SEC Head Coach Says He Wasn't Taking A Shot At Bob Stoops
11/12/2024 12:23 PM
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said he intended no disrespect to Bob Stoops with his biting post-game comment.
On Saturday, Missouri improved to 7-2 with a 30-23 victory over Oklahoma. In the ensuing press conference, Drinkwitz referenced an ESPN story published before the season in which Stoops wondered why the SEC-bound Sooners should be afraid of the Tigers when they "beat the h*ll" out of them.
"This will be real disappointing to Bob Stoops, but OU doesn't always whip Missouri's a** anymore," Drinkwitz declared after Saturday's win. "With that, I'll open it up for questions."
Appearing on SEC This Morning, Drinkwitz explained what propelled him to address Stoops' previous comments.
"I have a responsibility to defend my team," Drinkwitz said. "And when there's comments that are said like, 'We beat the h*ll out of Missouri, all the sudden now we're supposed to be afraid of them?' This summer, people make hot takes, then you respond."
With that said, he harbors no anger or animosity toward Stoops.
"I've got a ton of respect for Coach Stoops. I think he's an unbelievable Hall of Fame coach," Drinkwitz added. "That was no shot at Coach at all. It was just letting everybody know: This is a brand-new Mizzou. This is a brand-new program the way we're playing. We're 18-4 the last two seasons. And so, I don't think anybody should just expect they're going to walk in Faurot Field and beat the h*ll out of us anymore. That was really all I was saying."
Before Saturday's inaugural matchup as SEC adversaries, Missouri and Oklahoma hadn't clashed since 2011. The Sooners won eight of their prior nine meetings, but those were entirely different programs.
Drinkwitz also hoped his message would encourage fans to believe in Missouri.
"It's easy to doubt. It's easy to be critical. Let's be unique." he said. "Let's have an uncommon faith and belief in our team, in our players, and belief in Mizzou that we're gonna find a way to win. Which is exactly what happened."
Related: Missouri Coach Used Hilarious Acronym To Describe Star Player
