Tiger Nation,

I know and share your deep frustration and disappointment with how Saturday's football game played out. The stakes for these games have never been higher, and with that comes the responsibility for getting things right. 

To be clear, I don't believe in blaming or complaining about officiating. Officials are human, and mistakes are part of the game. Coaches and players have to respond to those moments and find ways to overcome adversity. That is why I greatly respect and appreciate how Coach Drinkwitz handled his postgame response with the media and his team.

I also believe in accountability and making necessary changes to improve.

After the game Saturday, we requested a formal review and response from the SEC regarding the officiating. Consistent with SEC expectations, we will not make those conversations or responses public, other than that we have not received anything inconsistent with what the conference has already shared publicly.

This experience has reinforced my belief that our lack of transparency in the replay booth, particularly when other conferences have taken steps to provide it, allows for an environment of speculation and mistrust. Together with President Choi, we will be strong advocates for that change within the SEC this offseason.

None of that changes Saturday's outcome. And as Coach Drinkwitz said, the game wasn't defined by one play or one call.

We also don’t want Saturday's result to overshadow what we've witnessed from this football program or what we’ve experienced together in Columbia. For the 25th consecutive game, Memorial Stadium was sold out. Once again, Coach Drinkwitz and his team have put us in a position to compete on the national stage into November in the toughest conference in America.

It's OK to acknowledge that Saturday hurt. In fact, our collective frustration and disappointment is evidence of how high our program expectations have elevated. 

Now let’s turn our attention to Georgia and the opportunities ahead, including two huge home games against Kentucky and Oklahoma. Our coaches and players deserve our support, and I know this fan base will continue to show up with the passion and pride that make Saturdays in CoMo so special.

M-I-Z!

Laird Veatch

Mizzou Director of Athletics