'I don't regret any of that': Missouri football's Eli Drinkwitz reacts to the loss to Georiga
Missouri football had its chances against Georgia.
The No. 2 team in the nation held off Missouri 30-21 between the hedges Saturday, prompting disappointment for a team that could have lifted itself into the College Football Playoff conversation.
To MU head coach Eli Drinkwitz, the loss wasn't disappointing because it was another close call against Georgia. It's the principle of it all.
"We want to win every game," Drinkwitz said. "I don't care if it's checkers, South Dakota or Georgia."
Here's how Drinkwitz reacted to the close loss after the game.
On Missouri's extinguishing SEC East title hopes
It was simple for Missouri: Win, and you control your own destiny. Lose, and you should start praying for chaos.
"We're disappointed because we put ourselves in a position to contend for the SEC East, which is the goal that we have in place," Drinkwitz said. "That's really not gonna be in our control any longer."
Georgia has controlled the SEC East for years. The Bulldogs will continue to now. Georgia has one more SEC East game this year against Tennessee but now has the tiebreaker advantage over Missouri.
Now, the Tigers have to start praying. It's most likely still not enough.
On the overturned offensive pass interference call
In the fourth quarter, the referees called offensive pass interference on Georgia. After that, they went and reviewed the play.
They determined there was no offensive pass interference and gave the 15 penalty yards back.
What exactly was determined? Don't ask Drinkwitz. He's in the dark too.
"I can't really say anything, but the better question is to ask them," Drinkwitz said. "Whether or not it's conclusive evidence, I can't see any conclusive evidence where the ball is."
Given how Drinkwitz had no answers as to what was called and why, he instructed reporters to ask the people who did know.
"Apparently in Birmingham, they found conclusive evidence," Drinkwitz said. "I guess you'll have to write a letter to somebody there and see if they'll answer it."
On Cody Schrader's performance
Cody Schrader rumbled for 112 yards on 22 carries Saturday. He scored a touchdown that gave Missouri life in the fourth quarter.
Drinkwitz was short and sweet, but definitely to the point. Next year, Missouri is going to miss having Cody Schrader around.
"What else can you say about Cody Schrader," Drinkiwtz said. "Guy's a heck of a player."
On in-game decision-making
Late in the first half, Schrader was tackled on a stretch play that seemed to go out of bounds. The referees ruled Schrader was in bounds and the clock kept running from 40 seconds to just about 20.
Drinkwitz had two timeouts but elected not to use them.
When it comes to decision-making, Drinkwitz said there's more that he takes into consideration aside from what's blatantly obvious.
"Our goal was to make sure we're smart, we want to attack them, but not be reckless and how we do that," Drinkwitz said. "All those situations matter. Context matters in game decision-making."
On potential moral victories
Taking Georgia to the wire is tough. Not many teams have done that in the last two years aside from Ohio State last December, Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and Missouri in October 2022.
While MU did that Saturday, Drinkwitz isn't putting that feather in his cap.
"We came here to win," Drinkwitz said. "Not to keep it close, not to try to get it in the fourth quarter and see what could happen. We tried to win. We played to win and came up short."
There are plenty of aspects that led to Saturday's outcome: play-calling, the quarterback, the different in-game decisions and more. Drinkwitz doesn't regret any of it.
"I don't regret any of that stuff," Drinkwitz said. "We came here and played to win and didn't quite get it done. I'm not deterred from what we're trying to accomplish this year."
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Missouri football's Eli Drinkwitz reacted to the loss to Georiga
