Tigers football fans, many sheathed in gold plastic to stave off an intermittent Columbia drizzle, numbered 30,117 for the annual Black and Gold Game Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The “Tiger 2” team, composed of reserve players, defeated the “Mizzou 1” starters 17-10, although the reserves had the benefit of a 14 point cushion to start the contest.
The scrimmage marks the end of the spring practice period and gives players, such as redshirt sophomore quarterback Eddie Printz, a chance to see game-like action before the long layoff. Starting redshirt junior quarterback Maty Mauk finished 9 of 14, passing for 68 yards and a feathery touchdown toss on a fade route to redshirt sophomore wideout J’Mon Moore at the end of the first half. Senior tailback Russell Hansbrough led the running backs with 36 yards rushing.
This year’s event included a pregame Fan Fest between Memorial Stadium and the Hearnes Center, with carnival rides, the Mizzou helmet car, the Truman’s Taxi fire truck and live music by the local band Dr. Zhivegas.
The Black and Gold Game also raises money and canned goods for the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri, which hauled in $2,500 and thousands of pounds of food.
A youngster laughs on a ride at the Fan Fest before the annual spring Black and Gold game.
Ada Duin, 5, and Neva Coffer, 9, sit together on Truman's Fire Truck at the pre-game Fan Fest in front of the Hearnes Center. The girls attended the Black and Gold Game with their aunt.
Halie Hart, Mizzou's Feature Twirler, teaches Samantha Huston, a sophomore Tour Team member, how to twirl a baton on the sidelines. "You have to twirl it around your thumb; that's the trick." Hart says.
Truman the Tiger hugs a couple of his younger fans, Serena Newby, 10, and Brianna Brown, 11, during the first half of the spring game.
Maty Mauk runs the ball during the second half. All quarterbacks wore white during the game and could not be tackled.
Fans wear ponchos while watching the action from the stands.
Senior safety Ian Simon gets tackled after gaining a few rushing yards.
(From left to right): Taryn Herbst, freshman, Chris Green, sophomore, and Ryan Layton, freshman, cheer during the first play of the spring game. The students sat in the Tiger's Lair section of Memorial Stadium and stayed through the end of the game.
Members of the Golden Girls cheer on the Tigers.
Shaina Thompson and River Bonds, freshmen, creatively share a single rain poncho as it starts to sprinkle near the end of the first half of the game.
Sophomore running back Ish Witter attempts to break free from tackle Tanner Hull.
(From left to right): Joe Maddox, Scott Douglas and Chris Barron, members of the production crew, try to stay dry on the sidelines of Faurot Field during the spring game.
A young fan takes a selfie with a Golden Girl at the conclusion of the game. The Golden Girls and football players signed autographs and posed for photos with fans, family and friends.
George Penton III sits on the shoulders of his father, George Penton II, after the conclusion of the spring game. The boy tried on his older brother's helmet for size.
Russell Hansborough signs autographs for young fans after the game. Fans brought posters and footballs to players for some souvenir ink.
Senior tailback Russell Hansborough poses for a portrait with his mom (right) and another family member, who wore custom T-shirts.
