Missouri Tigers football to celebrate seniors before game against Florida Gators
.JPG "Vanderbilt tight end Gavin Schoenwald (10) gets past Missouri defensive lineman Akial Byers (0) as Schoenwald scores a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)")
One of the first things Missouri football coach Eliah Drinkwitz mentioned at the start of his media availability on Tuesday was that this week was important because it was the last home game for his seniors.
On Saturday against the Florida Gators, 24 Tigers will be recognized for their contributions to the program.
“We’ll be excited to honor those men on the football field on Saturday, which makes this a big game,” Drinkwitz said. “It makes it a really big game for us, not just because it’s an SEC game and not just because it’s against a competitive Gator football team, but because it’s for our seniors and the opportunity for us to end this season at home the right way and let those guys celebrate it the right way.”
Drinkwitz said that there will be a couple seniors who don’t participate in the ceremony because they’ve already decided to come back, while a couple others will still go through it because they have yet to make up their mind. Last year, there was a COVID-19 waiver that allowed players an extra season of eligibility, but the number of scholarship players allowed will revert back to 85 for the 2022-23 academic year.
Wide receiver Keke Chism, who spent his first four seasons at Division II Angelo State, participated in the ceremony last year, not knowing whether he would be coming back. But he’ll now be taking part this Saturday knowing this will actually be his final game on Faurot Field.
“I got some more family coming in, for sure,” Chism said. “We know it’s going to be the last one, no doubt. I’m just looking forward to it. I’m excited, man. It’s been a long road, a long journey for my college career, man. I’m thankful for every moment. I mean, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I mean, everything happens for a reason.”
Both Chism and Akial Byers, who is in his fifth season as a defensive lineman for the Tigers, said the feeling likely won’t hit them until Saturday.
“I’m trying to enjoy every bit of it before I just break down, you know,” Byers said. “I’ve been here for a minute...and I’ve gotten close to a lot of these guys, so I just want to soak up every minute I have with them and play my heart out for them and give them everything I’ve got before I leave.”
Saturday’s contest is also of vital importance because a sixth win and bowl game berth is on the line. But Drinkwitz said he doesn’t plan on “leaning into that at all really.”
“I think it’s important for us to focus on being 1-0 and then at the end of the season you stack up how many wins you have to determine where you go,” Drinkwitz said.
“There doesn’t need to be any more external pressure because this game determines whether or not to go to a bowl game. If we’re not motivated to go play for our seniors, if we’re not motivated to play at home, like, how much motivation do you need?”
