Drinkwitz hoping to send Missouri seniors out with another Battle Line win over Arkansas

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas native and Missouri head football coach Eli Drinkwitz has never tried to shy away from letting it be known how much he enjoys beating the Razorbacks in a game dubbed the Battle Line Rivalry.

He’s done so in three of his four previous seasons as the Tigers head coach and will be looking to do so again when Arkansas (6-5, 3-4) visits Missouri (8-3, 4-4) for a 2:30 p.m. game at Faurot Field that will be televised by the SEC Network

But Alma-born Drinkwitz was focused on a couple of other things at his Tuesday weekly press conference – sending out his seniors in style and playing the last game inside this version of Faurot Field, which will be fully enclosed next season.

“There can be a lot of mixed messages throughout the week, I think the biggest thing for us is, this is about the seniors,” Drinkwitz said. “And rivalry week is important and the Battle Line trophy is important, but more important for us is playing for those guys and sending those guys out the right way.

“The North end zone is going to look totally different from now on. As soon as we’re done with that game, there are going to to be massive renovations. So this is one of the last times that this group, or any group, is going to play at Faurot with that setup.”

It’s clear the admiration Drinkwitz has for his seniors at Missouri, whose program has won the last two matchups with Arkansas, 6 of the 8 Battle Line contests and 11 of 15 all-time games against the Razorbacks.

“It’s a proud group, a very resilient group, a strong group, a tough, committed, determined group,” Drinkwitz said, “and I look forward to sending them out at a sold-out Faurot Field that they worked very hard to make our fans so proud that they’re here for I think it’s a 12th or 13th straight sellout.

“ That’s a tribute to the guys, like I said to the team after practice yesterday, the group who came here in a coaching transition. They didn’t choose it because it sold out crowds. They didn’t choose it because of what it is now. They chose it because they believed it would become that. And they worked really hard for five, six, seven years, all of them, to get it to this point so I’m really proud of this class.”

This is also likely the last Battle Line Rivalry for Missouri star wide receiver Luther Burden (191 career catches for 2,279 yards and 21 touchdowns), who is projected to be a first-round selection the 2025 NFL Draft.

The junior, who also has 234 rushing yards and 252 yards on out returns, will be one of 27 players to walk on and be introduced on what is known as Senior Day.

“I have had conversations with Luther, we are in those conversations,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m never going to steal anybody’s spotlight, but I would just say that we’re very fortunate for Luther to have been here for three seasons. He will walk on Saturday, no decisions have been made, but that is an opportunity for him to make a decision without having to miss the chance to say goodbye.”

Drinkwitz acknowledged he understands some fans are against non-seniors being spotlighted on Senior Day.

“I get that instinct, but I think honoring a guy who has made such an impact on the program is important and will help convince more big-talent guys to join in the future,” Drinkwitz said. “Being able to say “No matter what you choose, if you come here and make an impact, we’lland had honor that and treat you just as well as anyone else” could be the difference for a kid.”

All 21 of Burden’s touchdown catches have been thrown by Missouri quarterback and fellow St. Louis native Brady Cook, who has thrown for 2,080 yards and 9 touchdowns this season while battling injuries.

“Growing up watching (former Missouri stars) Chase (Daniel) and Jeremy (Maclin), watching all those different connections with all the great quarterbacks, great receivers, that was a vision I had,” Cook told Power Mizzou. “You know, who’s it gonna be?”

Cook and former Fayetteville High and Missouri wide receiver Barrett Bannister knew it would be Burden when watching a stream of him playing in high school.

“I remember hearing the name Luther Burden my first couple years I was here when we were recruiting him,” Cook said. “I remember clicking on his game when he played East St. Louis vs CBC. I was watching a live stream with Barrett Bannister. I think he took a punt return back and we both said, ‘Man, this could be my guy.’ Sure enough, he was. I’m just so proud of Luther.

“When we all first get here, we’re just kids. We don’t know a ton. We don’t know a ton about life, football, whatever it is. And just to see him mature, grow, see the way he takes it so much more seriously, the way he practices, he really cares about his teammates. It’s just been a real pleasure.”

Drinkwitz did confirm that wide receiver Mookie Cooper had season-ending surgery on Tuesday, something Cooper acknowledged earlier on his snapchat.

Cooper’s last play as a Tiger was a 78-yard catch-and-run on the east play of the third quarter in a 21-17 comeback win over visiting Auburn on Oct. 19.

“One senior, Mookie Cooper, revealed today on snapchat that he had surgery, so would like to announce that he had a season-ending surgery today,” Drinkwitz said. “Obviously, Mookie’s a very special player to us and to myself.

“Came here, transferred, one of those guys who came here and chose Mizzou when we needed him the most. His last real play of the year is going to be remembered as the one that sparked us to beat Auburn.”

Missouri comes in off a 39-20 win at Mississippi State with its three losses being road ones to Texas A&M (41-10), Alabama (34-0) and South Carolina (34-30).

Saturday’s game may be played in the snow with weather forecasts predicting a 50 percent chance of that and temperatures between 16 and 31 degrees.

“Well, the first thing we do is we practice in the weather that we play in,” Drinkwitz said. “So, we’ll be outside all week instead of in the indoor (practice facility) and try to get used to the bodily temperature. There are two different types of snow. There’s dry snow (and) wet snow.

“Wet snow sticks and compacts (and) makes it a little bit more difficult to throw, catch, make a slicker ball. You have to be more cognizant of the way that you’re utilizing your cleats and running because the snow will clamp and be a factor in route running and slippage. So, there are some things as a staff that we’ve already put in place to prepare for, but the reality of it is, that’s just part of the game.”

Drinkwitz notes the growth of the Missouri program has been in part due to his team’s development of a brotherhood.

“I mean, honestly, that’s why I coach,” Drinkwitz said. “I thought that would be one of the strengths of our style, is being relational and being intentional, and developing a culture and a brotherhood. Trying to be less transactional and more intentional in building that.

“That’s what I enjoyed the most about playing the game, and kind of what I’ve always tried to foster, whether it was as a position coach or a coordinator or a leader, is playing for each other and playing for the man next to you.

“So not surprised that that’s where our program is.”

Drinkwitz made it clear he sees the Arkansas game as the end of the 2024 season and he will turn the page to 2025 on Sunday.

“Sunday night, we’ll have a staff meeting,” Drinkwitz said. “We’ll finalize what we’ve been discussing for the last four weeks, which is roster evaluation, management and retention.

“Wednesday, we’ll sign on our freshman class, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we’ll meet with every player on our team, kind of see where their mind is. Have discussions on player retention, which means NIL, revenue sharing conversations, to see where everybody’s at.

“… And then December 9th becomes what would be considered free agency for everybody on your football team. So most important thing for us obviously is to sign our freshman class, retain the great players that we have on our roster and the build moving forward.”