Many fans and media members expressed a desire for long-time defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski to assume the coordinator role after Dave Steckel departed for Missouri State.
Instead, coach Gary Pinkel tabbed former Memphis defensive coordinator Barry Odom for the position.
To be fair, Odom did a terrific job with the Tigers defense this season, the 48 points allowed against a Taysom Hill-less BYU in the bowl game aside. But Kuligowski has spent 23 years on Pinkel’s staff and probably deserved a shot.
Either way, it’s a win for Missouri, as now the staff includes both of those gentlemen, and they both should be assets in recruiting.
On Christmas, after practice in Orlando, Fla., ahead of next week’s Citrus Bowl, Pinkel explained the decision.
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/548210459200192514
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/548210719834267648
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/548210908984791040
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/548211044641144832
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/548211591322558464
Pinkel also had a good quip about the all-gold swag outfit he wore on the team’s recent “NFL day,” put together by equipment specialist Don Barnes.
#Mizzou's @GaryPinkel representing his hometown of Akron at practice w/ exclusive @KingJames shoes. #GOLD #NFLDay pic.twitter.com/ugLX2lW7FQ
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) December 21, 2014
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/548212718420103168
The Mizzou contingent seems to be enjoying Orlando and the surrounding tourism hot spots, as it should with a week yet before kickoff against Minnesota.
Important part of @MizzouFootball bowl trip is striping helmets of Highway Patrol who escort us around all week! pic.twitter.com/oGDWdIdBBq
— Chad Moller (@ChadMo1) December 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/547816665061523456
This ride hurt my brain a little, but I'm dumb enough that I'm going to ride it another 10 times I bet. pic.twitter.com/BFX1FO3kR5
— Chad Moller (@ChadMo1) December 24, 2014
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
