Oct. 27, 2001

By Kyle Parrish
MU Media Relations Office

For Gary Pinkel's Tigers, today's game against the Texas Longhorns means a lot.

To senior guard Adrian Cole, it means even more.

Hailing from Houston, Texas, Cole grew up in the state that bleeds burnt orange on Saturdays. He was recruited by Texas and would have seriously considered playing there had it not been for a conflict in personal agendas.

"Texas wanted me to play center and I wasn't too high on that idea," said Cole, who weighs 320 pounds. "Also, I wanted to go to school out of state. Missouri was just close enough to home that I felt comfortable there."

Cole's brush with UT has obviously colored his desire to beat the home state team. However, his main motivation behind wanting to win is even more personal.

"(UT middle linebacker) D.D. Lewis and I grew up together," said Cole. "Even now, he lives two streets away from my house. We went to rival high schools in the same school district. In fact, we played on the same pee-wee and junior high teams."

Cole's rivalry with Lewis began when the two branched off for high school. Lewis went on to star at Houston's Aldine High while Cole was a two-way all-district selection at Aldine Nimitz High School.

"I really feel like I have something to prove because D.D. is there," said Cole. "It's all about bragging rights back home. After we lost to them last year, my family members would come home and say 'I saw D.D. at the park and he was talking about how good Texas was.' I don't want that to happen again."

Beyond the desire to prove something to the Texas team and Lewis in particular, Cole is motivated by a desire to prove something to himself.

"This season, no matter what happens, I want to look back with no regrets," he said. "I've been through rough times in the last four years here - like not playing when I felt like I should have. But I would not let myself quit or give up. Quitting would have been an easy way out. Football here has given me a desire to do the hard thing because it pays off the most in the end."

His motivation to succeed and be a playmaker for the Tigers has gotten him in the best shape of his career and earned him "most improved offensive lineman" following spring drills. Cole has made good use of his hard work by starting the last two games. His blocking was a big factor in Zack Abron's career-high 147-yard rushing performance against Iowa State earlier this month.

As a senior, Cole is not only expected to take care of his personal responsibilities, but those of other players. He takes that responsibility with a good measure of team ethic. "I feel like my role is to lead with more examples than words," said Cole. "If something needs to be said, and no one is saying it, I will speak up. But it's the captains' jobs to get vocal."

With his team responsibilities in order, Cole explains why he thinks the Tigers are still primed to have a winning season and a bowl berth: "We feel there is no game we can't win. We have the best conditioned team in the country and we take that mentality into games," said Cole. "We don't go to play other teams, they have to come to our level and play us."

If Cole's confidence can rub off on the other Tiger players, a bowl run could be in order. For the rest of this season, Cole can only continue to work as he has and make the most of the opportunities given the team.

"I want this to be the best season I've had. So far, it's going that way," he said. "I think that if the team can give it's all on every play, we will have no regrets when it's all over." When it does end (hopefully in late December) and his college days conclude, Cole plans to earn his teaching certificate. He wants to move back to Texas and coach high school football while working on a career in acting.

"Acting is another love of mine. I was very involved in theater in high school, but haven't had the time to do it at Missouri because of my football obligations," said Cole. "When I get out of school, I want to try and get involved in local theater productions in any way I can. I know some people in the business and they are excited about having me around."

For now, Cole will continue to put his energies into performing on a different stage - one that sits in front of thousands on Saturday afternoons. Even beyond football, one can sense that Cole will succeed in whatever he does. His personal trials have motivated him and determined him.

This week Texas and D.D. Lewis will get a dose of Cole's determination on the gridiron. It will be a homecoming of sorts for the young man who is as big as Texas but wears the black and gold of Missouri.

Editor's Note: After this story was written, Cole suffered a season-ending injury against Kansas.