Paul Finebaum: Missouri's 61-yard field goal bailed out Eli Drinkwitz
Harrison Mevis played hero for this weekend’s slate in college football with his game-winning 61-yard field goal that gave Missouri a 30-27 victory over No. 15 Kansas State. To Paul Finebaum, though, it also might have kept Eli Drinkwitz off of the hot seat.
Finebaum spoke about the game-winner in Columbia during ‘The Matt Barrie Show’ on Sunday afternoon. He said a loss by Mizzou would have made the SEC’s start look even more dreadful, as well as further hurt the perception of Drinkwitz, considering how it was nearly ruined by poor time management right beforehand.
“Can you imagine, assuming we ever got to Missouri had it lost to Kansas State, the clock management of Eli Drinkwitz? It would’ve been one of the biggest topics in college football,” said Finebaum. “He got bailed out by a 61-yard field goal, which would have made (the SEC’s weekend) even worse.”
Missouri went back and forth with K-State all game long but, with a minute and a half left on the clock, the game was theirs to win. QB Brady Cook went 5/7 for 43 yards on the final drive to advance their offense to within field goal range, albeit a long one, for Mevis.
However, that’s where disaster nearly struck to send the game to overtime. After a timeout by the Wildcats, Missouri ended up taking a nearly catastrophic delay of game penalty. That flag cost them five yards and pushed the field goal to that 61-yard distance.
Still, it didn’t end up mattering in the end. Mevis stepped out, let it fly, and laced the longest kick in the conference’s history between the uprights to give Missouri their third-ranked win under Drinkwitz and their first victory in the rivalry with Kansas State since 2010.
It sent the Tigers to a 3-0 start to the year as well while also giving them what is likely the biggest win of the non-conference season in the Southeastern Conference.
After four seasons as head coach in CoMo, some had started to doubt Drinkwitz with a 19-19 overall record heading into yesterday’s game. Now, he’s over .500 in his tenure, has what is likely the biggest win of that span, and could now go on to have his best season yet with the Tigers all thanks to the Mevis’ historic kick.
Brady Cook asks Missouri fans to support him as QB1
An otherwise thrilling game between Missouri and Kansas State took an ugly turn when the home fans booed QB Brady Cook.
Cook admitted after the game he heard the booing and was a bit distraught over it.
“I hear it. It’s hard,” Cook said, via PowerMizzou.com. “This is my dream school all I want to do is play quarterback here. I’d like if everyone else wanted me to play quarterback here.”
After a bit of a shaky start, Cook was excellent in the 30-27 win over No. 15 Kansas State. He led the passing attack by going 23-of-35 passing for 356 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a touchdown with his legs.
Eli Drinkwitz also defended him vigorously after the game.
“I’m gonna say it; it pissed me off when we booed our starting quarterback to start the game. That pissed me off,” said Drinkwitz. “And he went out there and played his butt off for this university and this team. They need to get behind him; we need to get behind the young man. You wanna boo me? Fine. You don’t boo the starting quarterback. It’s bull crap.
“I’ll say it again: it should never happen. Harrison Mevis, he’s tough as nails, does everything the right way. Game on the line, he makes it. Beautiful. And that’s redemption. But that really bothered me, and I’m so glad he played so well.”