Missouri’s Gary Pinkel expects ‘mammoth’ atmosphere for Georgia game
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel expects a raucous atmosphere for the school's first SEC game against Georgia on Sept. 8.
Georgia fans have often asked me what awaits the Bulldogs when they visit Missouri on September 8th. Well, I’ve never been to Columbia, Mo., either. But I know the Tigers and their fans will be especially fired up for their first SEC game in history.
Here’s what Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel thinks:
“It will be mammoth here. Our fans are so excited about being a part of the SEC. That being the first game is going to make it a big, big, game here. People are talking about it already; rarely do they ever do that. They understand we’re playing a great Georgia team. We understand that. When we switched leagues, that enthusiasm really for that game and from our fanbase in general has been remarkably positive for us.”
Pinkel was taking part in his first SEC teleconference call on Tuesday. Thirteen of the 14 coaches — Arkansas’ new guy, John L. Smith, wasn’t due to be introduced until about 3 p.m. — answered reporters’ questions for about 10 minutes or so as part of this post-spring-practice tradition.
Pinkel, Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin and Ole Miss’s Hugh Freeze were the new kids on the block. Pinkel was asked about making the transition and trying to get ready for the Bulldogs.
“Anytime you make a transition like we’re making to the SEC there are a lot of things that are involved,” Pinkel said. “One is, not knowing any of the personnel or schemes we’re playing as far as our opponents. Obviously we know all the Big 12 teams very well. So we’re doing a lot of analysis right now, not just of Georgia, but of all the teams we’re going to play next year. That’s been going on since the end of February and it will go on into August. That’s kind of part of our transition. We have to do a lot of homework and a lot of study and evaluation of the schemes of all these teams and certainly personnel. . . . It’s very important for us to do a thorough analysis so that when we play these teams we have a pretty good understanding of what their makeup is.”
Georgia and Florida both have the unenviable task of christening the new teams into SEC play. The Gators also play Texas A&M on Sept. 8 in College Station.
“You knew [when SEC 2012 schedules were released] that was going to be an historic game for Missouri and for Texas A&M, for that matter,” Richt said. “It was pretty obvious the excitement for those programs is going to be at an all-time high. So it’s going to be a great challenge for us from a psychological point of view. But, in the meantime, we’ve been able to look at some film of Missouri’s offense and defense and they’re very impressive. You look at their overall record, knowing Coach Pinkel and his history of success, just seeing the players that they have and the big games they’ve won in teh past, we know it’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us. But we’ll be excited about it, too.”
A lot of the coaches were talking about how different it will be playing Missouri because they play such a radically different style of spread offense, often utilizing four and five wide receivers. Florida’s Will Muschamp and Auburn’s Gene Chizik both faced Pinkel’s offenses while defensive coordinators at Texas.
Richt doesn’t believe the scheme itself is a problem.
“Our league is pretty diverse,” he said. “There’s not any one way of doing things in the Southeastern Conference. They’ll be doing some things a lot of teams in our league do. They may spread out a little more than most people in our league do, but not anything that no one has ever seen before.”
Schemes and matchups aside, it’s the sheer electricity expected on Sept. 8th that has everybody so excited. Pinkel expects his team to be pumped up by the atmosphere — but not overwhelmed by it.
“We’ve had some remarkably big games here,” Pinkle said. “A couple of years ago we were both 7-0 when we played Oklahoma in a big night game here. We’ve had a bunch of games like that over the years, like Georgia has had and all the other teams in the country have had. What really is different here is this a new era. This is the beginning of a new era for Missouri football forever. We just happen to be playing Georgia this year in our opener for that and there is just a real enthusiasm for it. It will go down in history as the first game. So to say it’s just a normal game, just a normal conference game, it’s really not. Once you break the ice there, then there it goes and we’ll just move on.”
– Chip Towers, The UGA Blog
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220 comments Add your comment
01HAWK
April 24th, 2012
8:57 pm
CRICKETTS
Dawg Alum
April 24th, 2012
9:04 pm
Like I said….we kick your ass with a clean program. Also, why is it that I know 4 Bama students who chose Bama because they were rejected by UGa? I have never heard the reverse!!! Just asking…..you may have the NCs, but you’re dumb as stumps and obnoxious as heck. Also, when is the last time Bama beat UGa in the Sears Cup rankings of the best all around athletic programs? Just asking….meathead.
