Brady Cook reveals impact Eli Drinkwitz speech had on Missouri culture

eli-drinkwitz-shares-importance-of-signing-homegrown-players-in-the-trenches — Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

In the wake of Missouri‘s 14-3 win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, coach Eli Drinkwitz gave a now legendary speech to his team, essentially reiterating that the program is one that will never give in or back down.

It was a watershed moment for the players, a validation of sorts and a message going forward.

Missouri is not to be messed with anymore.

“Yeah, that was a special moment,” quarterback Brady Cook said. “Obviously we got spoken to about it right before the game and I think it resonated with our team just because our team has been in the wilderness. We’ve been through adversity. We’ve been at the bottom together and then we’ve kind of experienced some success together.”

That message was simply never to break. To keep on fighting until the end of the game no matter what. And in a defensive struggle against the Buckeyes, it was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Tigers.

Eli Drinkwitz gathered his team after the win and opened up.

“We scored 14 points in the fourth quarter,” Drinkwitz said. “We put our fist up, and we said we’re not giving in. We’re faster, stronger, tougher than you in the fourth quarter, and we got an elite edge, and we’re not going to be denied. And now we’re the Cotton Bowl champs!”

Now, Missouri will be looking to parlay that success into even more success this year. The playoff field expands to 12 teams and there’s a real thought in Columbia that the Tigers can be among that field later this year.

Cook will be a huge part of that, but so too will Eli Drinkwitz.

“I think the message is the message,” Cook said. “It resonated with our team that the bonds we formed at the bottom, the bonds we formed when we went 6-6, 6-7 and had some tough times, that that paid off last year. That paid off in the Cotton Bowl. And when Drink gave that speech and mentioned that pregame and at halftime it fired us up.”

Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri will take to the field on Thursday, Aug. 29 for a season-opening contest against Murray State.