Words and Light

Missouri lost to Nebraska, 27-12.

Where to start?

It was cold, rainy and windy.

Missouri sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert runs the ball against Nebraska junior safety Eric Hagg during the first play of the game.

Tons of sloppy play.

Nebraska freshman running back Rex Burkhead fumbles a punt from Missouri senior punter Jake Harry IV during the second quarter.

We lost.

Missouri freshman Morgan Stephens covers her eyes during the last play of the game against Nebraska.

And I shot a lot, learned a lot and tried not to worry a lot.

A power outage that initially left the entire stadium in darkness 30 minutes before kickoff eventually meant that the game was stripped of its bells and whistles  — and nobody could hear Sara Evans sing the national anthem at the opening of the game. As Jeff noted,

…there was no $3.8 million scoreboard with special effects, no blaring music, no ads and not even a public address system. Even the play clock was out, and referees resorted to hand signals. There was only The Game; the players and a marching band. Actually, two marching bands, which competed against each other pretty much the whole game because no one could come on the PA to stop them.

A Golden Girl during the pre-game show.

Whereas Jeff and other photographers I know seemed to relish the situation — in Jeff’s words, “the overall purity and rawness of the game” — I started out the game with extreme anxiety. I can’t deny that I walked into this game after undergoing the following thought process:

1. I’m shooting college football. At night. (Given my not-so-stellar history of shooting football, my apprehension was no small thing.)
2. But HEY — I got this. Unlike last time, I’m used to the equipment, and I’ve shot some high school JV for practice. (Granted, high school JV football is nothing like NCAA Division I, but it’s better than nothing.)
3. But wait. It’s been raining all day, and it’s going to keep raining.
4. Whatever. This is my job and my assignment, and nothing can stop me from doing good work.
5. …Except, I really need to take care of all the expensive equipment I’ve borrowed.
6. Okay, I got this. I’m going to stop worrying, and no matter how soaked I get, I’m going to get the best football photos I’ve ever shot.

So I stopped worrying. And I got the best football photos I’ve ever shot.

Missouri senior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon tackles Nebraska junior quarterback Zac Lee during the first quarter of the game.

Nebraska junior quarterback Zac Lee fumbles during the first quarter of the game.

Missouri sophomore linebacker Will Ebner tackles Nebraska junior quarterback Zac Lee during the third quarter.

Missouri sophomore linebacker Will Ebner tries to break Nebraska junior quarterback Zac Lee's pass during the fourth quarter.

Nebraska sophomore quarterback Alfonzo Dennard breaks up a pass intended for Missouri senior wide receiver Danario Alexander in the third quarter.

Missouri senior defensive end Brian Coulter lunges after Nebraska junior running back Roy Helu Jr. during the fourth quarter.

Last month, when I walked off the field after shooting the Illinois game, I was not confident that I’d gotten enough shots, annoyed with the crude fans and generally discouraged.

Two nights ago, when I walked off the field after shooting the Nebraska game, I was soaked to the skin, pretty muddy after I’d fallen to get some fans’ names and worried about how all the borrowed equipment had held up in the rain.

But despite all that, and more importantly, I felt good. I knew I’d gotten better shots than before, and I’d done it under some of the most daunting circumstances I can expect to face.

So take that, Nebraska.

Brady Koch and Shawn Hoover celebrate Nebraska's touchdown spree during the fourth quarter. Koch and Hoover are both MU students but, as native Nebraskans, cheered on the Huskers.

As always, you are entirely welcome to view more photos.