Secretariat
April 24th, 2012
9:06 pm
01 2-2 vs Mich St. go a hug a Toomers tree boy!
Secretariat
April 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
Dawg: All pee and vinegar w/ Saban after 15 yrs of dung!!
boykin
April 24th, 2012
9:10 pm
Mizzou will need all the hype it can get when the 1st SEC team gives em an ace-whoppin!!!!
Contractor
April 24th, 2012
9:17 pm
It’s not difficult preparing and getting up for the first meaningful game of the year, it’s difficult for that 5th, 6th, and 7th SEC game once injuries have set in, conditioning, and whether your guys are reliable talent wise. It will be a huge game for both teams, but hopefully the Dawgs will turn this into another Arizona State game and win every facet of the game with a dominate performance.
dawgfan
April 24th, 2012
9:29 pm
i do believe Pinkel and the rest of the Mizzou will be in for a surprise when they see the “mammoth”
amount of Dawg fans present for this one. I’ll never forget the Arizona State game a few years ago when we filled up a fourth of their stadium when it’s on the other side of the country. We travel so well.
dawgfan
April 24th, 2012
9:29 pm
Mizzou faithful* pardon me
tyler
April 24th, 2012
9:37 pm
I honestly hope that most UGA fans aren’t as delusional as the ones on this blog. Sad. I am very good friends with quite a few dawg fans and I will say that the ones I talk to know where they actually stand in the grand scheme of things. Probably 4th or 5th in the SEC- no where close to the caliber of Bama (or LSU or Ark or…) I will say that whoever it was that mentioned La Monroe is the saddest of the bunch. We are all aware of the fact that you would give all of your “impressive” victories over the last few years in exchange for a loss to La Monroe and 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! Come on loser- you guys lost to Central Florida right?
Matt the Brave
April 24th, 2012
9:48 pm
Really? Missouri is ‘talking’ about this game for the first time? We were talking about it from the day it was announced. SO many Dawgs are going out there that you’ll hear them on the TV. Plus, Missouri can’t be louder than playing Florida in Jax or (especially) at Tennessee with over 100,000 people screaming Rocky Top. I think this team went through the ‘hype’ with Boise last year and will be much better out of the gates this year.
ga gator
April 24th, 2012
10:20 pm
Bet Branson will be booked that weekend and full of Dawgs. I’m trying to figure a way out to College Station in what will be a tough opening for my Gators.
Al
April 24th, 2012
10:42 pm
Yeah you saw it mr a few years ago at ok st and got your but whipped
Snoop dawg
April 24th, 2012
10:42 pm
We got better players but right and bob are a joke. Grant ham cannot hold up the coaching staff when thE offense is 3 and out or worse. Time of possession is a bobo problem.
Richt the CEO won’t cut it…
Leonard’s loser: richt, bobo and Georgia…
funny...
April 24th, 2012
10:43 pm
As long as Aaron Murray holds onto the damn football Georgia will be fine.
The run game will be stout, at least 6 different guys (Malcome, Crowell, Samuels, Marshall, Harton, Gurley) will be capaable options in the backfield.
The D will have to step up, play tough and leave it on the field. Suspensions will test the lack of depth.
Go Dawgs, this game scares the bejesus out of me
funny...
April 24th, 2012
10:45 pm
Also, For once I think the rest of the SEC will rooting for Georgia and Florida to stick to the noobs
funny...
April 24th, 2012
10:47 pm
**stick it to the noobs**
Boosted
April 24th, 2012
10:59 pm
Music Midtown will be the same night as the vandy game. Expect lots of drunk rednecks at MM.
chavezravinedawg
April 24th, 2012
11:05 pm
tyler-4thor5th and behind ARK…Mom’s callin ya for late night snack…..Ga Gator-Gayters will be beat by the AGGRIES!
boykin
April 24th, 2012
11:08 pm
funny: No worries bro…Our RB game with Crowell Samuels Marshall Ogletree Malcome will take care of bizness and Coach and BOBO and Murray will have pass game ready for these tigers!
Buzz 2011
April 24th, 2012
11:25 pm
Mizzou is tough and the Dawgs will be in trouble without those midnight tokers..
