American college football season
The 1979 Missouri Tigers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Missouri in the Big Eight Conference (Big 8) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season . The team compiled a 7–5 record (3–4 against Big 8 opponents), finished in fourth place in the Big 8, and was outscored by opponents by a combined total of 260 to 166. Warren Powers was the head coach for the second of seven seasons.[ 1] [ 2] The team played its home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri .
The team's statistical leaders included James Wilder with 645 rushing yards, Phil Bradley with 1,448 passing yards and 1,764 yards of total offense, Andy Gibler with 316 receiving yards, and Gerry Ellis with 54 points scored.[ 3]
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 8 San Diego State * No. 12 W 45–1562,168 [ 4]
September 15 at Illinois * No. 11 W 14–649,049 [ 5] [ 6]
September 22 at Ole Miss * No. 9 W 33–746,000 [ 7]
September 29 No. 4 Texas * No. 5 L 0–2175,136 [ 8]
October 13 Oklahoma State No. 15 L 13–1466,003 [ 9]
October 20 at Colorado W 13–751,123 [ 10]
October 27 Kansas State L 3–1970,029 [ 11]
November 3 No. 2 Nebraska L 20–2374,575 [ 12]
November 10 at Iowa State W 18–946,800 [ 13]
November 17 No. 7 Oklahoma L 22–2469,973 [ 14]
November 24 at Kansas W 55–734,599 [ 15]
December 29 vs. No. 16 South Carolina * W 24–1462,785 [ 16]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
1979 Missouri Tigers football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
^ "1979 Missouri Tigers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2016 .
^ "2016 Mizzou Football Media Guide" (PDF) . University of Missouri. p. 158. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016 .
^ "2014 Mizzou Football Records Book" (PDF) . University of Missouri. pp. 26–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2016 .
^ "1979: A Fleeting Taste of the Big-Time (Part One)" . Retrieved December 8, 2016 .
^ Richardson, Steve (September 16, 1979). "MU Defense Saves Day At Goal Line" . The Kansas City Star . Kansas City, Missouri . p. 1S. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Richardson, Steve (September 16, 1979). "Running of Ellis Puts Tigers in Gear (continued)" . The Kansas City Star . Kansas City, Missouri . p. 9S. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Mizzou defeats Ole Miss, 33–7" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "No. 5 Mizzou draws blanks against Texas" . The Spokesman-Review . September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Missouri falls, 14–13" . Wisconsin State Journal . October 14, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Defense gives Missouri triumph" . Springfield News-Leader . October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Kansas State defense shackles Missouri, 19–3" . The Sioux City Journal . October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Nebraska wins as Mizzou gamble fails" . St. Joseph News-Press . November 4, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Verrilli kicks Mizzou to life, 18–9" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Sooners escape Missouri" . St. Petersburg Times . November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "KU turnovers give Tigers easy victory" . The Salina Journal . November 25, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Missouri topples Gamecocks 24–14" . The Kansas City Star . December 30, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
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