Nov. 22, 2010

Head Coach Gary Pinkel Injury Update:
"Really, there is not much as far as injuries are concerned. I think Will Ebner will be back this week. We expected him to be back last week and we went up to gametime and Coach Steckel and [Trainer] Rex Sharp just did not feel good about his pre-game warm-up. His form tackling just didn't feel comfortable so we decided not to use him. Other than that I think we're in pretty good shape. Luke Lambert's not going to be back - we're looking into a possible redshirt for him, so we'll get back later on that situation"

On Thanksgiving break:
"It's a good week for our players since they don't have school this week, so that takes a lot off their plate. They've got a chance to rest up a bit and jump ahead academically. We had some players in this afternoon working on some things. This is our Thanksgiving week that's pretty much like a normal game week except at Thursday practice we go early in the morning, have a Thanksgiving lunch, and then the local players - those from somewhere in the state of Missouri - take their teammates home with them."

On the Kansas rivalry:
"You inherit this rivalry when you come to Mizzou as a player or a coach. It's one of the great rivalries of college football. I've said this every year - you can throw the records out. It means so much to each team and it certainly means so much to our fans. We'll get KU's best effort and their best football game because that's what that does. Hopefully, we can prepare well and give our best also."

On Defensive Coordinator Dave Steckel:
"It's interesting because I thought Steckel was a good coach last year, but you know how this business goes. He's a good coach, he's a good motivator, he's very smart and he's got a good staff. It goes without saying that I think he's done a great job."

On TE Michael Egnew:
"First off you talk about Chase Coffman and `Ruck' (Martin Rucker), they were first team All-Americans and they kind of set the bar for tight ends here. Michael has just changed so much from the first two years. It's remarkable how he's matured into this great competitor and this guy that is driven to be successful. It seems like he gets tougher every week and continues to make those tough, difficult catches. He's turned into a great competitor and you can see that in how he plays. He's a finalist for the Mackey Award and he's worked very hard for that and certainly deserves it."

On having a history of dominating tight ends:
"We detach ours most of the time, but it's a big-bodied receiver and it's a big target. A lot of times you'll have linebackers on them, or smaller defensive backs and both can work at an advantage at times. There's a size advantage to having a really, really big athlete."

On LB Andrew Wilson:
"He's doing really well. Generally, with a young player we don't teach them two different positions, and he's had to learn two, and I think he's doing a great job. He's a smart guy and a really tough guy, a very physical football player. That, and the fact that he loves to play the position and works really hard has turned him into a really good football player with a great future."

On DB Jarrell Harrison:
"He's got a remarkable attitude. He'd play defensive end if you needed him to. He's very, very `football smart' and his instincts are very, very good. I don't think an athletic football player with average instincts could do what he's been asked to do, I think you have to be really sharp, and he is. It allows him to be able to adjust We put him at the nickel spot last week and we also put him at safety, and we'll probably ask him to do that again this week."

On the Mizzou-Kansas game being in Kansas City:
"I think it's certainly been great for Kansas City. The games have been great, the attendance has been great. It's a very, very competitive environment and it's been awesome. I think it's been good for both sides."

Missouri Quarterback Blaine Gabbert
On the chemistry between himself and receivers Michael Egnew and T.J. Moe:
"We have great chemistry together and we know what we are going to do against certain coverages on certain plays. It is really nice to have those guys around me to throw the ball to. I didn't feel strongly towards one or the other [coming into the fall]; I knew that both of them had the ability to get the job done, but they have taken it to a whole new level. The plays that T.J. and Michael have made all year - that's them doing that. I can't tell them to make people miss, like T.J. does, or tell them to run over people, like Michael does. They have come a long way since spring ball and now they are high-level Big 12 guys."

On the amount of plays that Moe and Egnew have made:
"Your receivers are supposed to make plays for you. My job is just to get them the football and then when they make plays, it makes my life and the other quarterbacks' life much easier."

On Michael Egnew being able to go up and get the ball:
"That is something that we practice a lot. Michael being 6-6, if you throw it to where only he can get it on that corner route, he is one of the only ones who can come down with that football. He did it at Iowa State and that was a great catch."

