Dec. 29--El Paso, Texas

Below: Missouri defensive lineman Xzavie Jackson can’t contain his emotion after the tough 39-38 loss to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.

Below: Xzavie Jackson and DeMarcus Scott tackles Oregon State running back Yvenson Bernard during the first half of the Sun Bowl. Bernard ended the game with 97 yards, including the two-point conversion to win the game 39-38.

Below: Missouri tailback Tony Temple breaks off several Oregon State tackles to get into the endzone for a touchdown during the Sun Bowl. Temple ended the game with 194 total rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Below: Missouri’s mascot, Truman the Tiger, got the students energized during the Sun Bowl.

Below: Sam Brand, 12, tosses a washer during a tailgate party with his family and friends prior to the Sun Bowl. Competing against Sam is his brother, George Brand, 14.

Dec. 28--El Paso, Texas

Below: Missouri Tiger football fans packed four Cavallo Bus Line busses from Columbia, MO to El Paso, TX. After the 23 hour bus ride, they arrived to their hotel, showing their black and gold pride, around 5:00pm on Thursday.

Below: Rosie Weilbacher, with Missouri color guard, twirls a riffle along with Marching Mizzou and the Golden Girls in front of Tigers fans prior to the Rotary Sun Bowl Team Luncheon outside the Judson F. Williams Convention Center in downtown El Paso, Texas on Thursday.

Below: Missouri head coach, Gary Pinkel, addresses the media at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center in downtown El Paso, Texas on Thursday.

Below: The "M", representing the University of Texas-El Paso Miners, is seen on the side of a Franklin Mountains outside The Sun Bowl Stadium, which resembles the hill at Faurot Field.

Below: Missouri quaterback Chase Daniel leads a pack of go-kart drivers at the Adventure Zone in West El Paso, Texas on Wednesday evening. Players from Missouri and Oregon State played miniature golf, batting cages and video games.

Dec. 27--El Paso, Texas

Below: Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, center, had breakfast with troops at Fort Bliss, site of the United States Army Air Defense, in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday. Players and coaches from Missouri and Oregon State attended the meal.

Below: Mizzou wide receiver Greg Bracey smiles after making a catch in the endzone at the conclusion of their final practice on Wednesday at Socorro Athletic Complex in El Paso, Texas.

Below: Oregon State running back and Pac-10 All-Conference first team selectee, Yvenson Bernard, carries the ball during practice on Wednesday at Canutillo Athletic Complex in El Paso, Texas. Bernard has 273 carries for 1210 yards this season and ranks second in the Pac-10 for rushing yards per game averaging 100.2 yards.

Below: Bill and Vickie Daniel attended the final practice for their son, Chase, on Wednesday at Socorro Athletic Complex in El Paso, Texas.

Below: Jesus Flores, University of Texas-El Paso student athletic trainer, left; Ricky Van, UTEP football player, center; and Carlos Puertas, former UTEP student; paints the endzones at The Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas on Wednesday. The stadium lies within the Franklin Mountains and students paint the field every year.

Dec. 26--El Paso, Texas

Below: Mizzou tight end, Martin Rucker, displays his Tiger spirit on his head, while other players colored their goatees.

Below: Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel addresses the media after Tuesday's practice at the Socorro Independent School District football field in El Paso, Texas. Their final practice before Friday's Sun Bowl is Wednesday.

Below: Mizzou quaterback Chase Daniel prior to walking off the field at the end of Tuesday's practice at the SISD Athletic Complex.

Below: Mizzou defensive end, Xzavie Jackson, interacts with Marcus Garcia, a 15 year old that has a clogged intenstine, at Thomason Hospital in El Paso, Texas on Tuesday. Mizzou players gave patients autographed footballs and t-shirts.

Below: Thomason Hospital 10-year volunteer, Andrew Oden, greets Mizzou's defensive lineman, DeMarcus Scott, before entering the hospital in El Paso, Texas on Tuesday.

SLU vs. MSU

St. Louis University defeated Missouri State University 51-50 on Dec. 18.

Mizzou vs. Kansas Football Game

Mizzou beat Kansas 42-17 on November 25th.

In Color

Basketball is the theme for the "In-Color" pages in The Columbia Missourian, due to the season starting up.

Ben Folds Concert

Ben Folds performed at a sold out Jesse Auditorium in Columbia.

Random photos from this past week

Below: Rockbridge Football Head Coach, A.J. Ofodile, watches the team's final practice of the 2006 season.

Below: Howard Marshall, left, and Jim Ruth perform at the Chez Chandel coffeehouse reunion. This was a hangout place where regulars could always find good coffee and conversation, while listening to good music.

Below: Missouri forward Carlynn Savant gets a rebound vs. Truman State.

Below: Columbia College Womens Head Coach, Mike Davis, gets a technical foul while arguing a call.

Below: Chocolate pours over carmel at the Candy Factory in Columbia as they get ready for the holidays.

Cardinals Championship Rally-October 29

Below: Cardinals outfielder So Taguchi rides in a sea of red at the October 29th World Series celebration parade on Seventh Street in downtown St. Louis. An estimated 500,000 fans attended the parade.

Below: Mike Shannon, former Cardinals player and current team broadcaster, takes the podium behind the World Series trophy.

October 21-Mizzou vs. Kansas State (homecoming game)

The Tigers defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 41-24. MU quaterback, Chase Daniel, was 24-31 for 262 yards passing.

Carl Edwards-Misc.

On September 28-October 1, I followed around NASCAR driver and Columbia native, Carl Edwards, at the Kansas Speedway. All these posts are of different aspects of his life.