Fumbles cost Temple starting job

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- As far as Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is concerned, the reason Tony Temple is no longer the starting running back is simple.

"You're not allowed to fumble," Pinkel said. "What can I say~ I don't want to be cold. You're not allowed to fumble."

Temple has gained 662 yards for the Tigers (7-2, 3-2 Big 12) this season. But his fumble in Saturday's 26-10 loss to Oklahoma, then No. 19, was costly.

Now, sophomore Earl Goldsmith, who has gained 102 yards on 23 carries as a backup, will start Saturday when the Tigers travel to Nebraska (6-3, 3-2).

Both Missouri and the Cornhuskers fell out of the top 25 with losses last week.

Temple's shoulder injury suffered against the Sooners was the reason he was given by coaches for the depth chart change.

"I just know they said because my shoulder was out, they're going to move Earl up," Temple, visibly upset, said Monday.

In the first quarter against Oklahoma, Temple fumbled after a hard hit from Darien Williams. The fumble was recovered by Lendy Holmes and set up Oklahoma's second touchdown drive.

On the play, Temple suffered what Pinkel called a "slight dislocation of the shoulder." It was part of a miserable day for Temple, who carried three times for no yards.

Temple said the shoulder injury has been lingering all season, and that has partly been the reason for the decline in his production the past two weeks. In Missouri's first seven games, the junior from Kansas City never carried the ball fewer than 13 times. Against Kansas State on Oct. 21 and against Oklahoma, he carried a combined 12 times.

Despite the sore shoulder, Temple is fifth in the Big 12 with 73.6 yards per game rushing.

"I was playing good," Temple said. "Like I said from the very beginning, any back can step up and be No. 1 any time. That's what's going on."

Though Goldsmith will start, Pinkel said Temple will play against the Cornhuskers. How many carries either gets remains to be seen -- they combined for 1 yard rushing on seven carries against Oklahoma.

Pinkel said the running backs will be a larger part of the offensive attack.

"We've got good running backs and we want to keep them on the field," Pinkel said. "To think that we're going to do that all the time -- we're not going to do that. We have good running backs and we'll get them involved."

Quarterback Chase Daniel accounted for 64 of Missouri's 73 offensive plays Saturday. He completed 23 of 44 passes for 284 yards and three interceptions and rushed 20 times for 75 yards. But he understands the importance of balance.

"It's definitely a huge thing that we try to preach to our running backs and our offensive line that we need to get them going," Daniel said. "It would take a heck of a lot of pressure off this offense. When the running game is working, then you'll start to see the balls flying down the field."