Another Chapter to Mizzou Football's Magical Season
11/20/2023 3:45:00 PM | Football, General
The Tigers' resiliency took root in 2022 and once again came through against Florida.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — In the aftermath of the latest Saturday night party at Memorial Stadium, a 71-year-old Mizzou fan wandered down onto Faurot Field toward the North end zone late Saturday night. He smiled at the scenery but still wore a subtle look of disbelief.
"Unbelievable," he said.
This Mizzou fan can enjoy these white-knuckle evenings far more now than during his Hall of Fame coaching career, but as Gary Pinkel watched the chariots of Mizzou seniors and their Rock M souvenirs parade down the field, he was still processing the latest adventure on this joyride of a season.
"You've heard me say it before," he said, "but winning is hard."
No kidding. Coach Eli Drinkwitz's team proved that in 2022 when they came so tantalizingly close to a breakout season but stumbled late in losses to Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky. Twenty years earlier, Pinkel's Tigers suffered similar shortcomings in one-score losses to Oklahoma, Iowa State and Colorado. But the great teams find ways to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and for the 2023 Tigers, the jaws are losing their bite.
How will you remember Saturday's 33-31 victory over the Florida Gators? It wasn't Mizzou's most dramatic finish (Kansas State) or impressive performance from start to finish (Tennessee), but in some ways, this one defined the team that Coach Drinkwitz has built in Year Four. Gutsy, poised, resilient.
And now, beloved.
And historic. The Tigers are one step away from becoming just the seventh team in program history to win double-digit games. Only four Mizzou teams won 10 games in the regular season: 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2014.
Victory No. 9 looked nearly impossible in the final minute Saturday. ESPN's analytics gave Florida a 99.9% probability to win when Brady Cook took a shotgun snap on fourth and 17 with 38 seconds left. Here's where you insert the "Dumb and Dumber" GIF: "So you're saying there's a chance?"
When Cook's 27-yard strike to inconceivably open Luther Burden III down the seam, the "Cook Ain't Clutch" narrative officially expired. Time of death: 30 seconds left in regulation. Location: Mevis Range.
For good measure, Brady completed two more passes to set up Harrison Mevis' latest game-winning field goal, and as you'd expect, Mizzou's all-time leading scorer added another 3-pointer to his record collection and the Tigers celebrated deep into the night.
What a game. What a team. What a season.
The beauty of 2023 is how much this team savors the thrill of victory. Because 2022 taught them Pinkel's rule: Winning is hard.
"You can say you believe, but when you don't see results, it's hard," Drinkwitz said. "But this year, we're seeing the results and we know that our process is working. And you got some big-time players, too. Talent plus skill plus will gives you a chance."
"I don't think we win this game last year," said Cook, who on Monday was named SEC co-offensive player of the week. "I don't think we do. That's the development and toughness and grit this team has. I'm just so proud of our team, man. It's super special."
"In my opinion it comes from the experience of last year," he added. "We lost some close games last year. Some tough games. We were at the bottom. We know what it feels like. We don't want to go back. This team will do anything we can to walk away with a win."
A few more stories, images and thoughts on Saturday …
* Once the score went final — the second time — Brady sprinted to the student section, climbed onto the brick wall and created a scene worthy of a poster, thanks to some clutch photography from Mizzou's Patrick Perala. Brady's breakout season hit another level Saturday, not so much statistically (331 passing yards, 150.3 passer rating) but for the moments he delivered on the final drive. Interceptions doomed similar opportunities against LSU and Georgia, but not this time.
Not done. #STP pic.twitter.com/yZAUW0q9ra
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 19, 2023
"I think it's his mental toughness and growing," Drinkwitz said. "Losses are only losses if you don't let them become lessons. And I don't think there's a thing that Brady's experienced in his life that he hasn't tried to use as a lesson. I was pretty calm on the sideline. I kind of had a feeling like, 'We're gonna be fine, guys. We're gonna be fine. Just call the timeout. Let's get the right play called and let's go do it.' You know, Brady gives me a lot of belief. I know our players believe in him, too."
