American college football season
The 1983 Missouri Tigers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Missouri in the Big Eight Conference (Big 8) during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season . The team compiled a 7–5 record (5–2 against Big 8 opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the Big 8, and outscored its opponents by a combined total of 292 to 202. Warren Powers was the head coach for the sixth of seven seasons.[ 1] [ 2] The team played its home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri .
The team's statistical leaders included Eric Drain with 685 rushing yards, Marlon Adler with 1,603 passing yards, and George Shorthose with 483 receiving yards.[ 3] [ 4]
After 1983, Missouri endured 13 consecutive losing seasons.
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 10 Illinois * W 28–1853,744 [ 5]
September 17 at Wisconsin * L 20–2165,044 [ 6]
September 24 Utah State * W 17–1045,033 [ 7]
October 1 East Carolina * L 6–1348,268 [ 8]
October 8 at Colorado W 59–2037,157 [ 9]
October 15 No. 1 Nebraska L 13–3472,348 [ 10]
October 22 Kansas State W 38–046,248 [ 11]
October 29 at Iowa State W 41–1849,404 [ 12]
November 5 No. 11 Oklahoma W 10–057,133 [ 13]
November 12 Oklahoma State W 16–1041,459 [ 14]
November 19 at Kansas No. 19 L 27–3738,400 [ 15]
vs. No. 9 BYU * L 17–2151,480 [ 16]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Roster
1983 Missouri Tigers football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
TE
86
Duane Davis
Sr
TE
88
Tony Davis
So
G
61
James Dempsey
Jr
OT
70
Denis Downey
Sr
OT
78
Andy Ekern
Sr
TE
83
Andy Giber
Sr
OT
76
Conrad Goode
Jr
C
53
Phil Greenfield
So
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DE
96
Bobby Bell
Jr
DE
58
Stan Green
Sr
DB
6
Raymond Harrison
Sr
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
References
^ "1983 Missouri Tigers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 15, 2016 .
^ "2016 Mizzou Football Media Guide" (PDF) . University of Missouri. p. 158. Retrieved December 15, 2016 .
^ "2014 Mizzou Football Records Book" (PDF) . University of Missouri. pp. 26– 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2016 .
^ "1983 Missouri Tigers Statistics" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 15, 2016 .
^ "Bad start wrecks Illinois" . The Rock Island Argus . September 11, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Wisconsin wins as Missouri try after TD fails" . Star Tribune . September 18, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Missouri holds off Utah State, 17–10" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . September 25, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "East Carolina sinks Tigers, 13–6" . Springfield Leader and Press . October 2, 1983. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Powers' talk inspires Tigers to a 59–20 rout of Colorado" . Omaha World-Herald . October 9, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "No. 1, Nebraska turns an early scare into a 34–13 win" . The Macon Telegraph & News . October 16, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Missou rips K-State, 38–0" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . October 23, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Adler adds 4 touchdown runs as MU pounds Iowa State" . The News-Leader . October 30, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Swarming Mizzou defense keys upset of No. 11 Sooners" . The Des Moines Register . November 6, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Missouri holds off Oklahoma State" . The Kansas City Star . November 13, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Kansas has its fun, MU gets the sun" . Columbia Daily Tribune . November 20, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "BYU defeats Missouri, wins Holiday Bowl" . Albuquerque Journal . December 24, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
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