Coach Drinkwitz Zoom Press Conference - April 1, 2020
4/2/2020 9:05:00 AM | Football
Coach Drinkwitz met with local media to discuss how his program is handling the COVID-19 pandemic
As our nation deals with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sports world – like the rest of the world – has been turned upside down. In his first year at the helm of Mizzou Football, head coach Eliah Drinkwitz is tasked with guiding the program through these challenging times. He met with members of the local media over Zoom Wednesday to talk about some of those challenges, along with talking some football. Early in the half-hour question-and-answer session, it was clear that one thing was on coach's mind as he fielded questions.
"This is so much bigger than football right now," said Drinkwitz, who has a lot of family members working in the nation's health care system. "It's bigger than the games that are going to be played. We want to play because it's going to provide hope when we're on the other side of this. But right now, that's the farthest thing from our mind. What's on our minds is the essential things of: are our players safe? Are they in a safe place? Are their families safe? That's real and that's what we're trying to make sure."
Drinkwitz said that he knows where all of his players are as many have gone back home to attend Mizzou classes over Zoom as the university has moved to online classes for the remainder of the semester. He said 15-20 are still in Columbia, and meals are being provided via curbside pickup at the Mizzou Athletic Training Complex. Some have even had to take on larger roles at home as the pandemic has impacted the employment status of some players' family members. But while there are many challenges that come with this national crisis, Drinkwitz said his team is taking it day-by-day.
"I think any type of adversity presents a great opportunity for you to meet that challenge," Drinkwitz said. "Every day you control two things: your attitude and effort. When you wake up in the morning your attitude that you are going to attack the day, and the response you have to any given circumstance; that's completely up to you. The effort you put into any type of workout, to your work, to what you do; that is totally up to you."
On the call, Coach Drinkwitz was asked if he saw any positives during this time of confusion and crisis. His answer was simple.
"Any time you see people come together, and you see people say thank you to nurses, doctors, supply chain workers, I think that's all positive," Drinkwitz said. "We have members on our team who have family members who are first responders, nurses, people who are out every day. We're in this fight and we're just trying to provide encouragement, prayers and support in any way they can. We're proud of them and proud of the fight they're putting up."
Listen to the complete press conference below and check out highlights in the video above.
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