The University of Missouri ( Mizzou or MU ) is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri , United States. It is Missouri 's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System . Founded in 1839, MU was the first public university west of the Mississippi River . It has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1908 and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity."
94-704: Switzler Hall is an academic hall on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri . The building was completed in 1872, and it is located on the west side of the David R. Francis Quadrangle . Switzler Hall is the oldest academic building and second oldest structure on campus after the Chancellor's Residence. The building was named after Colonel William Franklin Switzler , editor and publisher of
188-481: A City Beautiful design of the grounds. To the east of the quadrangle, later buildings constructed of white limestone in 1913 and 1914 to accommodate the new academic programs became known as the White Campus. In 1908 the journalism school opened at MU, claiming to be the world's first. In April 1923, a black janitor was accused of the rape of the daughter of a University of Missouri professor. James T. Scott
282-610: A Final Four appearance despite numerous conference championships. The team advanced to the Elite Eight under Quin Snyder in 2002, but inconsistent performance and various improprieties in his leadership of the program caused him to be fired in the midst of an abysmal 2006 season. He was replaced with then- UAB head coach Mike Anderson . In 2009 the team lost in the Elite Eight to the Connecticut Huskies . Then, after
376-661: A charter member of the Big 12 Conference, which was created with the merger of the former Big Eight Conference and four schools from the former Southwest Conference (one of these schools, Texas A&M , joined the SEC with Missouri in 2012), and which began athletic competition in the 1996–97 academic year. Missouri competed in the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association starting in 1907, which officially changed its name to
470-570: A crowd of 3,000 in St. Louis, Missouri . The Washington University team , which had already been playing for several years, easily defeated the University of Missouri team by a score of 28–0. Missouri has compiled a 16–20 record in bowl games as of the end of the 2023 season, including wins in the Orange, Sugar, and Cotton Bowls. It has finished in the final Associated Press poll Top Ten eight times since
564-527: A first-round exit from the NCAA tournament in 2011, Anderson took the head coaching position with the University of Arkansas . The head coaching vacancy was filled in early April 2011 with Frank Haith , the former Miami (Florida) head coach who left after the 2013 season to go Tulsa. In 2014, Kim Anderson became the new head basketball coach. The program is now led by Dennis Gates . The 1920–21 and 1921–22 teams were retroactively named national champions by
658-556: A home football game. 1971 marked the first year in which the goal posts ended up at Harpo's Bar and Grill at 29 S. Tenth Street in Columbia. Although no concrete reasoning is known behind the tradition, it is suggested that Harpo's became the destination because of its popularity among alumni returning to Columbia on game days and because the restaurant is one of the few places that had remained under consistent ownership without any name changes, so alumni and students all easily identify with
752-654: A landmark 6–2 decision, the court ordered the State of Missouri to admit Gaines to MU's law school or provide a facility of equal stature. Gaines disappeared in Chicago on March 19, 1939, under suspicious circumstances. The university granted Gaines a posthumous honorary law degree in May 2006. Undergraduate divisions were integrated by court order in 1950 when the university was compelled to admit African Americans to courses that were not offered at Lincoln University. On June 5, 1935,
846-823: A landslide. Missouri's newest rivalry after joining the SEC is with the Arkansas Razorbacks , known as the Battle Line Rivalry . Both the Razorbacks and Tigers have played five times before playing annually in the same conference which started in 2014. Arkansas was one of the founding members of the Southwest Conference along with the Texas Longhorns . The Razorbacks left the Southwest Conference to join
940-526: A maximum of 1600, and an average ACT composite score of 26 out of a maximum of 36. The University of Missouri operates 23 on-campus residence halls and at least two other off-campus sites. The two off-campus locations include Tiger Diggs at Campus View Apartments and True Scholars House. Tap Day is an annual spring ceremony in which the identities of the members of the six secret honor societies are revealed. The participating societies are QEBH , Mystical Seven , LSV , Omicron Delta Kappa , Mortar Board , and
1034-399: A means of roof access, as part of a heating and cooling system, as a drop tower for physics students, or as an elaborate means of venting chemical work on the lower floors. University of Missouri Enrolling 31,041 students in 2023, it offers more than 300 degree programs in thirteen major academic divisions. Its Missouri School of Journalism , founded by Walter Williams in 1908,
