Tigers conduct final scrimmage before opener

~ Missouri opens its season Sept. 1 against Illinois.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri coach Gary Pinkel gave most of his starters the day off Thursday in the Tigers' final scrimmage before their season opener Sept. 1 in St. Louis against Illinois.

Seven starters sat out on offense and four on defense. The list of idled players included quarterback Chase Daniel, running back Tony Temple and the tight end tandem of Chase Coffman and Martin Rucker.

"Chase Daniel was mad at me because I wasn't going to let him play," Pinkel said.

The defense, which gave up 10 touchdowns in the Tigers' second scrimmage Saturday, yielded none Thursday.

"Obviously, we're going up against a great offense so our defense is proud every time we can stuff them," linebacker Van Alexander said. "We think we have the potential to be one of the top defensive units in the Big 12, so we'd like to fulfill that potential."

Alexander, one of the Tigers' starters, played about 20 snaps after missing some time during camp because of a hamstring injury.

Darnell Terrell, a senior cornerback who started every game last season, also played Thursday after recently returning to practice from a hamstring injury.

"This is the first time he has played," Pinkel said. "He started all last year, but he has not gotten in the heat of the battle. He needed to get 15 to 20 plays under his belt."