Mizzou Morning Matters
11/3/2023 9:40:00 AM | General
"Don't make it bigger than it is. At the end of the day, the ball is going to be lined up and we're going to have to play the game. And it's Mizzou versus Georgia."
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Storylines galore.
In my past life as a beat writer, that's what I'd be thinking this week covering Mizzou football.
The No. 14 Tigers head to No. 1 Georgia on Saturday — No. 12 vs. No. 2 if you're going by the College Football Playoff rankings — and there's absolutely no shortage of compelling angles dissecting through this SEC showdown. Let's get them out of the way here first:
- There are massive SEC East Division stakes at play. Commissioner Greg Sankey won't crown the Division champion in Athens, but the winner swerves into the express lane to Atlanta.
- The two-time defending national champion Bulldogs ride a 25-game winning streak into the 2:30 p.m. CT matchup on CBS. Consider UGA's other streaks: 35 straight regular-season wins, 24 straight regular-season SEC wins, 23 straight home wins.
- Fat chance Georgia overlooks Mizzou after what the Tigers nearly pulled off last year in Columbia. Mizzou was Georgia's only regular-season opponent to hold a lead in the fourth quarter. Surely, the Bulldogs are hearing reminders this week. "They kept us off-balanced offensively and kind of dominated the line of scrimmage defensively," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Tuesday. "So, what are you going to do to answer that? You have to impose your will."
- It's the 10-year anniversary of Mizzou's one and only win over Georgia — a 41-26 stunner that paved the Tigers' path to Atlanta. "I do think that game was a stepping stone," former Mizzou QB Maty Mauk told me years later. "I always think Georgia 2013 was a statement game for Mizzou and that's what made Mizzou known in the SEC."
A decade later, there's a bigness to this game that hasn't been felt around here for a while.
But only on the outside.
When Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz and his players met with the media this week, it was strictly business. This veteran team is savvy enough to understand the stakes Saturday — and grounded enough to keep all those storylines on mute.
Just ask the quarterback and two-year team captain.
"Don't make it bigger than it is," Brady Cook told me this week. "At the end of the day, the ball is going to be lined up and we're going to have to play the game. And it's Mizzou versus Georgia. Our guys versus their guys. The media and the hype and the projections and the line on the game, we just can't let that affect us."
Has Cook seen signs that indicate this team is equipped to manage through all the clutter surrounding Saturday's game?
"There's nothing that has shown me otherwise this year so far," he said. "I think everyone's just really bought in and everyone really believes that we're gonna win this game, which is, in my opinion, different from past years playing Georgia."
One thing the Tigers aren't talking about this week: Last year's loss to Georgia. Thirty-five current Mizzou players appeared in that game. Others watched from the sideline. Of course they remember.
"It kind of goes without saying," Cook said. "I haven't heard much about last year. It's not really talked about a whole lot in the building. Obviously, we're aware of it. We've been really, really focused the past few weeks. I can say that confidently."
More than anything else, Saturday is about opportunity. Not streaks, not stakes, not revenge. Opportunity. And if we've learned anything about this 2023 team, they seize on their opportunities. Up and down the roster. The quarterback who had to prove himself time and time again is now one of the best in the SEC. Cody Schrader, Division II transfer to sixth-string walk-on, ranks among the league's best running backs. Luther Burden III embraced his position change and blossomed into one of the nation's elite receivers. Wideouts Theo Wease Jr. and Mookie Cooper left behind traditional power programs to reset their careers here. Starter after starter across the defense resisted the NFL for days like Saturday. Two months ago, Harrison Mevis turned his 61-yard opportunity into eternal Mizzou magic.
None of that unfolds without the 1-0 mentality this team has leaned into all season. When he met with his players last Tuesday during the team's bye week, Coach Drinkwitz addressed the narratives that would surround Saturday's game long before kickoff — and soundly expunged them.
"If we lost the season's over and there's nothing left to play for because of what's at stake in the game, which we know isn't true," he said this week. "If we win, we're going to be assumed that we're going to win the East, which is not true because we still have three games left versus SEC opponents. So, irregardless of the outcome of the game, the job of the media and social media is to create narratives. Our job is to ignore them and try to be 1-0. What's at stake in this game is no different than what was at stake when we played at Vandy, at Kentucky and at home versus South Carolina. If you don't play well in those games or you lose those games, then you lose any other opportunities."
More Football!
Watch Coach Drinkwitz's full Tuesday press conference here:
Listen to Tuesday's episode of "Tiger Talk." Mike Kelly was joined by Coach Drinkwitz, defensive ends coach Kevin Peoples and offensive guard Xavier Delgado:
Happy Hoops Season!
I caught up with Women's Basketball coach Robin Pingeton ahead of Monday's season opener against Belmont, the start of her 14th season at Mizzou. She's revamped her lineup with eight newcomers (five freshmen, three graduate transfers) and five new staff members this offseason.
Q: For fans who watched this team last season where will they notice the biggest differences in the new team you've put together?