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#17327875214721128-514: A nearly 100 ft (30 m) wide "M" behind the north-end zone. Men's and women's basketball games take place at the Mizzou Arena , just south of the football stadium. The Hearnes Center hosted men's and women's basketball from 1972 to 2004 and it is still used for other athletic (including wrestling, volleyball, and indoor track and field) and school events. The Missouri Tiger men's basketball team has had 29 NCAA Tournament appearances,
1222-540: A newsroom managed by professional editors. It operates the local National Public Radio Station KBIA and produces Radio Adelante , a Spanish-language radio program. Founded in 1978 after 23 years as a unit of the School of Medicine, the School of Health Professions became an autonomous division in December 2000. It is Missouri's only state-supported school of health professions on a campus with an academic health center, and
1316-583: A pickup truck. When it arrived in Columbia, the drum was repainted black and presented to the university a week before the first 1981 football game at an event known as the Tiger Fall Rally. Responsibility for Big MO was transferred to the Mizzou chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma in 1993. Only student and alumni members of the two organizations are eligible to be on the Big MO crew. Big MO
1410-602: A similar organization representing Oklahoma. Missouri won the first game, 13–0. During Mizzou's tenure in the Big 12, the conference's divisional play structure meant that the Tigers and the Sooners only faced off two out every four years. Therefore, only scheduled games between the two teams count for the exchange of the Peace Pipe. The most recent Big 12 Championship games featuring Mizzou and Oklahoma would not have triggered
1504-467: A team of Engineering students in April of that year upon encouragement of Dr. A. L. McRea, a university professor. Interest in the sport quickly grew among the students, professors, and administrators, and a Foot Ball Association was formed at a meeting on October 10, 1890. The first intercollegiate game for the university took place on Thanksgiving Day, 1890, when Missouri played Washington University before
1598-606: A transfer of the Peace Pipe (if Missouri had won on either occasion.) Oklahoma leads the all-time series with a record of 65–23–5. In 2010, Mizzou, ranked no. 11 in the BCS standings, defeated no. 1 ranked Oklahoma, 36–27. Oklahoma leads the series since the trophy tradition started with a record of 56–14–4. On July 30, 2021, Oklahoma accepted an invitation to join the Southeastern Conference. Once they join, they will become Missouri's most played conference rival by
1692-519: Is Truman the Tiger , created on September 16, 1986. Following a campus-wide contest, Truman was named in honor of Harry S. Truman , the only U.S. president from Missouri. Truman appears to cheer on the team, mingle with athletic supporters, visit alumni association functions, and visit Columbia-area schools. On November 6, 2011, the University of Missouri announced it would leave the Big 12 Conference to join
1786-401: Is a former UFC Welterweight champion and former Strikeforce Welterweight title challenger. The Mizzou Disc Golf Club formed in 2018. Mizzou won the men's and women's national championships in 2022 and the women's national championship in 2023. The teams regularly play at four disc golf courses in Columbia. The University of Missouri Men's Rugby Club plays Division 1-AA college rugby in
1880-543: Is a rivalry trophy presented to the winner of the Missouri vs. Oklahoma game. The trophy is a ceremony of smoking the old pipe. The trophy was inaugurated in 1929 by Chester M. Brewer, Mizzou's director of athletics, and by members of Mystical Seven, a University of Missouri honorary group. The peace pipe was donated by a Mr. R. L. Hill, an "M" man and former president of the Missouri student body. Ceremony takes place during halves, with Mystical Seven representing Missouri, and
1974-622: Is also a relatively new basketball rivalry with the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference referred to as Braggin' Rights. The Braggin' Rights game debuted in 1980 and has been played every year since 1983. Missouri trails the series 20–11. The start of football season also often matches the two schools in the "Arch Rivalry" game, most recently played at the Edward Jones Dome . Mizzou leads
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#17327875214722068-421: Is also home to a mysterious three-story "silo" through the center of the structure. The cylindrical, 8-foot-diameter, brick, silo rises from the basement to the roof of the building. In the middle of the silo, a solid wooden structure, which resembles some sort of dumbwaiter device or ladder, also rises to the attic. The purpose of the silo is still unknown; however, some of the proposed original uses include use as
2162-433: Is flanked to the east and west by Greek Life housing . The University of Missouri has nearly 50 national social fraternities and sororities, many of which occupy historical residences valued in the millions of dollars. Beta Sigma Psi , Kappa Alpha Order , Sigma Chi , Beta Theta Pi (originally Zeta Phi ), Alpha Gamma Rho , Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Nu form a Greek Row (also called Frat Row) along College Avenue in
