http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/tiger-tracker/article_b7118206-e5d3-11df-80da-0017a4a78c22.htmlMizzou coach Gary Pinkel said Monday morning that MU is seeking a review from the Big 12 of a fourth quarter Nebraska hit of Mizzou quarterback Blaine Gabbert to determine whether it was an illegal helmet-to-helmet shot.
"We'll see what happens," said Pinkel, adding that either way, "I don't know if there was malice involved there."
As for Gabbert, who took a lot of punishment, at one point in the second half tried to call a timeout MU didn't have and seemed slightly dazed after the game, Pinkel said he was "doing really well" and had looked good at practice Sunday evening.
Without suggesting Nebraska had targeted him illegally, Pinkel said, "They got after him pretty good, but he's in really good shape."
Still, initially asked about the high hit, Pinkel tried to clarify which one, suggesting he believed there were several.
But he alluded directly only to the review of the one by a blitzing Courtney Osborne, which resulted in Gabbert fumbling but the play ruled dead with no penalty called - perhaps an officiating compromise that left both sides upset.
Different angles, not to mention different lenses of beholders, have created a debate over the question of intent and just what Osborne could or should have done differently.
Either way, given scrutiny of such hits in the NFL recently, Pinkel added, "It's a hot topic, and it should be."
Nebraska on Saturday had played without special teams ace and reserve linebacker Eric Martin, who was suspended for a flagrant hit against Oklahoma State.
Late in the first half, MU defensive back Kenji Jackson knocked Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez out of the game with a leg injury. But Jackson's was a low, lunging tackle in the open field.