When Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz puts out the bat signal, Tigers fans pay attention.
In this context, the bat signal is a simple tweet without text. An animation of Faurot Field’s south end zone doors opening to a spotlight shining over the rock “M.” What often comes next is an exciting recruitment or transfer announcement.
In December, the tweet preceded true freshman wide receiver Dominic Lovett’s announcement of his flip from Arizona State to Missouri. Not even a month later, the same tweet went out shortly before reports surfaced that redshirt freshman receiver Mookie Cooper traded in Ohio State’s scarlet and gray for Missouri’s black and gold.
The sudden, unexpected arrival of Cooper and Lovett kicked off an offseason full of both excitement and hypotheticals. Will the receiving corps be the Tigers’ offensive strength? How will redshirt sophomore quarterback Connor Bazelak perform in his first full season as a starter? Can new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks adjust quickly enough to the college game? What exactly is the team’s ceiling?
Those questions are just a few of many Missouri has to answer in the coming months. Now, with the home opener against Central Michigan, the Tigers finally turn their full attention to the field and play football.
“Whether it’s extra 6 a.m. workouts, spring football or Saturdays throughout the summer, [the] guys have done a tremendous job of everything we’ve asked them to do to be at this moment,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re excited about what this means for us and our program going into year two.”
Much of that excitement comes from the slow return to normality, at least in college football terms. That means fans being allowed to fill 62,621-seat Faurot Field, non-conference matchups and even the return of home game day traditions.
For many players, today’s game also marks their first time playing in front of what should be a relatively full stadium. Bazelak will make his first start under center in that environment. Sophomore cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and sophomore kicker Harrison Mevis, find themselves in the same situation.
One player who will make his first significant start at Faurot Field is junior safety Martez Manuel. Born and raised in Columbia, he knows what the atmosphere is like, mostly from the sidelines and the stands as a fan. Now one of Missouri’s three permanent captains in his third season, Manuel is expected to play an even more significant role on the defensive side of the ball. Manuel and many of his teammates could hardly contain their excitement in the week leading up to the game.
“I know this year, when we run out there and see all the fans, it’s going to be awesome,” Manuel said.
With this enthusiasm also comes the possibility of unknown challenges. The Chippewas are the Tigers’ first non-conference foe since they beat Troy 42-10 on Oct.5, 2019. Drinkwitz and his players will soon learn how the team responds to adversity.
“We haven’t been tested in the fire yet,” Drinkwitz said. “We haven’t had the adversity of being down or giving up points on a scoreboard. Just like anything else, until you really do it, you’re not going to be quite sure what the deficiencies are and what has to be fixed.”
Now fans will see what the Tigers are capable of on the field in Drinkwitz’s second season at the helm. And, after an offseason full of exciting additions and weeks of excruciating practices in the summer heat, today’s game against Central Michigan is where the real work begins.
“I think everybody missed the game day excitement with fans and the atmosphere,” Wilks said. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about SEC football. Just to get back on the sidelines and have fans back at Faurot will be exciting for us. I can’t wait.”
Edited by Mason Arneson | marneson@themaneater.com