2256-530: Is the flagship institution of the University of Missouri System . Mizzou is a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and is the only NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision program in Missouri . Its wrestling program, the only wrestling program sponsored by an SEC member school, competes as an affiliate member of the Big 12 Conference . Prior to joining the SEC in 2012, Missouri was
2350-597: Is the historic core of mostly brick academic buildings around the landmark columns of the Francis Quadrangle ; it includes Jesse Hall and Switzler Hall . In the early 20th century, the College of Agriculture received several new buildings. The new buildings, constructed in Neo-Gothic style from native Missouri limestone , form the White Campus. This includes Memorial Union . During the 1990s, Red Campus
2444-463: Is the occasion and the time." While the bell originally rang for classes until 1936, it now only rings for Tap Day, the Mizzou 39 ceremony, and to honor the passing of members of the MU family. During the time the bell was used to signal the start of classes, it was a longstanding prank among many student to steal the bell's clapper, so that the signal for classes to start would not be sounded. Switzler Hall
2538-548: Is the third largest bass drum in the United States, behind Big Bertha at the University of Texas and the Purdue Big Bass Drum . In April 2011, the Mizzou chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma kicked off a fundraising campaign to replace Big MO, which deteriorated over several decades of use. The current Big MO weighs 800-plus-pounds and has a 9-foot diameter and a 54-inch width, making it
2632-453: Is used to lead fans in the traditional MIZ-ZOU cheer. The drum has been a Mizzou football tradition since 1981, when it was acquired by a Mizzou athletic booster club known as the St. Louis Quarterback Club. The club donated $ 5,000 to purchase the drum, which was built by Ludwig Drums in Chicago. The drum, originally painted red with gold flakes, was brought back from Chicago strapped in the back of
2726-539: The American Civil War forced the university to close for much of the year. Residents of Columbia formed a Union "home guard" militia that became known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia". They were given the name for their readiness to protect the city and university. In 1890, the university's newly formed football team took the name the "Tigers" after the Civil War militia. In 1870, the institution
2820-612: The American Civil War , Union troops used the library in Academic Hall as a guard room. They caused significant damage, including taking 467 volumes to build fires. The board of curators later sued the US Army for the destruction on campus. Settled in 1915, the suit's award was used to build the Memorial Gateway on the northern edge of Red Campus. In 1913, construction began on a new main library, completed in 1915. It
2914-594: The Guinness Record as the nation's largest. The Missouri Tigers are a member of the Southeastern Conference except wrestling, which competes in the Big 12 Conference . Mizzou is the only school in the state with all of its sports in the NCAA Division I and a football team that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). These are the highest levels of college sports in
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3008-554: The Heart of America conference against traditional rivals such as Kansas and Kansas State . Mizzou has been led since 2010 by head coach Don Corwin. Missouri rugby finished the 2011–2012 season ranked 17th. As the winner of the Heart of America conference, Missouri qualified for the playoffs of the 2012 men's collegiate DI-AA championships, reaching the round of 16 before losing to Wisconsin. Mizzou defeated Kansas 24–7 to finish third at
3102-743: The Missouri Tigers and compete in the Southeastern Conference . The American tradition of homecoming is widely recognized to have originated at MU. In 1839, the Missouri Legislature passed the Geyer Act to establish funds for a state university. It was the first public university west of the Mississippi River . To secure the university, the citizens of Columbia and Boone County pledged $ 117,921 in cash and land to beat out five other central Missouri counties for
3196-570: The Premo-Porretta Power Poll . The current head coach of the women's basketball program is Robin Pingeton , formerly of Illinois State . She was hired in April 2010 to replace Cindy Stein , who resigned under pressure from boosters and media after the 2009–10 season. The university's first football team was formed in 1890 by the sophomore class of the "Academic School" (now the College of Arts and Science). They challenged
3290-571: The Southeastern Conference effective July 1, 2012. In September 2012, the school's wrestling team became an associate member of the Mid-American Conference , as the SEC does not sponsor wrestling. In 2016, there were 300,315 living alumni worldwide. Of those, 274,447 resided in the United States, 156,585 in Missouri , 61,346 in the St. Louis metropolitan area , 30,018 in the Kansas City metropolitan area , and 2,718 outside
