Tigers, in their last game as a member of the Big 12, end the season with a four-game winning streak for the first time since 1965.
 Missouri quarterback James Franklin bursts past North Carolina safety Tre Boston for a touchdown in the first quarter Monday in the Independence Bowl. (Shane Keyser / McClatchy-Tribune / 26) |
Associated Press
Missouri made sure its final football game as a member of the Big 12 was decided early.
James Franklin ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, and the Tigers easily beat North Carolina, 41-24, in the Independence Bowl on Monday night.
Missouri (8-5) ends the season on a four-game winning streak for the first time since 1965. The Tigers will join the Southeastern Conference next fall.
Franklin, named the game's offensive most valuable player, rushed for 142 yards and threw for 132 despite the cold and rain at Independence Stadium. He led the Tigers to 31 first-half points ? an Independence Bowl record.
For North Carolina (7-6), a season that started with a promising 5-1 record ends with a lopsided loss. The Tar Heels lost five of their final seven under interim coach Everett Withers, who leaves to become defensive coordinator at Ohio State under Urban Meyer.
North Carolina had the Atlantic Coast Conference's second-best rushing defense, giving up just 106.2 yards per game. But the Tigers found plenty of running room with Franklin and Kendial Lawrence, repeatedly gashing the Tar Heels for big gains.
Lawrence rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers racked up 337 yards on the ground.
North Carolina's poor defense wasted a productive game by quarterback Bryn Renner, who threw for 317 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
Missouri's mascot ? Truman the Tiger ? shattered most of the original Independence Bowl trophy before the game started in a pre-game accident. The Tigers were more than happy to claim the replacement.
Griffin's fame requires security
Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, this year's Heisman Trophy winner, confirmed that he's sometimes shadowed by security since being honored earlier this month as the nation's best player.
Griffin said he understands that "people are going to want a piece of you when you're doing great things." He added it was a good problem to have and downplayed the new part of his celebrity.
Baylor spokesman Heath Nielsen later clarified that the school isn't paying for private bodyguards. He said an athletic department employee follows Griffin in public to minimize demands for autographs and pictures.
Nielsen said the only time he recalled police escorting Griffin was at a home basketball game.
James Franklin ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, and the Tigers easily beat North Carolina, 41-24, in the Independence Bowl on Monday night.
Missouri (8-5) ends the season on a four-game winning streak for the first time since 1965. The Tigers will join the Southeastern Conference next fall.
Franklin, named the game's offensive most valuable player, rushed for 142 yards and threw for 132 despite the cold and rain at Independence Stadium. He led the Tigers to 31 first-half points ? an Independence Bowl record.
For North Carolina (7-6), a season that started with a promising 5-1 record ends with a lopsided loss. The Tar Heels lost five of their final seven under interim coach Everett Withers, who leaves to become defensive coordinator at Ohio State under Urban Meyer.
North Carolina had the Atlantic Coast Conference's second-best rushing defense, giving up just 106.2 yards per game. But the Tigers found plenty of running room with Franklin and Kendial Lawrence, repeatedly gashing the Tar Heels for big gains.
Lawrence rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers racked up 337 yards on the ground.
North Carolina's poor defense wasted a productive game by quarterback Bryn Renner, who threw for 317 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
Missouri's mascot ? Truman the Tiger ? shattered most of the original Independence Bowl trophy before the game started in a pre-game accident. The Tigers were more than happy to claim the replacement.
Griffin's fame requires security
Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, this year's Heisman Trophy winner, confirmed that he's sometimes shadowed by security since being honored earlier this month as the nation's best player.
Griffin said he understands that "people are going to want a piece of you when you're doing great things." He added it was a good problem to have and downplayed the new part of his celebrity.
Baylor spokesman Heath Nielsen later clarified that the school isn't paying for private bodyguards. He said an athletic department employee follows Griffin in public to minimize demands for autographs and pictures.
Nielsen said the only time he recalled police escorting Griffin was at a home basketball game.
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