COLUMBIA, Mo. – After a 31-13 loss to South Carolina at Faurot Field on Saturday evening, Mizzou redshirt senior DE Marcell Frazier decided it was time for him to step into the media spotlight and accept blame for Mizzou's first loss of the season. The senior defensive lineman spoke briefly and sincerely to local media, placing blame for the team's shortcomings on his shoulders, while promising to have him and his teammates ready to play in next week's matchup against Purdue.
#Mizzou's Marcell Frazier ended media boycott, told media relations staff in locker room he wanted to show ownership & answer questions
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) September 10, 2017
Marcell Frazier voluntarily ended media blackout to speak w/ reporters after the game. Kudos to him for the change of heart and stepping up.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) September 10, 2017
Not good enough by me. And I'll own up to that.
— Marcell Frazier (@FederalFrazier) September 10, 2017
Specifically, Frazier did not shy away from acknowledging his responsibility to make the tackle on a two-yard touchdown run by South Carolina in the fourth quarter. A run that gave the Gamecocks a 31-13 lead with 10:25 left in the game. He knew that as a leader of the defense, the ultimate responsibility falls to him, especially when he is in a position to make the play.
"I could have made the tackle on that play," Frazier said. "I'm not going to point the finger at anyone else. I could have made the tackle and we would have been off the field just as well."
Despite the substandard outcome, Frazier assured the media that both himself and his teammates would reemerge next weekend with full confidence. He has learned through his years with the program that big wins and tough losses can affect individuals, but the truly great teams can come back from any game, win or lose, with the confidence to emerge victorious.
"We're always confident," Frazier said. "We want to win every game. Since I first got here, that's been the case. Do what you need to do in practice so that you can do it in a game."
Frazier and the Tigers will look to showcase their work from practice when they host Purdue next Saturday at 3 p.m. on SEC Network. Tickets can be purchased at MUTigers.com/fbtix or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS. For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to mutigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouFootball) and like the team on Facebook and Instagram.