3384-754: The University of Missouri System is led by a chancellor , who reports to the president of the UM System. Presidents, 1841–1863 and Chancellors, 1963–present MU is a member of the Association of American Universities and classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". The oldest global university ranking project, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking), places MU at 60-78 nationally and 201-300 globally as of 2024. The ranking largely takes into account research output and faculty prestige. In 2024
3478-498: The Washington Nationals . The men's basketball program has produced several NBA players, including Michael Porter Jr. , Anthony Peeler , Doug Smith , Jon Sundvold , Steve Stipanovich , Kareem Rush , Keyon Dooling , Linas Kleiza , Thomas Gardner , Jordan Clarkson and DeMarre Carroll . The Tigers were regularly a national power under Norm Stewart , whose tenure spanned four decades but which failed to include
3572-623: The 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins , and Phil Bradley , who played for several teams in the 1980s and early 1990s, and former Major Leaguer Ian Kinsler . In 2006, pitcher Max Scherzer was selected in the first round with the 11th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks . Scherzer went on to win the Al Cy Young Award with the Detroit Tigers in 2013. In 2008, pitcher Aaron Crow was picked 9th overall by
3666-479: The 2012 Heart of America 7s tournament. Mizzou was again successful during the 2013–2014 season, reaching the D1-AA national playoffs, where they defeated Middle Tennessee 46–10 in the round of 16 before losing in the quarterfinals to Bowling Green. Missouri saw more national success under Corwin in the 2017 season reaching the national semifinals before losing to Florida State. The sevens program has also seen success at
3760-521: The Big 12, dating back to 1892. The two teams met 104 times, with Nebraska leading the series 65–36–3. The large lead was the result of a 24-year Nebraska winning streak from 1979 to 2002. The teams split the eight games played from 2003 to 2010. The rivalry saw renewed interest following the Flea Kicker . The two teams played for the Victory Bell trophy, which was first awarded in 1927. There
3854-683: The Big Eight Conference in 1964. They have so far won 8 NCAA football Championship titles. The first Missouri Tigers baseball team was in 1868. The first recorded season was in 1891, when the Tigers went 2–2. The Tigers won the National Championship in 1954. The presence of former Missouri Tiger baseball players in professional baseball continues to grow each year. Former MU head coach Tim Jamieson has seen 40 players in his 13-year tenure sign pro contracts. Notable Tiger baseball alumni include Tim Laudner , who played for
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3948-599: The East Campus area. Delta Tau Delta , Kappa Sigma , Lambda Chi Alpha , and Sigma Alpha Epsilon are in the West Campus area along Stewart Street, which leads directly into the Francis Quadrangle . Most of the Greek-letter organizations are in a Greek Town, with approximately 30 Greek residences, to the north of Memorial Stadium. In 2019 a new Center for Missouri Studies was opened as a new headquarters for
4042-575: The East division of the SEC and will play annually along with the other five members of the division. Missouri currently leads the series at 8–5 and the trophy series at 6–5. The Missouri-Nebraska football series was another historic rivalry alongside the MU–KU series, although it ended with Nebraska's departure for the Big Ten Conference. The Missouri–Nebraska series was the second oldest rivalry in
4136-589: The Gamecocks with the Tigers due to the proximity of the two universities. Missouri currently leads the football series 10–4. Also known as Battle for Columbia due to the two universities in the city of Columbia in their respective states. Both the Tigers and the Gamecocks play for Missouri's newest Trophy game, the Mayors' Cup. The trophy was created in 2012 when Missouri joined the conference. Both teams are in
4230-498: The Greek Community represents 22% of the student population. More than 70 Greek-letter organizations are active at MU. In 1911, athletic director Chester Brewer invited alumni to "come home" for the big football game against the University of Kansas . A spirit rally and parade were planned as part of the celebration. Missouri Homecoming also includes several service elements, and the homecoming blood drive has earned
4324-722: The Missouri Statesman and supporter of the University. Today the building houses the Department of Communication, Women's and Gender Studies, and the Special Degrees Program. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One component of Switzler Hall is the bell tower. The bell was given to the University by Major James S. Rollins and is inscribed with the words "Nunc occasion est et tempus," which translated is, "Now
4418-513: The Rollins Society. The ceremony, first held in 1927, takes place at the columns on Francis Quadrangle. The Trulaske Consulting Association was started in 2009. It is open to students of all departments. However, most members are MBA and undergrad business students. The association aims to increase awareness, provide exposure, and facilitate networking between students and professionals in the consulting industry. The growing popularity of