The Dawgs could win six games though, which would be a solid season for them..
boykin
April 24th, 2012
11:46 pm
Mom has your honey toast ready, Buzz
Talk about embarrassing the SEC
April 24th, 2012
11:48 pm
o1 hawk, exactly what everyone talks about , the Newbie bama fans don’t know how to win with class. You’re embarrassing the bama nation.
Talk about embarrassing the SEC
April 24th, 2012
11:53 pm
Buzz 2011, Think you’re on the wrong board , this is the georgia board, you know the ones that kick techs tail on an annual basis, perhaps you should go to the Duke board, where tech has relevance. Dawgs have more 10 win seasons in past 11 years than tech has since 1957.Good luck with paul “minor league” Johnson, give him the paul hewitt lifetime contract deal.
C from Marietta
April 25th, 2012
1:51 am
LOL. Still 4 months away and they are talking crap.
@ Buzz 2011
Funny, but you know what you do to a Yellow Jacket. You swash it! Dawgs OWN that nerd tail.
C from Marietta
April 25th, 2012
1:53 am
BTW.. Happy Birthday Chipper Jones! I don’t think that ball has landed yet!
wsewell
April 25th, 2012
2:25 am
Our Defense will be good, I’m just tired of punting the ball 40 times a game. Bobo, maybe you should just start asking madden on the sideline
robertussen
April 25th, 2012
6:09 am
uga will show the show-me-state why they should not be excited. i smell a blow out
Top Dawg
April 25th, 2012
6:56 am
I am going to the game. I am worried because the coaching staff has asked me to bring my cleats and asked if I knew anything about playing in the secondary.
Go Dawgs
April 25th, 2012
8:03 am
MO Tiger….hehehehehe…silly kitty cat…….we have a history of smacking kitty cats……ask Auburn….Clemson, Kentucky, LSU…….
gdawginkalamazoo
April 25th, 2012
8:32 am
This will be another “big stage” game with this being Missouri’s first game in the SEC. You have to look at how we have faired on the big stage recently. Boise, LSU, any of the last two SEC openers for us against SC, heck even Colorado a couple years back for their NC reunion game. Colorado was more fired up for that game than we were. Then look at Missouri’s WR corp and our suspensions in the defensive backfield and you can guess what Missouri will be doing. Our inability to kill time off the clock will make this game a close one or a blow out by Missouri. They will be stoked.
LogicalUS
April 25th, 2012
8:47 am
Don’t fret the game Missouri fans, just know that the undisciplined, ill-conditioned team which actually shows up in September will bare no relationship to the overhype of the delusional UGA beaners. You will hear all sort of silliness from these beaners which will lead you to wanting to believe that the NE Patriots are coming to scrimmage but then wil LYAO at the actual team which shows up.
Just know that regardless of your winning margin, 3 pts or 23 pts, you stand NO CHANCE of beating the “Dawgs” because it will always be because they gave it to you.
Boise fans learned last season what SEC fans have known for years and many of them actually were worried before the game. UGA fans are famous for before-game delusions of superiority and after-game excuse making.
SanDiegoJacket
April 25th, 2012
8:49 am
I have many MIZZOU fans and they’ve all learned TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!! I’m going to Columbia to teach the Tigers how to hate the worst team in the nation!!
TO HELL WITH GEORGIA, EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gator Mike
April 25th, 2012
8:55 am
Lowcountry Bulldawg, I totally agree with you. UF will be at A&M the same day your DAWGS are at Mizzou. Yes, those fans at both places will be fired up, but the UF and UGA guys have been at more rabid places such as Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Knoxville. I predict that Muschamp and Richt will have their guys in the proper mood to take care of business and not be too nervous. After all A&M and Mizzou are the ones who have to prove something. UF and UGA will both win.
TIGERCLAW
April 25th, 2012
8:55 am
UGA Mammoth? What a joke!
Ed Pilcher
April 25th, 2012
9:01 am
To Ed Pilcher
Nope…..Everybody knows that these kids in Bainbridge couldn’t win a title if Joe Burns suddenly was reincarnated and was the starting RB for Bainbridge High with Leonard Guyton as the QB.
They just don’t get it.
All I’m doing now is counting the days until retirement, my good man.
