COLUMBIA, MO. • Freshman Steve Goldberg is accustomed to being among the first students in line for entrance to Mizzou Arena on game days. And that's when he arrives 2½ hours before tipoff.

But for Mizzou's final home game against Kansas as a member of the Big 12, not even 55 hours was enough lead time to put Goldberg and nine friends at the front. It was, however, enough to get them in the first two rows Saturday night for the third meeting between the programs when both have been ranked in the top 10.

Fans who endured multiple nights along with some bad weather were treated to pizza, coffee and doughnuts and visits from coach Frank Haith and various Missouri players as the days passed.

The final appearance came three hours before tipoff when Haith emerged from the arena to address the crowd, which was in the thousands before doors opened.

"Frank came out and did about a minute and a half speech," said Goldberg, whose group had the seventh tent in line. "Everyone crowded around him. He was right in the middle and grabbed the mike and started talking. He said, 'Listen, everybody, this is all about us. This isn't about who we're playing.'"

Of course, that was not what fans were thinking as the Tigers and Jayhawks prepared to battle for position atop the Big 12.

The game drew an array of recognizable figures, including Gov. Jay Nixon, who held a press conference to announce an initiative to build new homes in Joplin.

But no one was welcomed more warmly than Dorial Green-Beckham, the Mizzou football signee, who got a standing ovation 15 minutes before the game as he strolled to his seat in the student section.

The only person who came close to receiving as much love was ESPN's Dick Vitale, who posed for photos and chatted with students long before the arena was filled. And he shared his opinion on the future of the series.

"This is one of the great rivalries," Vitale said. "I believe they somehow have to continue to play. They really do. Even if it's once a year. You think about Kentucky-Louisville, Georgia-Georgia Tech, Clemson-South Carolina. They're not in a league (together), but they still play each other. You have to think about the fans, the players, the alumni, the media. We need it."

Goldberg and hundreds of others deemed it important enough to dedicate a few days to build up. The first campers arrived Wednesday night. Mizzou center Steve Moore showed up twice Thursday, Goldberg said. Haith made his first appearance Friday morning, delivering coffee and doughnuts. And players Jarrett Sutton and Laurence Bowers brought pizzas Friday night.

Saturday started with the cast of ESPN's College GameDay doing its two-hour show from the floor of the arena as about 5,000 fans arrived to participate.

Mizzou sprang for extra special effects. Fireworks and a fog machine were used for player introductions during the GameDay show, and there were more pyrotechnics during pregame festivities, leaving a haze hovering above the court as the game began.