4512-699: The SEC, which triggered the Southwest and the Big Eight Conferences to merge to form the Big 12 in 1996. Arkansas is placed in the West Division of the SEC while Missouri is placed in the East and with the SEC current football scheduling format a team from the West and the East divisions must play annually. To keep traditional rivalries ongoing in the SEC, the conference dropped Arkansas's cross-division annual match up with South Carolina to replace
4606-413: The SEC. The Kansas–Missouri football series is the second-oldest and second-most-played rivalry in college football history . (See: The Rivalry (Lafayette–Lehigh) ) The teams first matched up in football on October 31, 1891. Missouri claims to lead the all-time series, 57–54–9, since it counts the forfeit of Kansas' 1960 victory as a win. Missouri claims the 1911 football game in Columbia, Missouri as
4700-465: The SEC. The current head coach is Joshua Taylor , who was appointed head coach in 2019. Hearnes Center is home to the Missouri Tigers' nationally ranked wrestling program. The Tigers have produced 8 Individual National Champions, 81 All-Americans, 10 conference titles and two NCAA Championship team trophies. For 23 years Brian Smith has been the university's head wrestling coach. Since 1998, Smith has received honors for his coaching accomplishments at
4794-455: The State Historical Society of Missouri. In 2020, a new home for the School of Music was finished, the Sinquefield Music Center. The campus is the major setting for the 1965 novel Stoner by John Edward Williams . Protagonist William Stoner is an English professor who was raised on a farm in nearby Boonville. The University of Missouri is organized into seven colleges, and eleven schools and hosts approximately 300 majors. Upon creation of
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#17327875214724888-637: The Tigers went undefeated in the Big Eight to take the regular season title. In 2009, Missouri won its first Big 12 Championship over Baylor . Missouri went on to win its second Big 12 Championship in its final season in the Big 12 in 2012, once again defeating Baylor. Standout players from the Mizzou's basketball team include Anthony Peeler , John Brown, Jon Sundvold , Steve Stipanovich , Kareem Rush , Keyon Dooling Doug Smith , Willie Smith, Norm Stewart , Linas Kleiza , Derrick Chievous , DeMarre Carroll , Kim English , Jordan Clarkson , and Marcus Denmon . The official mascot for Missouri Tigers athletics
4982-400: The Tigers' biggest rival was the Kansas Jayhawks , with whom they competed in the annual Border War. This was one of the most intense rivalries in college sports, going back to a time of actual armed conflict between pro-slavery residents from Missouri and anti-slavery residents of the Kansas Territory, known as Bleeding Kansas . The series ended for the foreseeable future once Mizzou moved to
5076-430: The U.S. Other alumni, faculty, and staff include 18 Rhodes Scholars , 19 Truman Scholars , 150 Fulbright Scholars , 7 Governors of Missouri, and 6 members of the U.S. Congress . Two alumni and faculty have been awarded the Nobel Prize: alumnus Frederick Chapman Robbins won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1954 and George Smith was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2018 while affiliated with
5170-545: The United States. Their official colors are black and gold. Athletic sports for the Tigers include men's and women's basketball, baseball, cross country , football , golf, gymnastics, swimming & diving , softball , track, tennis, volleyball, women's soccer , and wrestling . Historic sports included a shooting club, in which the ladies' team in 1934 won a national championship. MU football games are on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium ("The Zou"). Built in 1926, this stadium has an official capacity of 71,168, and features
5264-431: The University of Missouri Board of Curators approved legislation to designate the South Farm of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (CAFNR) as a research park. The 114-acre (46.1 ha) park, three miles (4.8 km) southeast of the main campus on US63 is Discovery Ridge Research Park. Tenants at Discovery Ridge include ABC Laboratories and the MU Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory. The main campus
5358-537: The University of Missouri Homecoming also included the first ever visit by ESPN College GameDay . 18,000 fans attended College GameDay at the Francis Quadrangle on Saturday, October 23, 2010. The turnout broke the previous largest crowd of 15,800 fans set at the University of Nebraska in 2001, a record that would stand until 2023. Big MO is a 6-foot, 150-pound bass drum featured at Mizzou football games. Big MO's handlers are actually University of Missouri alumni rather than student members of Marching Mizzou . Big MO
5452-412: The University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame (2012). Askren is the former Bellator Welterweight Champion, former One Welterweight Champion, and former UFC Welterweight contender, having retired from MMA after his loss to Demian Maia. Chandler is a former Tiger wrestler earning All-American honors in 2009 (5th place 157 lbs.), who was the 3 time Bellator Lightweight Champion. Woodley
