Washington Back for Border War "Bigger than a bowl game"

COLUMBIA | Missouri should have leading rusher Derrick Washington back for the Border War against Kansas, a game MU coach Gary Pinkel labeled “bigger than a bowl game.”

Washington suffered a concussion late in the first half of Missouri’s 34-24 victory over Iowa State on Saturday. He did not play in the second half, although he did feel well enough to take part in the postgame media session.

“He’s doing very, very well,” Pinkel said on Monday morning, less than an hour after receiving the latest medical update on the junior running back.

“No headaches. We expect him to be 100 percent.”

Washington has been an integral part of Missouri’s two-game winning streak and the Tigers coming into the game against KU on Saturday afternoon at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium with a 7-4 record.

He averaged 5.6 yards per rush prior to injury against Iowa State.

He has been used more and more frequently in Mizzou’s Jumbo formation, with Washington taking a direct snap in a shotgun formation. His eight touchdowns scored are second only to Danario Alexander’s 12.

Additionally, Washington — with senior receiver Jared Perry out with a knee injury — stands as MU’s No. 3 available receiver for the Border War game.

Pinkel, asked for a reaction to the investigation at Kansas into the conduct of Jayhawks coach Mark Mangino, declined comment.

But of the Missouri-Kansas game, Pinkel said: “This game is bigger than a bowl game.

“You play this for the students and all the players that ever played at Mizzou, for all the alumni and all the season ticket holders and all the fans. It’s really great to be part of such a big game.

“As it always is, it will be a great football game.”