Maybe everybody knew this–it is buried in Matter’s blog here–but Sean Weatherspoon announced after the Alamo Bowl that he will return for his senior season.  Of course, it would be easy, I imagine, to get caught up in the moment, and if the NFL projects him to be a first rounder, he might change his mind, but this is exceptional news for the Tigers.  Weatherspoon is the most talented and productive MU defender since Justin Smith.  I’ve also read that he is a great, great locker room influence, which will be critical for the young defense next year.  I honestly expect a drastic improvement in the defense for 2009.  Of course, naysayers will once again no doubt fail to recognize that college football the last few years has seen a seismic shift towards the offense and that giving up “only” 22 points a game is now very good, so nobody will actually recognize that the defense is very talented…..