As the calendar flips to September 16, 2026, the Missouri Tigers find themselves riding high after a gritty Border War victory over Kansas, yet head coach Eli Drinkwitz is far from satisfied. On Tuesday night, Drinkwitz, along with wide receiver Donovan Olugbode and edge rusher Darris Smith, returned to Harpo’s for the latest edition of Tiger Talk, presented by the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk. With the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Game against Troy looming, Drinkwitz addressed the media and fans with his signature blend of humor, accountability, and unwavering standards.
Drinkwitz Takes the Blame for Special Teams Miscues
Drinkwitz didn’t shy away from owning the two blocked field goals that marred an otherwise dominant performance against the Jayhawks. “Bottom line, whatever happened happened twice. And if it happens once, shame on you; if it happens twice, they’ll say shame on me, right?” he admitted. “So at the end of the day, it was my fault. I haven’t done a great enough job of making sure that it was taught in a clear and concise manner that our guys could execute it.” According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, Drinkwitz emphasized that the issue has been corrected in practice, stating, “We got that thing re-taught and put in, and we won’t have any more problems moving forward.”
Austin Simmons: The Epitome of Leadership
One of the most encouraging developments for Missouri this season has been the emergence of quarterback Austin Simmons as a vocal and emotional leader. Drinkwitz marveled at Simmons’ unique approach: “I’ve just been super impressed with the way he’s connected to our team. He daps every player up as they run onto the field, and that to me is something that’s unique; I haven’t seen that before.” The coach noted that Simmons even checks in with the defense during TV timeouts, a rarity for a quarterback. “That’s a true sign of leadership,” Drinkwitz added. As highlighted on Vulius, Simmons’ ability to galvanize the locker room has been a catalyst for the team’s early success.
Olugbode and Simmons: A Work in Progress Turned Dynamic Duo
The connection between Simmons and Olugbode didn’t happen overnight. Drinkwitz recalled the rough patches: “This spring it was not pretty. There was a lot of incompletions, a lot of balls that we just weren’t on the same page.” But relentless extra work has paid off. Olugbode, who has emerged as a reliable target, explained, “We kind of just put our heads down and went to work. It wasn’t clicking at first… we just kept going and kept going ‘til it clicked.” Drinkwitz praised Olugbode’s work ethic, hinting at a bright future: “He’s got the right stuff, he really does… at some point I’m going to be renegotiating a contract.”
Turnover Woes and Defensive Dominance
Despite the win, Drinkwitz was blunt about the offense’s 14-game turnover streak: “That ain’t good. We had two fumbles. That’s more than we’ve had in a season before here.” He channeled former coach David Cutcliffe, saying, “One fumble in a lifetime is one too many.” On the flip side, the defense impressed with seven three-and-outs and consistent pressure on the quarterback. “I thought they did an excellent job,” Drinkwitz said. “Forcing a missed field goal after our first fumble was extremely impressive.”
Darris Smith: From Rock Bottom to Redemption
The most poignant moment of the night came when Drinkwitz discussed edge rusher Darris Smith, who battled back from ACL surgery and personal struggles. “There was a point where I thought, ‘Man, it might just be better for us to separate,’” Drinkwitz confessed. He revealed a contract he had prepared that would have kicked Smith off the team for missing meetings or tutoring. Instead, Smith signed it and responded with a 4.0 GPA. “I’m extremely proud of this young man… He’s a hell of a football player, but he’s an even better teammate,” Drinkwitz said. Smith, who added 30 pounds this offseason, credited his renewed perspective: “Just not taking the game for granted… the little things mean a lot.” He also expressed excitement about playing in the renovated Memorial Stadium: “Every time you walk out there, it just feels different.”
Looking Ahead to Troy
With the 100th Anniversary Game on the horizon, Drinkwitz warned against complacency. “They’ve got some pelts on their wall… If we go out and think that we play the same game against Kansas and beat Troy, we’re crazy.” He stressed the need for improvement: “We have to be better this week, and it starts with all of us, starting with me.” As the Tigers prepare to honor a century of football at Memorial Stadium, the message is clear: the standard remains unchanged, and the work is far from finished.
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