Eli Drinkwitz reveals what time at Auburn meant to him, updates relationship with Gus Malzahn

Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz was asked about his return to Auburn at SEC media days. Drinkwitz’s first college coaching job was at Auburn in 2010. Prior to that, he had been an Arkansas high school football coach who worked with Gus Malzahn. It was Malzahn who took him to Auburn in 2010.

Missouri opens SEC play in 2022 by going to Auburn. In a way, that game is going to act as a homecoming for Eli Drinkwitz.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously it’s not really going to be a time of reflection for me,” Eli Drinkwitz said. “We’ve got a job to do.”

Eli Drinkwitz initially wanted to keep his focus on Missouri. However, it was difficult for him not to dive into his time at Auburn.

“We had a great experience at Auburn,” Eli Drinkwitz said. “Once you’re a part of Auburn, you’re always a part of Auburn. Obviously, the experience to win a national championship, I thought college football was relatively easy when that happened.”

“Some of the most formidable years I had. I think about some of the lessons that Coach Chizik, Coach Malzahn taught me, some of the experiences I had with great coaches. Curtis Luper is on my staff, Erik Link is on my staff, Ryan Russell, Brett Whiteside is on our staff, guys that I met while I was at Auburn.”

Eli Drinkwitz clearly remembers Auburn for the people he worked with there. The figures in place there were mentors to him there, and they’ve continued to be throughout his career. The people in his life there weren’t limited to those on Auburn’s staff, though. They extended to his home and his wife in particular.

“I think about that place, the sacrifice, really the risk that my wife and I took to jump into college football,” Eli Drinkwitz continued. “I think I’ll think mostly about her and the courage that she gave me in order to make that challenge. She worked a job and took care of our daughter while I was making very little money with no insurance. It was a good experience.”

Turning his focus back to the present, Eli Drinkwitz spoke about what he was expecting from Auburn now. He expects them to be tough, well-prepared, and physical. Their scheme will be multiple and aggressive. Who Auburn is in the present will be Drinkwitz’s focus, but his time there will have helped shape who he is as a coach for the game.