Missouri’s recent success brings increased expectations, Gary Pinkel says

Gary Pinkel has earned a meticulous reputation as Missouri’s football coach, but he isn’t putting that organizational acumen to work ahead of his June 27 destination wedding in Naples, Fla.

“I don’t think I’m very good at that stuff,” Pinkel said with a smile before teeing off Monday in the Tiger Club of Kansas City Golf Tournament at Shoal Creek Golf Club. “I just try to give, when asked, my opinions. I’ve decided everything she wants to do, we’ll do.”

Pinkel said his bride-to-be, Missy Martinette, likes to include him in the planning.

“But usually, I look at her and go, ‘C’mon, you’re asking the wrong person,’” Pinkel said. “I have no knowledge of weddings. I have enough trouble coaching football.”

It’s already been a big summer for Pinkel, who was inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame and welcomed his eighth grandchild, Chance David, in late May.

“All my kids and grandkids are going to be in the wedding,” Pinkel said. “It’s all family in the wedding, so it’s pretty exciting.”

On the field, Pinkel’s Tigers are the two-time reigning SEC East champions, but he insists that hasn’t created additional pressure for the program.

Missouri’s goals remain the same — win the East again, break through with a victory in the SEC Championship Game and, hopefully, get a crack at a national title.

Those are lofty goals, but MU has reached that threshold entering Pinkel’s 15th season in Columbia.

“We boringly do what we do,” Pinkel said. “I’m redundant, and I know I say it all the time, but it’s the truth: My whole thing is we focus on the process of getting better. That’s what we do. That’s all we can do at this particular time.”

NCAA rules allow for eight hours of team activities during the summer.

Most of that time is spent in training with MU’s associate athletic director for athletic performance, Pat Ivey, but the position coaches also do some film study and basic drills with players.

The Tigers’ upperclassmen also organize additional workouts and coach-free hour-long practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

While Pinkel doesn’t believe the pressure to succeed has mounted, he admits that the Tigers’ program has changed profoundly during recent years.

“There’s a responsibility that goes with success, and that’s kind of thrown on our football team,” Pinkel said. “We’ve achieved a lot. Now, the seniors, we’re handing it over to you, but there’s a responsibility that goes with it for all of us — the freshmen coming and everybody. There’s an expectation level. I think that creates focus for your football team and then you get to work.”

The summer months are an important time for the incoming freshmen to get acclimated.

“Every one of the high school guys is in,” Pinkel said. “It’s just the (junior college) guys were doing some work with.”

Butler Community College offensive lineman Tyler Howell, a Bonner Springs graduate, and College of the Siskiyous defensive end Marcell Frazier won’t arrive at MU until July.

Both are finishing classes, but Pinkel doesn’t anticipate any eligibility issues with the incoming freshman class.

Two prominent players who were borderline from an eligibility standpoint, East St. Louis defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. and Olathe North defensive end Josh Moore, have passed the NCAA clearinghouse.

Becker, Moore and the rest of Missouri’s incoming freshmen were scheduled to meet Tuesday with Pinkel for orientation.

“It’s just a chance to talk about the responsibility of being a Missouri Tiger and what that means,” he said. “They’ve got to get trained. Our other guys on the team all think alike and act alike. When freshmen come in, they don’t, which is natural, but we’ve got to get them on the train.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Missouri’s recent success brings increased expectations, Gary Pinkel says."