A: I think we've got more of a consistent inside presence. I think we've got more depth than we had last year. We've got more size. We're really trying to create opportunities to play more up-tempo and trying to be a little bit more aggressive defensively with more offensive rebounding and second-shot opportunities. So I think they'll see a more up-tempo team, more depth, more size.
Q: Is this the tallest team you've had? Not just in the frontcourt but on the wings, too?
A: I don't remember having a team quite this long. We're rangy.
Q: Has the league gotten bigger and you're adjusting? Or is this where the game is now with bigger guards and more size around the perimeter?
A: I don't know that I look at it in regards to the game changing. There are ebbs and flows and who fits your system. To an extent you're probably right because there's so much more skill development and training at a younger age. So you're working on some of that skill set that usually when you're 6-2 they just put your back of the basket. They work harder on some of those perimeter skills, so I do you think the game has evolved from that sense.
Q: Will there be anyone on this team that surprises fans that maybe they only got a glimpse of last year?
A: Averi Kroenke is going to be huge for us. She has just worked her ever-loving tail off. From an offensive rebounding standpoint, she's really stood out to me. She just has really good athleticism and really attacks the glass hard. From that off-guard spot we'll see more production from that standpoint. And then her ability to guard. Mama (Dembele) is probably our best defender, but Averi's right there with her range and size. I've seen a lot of good things on that end as well. So I think she'll surprise some people.
(Ashton) Judd is a lot more aggressive than she was a year ago. Just more comfortable and has really put in the work.
Mama is playing at a much better pace. She's finishing really well right now in the last month of practice. High efficiency. That's an area that she really wanted to focus on.
Tiger Trivia
Find answers at the end of today's newsletter.
1. Saturday will be Missouri's 18th game against a team ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. Seven programs have held the No. 1 ranking when they've played the Tigers. Can you name all seven?
2. The late Bob Knight coached against Missouri nine times in his Hall of Fame head-coaching career. What was his record vs. the Tigers?
Matter's Weekly Power Rankings
Each week we'll highlight the Best of Mizzou with a different theme. This week: Mizzou's best performances against teams ranked in the top three of the AP poll.
1. No. 3 Mizzou 36, No. 2 Kansas 28 (2007): Feel free to disagree, but this will go down as the biggest win in program history until the next time the Tigers beat their archrival to claim No. 1 in the polls and position themselves to play for a national championship.
2. Mizzou 35, No. 2 Nebraska 31 (1978): A whole bunch of James Wilder, Phil Bradley, Kellen Winslow. Enough said.
3. No. 18 Mizzou 36, No. 3 Oklahoma 27 (2010): Yes, the Sooners were ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings, but for the sake of this exercise, the Sooners were No. 3 in the AP poll — and went down in dramatic fashion no less, starting with Gahn McGaffie's historic game-opening kickoff return touchdown. Fans around the state haven't fully regained their hearing since that kickoff.
4. Mizzou 20, No. 2 Alabama, 7 (1975): The Tigers opened the 1975 season in Birmingham with a stunning victory over Bear Bryant's eventual SEC champion Crimson Tide — the only loss Bama suffered that season.
5. Mizzou 22, No. 2 Ohio State 21 (1976): A week after a tough loss to Illinois, the Tigers stunned the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio on Pete Woods' last-minute touchdown pass and 2-point conversion. It was Ohio State's first home loss in five years.
Missed the cut: No. 1 Georgia 26, Mizzou 22, 2022: Coach Drinkwitz's Tigers gave the eventual national champs their tightest fight of the regular season. … No. 1 Nebraska 45, Mizzou 38, OT, 1997: We don't need to discuss what occurred in the North end zone that night. Still, an epic performance from Larry Smith's team. … No. 2 Kansas State 31, No. 19 Mizzou 25, 1998: Heck of a QB showdown between Corby Jones and Michael Bishop. … No. 17 Mizzou 34, No. 3 Nebraska 24, 1976 …. No. 12 Mizzou 13, No. 2 Nebraska 12, 1973.
Mizzou Musings
* More on Keegan O'Toole's conquering romp at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania. He traveled with Tigers associate head coach Kendric Maple, who had this to say about O'Toole's experience: "He's seen the best guys in his age group and now he's seen the best guys in the world. … I think it was such an accomplishment, but just like any big tournament, Keegan handles it the same way. It's something we preach. These titles are awesome, but it's way more about the process and how we're growing and the memories we make along the way."
* A couple former Tigers won their second World Series on Wednesday when the Texas Rangers clinched against Arizona: Starting pitcher Max Scherzer and special assistant to the general manager Ian Kinsler. Scherzer won his first World Series with Washington in 2019, while Kinsler, a former All-Star second baseman, won with Boston in 2018. Other former Tigers with World Series rings: catcher Tim Laudner (Twins, 1987), pitcher Darold Knowles (Athletics, 1973), outfielder Art Shamsky (Mets, 1969), outfielder Charlie James (Cardinals, 1964), outfielder Homer Summa (Athletics, 1929) and shortstop Glenn Wright (Pirates, 1925).
