Mizzou had some greats in the stands cheering the Tigers on in their game v. Texas A&M. Pictured are former Mizzou football player and NFL star Sean Weatherspoon, former Mizzou coach and Super Bowl Champion Coach Andy Hill, Hall of Fame Coach Gary Pinkel, and former Mizzou star, NFL great and 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Jeremy Maclin.
Once a Tiger, always a Tiger! MIZ!
It’s an honor coaches dream of, and for former University of Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel, it’s come true. Coach Pinkel was officially inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame on December 6, 2022 at the 75th annual National Football Foundation Awards Ceremony held in Las Vegas.
Coach was joined by family, friends, colleagues, and former players on this memorable night as he accepted this honor. Enjoy these photo memories from the College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
In early December, the Southeastern Conference inducted several former players and coaches into its 2022 Legends Class. From the SEC:
“The 2022 Football Legends Class includes 14 former stars who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions. This year’s class includes All-Americans, All-SEC selections, Academic All-Americans, a Heisman Trophy winner and a Hall of Fame head coach. The group represents teams that won SEC Championships, won Super Bowl titles and are represented in state, school and college football halls of fame.”
Coach Pinkel was honored to be among the 2022 class, which included:
Alabama – Ozzie Newsome, Split End, 1974-77
Arkansas – Steve Korte, Offensive Guard, 1981-82
Auburn – Ben Tamburello, Guard/Center, 1983-86
Florida – Alex Brown, Defensive End, 1998-2001
Georgia – Thomas Davis, Linebacker, 2002-04
Kentucky – Joe Federspiel, Linebacker, 1969-71
LSU – Todd McClure, Center, 1995-98
Ole Miss – Eli Manning, Quarterback, 1999-2003
Mississippi State – K.J. Wright, Linebacker, 2007-10
Missouri – Gary Pinkel, Head Coach, 2001-15
South Carolina – Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, 2009-11
Tennessee – Peyton Manning, Quarterback, 1994-97
Texas A&M – Johnny Manziel, Quarterback, 2012-13
Vanderbilt – Allama Matthews, Tight End, 1979-82
The class was announced at the SEC championship game in Atlanta on December 3, 2022.
Following the rush of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a unique opportunity and reminder to observe and support causes and charities that are meaningful making an impact in the lives of our neighbors.
Since 2019, the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation has partnered with supporters to distribute nearly $300,000 to Missouri organizations that provide services fulfilling the three pillars of our mission, helping children in Missouri to:
In addition to local non-profit grants, the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation has awarded 49 Scholarships, valued at nearly $400,000, to low-income students from across the state, to attend college, university or vocational trade schools in Missouri.
We’re not done yet. We need your help to move the ball forward into 2023.
We’re celebrating Giving Tuesday with 30 days of giving – now through the end of the year. Make your secure, tax-deductible donation here at any of the levels below and receive a gift as our thank you for your partnership and support.
You can make a difference every-day in the lives and future of children and youth facing difficult challenges. The battle is real, and the fight is on. We need your help!
This holiday season, join me in giving gifts that will change the trajectory of a child’s life forever. Together we CAN Make A Difference Everyday!
Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Gary Pinkel
15 years as a Mizzou Tiger on the field with a coach’s visor, and now a Mizzou Tiger for all posterity! On September 16, 2022, the Mizzou Alumni Association awarded GP M.A.D.E. Founder Gary Pinkel an honorary degree on September 16, 2022.
Coach Pinkel served as Head Football Coach for the University of Missouri from 2001-2015, earning the title of “winningest football coach in Mizzou history.” Coach Pinkel is well-known for mentoring his players on and off the field. His program “Mizzou Made” focused on four core values:
-Honesty
-Treat Women with Respect
-No Drugs
-Respect Cultural Differences
The result of this program was young men who put team first and found success on the football field and also in life. When Coach Pinkel retired from coaching and shifted to his focus to philanthropy, his “Mizzou Made” philosophy helped shape the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation — Making a Difference Every-Day in the lives of youths facing difficult challenges.
Congrats on your honorary degree coach, and many thanks to the Mizzou Alumni Association!
Gary and Missy Pinkel attended the second ever “Game Day with GP” event hosted by Dudley and Beth McCarter on Saturday, September 11 in St. Louis, Mo. The event was a watch party for the Missouri at Kentucky football game in which Mizzou came up just short in a 35-28 contest.
