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Davis' role on the scout team is valuable to the sixth-ranked Tigers
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By Tom Loeffler
sports@newstribune.com
Matt Davis hopes to be a “special” player for the Missouri Tigers.
Davis entered spring practice listed third on the depth chart at strong safety. But the graduate of School of the Osage has since been moved from defensive back to tailback by the Missouri coaching staff.
If he's seeking playing time, that didn't help his cause.
The 6-1, 185-pound Davis is listed No. 4 at tailback and doesn't figure to see much game action. That fact, however, hasn't done anything to quell his enthusiasm.
“My goal is to start on all the special teams I can,” Davis said. “Right now, we have two really good starters at running back, Jimmy Jackson and Derek Washington. And we've also got a third-stringer, De'Vion Moore ... they're all going to be competing for that No. 1 spot.
“So my job will be on the scout team, to prepare the starters, and do my job on special teams if I can. I just want to do whatever I can do to help the team.”
Gary Pinkel appreciates what Davis brings to the table.
“Matt has moved back to running back and he's doing a great job for us,” the Missouri head coach said. “He runs well. He's been in the program about a year now and he's working very hard.”
Davis is a part of a program on the rise - Big 12 North champions last season, winners of the Cotton Bowl and a No. 4 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.
It's a great time to be a Tiger, indeed.
“It's exciting,” he said. “We've been working hard all summer, lifting and everything, and now we're finally getting into practice. I love the contact ... we'll be ready.”
Davis said the Tigers are hardly resting on their laurels.
“As soon as we got done last season, we started setting goals for what we wanted to do this season,” he said. “Everyone's goal when they start the season is to win a national championship, but we have smaller goals.
“We kind of have a pyramid - we want to achieve those goals that are down on the bottom and build a base, then continue to grow until we get to the top, and that would be a national championship.
“That's our ultimate goal.”
Davis entered spring practice listed third on the depth chart at strong safety. But the graduate of School of the Osage has since been moved from defensive back to tailback by the Missouri coaching staff.
If he's seeking playing time, that didn't help his cause.
The 6-1, 185-pound Davis is listed No. 4 at tailback and doesn't figure to see much game action. That fact, however, hasn't done anything to quell his enthusiasm.
“My goal is to start on all the special teams I can,” Davis said. “Right now, we have two really good starters at running back, Jimmy Jackson and Derek Washington. And we've also got a third-stringer, De'Vion Moore ... they're all going to be competing for that No. 1 spot.
“So my job will be on the scout team, to prepare the starters, and do my job on special teams if I can. I just want to do whatever I can do to help the team.”
Gary Pinkel appreciates what Davis brings to the table.
“Matt has moved back to running back and he's doing a great job for us,” the Missouri head coach said. “He runs well. He's been in the program about a year now and he's working very hard.”
Davis is a part of a program on the rise - Big 12 North champions last season, winners of the Cotton Bowl and a No. 4 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.
It's a great time to be a Tiger, indeed.
“It's exciting,” he said. “We've been working hard all summer, lifting and everything, and now we're finally getting into practice. I love the contact ... we'll be ready.”
Davis said the Tigers are hardly resting on their laurels.
“As soon as we got done last season, we started setting goals for what we wanted to do this season,” he said. “Everyone's goal when they start the season is to win a national championship, but we have smaller goals.
“We kind of have a pyramid - we want to achieve those goals that are down on the bottom and build a base, then continue to grow until we get to the top, and that would be a national championship.
“That's our ultimate goal.”
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Mid-Mo wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:01 AM: