Mizzou Football Players React to New Coaching Hire, Celebrate Wildly [Watch]
The University of Missouri (Mizzou) hired Barry Odom, former defensive coordinator and Tiger alum, to be its 32nd head coach in school history. The Players were excited when they learned the news. OK, they were ecstatic--celebrating wildly as if they had won a free vacation home in Hawaii.
If you try hard enough, the chants of "Barry! Barry! Barry!" soon become "Hawaii! Hawaii! Hawaii!" You can almost feel that cool breeze sweeping in off the ocean to gently nuzzle your face while your skin radiates a warm bronzed glow. You're not even mad about the sand hiding in every possible bodily crevice.
OK, back to football. The 2015 season was tough for Mizzou. They experienced not just a poor year on the field, going 5-6, but off of it too. Their longtime coach, Gary Pinkel, was forced to retire in order to focus on his health. Pinkel leaves as not just a player and crowd favorite, but the most successful head coach in the history of the program. During his time in charge--a tenure that spanned 15 seasons--he compiled a record of 118 wins, and 71 losses. The administration also went on to declare that the team wouldn't play in a bowl game, even if they received a bid.
Despite the dire circumstances, however, Odom seems to have the support of just about everybody. From the players, to the fans, to the administration, to the former coach himself.
"This is about hiring the right guy, and I believe in Barry Odom," Pinkel said, via USA Today. "I was very happy when I found out."
In fact, when the former coach saw the video of the players reacting to the hire, Pinkel said he was nearly moved to tears. Odom, meanwhile, was seemingly relieved.
"It wouldn't be very good if I walk in and nobody jumps up," Odom said. "They know what I bring to the table every day."
Spoken like a true coach.