Mizzou Made
SEC media days continued on Wednesday with University of Missouri coach Gary Pinkel and sophomore QB Matty Mauk taking the podium. With the dismissal of Dorial Green-Beckham and his recent admission into the University of Oklahoma, questions of his relationship with Pinkel, the difficulty with players leaving early, and the upcoming season were answered by both Pinkel and Mauk.
“I want things to work well for Dorial,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “That’s important to me, and hopefully they will. I think that’s a good place and hopefully he learns some lessons. He’s overall a good kid, and he has a chance to turn this whole thing into a positive thing for him personally.”
Pinkel also admitted to endorsing Green-Beckham when asked by the University of Oklahoma. Losing DGB during the offseason gives the Tigers time to adjust and make the appropriate changes.
“I think you can lose a player in the middle of August that you thought was going to be your best player,” Pinkel said. “For us, we knew going into spring football our challenges there.”
QB Maty Mauk says the loss of his good friend was tough, but that the offense won't change and that the Tigers will still have success thanks to some of the depth from last seasons team.
"The offense hasn't changed at all. Yeah, it's going to be different when you come in with a guy like (Green-Backham), and he's gonna do great down there, but right now we're worried about Missouri and our guys," said Mauk.
Mauk also compared and contrasted him self to Johnny Manziel on Wednesday.
"I feel like I have the ability to do similar things, and that's what people are expecting of me back in Columbia (Mo.)," Mauk said Wednesday at SEC Media Days.
With Mauk's skill and experience he gained last season many believe the Tigers will again make a run at the SEC East. Mauk ability to run and pass has also garnered comparisons to Johnny Manziel.
"I think he's the greatest college football player to ever play," Mauk said. "He's somebody who, I won't say I can be like, but I can model my game after him."
Though Mauk has comparable skills to Manziel, he doesn't look to be as public a figure as Johnny Football this upcoming season.
"I'm not Maty Football. I'm Maty Mauk. I'll make my own name."
Although Mauk doesn't want the off-the-field image of Johnny Football, both he and Mizzou fans will be hoping for similar success on the field this season.
