This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Kansas City, Mo. • Officials from Missouri weren't the only administrators who let out a huge sigh of relief when kickoff finally came for the college football game at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night.
BYU officials were also relieved.
"I am glad we are here," BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe told BYUtv before kickoff. " I didn't know how it was going to turn out. We had an opportunity to contact Missouri early in the week, before it was settled, and they were confident they could work something out. So I am glad that they were able to play the game."
Holmoe said the resignation of Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, announced on Friday, added "another layer" to the tumultuous week that began with Missouri players threatening to boycott all football activities.
"But it is important for us to focus on our team, and our game," Holmoe said in the pre-game interview. "We are aware of the discussion that is going on in the country, and certainly in Columbia.
But our responsibility is to take care of our kids, and this game. So I am hoping we've done that well enough during the week that we will come out ready to play."
Houk sits out
BYU's football team can't seem to get totally healthy this season.
The latest high-profile Cougar to miss a game due to injury was inside receiver Terenn Houk. He suffered a concussion in the 17-16 win over San Jose State last week and did not play Saturday.
However, several Cougars who missed the Friday game against the Spartans returned to action against the Tigers, including guard Ului Lapuaho.
Center Tejan Koroma also played, after missing the SJSU game due to suspension.
Running back Riley Burt, who has been nursing a hamstring injury, also played.
Neutral site? Not quite
If there was some question whether the game was truly a neutral-site affair, it was erased quickly when teams and fans arrived at the field and noticed the word "MIZZOU" was painted in both end zones. Also, the Kansas City Chiefs logo at midfield had been scrubbed off.
The Chiefs, with former BYU offensivee lineman Andy Reid as their head coach, play at Denver on Sunday. Former Cougar Daniel Sorensen is on Kansas City's active roster, while former BYU defensive lineman Loni Fangupo is on the practice squad.
As usual, BYU fans made their presence felt in Arrowhead Stadium, making up approximately one-third of the crowd, judging by the noise when teams made a positive play.
Arrowhead's capacity is listed as 79,451.
Big turnout for fireside
BYU officials said the Friday night fireside put on by BYU players and coaches and held at the nearby Independence Stake Center drew one of the biggest crowds in memory.
Every classroom was filled, in addition to the main chapel and cultural hall. It was also broadcast via closed-circuit TV to six other venues in four states.
BYU fans also overwhelmed LDS historical sites in the Independence-Jackson County area on Saturday, and also the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence.
It was the first time BYU has ever played in the state of Missouri.
Briefly
The Cougars entered the game with a 31-6 record in November under coach Bronco Mendenhall. … It was 60 degrees at kickoff, with 9 mph winds from the south. .. Former BYU linebacker Jeff Bell (2007-09) carried out the alumni flag. … Corey Edwards had his first career kickoff for BYU.
Twitter: @drewjay