On Egnew earning a spot among the Mackey Award finalists:
"Michael has been in the three-point stance a lot of times this season, so that is something that I hope doesn't work against him. He's an All-Big 12 guy - the plays that he has made all season long have been among the top in the Big 12 and the top of the country."

Missouri Defensive End Aldon Smith
On what the Kansas rivalry means to him since he is from the Kansas City area:
"It is definitely nice go back to Kansas City and hold it down for the east side of the city. The fact that I am playing in front of a lot of friends and family means a lot too. I have a lot of family coming from out of town for this game too since it is Thanksgiving."

On what defensive coordinator Dave Steckel has brought to the team emotionally:
"His intensity helps us out in the game and he does bring a great deal of intensity. When he brings that, we really feed off of that - when he is hyped, we get hyped. I think we definitely feed off of each other. He was excited after the Iowa State game. We worked hard to get a shutout and I know he was very happy about that."

On why the defense is improved as far as statistics are concerned:
"Finally, we have put all of the pieces of the puzzle together. We are just so much more consistent than we have been in the past. In the past, some games we were really good and in others we really weren't. I think we are doing a great job of working with each other and we have a lot more depth. It seems like almost anyone has been able to help out and contribute."

On whether or not there are increased emotions when playing Kansas:
"I don't take any personal emotions into the game; I just go out there and play the game no matter who we are playing. It is definitely a rivalry game, so you want to beat them since it is a rivalry, but it is nothing personal for me."

Missouri Tight End Michael Egnew
On being named as one of the three Mackey Award finalists:
"It is an honor being mentioned with those guys from Wisconsin and Arkansas. It is just an honor to see my name up there."

On following former Tigers Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman at tight end:
"They were so good at the position that it is very hard to follow in their footsteps. I am glad that people are viewing it that way."

On whether or not he expected to put up the numbers that he has this season:
"I just expected to come in and play hard for Mizzou. It would be nice to see my name next to `All-Big 12' or `All-American' but to me, as long as we get wins and Mizzou does well, that is all that matters."

On what he thinks of the MU-KU rivalry:
"It's a huge game for us. They are going to come out and they are going to play hard. It is probably the hardest game that they will play all season long, which will make it one of the hardest for us as well. You will always have that feeling in the back of your mind like `we have to beat these guys.' That's the feeling I always have when we play Kansas."

Missouri Linebacker Andrew Gachkar
On how the last two games with Kansas have helped him expect the unexpected in the MU-KU rivalry:
"We need to be prepared for a close game every time we play Kansas. There is no doubt in my mind that this is going to be a close, competitive game. No one is going to go out and get a huge lead on anyone. They are going to be ready to play and they will give us everything that they can on Saturday."

On facing a team that has nothing to lose:
"When you play your biggest rival, that is always something you need to worry about - you know they are going to bring their best stuff. We can't worry about their record or any of that kind of stuff. It doesn't matter what we have seen on film because when we step onto the field it is going to be a whole other team that just wants to beat us, just as badly as we want to beat them."

On how Steckel's personality has affected the defense's play this season:
"You know, Coach Steck is somewhat of a perfectionist. He makes all of his players the same way - we all want to know what is going on in every play, what is going on with every assignment. Then all of the players want to go out there and play perfect football and make no mistakes. That is what makes a good defense."

Missouri Defensive Lineman Brad Madison
On whether or not he feels underdogs in a game are boosted more by a rivalry game:
"Maybe. I think in situations like this it is a possibility because both teams are going to bring their best games. The team that is not the underdog just needs to be aware of that and make sure that they bring their best game. You need to take responsibility and prepare the way that you need to prepare since it is going to be a tough game either way."

On how enjoyable it is to play in neutral site, rivalry game:
"It's fun and it makes it that much more intense when you have fans from both teams there. Plus we are playing in an NFL stadium and it is always great to play in an NFL stadium. I think it is going to be a great atmosphere and it should be fun for us and the fans."