Writers Panel: Can Mizzou Sustain Success In The SEC?

Nov 30, 2013; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Henry Josey (20) celebrates after rushing 57-yards for a touchdown against the Texas A

The Missouri Tigers are 11-1 and have a date with the Auburn Tigers in Atlanta this Saturday to decide who wins the SEC championship. Tiger fans across the state are exciting about the Tigers but is this just a blip on the radar or could this be the beginning of a streak of dominance akin to the Miami Hurricanes of the 1980s or the Nebraska Cornhuskers of the 1990s? Can the state of Missouri support an elite football programs and 5 other professional teams? Here is our staff’s take on that very question.

Mitch Johnson

Missouri can support and sustain an effective football team in the SEC for years to come.  Gary Pinkel is a more than capable coach who has demonstrated his value this year.  The most important question for me that actually answers the question is can Missouri successfully recruit in the SEC and can they recruit over a longer period of time.  Clearly, Missouri has done a good recruiting job in the last ten years with people like Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, Blaine Gabbert, and an array of elite defensive lineman and linebackers.  Missouri displayed itself well in the Big 12, however the new SEC version of Missouri has given the Tigers a new image and that is why they will continue to succeed.

Chris Flanagan