Gary Pinkel talks Arkansas, Missouri's future
Retirement will be here soon for Gary Pinkel. But right now he’s focused on coaching his football team, and trying to win the regular season finale.
Pinkel’s Missouri Tigers (5-6) face Arkansas (6-5) at 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday. The game will be shown on CBS.
It could be Pinkel’s final game as a head coach.
If the Tigers win Friday, they would become bowl eligible and would likely play in a bowl. If they lose, they’ll finish the season 5-7. That normally wouldn’t be good enough to qualify for a bowl, but there may not be enough teams with six wins this year, so some 5-7 teams could get invited. An SEC team like Missouri, with a retiring coach, would likely be a popular choice for some of the bowl games.
If Missouri finishes 5-7, Pinkel says athletic director Mack Rhoades would decide whether or not the Tigers would go to a bowl game. But during his weekly press conference on Monday, he said he’d prefer for the Tigers to win on Friday, get to 6-6 and not have to worry about that.
Pinkel: It would be Mack Rhoades’ decision if Missouri accepts a bowl bid at 5-7. Could get to 6-6 with a win at Arkansas and guarantee bowl
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) November 23, 2015
Because they play on Friday, the Tigers have one fewer day this week to prepare for their game.
Pinkel: One less day of rest for healing/treatment for players with Arkansas game on Friday. This is effectively a Tuesday practice. — Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) November 23, 2015
Arkansas has one of the most explosive offenses in college football. The Razorbacks have scored at least 50 points in four of their last five games. The only time they didn’t score 50 was in a 31-14 win over LSU.
GP: We’re playing a very good football team. Explosive on offense, QB’s playing on a whole different level. Defensively, young but athletic. — Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 23, 2015
Arkansas’ Brandon Allen is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. Last week, he threw seven touchdown passes against Mississippi State.
GP on Brandon Allen: I thought he was good a year ago. But you see seniors mature. When that guy plays at that level, he’s a better player.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 23, 2015
After last week’s game with Tennessee, which was Missouri’s final home game of the season, the players carried Pinkel off the field. It was a fitting honor for the Tigers’ longtime coach, but he admitted he wasn’t comfortable with it because his team didn’t win.
Pinkel said he was too “grumpy” to enjoy being carried off the field Saturday. Said he couldn’t wave and smile like Beamer did earlier — Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 23, 2015
Pinkel hopes that Missouri can hire a coach that builds the Tigers into an even better program than they have been under him.
Pinkel on MU’s future: Someone’s going to take this to a whole new level. That’s my hope.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) November 23, 2015
GP (2/2): I think someone’s going to come in and take it to a whole different level. Mack’s going to make a good decision.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 23, 2015
Pinkel was asked about defensive coordinator Barry Odom, who could be a frontrunner for the job, but he declined to talk about Odom or any other potential candidates.
Pinkel asked about traits he sees in Barry Odom, says doesn’t think it’s “appropriate time…but I think he’d do a great job.” — David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) November 23, 2015
Pinkel believes Missouri’s next coach will have plenty of talent on offense.
GP on the young offensive players the new coach will inherit: You’ll see guys playing at a whole different level. They’ve got huge upside. — Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 23, 2015
Pinkel believes Drew Lock has great upside for the future: “His mindset’s good. He’s a great competitor.” — Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 23, 2015
He thinks the Tigers should be pretty good on defense, too.
Pinkel said defense is as good as he’s been around. Notes that it only loses three starters (LB Brothers, FS Simon, CB Dennis). — Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) November 23, 2015
Pinkel has also been talking to Missouri’s recruits. He believes they should give the new coach a chance to talk to them before deciding whether or not to stay with Missouri.
Pinkel has talked to 95 percent of committed recruits. “They want to know who’s going to get hired.”
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 23, 2015
Pinkel has told recruits to keep options but they owe it to talk to whoever gets the job
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 23, 2015
Pinkel said recruits have been so nice to him, “I wish my own kids were that nice to me.”
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 23, 2015
Safety Tavon Ross will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. It’s the second ACL tear this year for Ross, but the injuries have come in opposite knees.
Safety Tavon Ross tore the ACL in his other knee last week. Could be back for spring practices. He tore ACL in the other knee last spring — Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 23, 2015
Pinkel said he has received a ton of letters, emails and well wishes since announcing he has cancer. He said he’d been too busy with football to read most of them, but he’s had his secretary save them. Once the season is over, he plans to read them and respond to most of them.
GP: I can’t tell you how many letters and emails I’ve gotten from fans who are cancer survivors. Amazing how supportive people have been. — Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 23, 2015
Pinkel’s secretary has kept a file of correspondence from fans who have reached out to GP last few weeks, including many cancer survivors — Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 23, 2015
