The Missouri Tigers’ football team began practice Monday with the highest preseason ranking in team history.
The Tigers, who finished fourth in the nation last year after a New Year’s Day thrashing of Arkansas, open the 2008 campaign ranked seventh in the nation in the coaches’ poll. Missouri’s previous high was 10th in 1969.
Houston native and sophomore linebacker Jeff Gettys said that although the recognition is nice, it won’t effect the team’s approach for what could be a memorable season.
“All the hard work we put in last year is being noticed,” said Gettys, a former walk-on who was given a scholarship with the team during the summer. “We have to keep working as hard as last year. Nothing will be given to us. We can easily drop down. People will be happy to knock us off.”
The players endured sweltering heat during Monday’s first session at 3:30 in the afternoon. It was 95 degrees with a 109-degree heat index and zero shade. The rest of the week’s practices will be at 7:15 a.m. to avoid the miserable conditions.
Monday and Tuesday’s practices were helmets only. Wednesday and today’s (Thursday) practices will be in shoulder pads before the team works out in full pads Friday.
Next week, the Tigers will alternate two-a-day practices with single workouts. There are a pair of scrimmages also scheduled.
“Besides being hot, it wasn’t too bad,” Gettys said of the first practice. “A lot of fundamentals.”
Gettys stayed in Columbia this summer, working at a car wash owned by teammate Van Alexander’s father during the day and participating in 7-on-7 drills four times a week at night. He also ran with the team at 6 a.m.
Gettys, who switched his uniform number from 53 to 35, is listed second on the depth chart at strongside linebacker behind Alexander. He said he’s on the first units of the kickoff return and field goal teams.
Missouri returns 10 starters on an underrated defense that ranked in the conference’s top four in three major categories. The offense has six returning starters, led by quarterback and Heisman finalist Chase Daniel and All-American wideout Jeremy Maclin.
Missouri opens its season Saturday, Aug. 30, against Illinois in St. Louis. The home opener is the following weekend against Southeast Missouri State.