Eli Drinkwitz bought victory cigars for Missouri team, smoked after Battle Line win

Missouri narrowly outlasted rival Arkansas in the Battle Line rivalry this year by a final score of 29-27. The Tigers had to stave off a late Razorback comeback attempt but were successful in doing so in order to win their sixth game of the season. That’s right, Eli Drinkwitz and the gang out in CoMo are going bowling thanks to a win over their slightly southern rival.

What did that mean for Mizzou players and coaches after the game? Well, victory cigars all around! And Coach Drinkwitz didn’t even bother waiting to party until after he completed his press conference. Instead, he waltzed into the media room shaggy-haired and cigar in hand, needing a second to collect himself at the podium before discussing his biggest win of the year.

“Now that’s a rivalry cigar, man. This is a cigar game. You win this one, you get to celebrate it,” Drinkwitz shared. He then revealed that this round of stogies was pre-planned and pre-purchased. Thankfully, the boys came through.

“So, you know, last night in our team meeting I told the boys that I’d bought 150 cigars. But I said…we win this game, boys, that’s my mindset. We’re smoking a victory cigar.” Tigers slayed the Hogs and enjoyed puffs of victory in the wee hours afterward.

Now, Drinkwitz just hopes their little afterparty doesn’t raise any NCAA eyes. “Well I hope that’s not against the NCAA compliance rules that it is. We got to write it up right now,” he joked, before wrapping up his comments on the matter.

“So yeah, and it’s good, too man. It’s actually not a great cigar, but it was the best one I’ve ever had. So, no no no, I’m not my wife. My wife’s back there. Okay, here we go again. You’re already putting your hand in my pockets, all right.”

A fun end to a heck of a finale regular season performance for the Tigers. Pulled out the rivalry win at home. Eli Drinkwitz and co. earned that celebration.