Sunday Sit-down with Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones brought on Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz in this week's edition of Sunday Sit-down. You can watch their full conversation on ABC 17 SportsZone at 10:30 on KMIZ.
The pair covered all the big storylines headed into the 2024 season, including building on the momentum from an explosive 11-2 season in 2023.
"We need the country to understand that we were not a flash in the pan, but this is something that's built to be sustained," Drinkwitz said.
The Tigers will look to build on that season without dwelling on it too much. Coach Drink emphasized that the page has been turned and his squad will need to build something new in 2024.
"We've talked a lot with this team that last year was last year," Coach Eli said. "I think the confidence that we draw from is that our preparation works...But what we have to build is that camaraderie, we have to build that execution mentality, we have to build that toughness that it's going to take to win in the fourth quarter. Those things are not built through talk. They are built through action and hard work and we've put in a lot of the hard work, but we got to continue to do that in the fall camp."
The MU offense is packed with talented returners and quite a few leaders, including quarterback Brady Cook, wide receivers Theo Wease Jr., Mookie Cooper and Luther Burden and a slew of other standouts. However, on the other side of the football it feels like the start of something new.
Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon will be making his Tiger debut in 2024. Drinkwitz said he's been fitting in with the coaching staff nicely.
"I think Corey has done an excellent job of understanding what the DNA of our defense is, and understanding what we believe in as far as what 'Death Row' is, but then finding ways that we can improve," Drinkwitz said. "That's really the name of the game at the college football is how do you get better? You know, what are the things that that kept us from being the best that we could be? Obviously, we did a really good job of creating pressure on the quarterback, creating turnovers, but how do we improve and maintain coverage?"
The excitement for the 2024 season, combined with the hype of a top-15 2025 recruiting class, is palpable. The fan base has appeared to buy-in to the Drinkwitz way, especially on the heels of his big Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State to finish the 2023 campaign 11-2 overall.
"We've got great momentum momentum, but we got to continue that. You know, we sold out our last five games, but that doesn't mean anything if we don't sell the first game of the season...That's what we need to do. That's what I'm challenging our fans is - I know it's on a Thursday night - but we need everybody there. We need Faurot Field rocking," Coach Drink said.
Mizzou will kick off the 2024 football season on Thursday, Aug. 29 against Murray State at 7 p.m. Before that, Drinkwitz, Cook, Burden and defensive lineman Kristian Williams will all appear at SEC Media Days in Dallas.
The Tigers will take the main stage on Tuesday, July 16. However, the ABC 17 sports team will be bringing you live coverage from the event, beginning on Monday, July 15.
Watch ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones' full conversation with Tiger football coach Eli Drinkwitz on ABC 17 SportsZone at 10:30 on ABC 17.