‘Course, if Paul Johnson really wants to learn how to run the Veer……and it looks like he needs the help…..I’m available.
Mobile Dawg
April 25th, 2012
9:02 am
Gator Mike, Muschamp is to new as a HC to know what his pedigree will be, Richt on the other hand has demonstrated time after time that his team isn’t prepared for the ” big stage”. Good luck to the Gators, I’m hoping you have a good season. The East needs to step up and meet the challenge from the West.
dagnabit
April 25th, 2012
9:02 am
Missouri’s first victim as a member of the sec. Welcome Tigers.
Dawg Alum
April 25th, 2012
9:03 am
San Diego Jacket,
You must be unemployed and very lonely in California if you are that obsessed!!! Enjoy your trip to Columbia and I hope you get them as fired- up as you have gotten the fans in Atlanta. Just curious, what does it make GT if they lose 90+% of their games in the last decade to what you call the “worst team in the nation”? Just asking
UknowWeGonnaLose
April 25th, 2012
9:04 am
I think everyone on here is blind….Georgia never rises to the occasion…we will go up there alright….20 years from now you will be playing trivia and the question will be “in 2012 missouri played there first SEC conference game and won against who? -Georgia
you know it, I know it…its just fate
Dawg Haus
April 25th, 2012
9:08 am
Sic ‘em, Dawgs!
ARdawg
April 25th, 2012
9:11 am
zoodawg
I don’t see it as a big stage marquee game. Maybe I am wrong. I saw a Mizzou game there several years ago. Mizzou fans are as rabid as any in the SEC. Thankfully they are more intelligent than Bama and Tech fans (of course, who isn’t). I have a few close friends that are Mizzou alum.They’re excited about the SEC but the general feeling is that it will take them a while to compete. They have no expectations on the UGA game and seem to be looking for a loss (my opinion of them, not thiers)
Gator Mike
April 25th, 2012
9:36 am
Mobile Dawg, you may well be correct on Muschamps experience level, but I hope not. I and most all Gators really like Muschamp, and we have faith in him. I know he is a DAWG, but he is a welcome addition in G’ville. One thing we may have in our favor in going to College Station is that Muschamp has coached there against the Aggies in the past. As for your DAWGS, I believe that Richt and your players will be out to prove they can win a big game early in the season this year. Thanks and also good luck to your DAWGS. The SEC East will be back.
UGA Insider
April 25th, 2012
9:43 am
UGA 37 Missou 10
A&M 20 UF 17
Book it!
kingdaddy
April 25th, 2012
9:46 am
Missouri fans
I hope you listen to all of these anti-Ga. fans trying to talk smack. I hope you are expecting an easy blow-out against an over-matched, undiciplined, out of shape team. I hope you underestimate the importance of this game to the Dawgs. I hope you keep listening to the idiots…
RTR22
April 25th, 2012
9:50 am
Greyshirt Nick, remind me again how many national championships you have enjoyed in your LIFETIME ????
Mizzou, its only Jawja visiting lol, I get it being your first game and all that, but wait until October and the real big boys, the Crimson Tide ROLLS into town. Most National Championships, Most SEC Titles, Most Bowl Wins, Most 10 Win Seasons Nationally. Did we miss ANYTHING of importance ?
bubba4dawgs
April 25th, 2012
9:57 am
Hey Mo Tiger, speed and hard hitting….you better get your candy butts ready for some good ole down home behind the bard kicking! The Dawgs will be ready, count on it! They have a destiny this year and ain’t gonna let an upstart tiger who hasn’t weened yet take their bone! These Dawgs will bite! Watch closely, maybe you’ll learn something! GO DAWGS!
tj46
April 25th, 2012
10:01 am
MU- Only team in the SEC with a winning record against Alabama.
RTR22
April 25th, 2012
10:07 am
Dawg Alum, Is that Sears Cup one of your prized trophy possessions lol ? Who cares ???? FB is all that counts and not all your mens tennis titles……… Jawja fb the most under achieving program in college fb. FACT
RTR22
April 25th, 2012
10:10 am
tj46 yes you have won 2 out of 3, but that will reversed the next 2 yrs……
Dawg50
April 25th, 2012
10:12 am
The Dogs will beat missouri easily. They will not be ready for SEC size and speed. Dogs 41 missouri 17—bet the house.