COLUMBIA | The impending departure of safeties coach Barry Odom, who is taking the defensive coordinators job at Memphis, is expected to leave a void on the coaching staff.But if you believe coach Gary Pinkel, the position wont be vacant for long.Its all done, Pinkel said. Its not to be said. I usually have a plan for most all those things.During his 11 seasons at Missouri, Pinkel has done a nice job of keeping his staff intact. Odom is the first coach to leave Missouri since offensive coordinator Dave Christensen and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus departed after the 2008 season.Its so unusual to have a coach leave here, Pinkel said. Most programs lose two or three guys a year. Around here, we lose one and (people) cant live with themselves.Pinkel was obviously joking, but senior cornerback Trey Hobson said the 35-year old Odom who declined to speak to the media on Friday will certainly be missed.Hes a good coach as far as bonding and building a good relationship with the players, Hobson said. Hes upbeat and positive, and thats what motivates players. He coaches everyone up the right way. Those guys in Memphis are going to love him.Much like the current safeties already do.I love the guy, said junior Kenronte Walker. Whatever he does, I pray for him and his situation. But were going to keep going.That starts with finding a replacement. And while Odom will remain with the team through the Independence Bowl on Dec. 26, it appears that process has already begun.Hell do a great job there, Pinkel said, referring again to Odom. And the good news for us is: Im sure well get a very good replacement.New uniforms in 2012Missouri assistant athletic director for media relations Chad Moller said Friday that the Tigers are expected to wear new uniforms next season, their first in the Southeastern Conference.Were in the queue for a redesign from Nike, Moller said. Its in the developmental stage. And it sounds like things are on pace to have everything finalized in time to unveil them in April, so thats the plan.Moller said Pinkel, who will approve the redesign, saw several versions of the new uniforms during the season.Theres things that are different in each version, and you can take a look and say, We like this on this one, and we dont like that on that one,  Moller said. Thats when they go back to the drawing board and rework them.Moller couldnt comment on any specifics regarding potential changes to the uniform, such as whether Mizzous trademark helmet would change. However, he did say that Missouri, which already has multiple jersey and pants options, will continue to have several different combinations.And while it is believed the Tigers wont be copying the full-blown game plan of teams like Oregon, Oklahoma State and Maryland, which have gained notoriety for their wide variety of modern (and sometimes gaudy) uniforms, offensive lineman Elvis Fisher said some of his teammates would welcome a more flashy design.A couple of the guys on the team want to be more swagged out Id say, Fisher said. A lot of the receivers wear three or four different types of shoes for games. Theyve got to look nice. But being a lineman, I dont really care. I just wish the jerseys were looser.

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Missouri’s Pinkel has plan to fill coaching staff vacancy

By TEREZ A. PAYLOR

The Kansas City Star

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COLUMBIA | The impending departure of safeties coach Barry Odom, who is taking the defensive coordinator’s job at Memphis, is expected to leave a void on the coaching staff.

But if you believe coach Gary Pinkel, the position won’t be vacant for long.

“It’s all done,” Pinkel said. “It’s not to be said. I usually have a plan for most all those things.”

During his 11 seasons at Missouri, Pinkel has done a nice job of keeping his staff intact. Odom is the first coach to leave Missouri since offensive coordinator Dave Christensen and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus departed after the 2008 season.

“It’s so unusual to have a coach leave here,” Pinkel said. “Most programs lose two or three guys a year. Around here, we lose one and (people) can’t live with themselves.”

Pinkel was obviously joking, but senior cornerback Trey Hobson said the 35-year old Odom — who declined to speak to the media on Friday — will certainly be missed.

“He’s a good coach as far as bonding and building a good relationship with the players,” Hobson said. “He’s upbeat and positive, and that’s what motivates players. He coaches everyone up the right way. Those guys in Memphis are going to love him.”

Much like the current safeties already do.

“I love the guy,” said junior Kenronte Walker. “Whatever he does, I pray for him and his situation. But we’re going to keep going.”

That starts with finding a replacement. And while Odom will remain with the team through the Independence Bowl on Dec. 26, it appears that process has already begun.

“He’ll do a great job there,” Pinkel said, referring again to Odom. “And the good news for us is: I’m sure we’ll get a very good replacement.”

New uniforms in 2012

Missouri assistant athletic director for media relations Chad Moller said Friday that the Tigers are expected to wear new uniforms next season, their first in the Southeastern Conference.

“We’re in the queue for a redesign from Nike,” Moller said. “It’s in the developmental stage. And it sounds like things are on pace to have everything finalized in time to unveil them in April, so that’s the plan.”

Moller said Pinkel, who will approve the redesign, saw several versions of the new uniforms during the season.

“There’s things that are different in each version, and you can take a look and say, ‘We like this on this one, and we don’t like that on that one,’ ” Moller said. “That’s when they go back to the drawing board and rework them.”

Moller couldn’t comment on any specifics regarding potential changes to the uniform, such as whether Mizzou’s trademark helmet would change. However, he did say that Missouri, which already has multiple jersey and pants options, will continue to have several different combinations.

And while it is believed the Tigers won’t be copying the full-blown game plan of teams like Oregon, Oklahoma State and Maryland, which have gained notoriety for their wide variety of modern (and sometimes gaudy) uniforms, offensive lineman Elvis Fisher said some of his teammates would welcome a more flashy design.

“A couple of the guys on the team want to be more ‘swagged out’ I’d say,” Fisher said. “A lot of the receivers wear three or four different types of shoes for games. They’ve got to look nice. But being a lineman, I don’t really care. I just wish the jerseys were looser.”