Mizzou student-athletes make their voices heard on Election Day

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou student-athletes had the day off on Tuesday in order to vote in the 2020 election.

"So much bigger than basketball," Mizzou women's basketball coach Robin Pingeton said. "This is an opportunity that we’ve really embraced as a program."

A Mizzou spokesman could not confirm the total number of student-athletes that voted on Tuesday, but he said the vast majority of them participated in their civic duty.

Several student athletes posted on social media about voting for the very first time - including Markell Utsey and Joshuah Bledsoe.

Several Mizzou coaches posted on social media about voting as well.

Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz said his entire team is registered to vote.

"Players will be off Tuesday," Drinkwitz said. "We will encourage them to vote. I know they’re all registered to vote. Our staff will have the ability to go vote."

Coach Pingeton said her entire team is registered to vote as well.

"I think that’s our job as coaches," Pingeton said. "It’s not only to teach sports, but to teach life - and we’ve had some really, really good dialogue in that locker room, and I’m proud of our kids."