What else can you say? Them's classic Tiger duds. 9/10, only note is it's not a true Mizzou Week One fit without gold pants
Now more than ever let me say that WE ARE SO BACK.
I'm just as jazzed about football as the next guy, but reviving Rock M-ixology is pretty high up on my list of things I'm excited about this fall. Introducing the feature to my list of weekly duties last year was one of my most inspired moments, and I'm excited to share some more recipes with y'all this year. So let's get mixing, aye?
My initial search was for "racer cocktail," which brought me to the Downhill Racer, a pineapple juice, rum and amaretto confection that seems easy enough. But unfortunately for me, I don't have any amaretto on hand at the moment. So we're going to dig a little deeper. And by "a little" I mean "the next link over." That's where I found a recipe for the Puerto Rican Racer, courtesy of Tuxedo No. 2.
Now the site here says this is a "wintry mixed-base" drink, but you're going to have a hard time convincing me that something with both rum and grenadine is meant for cold months. I get that brandy and Peychaud's are cold-weather coded, but I think the sweeter nature of Yellow Chartreuse -- the inferior of the two, but still a tasty treat -- can make this play to the summer-fall crossover period.
Just one slight modification on this one as I'm going to opt for a navy-strength rum over an aged rum because, well, I don't have any aged rum at the moment. Forgive me, I'm starting off the year with a light cabinet.
2 oz aged rum, ½ oz apple brandy, ½ oz yellow chartreuse, 1 tsp grenadine, 1 dash peychaud's bitters
Combine all ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into a rocks glass over a big cube
Unfortunately, my substitution is what may have doomed this drink. I'm no stranger to a boozy cocktail, but the navy strength rum ultimately was too much for a cocktail that needed something mellower in the base. The extreme sugars and molasses of the navy strength and brandy, combined with the herbal syrupy sweetness of the chartreuse and Peychaud's gave this an incredibly thick texture (and not in a good way) and an aftertaste that resembled old hard candy. I don't do this often, but I dumped it after three sips.
So yeah... not a good omen! But what's the first week always about? Getting mistakes out of the way under low pressure circumstances.
Josh Matejka, Deputy Site Manager: Pretty good! The Cardinals are mediocre again and St. Louis City is basically redoing their team on the fly, so the summer sports were pretty dreary. But I otherwise had a good summer -- had a film debut at multiple film festivals, pulled off some big work projects, read a few books and watched a few movies. No complaints here.
Quentin Corpuel, Football Beat Writer: The summer was very kind to me! I had the pleasure of not only going back to my home state of Maryland, but I got the opportunity to do play-by-play and color commentary for my local summer college baseball team, the Bethesda Big Train (named after Walter Johnson, whose fastballs sounded like a train going by according to some opposing batters). We called some pretty epic games, and we even ate hot dogs on air. But most importantly, Bethesda captured its seventh league championship in eight seasons. Roll Train!
Dan Keegan, Football Staff Writer: Hey Q! My high school baseball coach played for the Big Train. What a world. I had a great summer. Played EA College Football, played Star Wars Unlimited, got a great new opportunity at my day job, and we made a magazine!
Sammy Stava, Staff Writer: I got to cross something off my sports bucket list for my 30th birthday over the summer in going to the College World Series in Omaha. It was an awesome experience, and I totally recommend going to it. The Summer Olympics in Paris were also fun to watch with some former Mizzou athletes competing. Other than that, just counting down the days until Mizzou Football.
Chad Moller, Staff Writer: Another great one for me, didn't play as much golf as I was hoping to, but actually got some things figured out with my swing/game so it was a beneficial summer season. Royals actually have given me something to follow over the summer, so that has been great. Spent a week in Cabo at a resort with my wife and friends and had a blast. Drove from Portland, Maine to Kansas City, Mo. with our youngest daughter as she wrapped up her summer internship with L.L. Bean before she drove the rest of the way to Salt Lake City, where she is starting her senior year at Utah. That was a hard drive, wouldn't recommend it, but the company was great!
Levi Hutmacher, Digital Media Content Producer: Summer was a weird one for me. Spent most of it working on the Rock M Plus magazine (buy it) and spent a lot of time outside with family. We ended summer with a trip to Florida with the family and ended up getting stuck in Hurricane Debby for a couple extra days. And I am closing my summer out with back-to-back national title appearances for my Mizzou team on CFB 2025. A chill summer indeed.
Josh Matejka: Probably since 2008 if we had to name a time, but I think this is the most I've ever anticipated a single season. I had no frame of reference for what success above 2007 could look like, so that felt like the mountaintop. Now that I know there's another step to take, and that Mizzou is primed to take it? Boy oh boy.
