Brady Cook’s impressive performance in the Music City Bowl earned him the MVP award
Missouri football officially wrapped its season on Dec. 30 with a victory at the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. The 27-24 win against the Iowa Hawkeyes was special not only because it marked Missouri’s 10th of the year, but also because it was senior quarterback Brady Cook’s last dance with the Tigers.
Cook’s career with Missouri has been riddled with ups and downs but ended on a high note at the Music City Bowl. After leading his team to a victory, Cook was honored as the game’s most valuable player.
“It means a lot,” Cook said on the field afterward. “It’s all about the 12-year-old version of myself, sitting there and watching the Tigers on TV and I’ve officially lived out that dream.”
Winning a bowl game MVP is nothing new for Cook, as he was named the offensive MVP in last year’s Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State. In that game, Cook threw for 128 yards and one touchdown, which receiver Luther Burden III caught.
Though Cook won a second consecutive MVP award, his game against Iowa looked different. Cook’s job was immediately made more difficult when Burden announced his intention to sit out of the bowl game after declaring for the NFL draft.
Injuries were also a factor, as receiver Mookie Cooper and tight end Brett Norfleet were both unavailable. To make matters worse, receiver Theo Wease Jr. left the game with an upper-body injury in the first half. Due to injuries and opt-outs, Missouri was without its top four receiving leaders.
Refusing to let unavailable players derail the game, the Tigers relied on their experienced quarterback to create plays.
Cook literally came out running, picking up multiple first downs by scrambling in the first quarter. He ended the game as Missouri’s leading rusher, racking up 54 yards on 14 carries.
It was encouraging to see Cook’s mobility, a sign of recovery after suffering an ankle injury against Auburn in October. At one point in the bowl game, there was another injury scare when Cook took a big hit that left him lying on the ground. The quarterback showcased his toughness by getting right back up and seeing the game through.
“It looked like they were roll-tackling him and it looked like his ankle started bothering him, but I just kept telling him you’re a finisher,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “You’re going to finish. You have to finish.”
Missouri’s mentality of finishing games was on full display in Nashville. The Tigers were down 10 points in the third quarter but clawed their way to a win, and Cook helped them get there.
Cook’s 18 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns contributed to Missouri’s win. This is not the first time the Tigers have come from behind to win, highlighting Cook’s determination and resilience.
“I think there’s always belief in our quarterback, in Brady, because you look back a couple of years ago and maybe it didn’t go our way, but he never flinched, he never changed,” Drinkwitz said. “He just kept trying, and he kept going back out there.”
Aside from playing with an unflinching mindset, Cook demonstrated his ability to adapt against Iowa.
After Wease left the game, Cook turned to players like Daniel Blood. Blood had six receptions on the year coming into the bowl game, but that did not stop Cook from trusting him in crucial moments. When facing a third-and-10 in the third quarter, Cook sailed a 17-yard pass to Blood. This play kept Missouri’s drive going, leading to a touchdown that was scored by Joshua Manning.
Like Blood, Manning is not a usual standout. He had one touchdown during the regular season, so tacking on another during a bowl game was important for the young player. Cook’s ability to orchestrate plays with less experienced athletes speaks volumes about his talents as both a player and leader.
Even though the Music City Bowl marked Cook’s last performance as a Tiger, it was a good way to go out. The game ended in a standing ovation for the senior, as he and his unlikely ensemble emerged victorious against Iowa.
“It’s nice to go out with a win,” Cook said. “We worked our butts off, and this was the result.”
Cook’s swan song was a bittersweet symphony, but he is ultimately leaving the Tigers as a champion.
Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com