5546-440: The University of Missouri is 1,262-acre (2.0 sq mi; 510.7 ha) just south of Downtown Columbia and is maintained as a botanical garden . The historical campus is centered on Francis Quadrangle , a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places , and contains several buildings on the register. The academic buildings are classified into two main groups: Red Campus and White Campus. Red Campus
5640-454: The University of Missouri: Dan Gable Coach of the Year (2007), NWCA President (2010–12), Big 12 Coach of the Year (2012). Coach Smith has a 305-101-3 dual meet record. Ben Askren and J'den Cox have gone on to compete for the United States in Olympic Games : 2008 and 2016 . Cox earned the bronze medal at 86 kg. Cox was the 92 kg Freestyle World Champion in 2018 and 2019. Askren, Tyron Woodley , and Michael Chandler are among
5734-423: The administration of Missouri Governor David R. Francis , the university was rebuilt, with additions that shaped the modern institution. After the fire, some state residents tried to have the university moved farther west to Sedalia ; but Columbia rallied support to keep it. The columns were retained as a symbol of the historic campus. They are surrounded by the Francis Quadrangle , the oldest part of campus. At
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#17327875214725828-427: The association has been attributed to the resources available to student members. Workshops by management consultants and case studies on strategy form an integral part of the activities organized by TCA. The Muslim Student Organisation (MSO) is for the Muslims at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute explores the modern significance of the Ten Commandments. Founded in 1869,
5922-428: The core area of campus. Rothwell Gymnasium and Brewer Fieldhouse are part of the 283,579-square-foot (26,345.4 m ) Student Recreation Center, which was ranked number one in the nation in 2005 by Sports Illustrated . The main campus of the University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics is north of the sports complex. It includes the University of Missouri Hospital and Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital . Two of
6016-438: The establishment. Following the 2005 season, removable goal posts were installed, which are lowered at the close of each home game. In 2010 the goal post tradition was revived following the victory against BCS #1 ranked Oklahoma. Thousands of fans began to swarm the field before the final play had even ended. Although there were event staff and highway patrol encircling the field, security was unable to prevent fans from storming
6110-415: The few from the university's wrestling program to make the transition to Mixed Martial Arts . Askren is a 4-time All-American wrestler (2004–2007), 2-time NCAA Division I Collegiate National Runner-up (2004, 2005), 2-time NCAA Division I Collegiate National Champion (2006, 2007), 2-time Dan Hodge Trophy Collegiate Wrestler of the Year (2006, 2007), and competed in the 2008 Olympics. He has been inducted into
6204-442: The field and removing the north end zone goal post from the stadium. The Alma Mater for the University of Missouri is Old Missouri . It was written in 1895 and is sung to the tune of Annie Lisle and has two verses. Before and after athletic events, sometimes only the first verse is used. The first and second verses are more commonly sung at student orientation and at commencement/graduation ceremonies. Both verses are followed by
6298-415: The football series with an all-time record of 14–7 since 1896. In addition, the Missouri and Illinois baseball teams have recently begun a baseball rivalry, meeting at Busch Stadium since 2005 (though the schools did not meet in 2009 or 2011). Missouri leads the series 5-1 since 2005. The Telephone Trophy started during a 1959 Game featuring Iowa State and Missouri when the field phones were tested prior to
6392-399: The game, it was found that both teams could hear each other. The problem was solved by game time, but not without considerable worry on the part of the coaches. The Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. of Ames had a trophy made and presented it to Iowa State to be awarded each year to the team winning the game. An odd sidelight to the whole affair was that the same thing happened to Missouri later in
6486-411: The hospitals, Columbia Regional Hospital and Ellis Fischel Cancer Center , are northeast of the main campus near I-70. To the south of the MU Sports Park is the MU Research Park. It includes the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center, International Institute for Nano and Molecular Medicine, MU Life Science Business Incubator at Monsanto Place, and Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center. In 2005,
6580-425: The largest collegiate bass drum as well as largest bass drum in the United States. The new drum was built by Neil Boumpani of Boumpani Music Company, a custom drum maker in Barnesville, Georgia. The new record-setting Big MO debuted when Mizzou entered play in the Southeastern Conference in 2012. Since 1971, there has been no doubt about the destination of the goal posts any time they have been torn down following
