Following a 28-21 victory over the University of Arkansas football team, Missouri Coach Eli Drinkwitz said he thinks the rivalry between the Razorbacks and the Tigers is growing.
The series has been lopsided in Missouri’s favor since the teams began playing annually starting in 2014. The Tigers improved to 9-2 against Arkansas as SEC members.
Saturday’s game included an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Arkansas defensive tackle Eric Gregory and a personal foul on Missouri receiver Luther Burden for swinging his arm at Razorbacks nickel back Doneiko Slaughter.
There were other chippy moments that did not warrant penalties.
“It’s growing, I’d say,” Drinkwitz said. “For them not thinking that (we) were much of a rival … it sure is growing a lot.”
Drinkwitz, an Alma native who was offensive coordinator at Springdale High School from 2006-09, has fallen under scrutiny over the years from Arkansas fans.
Following a 48-14 victory over the Razorbacks last year that included an ejection-warranting scuffle, Drinkwitz said Arkansas was “here to fight” while his team was “here to play football.”
Drinkwitz trolled the Razorbacks on social media last December after flipping the commitment of class of 2024 receiver Courtney Crutchfield, a Pine Bluff native. He posted a GIF of him celebrating as a 41-0 score from the game flashed across the screen.
“There’s a lot of people that don’t like me down in that state for whatever reason,” Drinkwitz said. “Which is good, it builds the rivalry. … We need this. It was chippy out there tonight, but I hope they all understand there’s a lot of mutual respect.”
During his media availability earlier this week, Drinkwitz mispronounced Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green’s first name. The mispronunciation, “Talon,” drew the ire of many Razorback fans.
“There’s a better part of two hours of sports radio getting after me because I mispronounced the quarterback’s name,” Drinkwitz said. “Like I told Taylen Green, that was me being genuine. I literally didn’t mean anything. He’s a heck of a player. He’s a great player, great quarterback, and by no means was I being disrespectful to him.”
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