Mizzou helped the SEC East improve to 3-0 this bowl season Thursday with a 33-17 victory over Minnesota in Orlando, the Tigers’ third straight bowl win — the first time that has happened since 1973.

Head coach Gary Pinkel’s opening statement:

“We were fortunate to be a a really good football team in Minnesota. Very proud of our team, we battled. A lot of our struggles we had in the game was because they were a good football team. We made plays on defense and made plays on offense, especially in the fourth quarter. We took advantage of some of those. We tried a few fakes here and there. We won 23 games here in the last two years coming off a 5-7 year when things were kind of dismal.”

On Maty Mauk’s early struggles leading to stellar play in the second half:

“Some of those things were not his fault. The average person says it’s always the quarterback. I think we have a very positive Maty and he had a real good camp prior to this bowl. He’s a great competitor.”

How good was it hearing the SEC chants at the end of the game:

“That was one of our goals. We had about eight or nine items we wanted to (key on). We’re representing the SEC. Our players are very proud members of the SEC and that’s certainly something we had mentioned.”

11 wins being Mizzou’s max potential:

“I want to win every football game and I always take that approach. I love this team because when we lost two out of three games in the middle of the season, that’s when leadership elevated to a different level. That’s what I’m most proud of. We had all that adversity and a lot of people dismissed the thought of us as a good team.”

Markus Golden on winning the MVP award after recording multiple sacks:

“For me to get MVP, it’s one of the best days of my life. Coming to Mizzou was one of the best things that has ever happened to me.”

What does it mean to you to hear Pinkel’s blessing:

“It means a lot. Coach Pinkel is like a father to me. He has helped me not only become a better football player but become a better man since I’ve been here.”