the schedule it's faced. There shouldn't be a four-game losing streak to start the season. However, I do think Saturday's game goes a long way in seeing how far Mizzou has progressed these last couple of months and should be a good indicator of how Mizzou will do in conference.

I agree that fourth or fifth is a realistic shot.

Brian: Have you heard any projections on the crowd breakdown for the Cotton Bowl (what percentage pro-Mizzou) ?

Do you believe this game has the ability to sway any current noncomitted recruits ?

Based on their embarassingly weak schedule, how in the world did Mangino win Coach of Year award over Pinkel ? I understand exceeding expectations but should a first grader doing multiplication win Student of the Year over an eighth grader whipping calculus ?

Vahe Gregorian: I've heard there's a slight lean toward Mizzou in terms of fanbase, but nothing noticeable. A lot of fans go to this game as fans and route for a good game rather than a specific team.

I do think a good showing will help with recruiting, but probably more for the 2009 class. This class is almost complete and I think all the recruits still out there have a pretty good idea about what they’re getting with Mizzou. Still, a win wouldn't hurt.

Mangino won COY because no one expected anything out of Kansas. Yes, the schedule was weak, but going undefeated and beating some of the teams that KU did was still impressive. It went on the road and won at A&M, Boulder, Manhattan, places it hadn't played well in the past. Plus, KU's in a BCS bowl. I think that's what swayed voters away from Pinkel.

BCC: Will any of the Tigers who asked for draft status leave early?

Vahe Gregorian: I don't think so. The one I'd worry about would be William Moore, but I don't think he'll be a first or second-rounder, which would be the only reason an underclassmen should leave.

Amy: Graham,
Where will the Tigers be staying in Dallas?
Also,
Since MU will be the home team in 2008 vs KU, is that game ticket included in the season tix package? Same question for Illinois game too.
Thanks
Merry Xmas
Amy

Vahe Gregorian: Mizzou is at the Hilton Anatole. Again, I do not condone stalking...

I honestly don't know about the season ticket package. MU traditionally doesn't include neutral games in its season ticket packages. I'd get those Illinois tickets as soon as they go on sale in July because both teams will be ranked to start the season. KU might not be as enticing as it was this year.

Snake: Graham-

Once again, I need to ask you about my friend, Cloudson, and his well-being for our group's trip to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. With it being New Years Eve, followed by tailgating and the kickoff shortly after, should I be concerned for his safety? As a reminder, he is a big Mizzou fan and enjoys yelling at fans of the opposing team.

Thanks.

Vahe Gregorian: Fans in the SEC don't mess around, according to the MU basketball coaches who are from Arkansas. I'd muzzle your friend and keep the flask in the car.

kimberly: hello graham.

I don't know if my questions went through or not. First off, I wanted to thank you for responding to my email. I do have some questions for you. We all know what a great football player, and student that Chase Daniel is. What kind of a person is he off the feild? What is he like to be around?

The next question that I have , is will he be back next year? He sounds like he will ,though he did submit his name to the NFL for them to evaluate him.

Vahe Gregorian: Chase Daniel isn't going anywhere after this season. The evaluation is to see what the NFL thinks he needs to do to become a high draft pick. I don't know if elective leg lengthening surgery is something CD wants to do this offseason.

buddy1999: Hey Graham

I saw some Chase DanielS stuff on ebay. Not a question, I just know you would get a kick out of that.

Buddy1999

Vahe Gregorian: I also read a preview - I think it was secblogger.com - that calls him Daniels over and over again. Brent Musburger must be writing it. It's not even that great of a preview, which makes the error much less forgivable.

My brother wanted a Chase Daniels jersey for Christmas. he was disappointed when I told him he didn't play for the team. My brother also calls the school Mizzu. No O. It's good to see my family take a real interest in what I do.

Awkward.

Grahams

Graham Watson: My work here is done. Thanks and I'll see you live from Dallas next week.