Media may sigh and fans may roll their eyes every time a coach trots out the line “We must respect …” in reference to an opponent that appears to have inferior talent. But the Missouri football team’s shocking 45-35 home loss to New Mexico on Saturday demonstrates why more teams had better pay attention to their opponents no matter who they are.
A lack of respect can get you beat.
New Mexico wide receiver Hank Baskett caught 10 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers, who concentrated their defensive game plan on slowing DonTrell Moore, New Mexico’s star running back. Moore still ran for 94 yards and threw a 41-yard touchdown pass on a trick play.
Here’s what Missouri players said afterward about Baskett to reporters.
Defensive end Xzavie Jackson: “We didn’t think he was that great, but that was a great player.”
Safety Jason Simpson: “We just probably didn’t give Baskett enough respect.”
And why not?
Scouting reports on Baskett weren’t even necessary. All Missouri needed to know was there for everyone to see – in the New Mexico media guide.
In part, it says Baskett “is one of the elite receivers in the Mountain West and one of the best unheralded pass catchers in the country … flourished as the No. 1 target last fall and could play an even bigger role this season as the Lobos expand their passing attack.”
Baskett, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior from Clovis, N.M., had 54 catches for 908 yards a year ago and was voted the team’s MVP on offense by teammates. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, on the Big 12 conference call Monday, said he never thought his team’s respect level for New Mexico would be a problem.
“Usually my players do a pretty good job of that,” Pinkel said. “I think (New Mexico) is a very good football team. Just look at what they’ve accomplished in the past. The lack of respect for anybody, when we’re building trying to get this program in the right direction … We don’t want to be irresponsible.”
Reid replacing Woods
Oklahoma State’s Donovan Woods found out Friday, but Monday everyone was introduced to Bobby Reid, suddenly the Cowboys’ new full-time starting quarterback.
Woods and Reid battled for the job in preseason camp. Coach Mike Gundy even said he would rotate them, and Woods started the first two games. But Gundy had a change of heart, and Woods has changed positions. Gundy is letting him choose where he plays next, and he’s at free safety this week.
“We discussed it in a mature manner, and he handled it with integrity,” Gundy said of Woods, a sophomore who went 9-5 in starts at quarterback.
If Woods is in need of advice on staying positive through a position switch, he need look no further than Iowa State, where wide receiver Austin Flynn is flourishing in his move from quarterback after losing his battle with Bret Meyer a year ago. Flynn caught three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown in the Cyclones’ 23-3 upset of Iowa.
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