Heading into Friday's game at Arkansas, here's where Cook stands on the Mizzou's single-season record charts:
3,077 passing yards, No. 10
159.65 passer rating, No. 2
18 touchdown passes, No. 11
Only three QBs in team history have thrown for more yards in a season: Chase Daniel, Blaine Gabbert and Drew Lock. Only Lock's 2017 QB rating (165.7) has been better over the course of an entire season. Only five QBs have thrown more TDs passes in a season: Daniel, Lock, Gabbert, Maty Mauk and James Franklin.
* Truman State football coach Gregg Nesbitt was down on Faurot Field on Saturday to honor one of his former players. Of course, that would be everyone's favorite Division II transfer, SEC rushing leader Cody Schrader, whose 148 yards against Florida puts him at 1,272 yards for the season. That ranks No. 6 all-time at Mizzou, trailing only seasons by Tyler Badie, Devin West, Joe Moore II and two Brad Smith years. Nesbitt redshirted Schrader his freshman year in Kirksville, giving him the opportunity to adjust to college life and preserve the extra year for down the road. There was a game during that 2018 season when Nesbitt needed a running back and nearly lifted Schrader's redshirt. Thankfully, he decided against the move. That decision's sliding doors effect wasn't lost on Nesbitt on Saturday. Had he played Schrader that season, the running back's eligibility would have expired in 2022 and this magical season would never have occurred.
Two Truman States all time best! Jordan Salima & Cody Schrader!!!
— Gregg Nesbitt (@coach_nez) November 19, 2023
Cody has made it happen at Mizzou! Great come from behind win tonight vs Florida!
It is ALWAYS a great day to be a BULLDOG! pic.twitter.com/VVCz7hgmNh
"He's the coach that gave me the opportunity," Schrader said. "Who knows if I'd be here if it wasn't for him."
* "Luther's back, baby. He's back making plays."
That was Cook's takeaway from Burden's nine-catch, 158-yard night against the Gators. Heading into Friday's game, Burden sits at 77 catches for 1,142 yards. The only Mizzou receivers with more yardage in a season: Danario Alexander (2009), Jeremy Maclin (2008) and Victor Bailey (1992).
Speaking of Maclin, he was at Saturday's game watching from the suites and there was one Burden play that especially caught his eye: On Theo Wease's 77-yard catch and run touchdown, Burden and Mookie Cooper cleared lanes for Wease to zoom down the sideline untouched. It took me back to August when Drinkwitz made it clear he was frustrated with receiver blocking in preseason camp. Message delivered.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 19, 2023
* For his final home game on Faurot Field, defensive end Darius Robinson paid homage to the place that gave him a chance to develop into the one of the country's best defensive linemen: He wore Mizzou across his nameplate rather than his last name. Last week, Robinson got the OK from Drinkwitz to make the nameplate change – and director of equipment operations Mike Kurowski made it happen. It was one of the best Senior Day gestures I can recall - and completely on brand for the two-time captain.
For the Seniors. For Mizzou.#MIZ | #STP pic.twitter.com/4Ybc3RV46O
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 19, 2023
"That was very important to me because I thought about me being here five years, being with so many different cultures and so many teammates and relationships that had a positive impact in my life, I thought the best way to honor it was put Mizzou on the back of my jersey," Robinson said. "This university has meant everything to me. I'll end up having two degrees from here, endless teammates and brothers. It's just meant a lot to me."
In his time on campus, Robinson has grown into one of the most impressive and outspoken ambassadors for his university, his athletics department and his football program — and Saturday was the perfect crescendo. Oh, and he's also developed into an outstanding defensive end. He's notched a sack in seven consecutive games and stands third in the SEC with 7.5 for the season and fifth in tackles for loss with 11.5.
