By JADE WASHBURN
It has been nearly three years since No. 21 Missouri lost on the road. The Tigers will try to keep the run going this week at Arkansas State.
“We don’t treat any game different than any other one,” cornerback Kenya Dennis said. “We pretty much prepare the same way. We just try to keep our head on a swivel and play.”
The last road loss was Nov. 26, 2012, a 59-29 setback against Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M. The only other losses away from home have come at the Georgia Dome where the SEC championship is played.
During a 10-game road winning streak, the Tigers have outscored opponents 384-214. Last year, they won 42-13 at Florida and in 2013 they beat Georgia 41-26.
Coach Gary Pinkel said it’s a matter of preparation.
“The great players are the ones that figure out that when you prepare to play a game, it doesn’t matter really where it’s played or who you’re playing,” Pinkel said. “Tom Brady doesn’t say ‘OK, I’m playing this first game different than I’m going to play in the Super Bowl.'”
Pinkel said he hammered at this theme throughout fall camp and his veterans are delivering the same message.
Senior safety Ian Simon, a team captain like Dennis, said he tells freshmen just to keep things simple.
“Stay calm, stay within yourself, don’t look to do too much and enjoy the moment,” Simon said. “That’s the biggest thing. You want to enjoy yourself on those road games.”
Simon said it’s easier for him to tune out distractions on the road and noted the achievement of sending thousands of fans home unhappy.
“When you shut up a crowd, that’s an eerie feeling,” Simon said. “You’re out there making plays, and you don’t hear anybody cheering, but you know it’s a good thing. It’s a very eerie and weird feeling.”
Eight of Missouri’s last 10 road victories have been against SEC opponents, with its defense playing well enough to keep crowd noise at a relative minimum.
“It gives us motivation,” Dennis said. “We hope to quiet the crowd a lot.”
Missouri’s defense allowed three points in the opener against Southeast Missouri State, the fewest in an opener since 1998. Defense might be a key this week given center Evan Boehm and running back Russell Hansbrough are questionable with right ankle injuries.
Freshman tackle Terry Beckner Jr. could get his first career start this week.
“He’s really come along and really maturing and it’s really nice to see,” Pinkel said. “He’s a pretty humble guy; those guys have a tendency to mature quicker and listen more and don’t get caught up in themselves.”