Kirk Farmer isn't asking for much -- just one full season in which all his bones remain intact.

A 6-5, 210-pound junior quarterback with a strong arm and good speed, Farmer has played in just 10 of Missouri's 22 games the past two seasons.

A broken leg sidelined him in the sixth game in 1999, and a broken collarbone was the culprit in the fourth game last year.

Farmer said that as a result of his misfortune, he's developed a deeper sense of patience as well as a stronger devotion to the game.

"It makes you work harder in the offseason," he said, "and it makes you appreciate it more."

Farmer was putting together his best game at Mizzou -- 13 of 25 passing for a career-high 214 yards and a touchdown -- when he was hurt last year at Nebraska. His potential was just being fulfilled, and he's eager to take the helm of MU's veteran offensive unit this season.

"I think we have a ton of weapons," he said. "We've got lots of talented receivers, and the line's all back and strong and very knowledgeable."

First-year Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel likes Farmer's experience, athleticism and leadership ability. And he likes the potential of sophomore Darius Outlaw, who threw for more than 1,300 yards in seven games as Farmer's replacement last season.

"They're very similar quarterbacks," Pinkel said. "They both are very good athletes; they run well; they've got very strong arms. Those are the kind of athletes we want at quarterback."

Farmer, though, is the linchpin. And he has something to prove, individually and collectively.

"We want to bring this team back into the bowl games," he said.

"We don't want to be the guys that tore this program down or brought it back down to where it was before, back in the '80s. We want to prove it to ourselves, mainly."

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