GP M.A.D.E. Foundation teams up with Abel’s Army

The GP M.A.D.E. Foundation teamed up with Greg DeLine and Abel’s Army at Mizzou’s October 12th homecoming game. Seven-year-old Abel, who is in remission for leukemia, got to spend time with Missy and Coach Pinkel before the game, as well as help with the pregame coin toss.

Alicia Green, Abel’s mom, said they actually met Coach Pinkel for ice cream at Central Dairy in Jefferson City a few days before the game.
“We had a great talk,” Green said. “Abel got to meet Coach and they talked about their similarities and their diseases, and the positive things that have come out of it.”

Before the game, Abel was featured on the Jumbotron at Faurot Field. Coin Toss Sponsor Greg DeLine of DeLine Holdings said it’s uplifting to be able give children these experiences.

“We’re thinking, ‘Well, let’s give a child the opportunity of a lifetime,’” DeLine said. “Just to have Gary participating with that’s just a dream, it’s just a dream come true.”

Gary Pinkel inducted into Summit County Sports Hall of Fame

Coach Gary Pinkel, along with seven other athletes and coaches, was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame on October 1. Coach Pinkel graduated from Kenmore High school (Akron, Ohio) in 1970 and Kent State in 1975. He coached for 39 years following a playing career where he won honorable mention All-American and 1st-team All-Conference status as a tight end and team captain at Kent State. Pinkel was the head coach for 10 years at University of Toledo and 15 at the University of Missouri.

“This is awesome,” Pinkel said in an article from Beacon Journal. “… I have been blessed my whole life to be surrounded by good people.”
When Pinkel retired in 2015, he finished his coaching career with a record of 191-110-3.

Pinkel took Mizzou to 10 bowls and was the 20th-winningest coach in college football history at the time of his retirement.