Hoover, Ala.- Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel led off the third day of the 2014 SEC Media Days.
Missouri came into the 2013 college football season with low expectations after going 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the SEC in their first season in the conference.
Missouri was picked to finish near the bottom of the SEC East. Missouri wound up winning the SEC East, going 12-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play, losing to Auburn in the SEC championship.
Expectations are high in the 2014 season as Pinkel and the Tigers look to continue their recent success.
“When we go into a different year, as the years change, in ’13 to’14, you lose your seniors, you bring new players in, it’s a constant transition of the leadership and changes of the team,” Pinkel said. “That’s what we work on all the time at Missouri. We’re very excited about the year. We’ve worked very hard. We’re honored to be in the SEC.”
Missouri lost their star wide receiver from 2013 in Dorial Green-Beckham after being dismissed from the team in April. He has since decided to attend the University of Oklahoma. Green-Beckham is a big loss for the receiving core and will change the offensive game plan.
“We lost a really great player. I wish Dorial (Green-Beckham) the best,” Pinkel said. “The most important thing, you make mistakes, you have a chance to learn lessons, and I think he will.”
Sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk will take over the quarterback duties for the Tigers. Mauk replaced former starter James Franklin for four games after Franklin missed some time due to injuries. Mauk made his first start of the season against Florida and flourished from there on.
“Going into the week I had the opportunity to talk to the other players, like the wide receivers, and I told them to go out there and pretend like nothing ever happen and to believe in me,” Mauk said. “I also told them to give me a chance, and they did believe in me. That carried on ever since.”
