As Paul Harvey used to say ...

With fully intended homage to Paul Harvey, we’ll empty out the notebook on research to today’s published football section story on What Comes After.

In Missouri’s case, what comes after Chase Daniel.

History shows the alpha and the omega of schools trying to replace former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks. Or, in the case of Daniel his junior season, a Heisman Trophy finalist.

In 1937, Yale’s Clint Frank won the Heisman. The next season Yale finished 2-6.

In 1938, TCU’s Davey O’Brien won the Heisman. The next season TCU finished 3-7.

In 1962, Oregon State’s Terry Baker won the Heisman. The next season Oregon State finished 5-5.

In 1963, Roger Staubach won the Heisman at Navy. The next season the Midshipmen finished 3-6-1.

In 2002, Eric Crouch won the Heisman at Nebraska. The next season the Cornhuskers finished 7-7.

Other post-Heisman examples show no precipitous drop, and even some great success.

The season after quarterback Vinny Testaverde won the Heisman at Miami in 1986, the Hurricane finished 12-0.

In 1990, Ty Detmer won the Heisman at BYU. The next season BYU finished 8-3-2.

In 2002, Carson Palmer won the Heisman at USC. The next season, with future Heisman winner Matt Leinart taking over at quarterback, the Trojans finished 12-1.

In 2006 Troy Smith won the Heisman at Ohio State. The next season the Buckeyes finished 11-2.

David Yost, making his debut as Missouri’s offensive coordinator but the quarterbacks coach for Brad Smith and Chase Daniel, has been counseling new No. 1 Blaine Gabbert about being a vocal leader. Not one who simply tries to lead by the example of his play.

“He can’t have a quiet day,” Yost said. “He can’t have a so-so day and not say anything. He’s still got to be talking.

“His teammates have to hear him as well as see him.”

Brad Smith wasn’t much of a talker. Yost admitted that.

“He’d give you that look,” Yost said. “When he’d look at you, you’d go, `Brad wouldn’t have done that. I’ve got to do better.’”

Daniel was vocal. Before, during and after games. As such, he became the focal point for some opponents, like Nebraska, who simply wanted to shut the kid’s mouth.

More often than not on Daniel’s way to rewriting the Missouri passing record book, Daniel’s bravado worked. Not against Oklahoma, obviously.

“You’ve got to know what to say and how to say it and who to say it to,” Yost said. “You’ve got to use your resources and you’ve got to know how to handle them.”

Blaine Gabbert - facing his baptism on Saturday in the 2009 season opener against Illinois in St. Louis - doesn’t have to do it alone.

Danario Alexander and Jared Perry are senior receivers who have seen the way Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman and Tommy Saunders and before that Will Franklin and Martin Rucker did it.

Gabbert will play behind an offensive line led by veteran center Tim Barnes and veteran guard Kurtis Gregory and with stardom said to be awaiting sophomores Elvis Fisher and Dan Hoch.

Missouri may have it’s best-ever 1-2 tandem at tailback in Derrick Washington and De’Vion Moore. And there is more on the way with the express-train approach of freshman Kendial Lawrence.

Defensively, nose tackle Jaron Baston is coming off a training-camp groin injury but counted on to be a big part of stopping the run up the middle.

Defensive ends Aldon and Jacquies Smith and Brian Coulter are seen as keys to providing quarterback pressure and containment for a secondary that is trying to recover from a terrible 2008 (117th nationally against the pass) with many of the same players from a year ago.

Linebacker? That should be good to very good with Sean Weatherspoon, Luke Lambert and Andrew Gachkar playing as a three-some more downs and with young bucks Will Ebner and Donovan Bonner coming off eye-opening August drills.

Mizzou opens a season that is front loaded with games against Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma State in the first seven.

Success will depend a great deal on getting ready, getting set and go-go-going right away.

Widespread forecasts - Missouri has been picked as low as fifth and as high as winning the Big 12 North again.

The last two seasons - ignoring the building seasons under Smith and one of the last three with Daniel at quarterback - don’t a tradition make. That’s the thinking.

Pinkel does not ignore the skepticism. He understands it.

“For anybody, even me as a head coach, always there is that change of guard,” Pinkel said. “We’re talking about high level players. If a guy is not a high level player, nobody cares.”

Pinkel has replaced the quarterback many thought was the finest in recent Missouri history with the quarterback many believe was the best quarterback in all of Missouri history.

“But its Brad Smith, what are we going to do?” Pinkel said, rhetorically. “Chase Daniel, what are we going to do?”

Confidently, Pinkel added of Gabbert: “We’ll see the next step here.”

All eyes, however, will be on Blaine Gabbert, and teammates contend that will be an eyefull.

“Everybody’s got to make their own identity,” receiver Wes Kemp said. “We’ve got a quarterback who can throw it downtown and make all the other throws.”

Moore takes that confidence a leap further.

“Brad Smith, Chase Daniel are both great players,” said the sophomore tailback. “Players of their time. We have Blaine Gabbert and he’s going to be a captain of this team.

“He’s going to keep this team running. We’re going to look to him to make the plays and I see him doing it.

“He’s going to come in and make a name for himself. He’s going to be a Blaine Gabbert.”

Yost, the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, noted a distinction.

“He’s not going to be the next Chase Daniel,” Yost said. “He’s going to be the first Blaine Gabbert.”

It’s the way Chase Daniel sees it.

“I didn’t try to be Brad Smith,” Daniel said. “Blaine Gabbert shouldn’t try to be Chase Daniel.”