How Eli Drinkwitz reacted to Missouri football's win over Vanderbilt and 5-0 record
Missouri football is 5-0. The Tigers are most likely moving up in the national polls. Next week's game against LSU at Faurot Field is sold out.
Missouri football head coach Eli Drinkwitz, however, credited the Tiger faithful with showing out in Nashville for the 38-21 win over Vanderbilt Saturday.
"Our Mizzou travel today was phenomenal," Drinkwitz said.
Here's how Drinwkitz reacted to Missouri's win over the Commodores.
On Missouri's 5-0 start
Missouri remains undefeated. There's plenty to be ecstatic about, too.
Brady Cook is playing at an All-SEC level. Luther Burden is playing his way into Biletnikoff Trophy consideration. The defense is making stout plays when it needs to the most.
But, that excitement is not showing with the team on a sustained basis.
"I think they're really excited to be 5-0, but I think they're also really mature enough to know that we didn't sign up to be 5-0," Drinkwtiz said. "I don't think they're really buying the hype or drinking the Kool-Aid."
On Brady Cook's connection with Kirby Moore
Kirby Moore's offense has recorded 30 points or more in four of the five games so far in the 2023 season.
That's equated to wins over Memphis, Kansas State and, now, Vanderbilt. Missouri is 1-0 in SEC play and is one win away from clinching bowl eligibility.
The defense has been good this season, but it hasn't been as dominant as the unit was in 2022. The good news is the defense hasn't needed to be perfect. The offense has picked up any slack.
"Your preparation meets performance," Drinkwitz said. "Coach Moore's having a knack for calling the right plays at the right time and getting the matchups that we need. And our quarterback is doing a great job at placing the ball in some great spots."
On Cook breaking the SEC passes without an interception streak
Drinkwitz was realistic in the post-game press conference.
Will Cook, who has yet to throw an interception this season, remain unblemished in 2023?
"He's playing smart, not conservative," Drinkwitz said. "It'll happen at some point, but so far so good."
Drinkwitz understands that Cook's interception total isn't always on his shoulders. There are plenty of aspects of the game that can influence turnovers, but to break an SEC streak and establish himself as one of the better throwers in the conference means that Drinkwitz has a quarterback who can win him games.
He credited Cook with the preseason work he put in.
"That's a lot of hard work by him in taking care of the ball and studying tape," Drinkwitz said.
On the Missouri receivers
Missouri had two receivers go over the 100-yard mark against Vanderbilt. Theo Wease finished with 118 yards receiving, and Luther Burden had 140 yards receiving.
Wease proved he's a perfect compliment to the MU offense with his position on the outside, while Burden continues to torch players in the secondary.
"Theo just gets open," Drinkwitz said. "He's an elite player."
Burden caught two red zone touchdowns - one in the first half and another to seal the win in the fourth quarter - for moments that Drinkwitz called "four-point plays." Meaning, MU turned potential field goals into touchdowns. That was a big part of why the Tigers pulled away.
"That was really big for us," Drinkwitz said.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Eli Drinkwitz reacted to Missouri football's win over Vanderbilt
