Today was my last day shooting Missouri football at home for the season and maybe for a long time. As I move on from Columbia, Mo. at the end of the school year, I'm sure I'll look back on this whirlwind of a season fondly. That being said, I wanted to make sure I knocked it out of the park in this last game.
I came away from yesterday's game feeling like I really accomplished what I had set out to do. Of course you can always grow, shoot better, shoot more features, get tighter, but after a lackluster amount of action at my last home game (where Georgia shut out Mizzou), I was happy to get some strong action off the bat, and a heavy dose of features, from the graphic to the emotional.
To cap it all off, Shane Ray set the single-season sack record for the school and after hunting for him at the end of the game, I finally found him and followed him into the stands as he hugged his mother who encouraged him to start playing football. Congrats, Shane, and thanks for that moment.
Missouri linebacker Michael Scherer greets Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray as artist Kim Beck coordinated with a pilot to pull off a skywriting show above Columbia prior to the Tigers game against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles prepare to take to Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. for warmups prior to their game against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray (56) prepares to take to Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. for the Tigers' game against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Kentucky cornerback Blake McClain breaks up a pass from Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk to Missouri wide receiver Gavin Otte in the first quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Kentucky running back Stanley Williams stiff-arms Missouri defensive back David Johnson at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri National Guard Sgt. Adam Coats surprises his family after a one-year deployment to Afghanistan during the Missouri-Kentucky game at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri National Guard Sgt. Adam Coats surprises his family after a one-year deployment to Afghanistan during the Missouri-Kentucky game at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
The Missouri Tigers beat the Kentucky Wildcats 20-10 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray matches up against Kentucky offensive tackle Darrian Miller in the first quarter of the Tigers' game against the Wildcats at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Kentucky running back Mikel Horton is wrapped up by Missouri defenders in the second quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Kentucky wide receiver Demarco Robinson awaits a kick return to start the second half at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri defensive lineman Markus Golden celebrates a tackle during the third quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Players fight for a Kentucky fumble, eventually recovered by Kentucky, during the third quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray celebrates a hit on Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles that knocked Towles helmet off during the third quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri running back Marcus Murphy fights for extra yards against Kentucky defensive end Farrington Huguenin during the third quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles drops back to pass in the third quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri running back Russell Hansbrough turns the corner past Kentucky defensive end Alvin Dupree during the third quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk runs for extra yards during the fourth quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk is on the wrong end of a Kentucky safety Ashely Lowery horse collar tackle in the fourth quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk looks to throw under pressure from Kentucky defensive tackle Michael Evans-Douglas in the fourth quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Kentucky wide receiver Dorian Baker scrambles for extra yards while being hunted down by Missouri linebacker Kentrell Brothers during the fourth quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri linebacker Kentrell Brothers tackles Kentucky wide receiver Dorian Baker during the fourth quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri defensive lineman hugs Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel after setting the Tigers' single-season sacks record with his 12th sack during the Tigers' 20-10 win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri defensive lineman waits for an interview after setting the Tigers' single-season sacks record with his 12th sack during the Tigers' 20-10 win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri defensive lineman walks to the stands after setting the Tigers' single-season sacks record with his 12th sack during the Tigers' 20-10 win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Missouri defensive lineman kisses his mother, Sebrina Johnson, after setting the Tigers' single-season sacks record with his 12th sack during the Tigers' 20-10 win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, November 1, 2014.