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Eli Drinkwitz getting torched on social media after Missouri staves off upset-minded Vanderbilt
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Eli Drinkwitz and No. 7 Missouri got all they could handle from Vanderbilt on Saturday before winning 30-27 in two overtimes thanks to a missed Brock Taylor field goal.
The Tigers shouldn’t have been in this position in the first place. With 52 seconds left in the 2nd quarter and the game tied at 10, they had the ball with an opportunity to double-dip — potentially score at the end of the half and get the ball back to start the 3rd quarter. Instead, they settled for no points, leading to a long Taylor field goal to put the Commodores up 13-10.
Then, with the game tied at 20 and with the Tigers in possession with 53 seconds left facing a 4th and 1 at the Commodores 47, Drinkwitz opted instead to punt the ball instead of go for it on 4th and get closer to a game-winniung field goal.
That, and other coaching miscues, has Drinkwitz feeling the heat on Saturday. At least Mizzou will have an open week to process the near-upset loss before facing Texas A&M on Oct. 5.
Here’s some of the reaction from social media:
Eli Drinkwitz has had one of the worst coaching days I’ve ever seen.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 21, 2024
Yep. Drinkwitz blew the end of both halves. https://t.co/wv4vDq9tRJ
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) September 21, 2024
Absolutely embarrassing coaching effort from Eli Drinkwitz and Kirby Moore today.
— Adam Spencer (@AdamSpencer4) September 21, 2024
Drinkwitz, dude, are you kidding me?
— Brandon Kiley (@BKSportsTalk) September 21, 2024
This has been Drinkwitz’s worst coached game and it’s not particularly close.
— The Mizzodcast (@mizzodcast) September 21, 2024
Okay, somebody's going to have to explain to me why Eli Drinkwitz just went for it on 4th and 3 from his own side of the field with 15 seconds left.
— Power Mizzou (@PowerMizzoucom) September 21, 2024
Drinkwitz is completely lost out there.
If you are gonna punt, don’t you save all three timeouts? What the hell?And we are in this position because Drink’s bonehead decision at the end of the first half..
— Alan Covington (@Alan_Covington) September 21, 2024
Eli Drinkwitz punting on 4th and inches at home against Vanderbilt is NOT going to get him the Florida job.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) September 21, 2024
Drinkwitz better never ever again call out fans and then put a product like this on the field
— CoastLife (@GulfportTiger) September 21, 2024
Eliah Drinkwitz in clock management situations: pic.twitter.com/XCC6S7ksDO
— Mark Kim (@MarkJKim_) September 21, 2024
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.