The Missouri Tigers were hit with some terrible news this spring — the NCAA had instituted a one-year bowl ban for an infraction involving a tutor.

Even though no current players were there when the scandal happened, the NCAA decided to issue the bowl ban. Now, the Tigers are appealing, with the team’s seniors anxiously awaiting the results.

At SEC Media Days on Monday, Mizzou LB Cale Garrett revealed how learning about the bowl ban caused him to really come to respect Clemson transfer QB Kelly Bryant:

“My first impression was we got this high-profile guy, he’s going to bring us some press at Missouri because I’ve heard nothing but good things about him, obviously,” Garrett said. “I’d watched him play in a lot of big games, too. We knew who he was football-wise.

“What won me over and a lot of the seniors, after the senior meeting where we found out about the bowl ban, he stood up in front of us after that and said, ‘I’m here. I know everyone has the choice to leave but I’m staying here and I want to win. I know we have something special.’ And that was my moment where I was like, ‘I respect you a lot.’ That’s when he won me over, I think.”

That’s a big move for Bryant, who could have easily transferred again to somewhere that still had postseason eligibility. Instead, he stayed, and now his teammates love him for it.

There’s still a chance the bowl ban could be lifted, so the Tigers will anxiously await the NCAA’s decision.