One Last Look at 2006

Columbia Daily Tribune › December 31, 2006

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Summary

What could possibly go wrong when a radio color commentator is sent to remind a struggling coach that it might be the right time to resign? As it turned out, plenty. The strange departure of Missouri basketball Coach Quin Snyder and the backlash that almost took down Athletic Director Mike Alden occupied our thoughts for most of February and March. When the dust settled, Alden still had his job and MU had a promising new coach in Mike Anderson. Over the summer, a bunch of 12-year-olds had Columbians glued to their television sets as Little League World Series fever gripped the town. In the fall, Chase Daniel proved that there is life after Brad Smith. The Missouri wrestling team crowned an individual national champion and showed a team title might be in the offing. These stories and more grabbed headlines in 2006. Before the calendar turns, here's a look back.

January

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Extract

One Last Look at 2006

FALSE POSITIVE: The new year began with promise at the University of Missouri. Fans already giddy about the Tigers' inspired comeback victory over South Carolina in the Independence Bowl got some additional jollies from an unlikely source: Coach Quin Snyder's basketball team.

For some context, recall the ugliness directed toward Snyder at the end of 2005, when he had popcorn dumped on his head by a Missouri fan after the Tigers lost by 32 points to Illinois in the Braggin' Rights game. So it was a pleasant surprise when the Tigers opened Big 12 play with a 3-1 record. That four-game run included an out-of-the-blue victory at 22nd-ranked Oklahoma and was capped by a stunning 89-86 overtime victory over Kansas at Mizzou Arena. In an ESPN Big Monday game, MU trailed 72-63 with 1:34 left. But Missouri's Thomas Gardner, who scored 40 points, hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with 5.6 seconds left, and KU's Christian Moody missed two free throws with 0.4 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Afterward, Snyder and Gardner hugged tight.

"I don't think we're a great team, but we were great at times tonight, and this was a great game," Snyder said.

The good times wouldn't last, nor would Snyder and Gardner at Missouri.

TOO MUCH FOR BEARS: The unheralded Missouri women's basketball team scored its own startling upset and backed it up with consistent success behind the one-t...

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