Fans devastated but optimistic after Mizzou drops heartbreaker to Alabama, 27-24

ST. LOUIS -- Jordan Duvall with Ray’s Sports House in Soulard says fans were ready hours ahead the Missouri and Alabama kickoff Saturday afternoon.

“We opened at opened at ten today and probably half of the building was already filled by 10:30,” Duvall said.

The tide changed after Mizzou lost 27-24 to Alabama, snapping the Tigers five-game win streak.

“Everybody closed their tabs and left they don’t like seeing Mizzou lose ive noticed they see Mizzou lose they close their tabs their ready to go home,” she said.

Fans were left hurting hours after the devastating loss ended with Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula throwing an interception.

“My heart is in pieces one thousand million pieces,” Mizzou Fan Mark Vega said.  

Vega wished the Tigers would have used the nation’s leading rusher, Ahmad Hardy more.

 “I think we should have given the ball to our best player Ahmad Hardy and giving him twelve carries is criminal,” he said.  

His friend Luke Paino agreed.  

“Look, I’m a believer in giving your best players the ball and the best opportunity. If you’re going to run, a what fourth and four fake punt, I don’t want to knock the coaches but maybe Hardy gets the ball, I don’t know,” Paino said.

Hardy only ran 12 times for 52 yards which led Alabama fan Bryce Wood to believe Alabama is getting back to being Bama.

“Post Saban era has been rough, they showed what they’re supposed to do in the SEC and ball out.  be dominant, they’ve done it against Georgia, they’ve done it against Mizzou, some good teams I’ll say, that but Ty Simmons has been balling,” Wood said.

Crimson Tide fan Bayne Noll said the game shows how competitive the Southeastern Conference is.

“It was a little scary dude; it was little scary. It was the closest game we’ve seen so far dude. It was a three-point game, nerves were flying man,” Noll said.

The final drive of the game that would have given the Tigers a chance to tie the score, or take the lead, ended with a Mizzou turnover.

Vega said the loss shows how far the program has come and where it’s heading.

“It makes us look more competitive last year we lost thirty-four to nothing. We come back this year, we have a one score game, time to close it out and win. We could’ve won this game. We’re here to stay Mizzou, we’re coming for the SEC,” Vega said.

Paino thinks the Tigers will claw back into the win column in next weekend’s big cat fight against Auburn.

“Auburn is a tough place to play, but I believe in Drink (Coach Drinkwitz) I believe in the coaching staff, I believe in Beau, and I believe in Hardy.  We come out, and we beat them,” Paino said.