Time to Bail: Mizzou should leave for the SEC

Sometimes, no matter what decision is made on a big topic, you lose somehow.

This is the decision the University of Missouri faces in terms of whether or not they want to go the SEC, Big 10 or stick it out in the Big 12.

If Missouri picks either the SEC or Big 10, a lot of history will be lost.

If Missouri picks the Big 10, it could hurt football recruiting since a lot of it is being done in Texas these days.

If Missouri picks the SEC, it could hurt the long-term competitive possibilities for the Tigers. The SEC is far and away the best football conference in America and Missouri would probably be lucky to win 9 or 10 games in the SEC as often as they have in the Big 12.

If Missouri sticks it out in the Big 12, they run the risk of being left behind once it inevitably falls apart.

Either course of action could be a risk for the football program.

But the best decision and best future for the Tigers is making the move south to the SEC.

Reasons: 

1. It's the SEC. It's definitely more difficult, but Mizzou would be playing with the big boys. The SEC receives well deserved favoritism from the press and based on how many SEC teams I see play bowl games on or after New Year's Day, it appears they have great bowl arrangements. The bowl arrangements are laughable in the Big 12.

2. Recruiting would improve. With Texas A&M officially being welcomed today as the 13th member of the SEC, the recruiting pipeline in Texas would be somewhat maintained. With Florida and Georgia in the SEC, that opens up a possible connection to Florida, another great recruiting state. In 2010, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina all ranked in the Top 10 in terms of the number of NFL players each state can claim. All four of those schools are prominently featured in the SEC. Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa are not exactly recruiting havens in the Big 12.

3. Exposure to the rest of the country. Having occasionally traveled in my life, I can say SEC games are easily found across the nation. It's difficult to check out a Big 12 game in California, but the SEC is featured on CBS and ESPN. The conference will likely boast the largest TV contract in the game, meaning the dollars will be there for Missouri.

4. Missouri's had some success in the past against the SEC. In the all-time history of the Missouri football program, the Tigers are 20-8-1 against SEC schools. Just four short years ago, they thumped an Arkansas team by 31 points that featured NFL-leading rusher Darren McFadden. It would absolutely be more difficult for the Tigers to win the SEC than Big 12. No question about that. But they would still remain competitive. Arkansas, a program similar to Missouri's, played in the Sugar Bowl last year.

5. At the end of the day, the SEC offers the most stability. Those who operate the University of Missouri need to care about the future of athletics first and foremost. The Sprint Center should not matter in those discussions. The Kansas City economy should not matter in those discussions. For now, unless if the Big 12 offers a very credible expansion plan, the SEC is Mizzou's best option.

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Introducing new contributor David Brox

KCK Preps is happy to introduce a new contributor to the Website today.

David Brox, who produces highlights for area athletes, will be producing videos for KCK Preps as well.

Brox is operating a new business and service called Sports Highlights Unlimited.

Athletes and their families can invest in a very nice highlight package by Brox that will assist them for portfolio purposes and with it getting on YouTube, any college coach could stumble onto it at any given time.

I highly recommend his work and business.

Over the next week, there will be more information available.

For now, you can visit Brox's Facebook business page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sport-Highlights-Unlimited/133862673374531

Or, check out his YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/highlightsunlimited

To reach Brox by email, use: sporthighlightsunlimited@yahoo.com 

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Behind the Numbers: Schlagle's outstanding running attack

Fun fact for the day - Schlagle has the same amount of wins as the they do pass completions this year. 

The 4-0 Stallions have only attempted to pass the ball 10 times this year, completing four of them.  

Things have gone so well for Schlagle this year that even the passing game, as little has it has been used, has been productive. 

Two of D.J. Sayles' four completions have gone for touchdowns. He's averaging over 20 yards per completion. 

Still, let's not get confused: Schlagle's running game is the biggest reason why they are 4-0 to begin the season.

A look at some of the guys responsible for the production: 

1. J'veyon Browning. Through four weeks of the season, Browning is the KCK Football Player of the Year, with all due respect to the seven other schools. As Tony Soprano would say, "end of story." He has 768 yards on the ground already and is averaging nearly 9.5 yards per pop. Seven touchdowns have boosted the Stallions as well and in two games against KCKAL opponents, Browning has over 400 yards and three touchdowns. Against Harmon last week, Browning had 30 carries for 232 yards. One word comes to mind for Browning: STUD. 

2. Fellow junior Keyaun Burke is also lighting up the running game. He has 244 yards on just 32 carries. Harmon did a nice job containing him, but he still had a touchdown. He's had two 90-yard games while primarily serving as the backup. 

3. Elijah Owens, senior, has a whopping four carries this year. But somehow he still has 103 yards on the ground. Three of his carries have been at least 18 yards.  

4. If those three guys are not enough, Trevon Wallace (also a junior), Devante Clark (senior) and sophomore Eric Jackson have a combined 18 carries for over 150 yards. Each of those guys are averaging at least 5 yards a carry. 

