Missouri pulls huge upset day after Gary Pinkel announces retirement

Even with all of the distraction surrounding Missouri this week, the Tigers still managed to pull out a big 20-16 win over BYU.

Many Missouri students felt that former University of Missouri System president Tim Wolfe wasn’t properly addressing a large range of racial issues on and around campus, and they took a stand. Among these activists was Missouri graduate student Jonathan Butler, who began a hunger strike on Nov. 2.

In the days following, Missouri football players also decided to take a stand, and they pledged not to participate in practice or games until Wolfe stepped down and Butler ended his hunger strike.

Head coach Gary Pinkel supported his players 100 percent, regardless of the risk to his career and reputation. He understood that sometimes, there are things and people that are more important than football.

On Tuesday, the Missouri football program officially resumed normal activities, including practices and preparations for BYU.

But as the Tigers were coasting on their social win, Pinkel reviewed the results of a PET scan to reassess a May diagnosis of lymphoma.

And on Friday, Pinkel met with his players and staff to tell them about his cancer and to make sure they heard it from him first: 2015 would be his last year with the Tigers.

The players were devastated, but in their own show of support for the man who supported them, they took the field at Arrowhead Stadium and gave the Cougars everything they had. As it turns out, everything they had was just enough.

5 TAKEAWAYS

• Missouri’s offense still needs work: In the second half, the Tigers played better offensively than they have in a while. But in the first half, the team struggled, especially in the red zone. In the first three trips to the red zone, Missouri had a touchdown called back because of offensive pass interference, settled twice for a field goal and lost a fumble. The Tigers have to improve their red zone offense if they want to get a win over Tennessee’s No. 21 red zone defense. In other words, they need to play like they did in the fourth quarter.
• Bowl eligibility may not be a farfetched idea: Missouri wasn’t supposed to win this game. BYU was the better team, and the Cougars were favored. The Tigers missed practices this week because of the strike. The team was rocked by Pinkel’s retirement and cancer announcements. These guys weren’t even supposed to compete. But they did. And if they play the next two games like they played the last two quarters, these Tigers will be bowl eligible.
• QB Drew Lock has improved significantly: In October, Lock had one of the best games of his career against South Carolina. And then everything went downhill. He couldn’t even get his passing percentage to 43. But Saturday night in Kansas City, Lock went 19 of 28 for 244 yards and 1 TD. His QBR is the highest it has ever been.
• Missouri’s defense is still very good: Sitting at 5-5, Missouri doesn’t look like a team with a good anything, but the Tigers defense is actually tied for No. 4 in the country in points allowed per game at 14.6, tied with Florida for best in the SEC. And that defense came up big tonight, holding the Cougars to 290 total yards and making big stops in the red zone.
• Head coach Gary Pinkel is a one-of-a-kind man: Pinkel is the kind of coach that doesn’t come along often. The love and support that he has for his players is immeasurable. After the week that Missouri has had, Pinkel was exactly what those players, coaches and fans needed. And all of them showed their appreciation for him after the game.

REPORT CARD

Offense: D —  Missouri has the third-worst offense in FBS, and it usually plays like it. The Tigers did step up in the second half, and while it was enough to win the game, it wasn’t enough to increase their grade after the first half disaster.

Defense: A —  The Tigers defense forced the Cougars to earn every single yard, and held them to 290. This defense is one of the only things that has remained a constant for this team.

Special Teams: A —  Missouri was perfect on field goals, and P Corey Fatony averaged 43 yards on three punts. CB John Gibson returned two kicks for a total of 40 yards, and CB Finis Stribling IV returned two for 32 yards.

Coaching: A —  Pinkel mentioned in his post-game press conference that he wasn’t sure how the game would go because of his Friday announcement, but he didn’t let that change the way he coached. Lock’s keep in the fourth quarter was just one smart call among many.

Overall: B+ —  The offense was well below what it should have been, but this Missouri team excelled in every other area on Saturday night in Kansas City.

GAME BALLS

• QB Drew Lock: Lock was 19 of 28 with 244 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He has stepped up as a leader of this Tigers team in the midst of chaos.
• RB Russell Hansbrough: Hansbrough led the Missouri offense with 26 rushes for 117 yards. He has been a consistent asset for the Tigers.
• PK Andrew Baggett: Baggett was 2 for 2 on field goals and 2 for 2 on PATs. In a game decided by just four points, Baggett’s eight points were huge.

INJURY UPDATE

• DL Terry Beckner Jr. sprained his knee in the first quarter, and he was out for the game. Pinkel has not yet announced when he will return to the field.
• OL Nate Crawford suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter, but he returned to the field in the second quarter.

Jessi Lee