MU notes: Seniors share spotlight with retiring coach Gary Pinkel

Twenty-one seniors played at Memorial Stadium for the final time Saturday, sharing the Senior Night spotlight with outgoing coach Gary Pinkel.

One, senior center Evan Boehm, etched his name in the record as the program’s all-time leader in consecutive starts.

It will be difficult for anyone to match Boehm’s 51 consecutive starts, and he’s not done adding to it, with at least one more game guaranteed this season.

“It really has set in yet, but it’s something special,” said Boehm, a Lee’s Summit West graduate. “Yeah, maybe I would like to change the outcome of the game, but it’s a special night. It was Senior Night and being able to do it at home is very special.”

Boehm had been tied with Carl Gettis (2007-10), Adam Spieker (2004-07) and Martin Rucker (2004-07) for the MU record at 50 until lining up on the opening play against Tennessee.

“I just want to say thank you to coach Pinkel and his staff and (head athletic trainer) Rex (Sharp) and his staff and everybody that’s helped me get to where I am right now,” Boehm said. “It’s a blessing, and hopefully that record’s there for a long time, but who knows?”

Bowl team recognized

Missouri recognized the 2005 Independence Bowl team at halftime.

Predictably, former star quarterback Brad Smith got the loudest ovation, but tight end Rucker and other standouts from that squad also received warm cheers on a cold night.

The Tigers’ 38-31 win against South Carolina on Dec. 30, 2005, in Shreveport, La., remains the largest come-from-behind win in program history.

It also was MU’s first bowl victory since the 1998 Insight.com Bowl and only the third since 1981.

This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 11:28 PM with the headline "MU notes: Seniors share spotlight with retiring coach Gary Pinkel."