We had a jam-packed morning on The Starting Lineup as we sat down with our resident sports insider Corey Riggs to unpack a massive week in local and national sports. From the international stage down to the local pitch at Missouri State University, there is absolutely no shortage of drama or anticipation as we inch closer to the fall sports season.

Team USA’s Gut Punch & The World Cup Exposure

We kicked off the conversation by processing the emotional hangover of Team USA’s early exit from tournament play. Corey didn’t mince words, calling the final match a complete “gut punch” for American soccer fans. While Christian Pulisic and the squad had a tough night at the worst possible time, we agree with analysts like Alexi Lalas and legendary local coach Jon Leamy that the tournament was a massive win for American exposure. Beyond the pitch, the tournament served as an incredible advertisement for the American sports fan, showing international visitors just how welcoming our communities truly are.

Missouri State Soccer Realignment Realities

With fall sports just about six weeks away, we dived deep into the logistical puzzle facing Missouri State University men’s and women’s soccer following the school’s transition out of the Missouri Valley Conference. Because Conference USA doesn’t sponsor every sport, our soccer programs are split. Kirk Nelson’s women’s team is heading into year two of Conference USA after a gritty road-warrior season that saw them make the conference tournament. Meanwhile, Michael Seabolt’s men’s squad faces an entirely different beast in the American Athletic Conference. Coach Seabolt considers the American a “P4 conference” in men’s soccer, and after taking some lumps last year, the Bears are retooling their roster and coaching staff for another brutal schedule.

The 40th Anniversary of a Springfield Staple

On the home front, the campus might seem quiet, but the fundraising grind never stops. We looked ahead to August 1st, which marks the historic 40th installment of the annual Sneaker Soiree at Great Southern Bank Arena. Started four decades ago by the living legend Bill Rowe as “the Ozarks’ largest garage sale,” the event has evolved into the single largest fundraiser for the Bears Athletic Department thanks to the hard work of Jon Leamy, Kerry Dickerson, and the MSU Foundation team.

Football Camp, Texas A&M, and a Long-Awaited Anniversary

Finally, the countdown to Friday Night Lights and college football Saturdays is officially on. Head coach Casey Woods is hosting the Missouri State Football Kickoff Dinner on July 24th at the Darr Agricultural Center before the team opens fall camp. The Bears are preparing for one of the most hostile environments in college football as they open the season against 104,000 screaming Aggie fans in College Station. But before the grind begins, Corey is taking some well-deserved time off to fulfill a 20-year promise to his wife, Maggie, celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. Have a great trip, Corey! Just make sure you finish that Phil Steele preview on the flight.