Quentin Corpuel: Not applicable? I've only followed Mizzou since 2022; I decided that I'd attend MU just a few months before the season-opener against Louisiana Tech.
Dan Keegan: This year is #1 with a bullet for me.
Sammy Stava: Maybe ever? I remember 2008 and 2014 were highly anticipated but the 12-team playoff changes things. I'm not saying National Championship or anything but if they can get in, hey, anything can happen.
Chad Moller: Echoing above thoughts, I'd have to go with 2008 or 2014 just because what those seasons followed.
Levi Hutmacher: I would say the 2014 season for me. Coming off 2013, similar to this past year, there was just so much momentum and excitement.
Josh Matejka: I've been on the Joshua Manning train for a while. And while it's risky to pick him as my breakout given the depth in the wide receiver room, I feel like we're about to see the next great Mizzou wide receiver force his way onto the scene that already features Luther Burden and Theo Wease.
Quentin Corpuel: Dreyden Norwood has been the unquestioned CB1 for months; Eli Drinkwitz even said it himself. But there hasn't been too much preseason praise sent his way from the outside. It's at least somewhat understandable considering that there are plenty of proven cornerbacks in the SEC that have at least one year of starting experience under their belt (Maxwell Hairston, Daylan Everette, etc.). Norwood, who backed up Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in back-to-back seasons, doesn't have that experience. But he's shown that he's more than capable of being a Power Four-level outside cornerback, and now, he'll get his best chance to shine.
Dan Keegan: As a Sun Belt follower and enjoyer, I was thrilled to see Nate Noel, one of the best players in that league, join our Tigers. Early in spring I pegged him as a chance to actually take the lead chair role ahead of Carroll, who had better stats and committed first, and my prediction was born out. I think Noel is going to really impress people, and I'm excited to watch his explosive plays.
Sammy Stava: I'll go with the other players from the St. Louis area. On the offensive side of the ball, I wrote that Brett Norfleet is ready for a breakout sophomore season as he can thrive in this Kirby Moore offense. On defense, Clemson transfer Toriano Pride will have a big season in store at the cornerback position.
Chad Moller: I'll go a different route and say that a low-key important dude this year is Blake Craig so while I hope we win every game by 40 points, if he does get called on in a pressure situation, what's he capable of? Don't underestimate how important this could be in 2024.
Levi Hutmacher: Personally, I would say Brett Norfleet. It's been a while since Mizzou has had a tight end to be excited about, and Brett fits that bill for me. But since he was already mentioned, I am going to go with Marquis Johnson. He showed so many flashes last season, I am excited to see how he might fit in with another loaded offensive unit and set himself up for glory next season.
Josh Matejka:
Quentin Corpuel: (Bart Simpson writing on the chalkboard) I will not put stock into coincidences. I will not put stock into coincidences. I will not put stock into coincidences. I will not put stock into coincidences...
Dan Keegan: I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious....
Sammy Stava: Probably just a coincidence. But hey, in 2013 they also played a MAC opponent in Week 2 and their first SEC game was also Vanderbilt, so who knows?
Chad Moller: Welp that's all I needed to hear. 16-0 here we come!
Levi Hutmacher: Since we Iive in a simulation, yes fate is at play and Mizzou is going to the College Football Playoff.
Josh Matejka: Mizzou is favored by 48 points, which is absurd because theres no way that's happening. I'll take a 48-16 win with Nate Noel busting a 70-plus yarder at some point.
Quentin Corpuel: I'll take Mizzou 45-17. The current point spread is 47.5; the Tigers haven't beaten a team by at least 48 points since they walloped SEMO 50-0 in 2019, and I don't think it'll happen this time. I think Josh Manning will make a sweet leaping catch at some point during the game.
Dan Keegan: Mizzou 52, Murray State 10. Noel busts a long one, and a Triston Newson scoop n score puts this one ice.
Sammy Stava: I don't see Mizzou covering a huge 47.5 point spread as the starters get out by halftime, but the Tigers win comfortably 38-3. Jamal Roberts will find the endzone for the last touchdown of the game with about 5:00 left to play.
Chad Moller: I mean, I can't imagine any Mizzou fan who dabbles in the science of gambling would feel comfortable laying 48 points, so with that in mind I think Drink gets his 1s out quickly and then turns it over to the reserves late second quarter to take it home. I'll go 28-3 at halftime, and then 45-10 final. I just want to see six clean Blake Craig PATs and then a smooth 45-yarder when a drive stalls out in the third quarter.
Levi Hutmacher: I think this game will be unlike other non-con Mizzou games of the past that we got used to. I think this team is going to come out firing and be up 38-7 at half, and then finish with a score of 55-17. Nic Deloach is my pick for random highlight moment. I am thinking a one-handed interception snagged to stop Murray St from a rare positive drive.