The moment it joined the SEC on July 1, 2012, Missouri became a bit of a black sheep.
In a league largely composed of football-first Southern schools, the Tigers were basketball-first and sort of Midwestern. Their football history was lean and largely given over to agonizing near-misses. It eventually became clear that, despite two early division titles, they were no Alabama nor even Texas A&M.
Unfortunately for Missouri, life in the SEC got incrementally more difficult Thursday. The Tigers tweeted a video giving students instructions in how to cheer ahead of their opener against South Dakota Thursday, and were roundly mocked by a conference of institutions who view fan etiquette as second nature.
Rules at @_thezou 🐯 pic.twitter.com/1njLLsIMqo
— Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) August 31, 2023
It's worth noting that the video appears directly inspired by a similar, highly ridiculous video put out by the St. Louis Rams in 2011.
This, however, was a reference largely lost to non-Missourians.
The video won Missouri mocking from Alabama fans ...
I really feel like Mizzou’s entire athletic program should be shut down forever bc of this https://t.co/muGS4mmHGC
— 🅉🄰🄲🄷 (@ZACHPHH) September 1, 2023
... and Illinois fans ...
Same energy pic.twitter.com/3QSK9JnUIv https://t.co/1RT9ZJrXzj
— The Kingfisher (@TheKingfisher18) September 1, 2023
... and its own fans ...
this did not need to exist https://t.co/EJhqkloPCr
— Brenden Schaeffer🎳 (@bschaeffer12) August 31, 2023
... and even Vanderbilt fans.
Vandy has never done anything this embarrassing. https://t.co/S6764x8t0L
— Sperry Bonds (@TheTopGrant) August 31, 2023
Those who understood the Rams reference were impressed, although such fans were few and far between.
OH MY GOD THEY RECREATED RAM RULES
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) September 1, 2023
Same music and everything
I’m cracking uphttps://t.co/f3OKYYJwnf https://t.co/TAzCuE3MtE
Despite the Tigers’ social team’s apparent best efforts, Missouri topped the Coyotes in its opener 35–10.
