http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/416323

The same system he used to succeed at Toledo, he's used in Columbia. But man, he did have some rough years, as indicated by us getting shellacked by Bowling Green in the early 00's. Not that anyone cares, but if he didn't beat Steve Spurrier and South Carolina in the Independence Bowl in 2005, it was highly likely that he would have been fired within the next week.

Mizzou was down BIG in that game against South Carolina. And they stormed back to win... Saving Gary's job and starting an era of Mizzou football success we haven't seen since the 70's.

When he took the job there, several Mizzou fans came on this board to ask about him. My comment was that he would build a program the right way and he would get the guys to Mizzou that would make them successful - but that it would take 4-5 years until all the players were his and they had all bought into his way of doing things. I also said they would lose games they should have won and will get frustrated by that - but that they would also be competitive in games they had no chance of winning. I really had no idea they would end up in the SEC (doubtful anyone saw that coming) and would be playing for the league championship in the SEC. When he got there, Mizzou was not as good as the Toledo program he left.

Pinkel's last game at UT was against BGSUcks and the Rockets won 51-17, 11/22/2000.

His first game at Mizzou was against BGSUcks and Mizzou lost 20-13, 9/1/2001.

Mizzou also lost @ BGSUcks the following year 51-28.

Well, I still hope it's a tough homecoming. What I mean to say is that Gary Pinkel deserves a warm personal welcome back to Toledo. However, on the field, I hope the Rockets hand their butts to them.

(09-04-2014 07:19 PM)MotoRocket Wrote:  When he took the job there, several Mizzou fans came on this board to ask about him. My comment was that he would build a program the right way and he would get the guys to Mizzou that would make them successful - but that it would take 4-5 years until all the players were his and they had all bought into his way of doing things. I also said they would lose games they should have won and will get frustrated by that - but that they would also be competitive in games they had no chance of winning. I really had no idea they would end up in the SEC (doubtful anyone saw that coming) and would be playing for the league championship in the SEC. When he got there, Mizzou was not as good as the Toledo program he left.

No doubt Mizzou was a MUCH worse program than Toledo in those days. I'm still not sure he knew what he was getting himself into.... He had a TON of barriers to breakdown. For example...

1. They did NOT have a mandatory off season conditioning program in the offseason -- players just left for the summer and came back.

2. The facilities were awful. Just awful. You can't recruit with bad facilities, especially in the Big12

3. Recruiting was a MESS. St. Louis was all but close to the University of Missouri. It was a Big10 hot bed... mostly because prior coach staffs really p*ssed off many St. Louis area coaches. Not smart.

4. The team he inherited had, I think, two or three marginal players to play corner on the entire roster. The defensive line was a mess. When he got here, he was switching kids back and forth -- from offense to defense and vice versa, which is a joke at this level.

So, what Gary has done has been tremendous, and we thank you for him. I mean, not only is he earning his stripes in the SEC, we were legit threats in the Big12 every year, winning the Big12 North three times. He's made life as a Mizzou fan enjoyable again.

And to think, when we were in Columbia for the game last year, we heard Missouri fans around us calling him "Stinkel" and convinced he was going to be fired, perhaps even before the season was over...

(09-05-2014 10:54 AM)RangerRocket Wrote:  And to think, when we were in Columbia for the game last year, we heard Missouri fans around us calling him "Stinkel" and convinced he was going to be fired, perhaps even before the season was over...

Fans are fickle everywhere... including TOLEDO. Just go back and look at the posts on this board over the past few years.

(09-05-2014 10:54 AM)RangerRocket Wrote:  And to think, when we were in Columbia for the game last year, we heard Missouri fans around us calling him "Stinkel" and convinced he was going to be fired, perhaps even before the season was over...

OH, yes. Last year was a BIG year for him and his staff. If he would have had another 5-7 season, he would be on the hot seat... with this year being his last year to turn it around.

Thankfully, I like coach, and he did a great job. It looks like he has another good team this year...

But alumni with deep pockets who were asked to donate A LOT of money to upgrade facilities and prepare for the move the SEC were not happy with such a sloppy performance in 2012.