6674-416: The location of the state university. The land on which the university was constructed was just south of Columbia's downtown and owned by James S. Rollins who was later called the "Father of the University." As the first public university in the Louisiana Purchase , the school was shaped by Thomas Jefferson 's ideas about public education. The school initially admitted only white male students. In 1862,
6768-678: The national stage, qualifying for the national tournament in 2017, 2018, 2019 and most recently in 2023, where the Tigers finished fifth in the Division One bracket of National Collegiate Rugby, their best ever finish in sevens. The University of Missouri Club Racquetball team has had success recently. The women's team won back-to-back Division 1 titles in 2015 and 2016 at the USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships. The overall team placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in those years. Historically,
6862-437: The new Missouri coach, C. L. Brewer, appealed with great success for the "Old Grads" to "Come Back Home" to boost attendance and help dedicate MU's new football field. The fans responded, swelling the crowd at Rollins Field in Columbia to more than ten thousand. MU, Trivial Pursuit , and Jeopardy! all say that this game in 1911 was the first homecoming game, despite competing claims from other schools. The 2010 edition of
6956-496: The north end of the Carnahan Quadrangle were unveiled in 2014. Called Traditions Plaza, it was opened on October 25, 2014, during homecoming festivities. The original MU intercollegiate athletic facilities, such as Rollins Field and Rothwell Gymnasium, were just south of the academic buildings. Expanded facilities were constructed across Stadium Boulevard, where Memorial Stadium opened in 1926. The Hearnes Center
7050-673: The only allied health school in the UM system. The university maintains the largest library collection in the State of Missouri. In the 2011–12 academic year, it held 3.1 million volumes, 8.1 million microforms, 678,596 e-books, almost 1.7 million government documents, more than 284,000 print maps, and more than 53,000 journal subscriptions. The collection is housed in Ellis Library , the University Archives, and seven other specialized academic libraries across campus. During
7144-545: The poll began in 1936, and has had two top-five finishes since 2007. Missouri softball began play in 1975. Missouri has appeared in seven Women's College World Series , in 1981, 1983, 1991, 1994, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Missouri volleyball began play in 1974. They have played in the NCAA Tournament 16 times, most recently in 2019 . The furthest they have advanced in the tournament is the quarterfinals in 2005 . They have won 2 conference championships, both of those in
7238-448: The quad's southern end is Academic Hall 's replacement, Jesse Hall , named for Richard Jesse (the president of the university at the time of the fire). Built in 1895, Jesse Hall holds many administrative offices and Jesse Auditorium. The buildings surrounding the quad were constructed of red brick, leading to this area becoming known as Red Campus . The area was tied together in planned landscaping and walks in 1910 by George Kessler in
7332-665: The second-most Tournament appearances without a Final Four . The Tigers have appeared in the regional finals (Elite Eight) of the NCAA Tournament six times (twice under coach Norm Stewart, Missouri head coach from 1967 to 1999). The Tigers have won 15 conference championships, beginning with the Missouri Valley Conference , followed by the Big Six , the Big Eight , and the Big 12 Conference . In 1994,
7426-422: The system, each university was renamed with its host city; thus, the university in Columbia became the University of Missouri–Columbia. In the proceeding decades, colloquial and verbal usage of the generic name of MU continued. There were attempts to drop Columbia from its name by students, faculty, alumni, and administrators who said it might cause the university to be perceived as a regional institution. This change
7520-437: The university encompassed a normal college (for training of teachers of students through high school), engineering college, arts, and science college, school of agriculture and mechanical arts. school of medicine, and school of law. On January 9, 1892, Academic Hall , the institution's central administrative building, burned in a fire that gutted the building, leaving little more standing than six stone Ionic columns . Under
7614-563: The university erected a memorial to the Confederate soldiers of Missouri; it was popularly known as Confederate Rock. The monument was removed in 1974. Following the 2015–16 University of Missouri protests , the chancellor and system president resigned amid racial complaints by students. Due to the emerging COVID-19 Pandemic , the university canceled classes on March 11, 2020, and resumed teaching in person in August. The campus of
7708-497: The university's colleges and operates the University of Missouri High School , a distance learning K-12 high school. In the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Online Programs, MU ranks 28th in the best online bachelor’s degree programs out of 339 universities nationwide. MU is the largest public university in Missouri. Of those applying for freshman admission, 78.1% are admitted with those matriculating having an average GPA of 3.6, an average SAT composite score of 1232 out of