* How about this: Mizzou is the only college athletics program in the country with a player on the reigning championship teams in MLB (Scherzer), NBA (Michael Porter Jr.) and NFL (Nick Bolton.)
One of one. #MIZ?? pic.twitter.com/zy1PsUnD3Q
— Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) November 3, 2023
* The Los Angeles Clippers' acquisition of James Harden looks like a show of faith in rookie forward and former Tiger Kobe Brown. The Clippers sent Philadelphia four forwards in exchange for Harden and veteran forward P.J. Tucker, clearing a path for Brown to see more minutes. In the first post-trade game, Brown saw his minutes increase to 19 on Tuesday against Orlando after he played just five minutes in each of the first two games of the season. Brown was already on the floor late in the first quarter Tuesday and subbed in and out for All-Star forwards Paul George and Kawhi Leonard throughout the game. Brown finished with 7 points and through his first three games shot 50% from the floor and 40% from 3-point range. "He knows how to play the game and he plays hard," Clippers coach Ty Lue said after the Orlando game. "Those are two good things to start off with as a rookie."
* Soccer's Kylee Simmons finished the regular season leading the SEC in goals (11), points (24), goals per game (.65) and points per game (1.41). Only six players have scored more goals in a single season for the Tigers.
* On Thursday, the American Cancer Society hosted a dinner in Columbia to honor Mizzou legend Norm Stewart and celebrate the 30th anniversary of Coaches vs. Cancer, the charity Stewart launched during his coaching career upon his colon cancer diagnosis. Coaches vs. Cancer has now raised more than $155 million in the last three decades. Thursday's program, emceed by St. Louis Cardinals radio broadcaster and former Mizzou play-by-play voice John Rooney, included touching tributes from former players Jon Sundvold and Derrick Chievous as well as Mizzou coach Dennis Gates.
Outstanding event tonight honoring Norm Stewart's 30-year partnership with @AmericanCancer & @CoachesvsCancer. Moving tributes by Jon Sundvold, Derrick Chievous & @coachdgates.
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 3, 2023
"If you find a turtle on a fence post, you can bet your butt he didn't get there by himself." pic.twitter.com/uw44W736lQ
* Earlier this week, MU supporters who contributed to the Mizzou Arena renovations got a preview of the new videoboard and other toys you'll see on display at games this season. No spoilers, but prepare to be blown away by the enhanced game-day experience on Monday. Buy your tickets now for Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball.
* Quote of the week from Coach Drinkwitz on "Tiger Talk" discussing the evolution of his recruiting sales pitch: "Recruiting is all about selling. You either sell what you plan on doing or what you've done in the past. And now we have the ability to do both. When we sell on what we've done in the past with Jacob Peeler, he's coached one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and currently I think he's coaching the best wide receiver in college football. So I think if you don't want to be a part of that, well, you're either scared to compete or … I don't know, something else happened to you." (For the record, Peeler coached Pro Bowl receivers A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf and now, of course, coaches Burden.)
Looking Ahead
Friday, Nov. 3
Tennis at Bulldog Classic (Des Moines, Iowa)
Men's/Women's Swimming & Diving at Lindenwood, 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon (St. Charles, Missouri)
Volleyball vs Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+
Saturday, Nov. 4
Football at Georgia, 2:30 p.m., CBS (Athens, Georgia)
Tennis at Bulldog Classic (Des Moines, Iowa)
Sunday, Nov. 5
Volleyball vs. Georgia, 3 p.m., SEC Network+
Tennis at Bulldog Classic (Des Moines, Iowa)
Monday, Nov. 6
Women's Basketball vs. Belmont, 11:30 a.m., SEC Network+
Men's Basketball vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
Thursday, Nov. 9
Women's Basketball vs. Indiana State, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
Friday, Nov. 10
Cross Country at NCAA Midwest Regional Championships (Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Volleyball vs. Texas A&M, 6 p.m., SEC Network+
Men's Basketball vs. Memphis, 8 p.m., SEC Network
Links to Click
Group tickets and single-game tickets for the Florida football game (Nov. 18) are available by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS or buying online. Fans interested in learning more about available seats can fill out an interest form.
For all the latest information on Mizzou Athletics, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Tiger Trivia
1. Alabama (1978, 2012, 2014, 2018), Georgia (2021, 2022, 2023), Miami (1988), Nebraska (1971, 1983, 1997, 2000), Ohio State (1998), Oklahoma (1978, 1987, 2003, 2011) and Texas (2008).
2. 6-3. Knight was 1-1 vs. Mizzou as the head coach at Indiana, with a loss in the 1995 NCAA Tournament and a comeback win in Columbia in 1999, during his final season with the Hoosiers. Knight was 5-2 against the Tigers as the head coach at Texas Tech. In the 1999 game, in his first of four games coaching in Columbia, No. 15 IU rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit, during which Knight slammed his clipboard against the Hearnes Center floor during a fiery timeout. "Why would I think this wouldn't be tough?" Knight said after the game. "If I was Missouri and someone was coming in to play at home against someone with a national ranking we'd play our (rears) off."
