Oh, the envy coursing through local football fans when it appeared that Mizzou — the University of Missouri, of all schools — was a step away from playing for the national championship. There they were a week ago, only one victory away from making it to the title game, something they had never done before.
But then came the Oklahoma game and blam! Goodbye 'zou.
And on came our own uplifting squad, the University of Illinois, upsetters of mighty Ohio State. The Ilini are headed to the Rose Bowl. Who coulda predicted that?
In truth, Missouri, which started the season with odds of 150 to 1 against a national title, knew its flirtation with greatness would be brief. The Tigers have to be happy to playing in the Cotton Bowl.
Ohio State, whose only loss was the Nov. 10 shocker against Illinois, has to be as relieved as they are thrilled to be playing LSU in the title game.
And the Illini — well, let's just say Coach Ron Zook and the boys are happy campers. "I would have asked you what you'd been smoking," he said, asked how would he have responded in training camp if someone had said the team was going to the Rose Bowl.
Could just, though few expect Illinois to beat USC, the best is yet to come.
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