7802-626: The university's research and development expenditures were $ 462 million as submitted to the National Science Foundation. MU is also one of two land-grant universities in the state, along with Lincoln University . In 1908, the Missouri School of Journalism was founded in Columbia. It has been ranked the top journalism school in the United States several times by the NewsPro–RTDNA survey. Although it claims to be
7896-494: The university. Missouri Tigers The Missouri Tigers intercollegiate athletics programs represent the University of Missouri , located in Columbia . The name comes from a band of armed Union Home Guards called the Fighting Tigers of Columbia who, in 1864, protected Columbia from Confederate guerrillas during the American Civil War . The University of Missouri (often referred to as Mizzou or MU )
7990-568: The world's first Homecoming . An important meeting between the Tigers and Jayhawks occurred on November 24, 2007, when the two teams played for the Big 12 North Championship and a shot at playing for the Big 12 Championship and a possible National Championship. The Tigers defeated the Jayhawks 36–28. The Tigers season later resulted in a trip to the Cotton Bowl Classic , where they defeated Arkansas 38–7. The Tiger–Sooner Peace Pipe
8084-609: The world's first, the Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris was established in 1899. The UM System owns and operates KOMU-TV , the NBC / CW affiliate for Columbia and nearby Jefferson City . It is a full-fledged commercial station and a working lab for journalism students. The MU School of Journalism publishes the Columbia Missourian and Vox Magazine where students learn reporting, editing, and design in
8178-605: The year in a game played at Columbia. Missouri won the first game, 14–0. The series is 58–34–9 in favor of Missouri. Missouri leads the series since the trophy tradition started with a record of 30–18–3. The University of Missouri claims to be the originator of the tradition of homecoming . Before, games against the University of Kansas were played in Kansas City. However, a change in conference regulations required intercollegiate football games to be played on campus starting in 1911. Fearing that game attendance would be low,
8272-646: Was abducted from the Boone County Jail by a lynch mob of townsfolk and students and was hanged from a bridge near the campus. In late 1935, four graduates of Lincoln University —a traditionally black school about 30 miles (48 km) away in Jefferson City —were denied admission to MU's graduate school. One of the students, Lloyd L. Gaines , brought his case to the United States Supreme Court . On December 12, 1938, in
8366-428: Was built to the east of the stadium in 1972. In 1994, the university developed the first draft of a master plan for the campus to tie together all of Tiger athletic facilities to the south of Stadium Boulevard and add to its design. The MU Sports Park includes the Mizzou Arena , Taylor Stadium , Walton Stadium , Mizzou Athletics Training Complex, University Field and Devine Pavilion. Student athletic facilities remain in
8460-509: Was established as the world's first journalism school ; it publishes a daily newspaper, the Columbia Missourian , and operates NBC affiliate KOMU . The University of Missouri Research Reactor Center is the sole source of isotopes in nuclear medicine in the United States. The university operates University of Missouri Health Care , running several hospitals and clinics in Mid-Missouri . Its NCAA Division I athletic teams are
8554-571: Was expanded in 1935, 1958, and 1985. It was dedicated as Elmer Ellis Library on October 10, 1972, in honor of the thirteenth president of the University of Missouri. The MU libraries are home to the 47th largest research collection in North America. MU merged two departments, the Center for Distance and Independent Study and MU Direct: Continuing and Distance Education, to form Mizzou Online in 2011. Mizzou Online offers online courses for 18 of
8648-468: Was extended to the south with the creation of the Carnahan Quadrangle. Hulston Hall of the University of Missouri School of Law , completed in 1988, formed the eastern border of the future quad. The Reynolds Alumni Center was completed in 1992 on the west side of the new quad. It was completed in 2002 with Cornell Hall of the Trulaske College of Business and Tiger Plaza. Plans for a new plaza on
8742-643: Was granted land-grant college status under the Morrill Act of 1862. The act led to the founding of the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy as an offshoot of the main campus in Columbia. It developed as the present-day Missouri University of Science and Technology . In 1888, the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station opened. This grew to encompass ten centers and research farms around Missouri. By 1890,
8836-444: Was long resisted by the UM System and the other universities based on uniformity and fairness. However, after a renewed effort for "name restoration", the board of curators voted unanimously on November 29, 2007, to allow MU to drop Columbia from its name for all public use. The name University of Missouri–Columbia continues to be advocated by some faculty, administration, and alumni of UMKC, UMSL, and Missouri S&T. Each campus of
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