Traditionally, the Black and Gold game has been Missouri's opportunity to showcase the future of its football program.

But the biggest applause from the 26,322 in attendance at Faurot Field on Saturday wasn't for a touchdown pass or a big defensive hit. It was for the 20 seniors who received their Cotton Bowl rings at halftime and put this football program back on the national map.

"This is a dream that coach (Gary) Pinkel sold us, and this is what we wanted to come into fruition," former tight end Martin Rucker said. "It looks like it's well on its way, and hopefully they'll continue the tradition."

It was a vast difference from the nearly 10,000 fans at last year's game and the few fans who came to spring games before it. But none of those seasons had ESPNU televising the game and hyping the Tigers to be national championship contenders.

Mizzou's spring game was one of two ESPN showed on its networks — a testament to the name Missouri made for itself last year. A Big 12 North championship, a Cotton Bowl victory, a 12-2 record and a No. 4 final national ranking have all helped pique curiosity about whether last season was just a flash in the pan or the makings of a potential national force.

"(Last year's seniors) took Missouri to a different level," Pinkel said. "With their leadership and all the adversity we had to go through and all the stuff that goes with changing attitudes. So, not only I but every Missouri Tiger fan in the country should be thankful for all their accomplishments and what they did."

Starting quarterback Chase Daniel, from his opening series, assuaged any fear that Missouri's play and leadership would trail off with its senior class moving on. He completed his first seven passes for 62 yards, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin.

Chase Daniel rotated in with backup Chase Patton, who led the second-string offense, throughout the first half and helped lead the offense to a 71-28 victory in a scoring system that gave points for first downs, scoring plays and plays of 20 or more yards.

The first-string defense was also stout, not allowing a touchdown and allowing just one drive past the 50-yard line.

"We went out there, worked every single day, worked to get better, and that's a lot different from last year where some days we were just dragging around and doing this and that," Daniel said. "We've gotten stronger, we've gotten better, we've gotten quicker, we've gotten faster, and that's the main goals of our offseason program."

Now the Tigers will scale back their training to weight lifting two or three times a week for the next few weeks before taking finals week off. Then, Pinkel said, his team needs to get away from football for a few weeks before reconvening June 2. Pinkel said that for the first time ever, all of the incoming freshmen are taking at least one session of summer school and participating in summer drills with the rest of the team.

It's the future of Missouri football that started with a foundation laid by last season's seniors.

"There's a great expectation level, which is good, I like that," Pinkel said. "There are a lot of pluses, and that comes with winning. The moral of the story is keep winning."

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