Kansas City, Mo. ? Chase Daniel stood on the Arrowhead Stadium field late Saturday night, pointing his index finger toward a throng of Missouri fans who were wildly celebrating their Tigers’ 36-28 victory over rival Kansas University.
“If we’re not the No. 1 team in the nation tomorrow, something’s wrong,” Daniel told a pair of TV reporters before exiting to a happy Tiger locker room.
West Virginia just might emerge as the No. 1 team in the land today, but the Tigers, the champions of the Big 12 North, also figure to garner serious consideration in the polls and BCS standings.
“It’s all good,” Daniel said 30 minutes later to a throng of reporters. “We’re playing at a pretty high level. With No. 1 (LSU) and 2 (KU) losing, hopefully things will take care of themselves.”
Daniel – he was magnificent in completing 40 of 49 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions – grinned when asked in the interview room if his effort against KU made him the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
“I’ll let you all take care of that. I’m just trying to stay the course,” said Daniel, whose Tigers will play Oklahoma next in the Big 12 title game.
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel gushed about Daniel after the 6-foot, 225-pound junior quarterback shredded KU’s defense.
“You saw it. America saw it. I’ll be the first to tell you this guy is special,” Pinkel said. “I’ve been saying it for years. America got to see it today.”
Pinkel praised rival KU, a team that battled back after spotting the Tigers a 21-0 lead.
“It says so much about them. We took a pretty good lead against them, and we’re fighting (to hold on) with seconds left,” Pinkel said.
In fact, Missouri fans couldn’t relax until Loren Williams sacked Todd Reesing for a safety with :12 to play.
KU had to kick off to Missouri, meaning a miracle comeback wasn’t to be for the Jayhawks.
“You see all the things that happen in college football … my mind was racing,” Pinkel said. “Getting that safety was big.”
He was proud his team was able to win in spite of committing 14 penalties for 141 yards to KU’s two for 26 yards.
“We had more penalties today than the entire season. Maybe it’s because we were too focused,” Pinkel said, crediting the fans for helping MU survive KU. It appeared the stadium was 50-50 KU and MU fans despite it being KU’s home game.
“Our fans were awesome. What a great environment,” Pinkel said.
The MU fans had a lot to cheer. Thanks in large part to Daniel, MU gained 519 yards to KU’s 391.
The game plan?
“Throw it, throw it and throw it,” Daniel said. “Fifteen or 16 of our first plays were passes.”
Running back Tony Temple wasn’t bad either. He gained 98 yards off 22 carries and caught a pass for six yards.
“I saw that look in his eye,” Daniel said. “If I don’t see it next week, I’ll smack him in the helmet and get it back.”
Daniel thinks his team had an edge in the intangibles Saturday.
“We went in expecting to win and got a win,” he said.
Now MU gets to play Oklahoma for the league title. With a victory, Missouri figures to play in the national title game.
“I think it’s great,” Pinkel said. “We possibly will have a shot at the national championship. We’re excited about the opportunity. The only way it’s going to happen is next week, winning that game.”