Take a minute to imagine the meetings which took place at Mizzou regarding the potential (at the time) move into the SEC. If accepted, the Tigers would escape the teeter-tottering Big 12 and those pesky, revenue sharks from Texas. Due to the SEC’s strong football tradition and popularity, the athletic department would potentially rake in millions of additional dollars. The school would gain a foothole in several new markets for both academic and athletic recruiting.
Win. Win. Win.
As the braintrust brainstormed to ensure their dreams turned into reality, the deafening sounds of counting cash likely drowned out one of the few dissenting voices: Gary Pinkel.
While the Tigers’ head football coach has largely abided by a self-imposed gag order regarding the move, it’s hard to imagine that he’s as jolly and excited as everyone else in Columbia.
While the Big 12 offered its fair share of challenges, after Texas and Oklahoma, the race for third-best was usually wide open. And when one of those teams faltered, Mizzou was generally right in the mix to fill in the opening.
Now the Tigers are headed to the SEC, home of the past five BCS National Champions. Considering that four different shools hoisted those titles must make the coach’s head spin.
Sure new recruiting lines will open, booster donations will increase and with time, the Tiger football will surely have the opportunity to improve. But considering the Mizzou is already the middle of a rebuilding year, the prospect of a few more years of mediocrity must make Pinkel cringe.
Meanwhile, SEC fans are waiting to welcome Mizzou into the gauntlet where they will undoubtedly remind Pinkel that he’s a long way from Toledo.
