MSU

Missouri State will play Mizzou in football, in 2017

Lyndal Scranton
News-Leader
Missouri State football coach Dave Steckel.

The last time Missouri State played the Missouri Tigers in football, first-class postage was 2 cents. Warren G. Harding had just died in office, replaced as United States president by Calvin Coolidge. Babe Ruth was American League MVP.

That was 1923, with the Tigers beating then-Southwest Missouri Teachers College 10-0 in Columbia.

So no wonder there was buzz on Wednesday when the schools announced they would play again on Sept. 2, 2017, at Faurot Field, nearly 94 years after the last meeting.

"I think it's a great thing for the state of Missouri and I'm fired up about it," new Bears coach and former Mizzou assistant Dave Steckel said.

Steckel, assistant to Gary Pinkel at Missouri for the last 14 years and defensive coordinator the final five, downplayed his role in arranging the game. He said athletic director Kyle Moats contacted Missouri executive assistant athletic director Bryan Maggard when common open dates were found.

"Our alums have been asking for a game like this, and I'm really happy we were able to do this for them and for all football fans in the state of Missouri," Steckel said. "I want to thank our athletic director Kyle Moats as well as Bryan Maggard and Gary Pinkel for working so hard to pull this together."

Former Missouri State receiver Julian Burton said the chance to play an in-state rival, or "big brother" as he called the Tigers, will be special for the 2017 Bears.

"It'll be great for recruiting and for the fans," Burton said. "Really, I think it'll enhance sports at Missouri State in all aspects. It'll be a hyped game with a lot of attention."

Moats said Missouri State's efforts to create an attractive schedule for fans and enhance the program's visibility around the state were two key factors in completing the 2015 schedule and future FBS games like the one at Missouri.

The financial guarantee for the Mizzou game is not yet finalized, said Missouri State sports information director Rick Kindhart.

The Bears will play at Kansas State on Sept. 3, 2016. They open the 2015 season at Memphis – Steckel's first game as Bears' coach.

"The game at Missouri is important for our fans and alumni, and I know it is something that 'Stec' really wanted to do," Moats said. "We're grateful to Mike Alden and the administration at Missouri for helping make it a reality."

Steckel said he "can't think that far ahead" when asked to project his emotions when he returns to Faurot Field in 2017.

"The only Tigers I have my mind on now are the Memphis Tigers," he said.

Meanwhile, Missouri State unveiled its schedule for this fall. After the Sept. 5 opener at Memphis, Missouri State's first home game is Sept. 12 against Chadron State, a perennial strong Division II team from Nebraska.

Missouri State opens spring practice next week with the Maroon and White scrimmage set for noon on April 11 at Plaster Sports Complex.

MSU 2015 schedule

(Time to be announced at later date)

Sept. 5 — at Memphis

Sept. 12 — Chadron State

Sept. 19 — at Arkansas State

Oct. 3 — Indiana State

Oct. 10 — at Southern Illinois

Oct. 17 — Illinois State

Oct. 24 — at South Dakota

Oct. 31 — South Dakota State

Nov. 7 — at Youngstown State

Nov 14 — Northern Iowa

Nov 21 — at North Dakota State