[Please excuse the following 'fan'-related post.] 

When the news of Missouri linebacker Marquis Booker's arrest for unlawful use of a weapon and underage drinking surfaced, Tigers fans became a bit anxious knowing wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was associating with Booker on the night of March 16th (and wondering if Marquis shared any relation to former point guard Melvin).  Fortunately, Maclin was absolved of any wrongdoing (and Melvin is unrelated - he's also starting for the Armani Jeans Milano in Italy).  Unfortunately for Marquis, he's now off the team.

But where does this place Missouri's football program?  After being snubbed into the Cotton Bowl in a season which they entered December #1 in the country, fans wanted their claim of national powerhouse to be validated.  Even without a BCS game, the Tigers are on their way because as it stands now, they're in 1st place in the Fulmer Cup. 

Named after the venerable Phil Fulmer of the Volunteers of Tennessee, it's an invention of the blog Everyday Should be Saturday to keep track of all criminals and team run-ins with the law. 

In 2006, the Marshall Thundering Herd captured the honors with a total of 15 points (they done Randy Moss proud).  A year later, the Fighting Illini ran away with the cup with 24 points.  Currently, the Missouri Tigers have 17 points (screenshot yet to be updated).  If the trend continues, the Tigers/Illini game on August 30th will be for much more than state bragging rights and Top 25 standings: it'll be for the pride of Fulmer Cup.  It's quite stunning that a Nick Saban coached team isn't in the lead, but I wouldn't count them out yet. 



You might be wondering how one tallies a point, so I've listed the abbreviated scale as follows:

-- Murder: 5 points.
-- Rape: 4 points.
-- Bestiality: 4 points.
-- Grand Larceny: 4 points.
-- Hitting Girls: 3 points.
-- Car theft/Assault/Driving through houses drunk/Drug possession of the Tyrone Biggums variety: 3 points.
-- Fightin' in 'da Club/Weed Possession/Standard DUI: 2 points.
-- Drankin'/Suspended License/Assorted petty misdemeanors: 1 point. 

As EDSBS pointed out, Missouri wants this crown like a dog wants a tennis ball under the couch.  Indeed. 

Go get 'em, Tigers.

[We now return to your regularly schedule Web site - though this story is something we'd normally cover anyway; it's just that our team happened to be the story.  Drats.]