During the event, guests were encouraged to take photos with Coach Pinkel, listen to coach’s pregame routine and enjoy the game. Prior to kickoff, Coach Pinkel went through his real team meeting notes including his “Fatherly Advice – Thursday Talk,” an itinerary, and game week notes. The pregame talk was preceded by a Q&A featuring former Missouri football player TJ Moe who described his own pregame routine and what it was like playing under Coach Pinkel.
Guests were able to purchase cups, signed books, footballs and visors in the form of a donation to the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation. Coach Pinkel’s bowl rings and watches were also available for viewing.
The event raised over $10,000 in donations toward the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation which directly contributes to the yearly scholarships given out by the Foundation. Three weeks later, the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation was able to host a tailgate for Missouri’s home game against Tennessee to meet with sponsors and other supporters.
Former Mizzou defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson received a high honor from the NFL this week when he earned the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Richardson started every game this season for the New York Jets. He had 3.5 sacks, and his 77 tackles ranked third most for a defensive lineman. He also had a forced fumble and helped the Jets defense rank No. 3 overall against the run.
“He’s had a tremendous year, and I think he has a great future here,” Richardson’s coach Rex Ryan told NFL.com. “The production is a huge part of it and the way he plays. He’s got that relentless motor. For a defensive tackle and being as productive as he is…the tape doesn’t lie.”
Versatility was the name of the game, as Richardson was even brought in on offensive sets, and not just to block. Richardson became the first lineman since William “Refrigerator” Perry for the 1985 Bears to score more than one offensive touchdown in a season.
When asked if he thought he had a chance at Offensive Rookie of the Year as well, Richardson told Sports Illustrated, “Nah, I think Eddie Lacey had more touchdowns than me.” Lacey was this year’s offensive winner.
The biggest threat to Richardson winning the award was Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso. Richardson won with 23 of 50 votes from Associated Press writers. Alonso finished second with 19.
Richardson was the Jets’ first round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft and No. 13 overall from Mizzou.
The biggest threat to Richardson winning the award was Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso. Richardson won with 23 of 50 votes from Associated Press writers. Alonso finished second with 19.
Richardson was the Jets’ first round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, going at No. 13 overall from Mizzou.
Several Mizzou players were honored by the Southeastern Conference on the academic end of their student-athlete responsibilities.
The following players were named to the SEC Honor Roll, and are listed with their major:
Michael Brennan – Business Administration
Christian Brinser – Middle School Education
Justin Britt – General Studies
Brayden Burnett – Educational & Counseling Psychology
Taylor Chappell – Health Science
Sean Culkin – Business
Tyler Davis – Mechanical Engineering
Clayton Echard -Health Science
Marvin Foster – Health Administration
Michael Godas – Sports Management
Matthew Hoch – Middle School Education
Tanner Hull – Nutritional Sciences
Jacob Hurrell Football Business
Wesley Leftwich – Nutrition
Marcus Lucas – Business Marketing
Connor McGovern – Agriculture Economics
Nicolas Monaghan – Educational Studies
Mitch Morse – Hospitality Management
Blake Owens – Health Science
Michael Scherer – Business
Andrew Stevens – Psychology
Morgan Steward – Communications
Gregory White – Health Science
Matthew White – Industrial Engineering
Christian Williams – Mechanical Engineering
Jordan Williams – Accountancy
To be eligible for inclusion in the SEC Honor Roll, you must be a scholarship athlete who maintains a 3.0 GPA. You can also be a non-scholarship player, but you must be a member of the team for at least two seasons before you can be nominated. You must also be a member of the team for the entire season.
These are exciting times for the Mizzou Tigers, who claimed an SEC East division title this past Saturday with a win at home on Senior Day. Mizzou will play in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta this Saturday for a chance to win its first outright conference championship since the 1960 season.
We caught up with two senior captains, wide receiver L’Damian Washington and linebacker Andrew Wilson, to really get a feel for how preparations are setting up this week.
We asked Wilson what he thought about catching another guy named Wilson on Mizzou’s career tackles chart, referring to his father. Andrew currently sits at No. 16 on this list with 306 career tackles. His father Jay Wilson was also a linebacker for Mizzou and currently sits tied for No. 12 with 323 tackles. Andrew is just 17 tackles away from tying his father on the all-time list–an amazing achievement.
We caught up with Mizzou running back Russell Hansbrough this week, one of the three backs that has been used this year in Mizzou’s highly effective rushing attack.
We asked Hansbrough about coexisting with his other backs, team unity and why he likes Columbia. You will not want to miss what he had to say.