(AP) -- There were times during Missouri's 62-10 win over Southeastern Louisiana when offensive lineman Max Copeland had to collect himself and keep a promise he made to his dad.
"I'm here, man, I'm here," Copeland said he remembered thinking as he looked around at more than 62,000 fans in Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
His father, Michael, made Max promise to take a little joy in how far he'd come.
A native of Billings, Mont., Copeland spent three years with Missouri as a walk-on before earning a scholarship two weeks before the season.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound right guard then made his first start Saturday after senior Jack Meiners sprained a knee.
For Copeland, a redshirt junior with wiry blond hair and a passion for rock 'n' roll, starting for his father's alma mater was a long time coming.
(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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