5. And most importantly - an outstanding offensive line. Being a fat guy myself, I have to look out for my fellow "fat guys." Watching the game film, offensive linemen Tyler Wallace, Stephon Mcintosh, James Medlock, Robert Castro and Dario Diaz all played well against Harmon last week. A good offensive line in the KCKAL is essential to winning the league and right now, Schlagle's fat guys are really dominating. (For sensitive people out there, "fat guy" is a compliment in football and in no way am I making fun of them. And plus, fat guys can be athletic on the offensive line. Ask Will Shields and Willie Roaf about that.) 

I have great news for Wyandotte, Sumner Academy, Harmon and Washington fans - Browning, Burke, Wallace and Jackson are all underclassman, meaning Schlagle could be set up for another nice run next year. 

Tyler Wallace, Mcintosh and Medlock are also underclassman, meaning the majority of the offensive line that started against Harmon will return next year, assuming there are no injuries or transfers.

It's unusual to say this - but both the future and present look good for head coach Tim Dorian's squad. 

With another year together, Schlagle's running game could be even deadlier next year.

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If the KCK basketball programs were Big 12 schools

Kansas City, Kan., has eight high school basketball programs.

Following Texas A&M's exit from the Big 12 this weekend, there are only nine basketball programs in the Big 12.

That got me thinking - if the KCK basketball programs represented a Big 12 program, who would represent what?

The "if this was what" piece has been done too many times, but here's a local spin on it.

Wyandotte is the Kansas Jayhawks: The biggest slam-dunk. Like Kansas, Wyandotte is the traditional basketball program. Like Kansas, Wyandotte has an awesome and historic gym. Kansas has put countless players in the NBA. Wyandotte has put countless players in Division 1 basketball. There is one minor difference: Wyandotte's fans aren't annoying, arrogant or groupie-like as KU's basketball fans are. (Just kidding, Jayhawks fans)

Sumner Academy is the Texas Longhorns: Like Texas, Sumner Academy is the new player on the block and like Texas, Sumner's been the league power in most of the league's sports in the past four or five years. And like Texas, opposing fans, players and coaches take delight whenever Sumner loses a game.

Washington is the Missouri Tigers: This comparison could upset head coach Eric King, who's one of the better KU fans I actually know. But it's a worthy one. Like Missouri, Washington has never won the big one. The Wildcats have never quite won a state title, just like the Missouri Tigers have never made the Final Four. (By the way, Ronald Reagan was wrong: "The Missouri Tigers have never made the Final Four" are the nine most terrifying words of the English language, not the phrase President Reagan said was.) Anyway, like Missouri, Washington is instrumental in many of the local rivalries here. Washington may not have the tradition of a Wyandotte or Schlagle, but the Wildcats are still very relevant in the discussion like Missouri is. This comparison would be even better if Missouri still played at the Hearnes Center, which at its peak was the toughest and loudest gym in the Big 12. The noise in Washington's gym resembles a Hornet's Nest.

Harmon is the Kansas State Wildcats: The 1980s was one of the best decades the Kansas State Wildcats had. The late 1980s is the best stretch of basketball Harmon basketball has seen. Sumner Academy girls head coach Torrence Allen played on the Harmon teams that were very relevant in the 1980s and early 1990s. Like Kansas State, however, Harmon fell off the basketball map in the mid 1990s to mid 2000s. The Hawks have returned somewhat to relevance over the past six years, just like Kansas State has. One minor difference: Harmon or no KCK team quite has a coach like Frank Martin....in so many ways.

Schlagle is the Oklahoma State Cowboys: Hey, everybody! Did you know the Oklahoma State Cowboys have two basketball titles? Oklahoma State, besides Kansas, has the best basketball tradition in the Big 12 conference. Many fans have forgotten that fact. Like Oklahoma State, I feel many KCK fans have forgotten about Schlagle basketball and the tradition it has. The Stallions won two state titles, like Oklahoma State. I imagine this comparison may not be welcomed too much by head coach David Johnson, who played at Oklahoma, the biggest rival Oklahoma State has.

Turner is the Texas Tech Red Raiders: Texas Tech, like Turner, is a difficult program to win it. Turner is a football school by nature, just like Lubbock, Texas is. There's nothing wrong with that but at both schools, the identity is definitely football.

Bishop Ward is the Baylor Bears: Besides the "both schools are small and religious" comparison, there's this - both Ward and Baylor have both had good years and bad years. Ward and Baylor are both tough coaching gigs, but a special coach can win there.

Piper is the Iowa State Cyclones: Eh, not the strongest comparison really. But I'm running out of teams and it's hard to put Piper in a category. The best comparison is both schools are smaller by nature, but have very passionate fan bases. Iowa State fans invade Kansas City when the basketball tournament is held at the Sprint Center. Piper fans travel very well with their teams, at least in the times I've covered them. A personal opinion: Iowa State has the best fans in the Big 12 and Piper has the best fans in KCK. I will now duck and cover when I attend games at the other seven schools.

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