Tony Temple, Superstar

For four years Tiger fans have been waiting for Tony Temple to live up to the hype. Not that he's had a bad career by any stretch of the imagination...but just not quite what everyone expected from the phenom from Rockhurst. But this? This was more than anyone ever expected. 281 yards, 4 TDs, 11.7 yards per carry...absurd numbers in any game. In the Cotton Bowl, on New Year's Day, to break 50 year old records? No, not even the biggest of Temple supporters expected this.

The Tony Temple era got off to a rocky start in 2004 because of what many viewed as a boneheaded decision by head coach Gary Pinkel. Pinkel pulled his redshirt against Nebraska, Temple carried the ball 6 times for 13 yards before getting hurt, and Tony Temple's freshman season was over. Personally, I think Pinkel's decision put a bad taste in many Tiger fans mouths that seemed to only get worse in 2005 when he ran for 437 yards. Half way through his career as a Tiger, Temple had 450 yards rushing, not exactly what he or anyone else envisioned.
Maybe that's why when he ran for 1063 yards last year, no one was jumping up and down singing Temple's praises. Even his 194 yard, 2 TD outburst was overshadowed by Oregon State's comeback in the Sun Bowl.

But this year there would be no overshadowing Temple. No controversial coaching decisions, no late game debacles, just Tony Temple doing what everyone had hoped he always would. Breaking tackles, scoring touchdowns, leading Mizzou to a victory in a New year's Day bowl...this was the dream Tiger fans and Temple had when he agreed to come to Missouri.

Two things stood out to me from this game. The first was Temple's first touchdown run. He flat out looked inspired, as if there would be no stopping him that day. How long had Tiger fans and coaches been waiting for that? The second was him being carried off the field by his teammates after his last touchdown run. Temple had given everything his body could and now his teammates were carrying him off the field to the cheers of Tiger fans after a record breaking day. How long had Tony Temple been waiting for that?