Gabe DeArmond, the publisher of PowerMizzou.com, once again gives us his insights on Georgia and Missouri on the gridiron. He is one of the most plugged-in Missouri correspondents and is great to follow on Twitter for insights into the Tigers, Royals, Chiefs, Cardinals, and Blues. Follow him: @GabeDeArmond.

 
WHAT IS THE MOOD IN COLUMBIA NOW WHEN IT COMES TO MIZZOU FOOTBALL?
 
“Not good. Missouri is 1-4. This looks almost certain to be a third straight losing season. The nation’s number one basketball player is coming to Columbia and the Tigers have a chance at one of the biggest one-year turnarounds in the history of the sport. People are counting down the days till they can see the Porters.”
 
 
WHAT DOES MISSOURI NEED TO DO TO WIN?
 
“Against Georgia? Play an A game and hope Georgia plays a C- game. Or worse.”
 
 
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON GEORGIA?
 
“They’re really good. I said before the season they were the most talented team in the East and it wasn’t close. And that’s exactly what they’ve been so far. The only reason anyone doubts UGA is that they have a history of stubbing their toe in a game they shouldn’t. They’ve avoided that against Tennessee and Vandy. I assume they’ll avoid it against Missouri as well”
 
 
TALK ABOUT WHAT GARY PINKEL MEANT TO THE PROGRAM DURING HIS CAREER.
 
“As time goes on, more and more people are starting to appreciate how good Pinkel was here. He took over a dead program and had it within 30 minutes of playing for a national title twice. He played in two Big 12 title games and two SEC title games.”

“His detractors will say he did it when those divisions were down, but part of the reason they were down is that he was beating the teams that had traditionally been good. The only thing Pinkel failed to do here was win that one game. If he’d gone even 1-3 in league title games he’d be considered the best coach in school history and it wouldn’t be close. He was 60 minutes away from being as successful as you can ever hope to be at Missouri.”
 
 
WHAT DID IT MEAN FOR MIZZOU TO GO TO BACK TO BACK SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES?
 
“At the time a lot. It established them as capable of competing with the teams in this league. But to be honest, that seems like a long time ago now. Since then, Mizzou is 10-19 and 3-16 in league play. So can Missouri compete? Sure. But nobody much cares what you did three years ago.”
 
 
ARE THERE SOME CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL?
 
“I’d like to outlaw the stupid games against FCS teams. Give me real games every week. I’d like to stop preseason polls and rankings. Nobody puts out a poll until every team in the country has played at least one conference game. Also if someone can tell me what targeting is, that’d be great.”
 
 
HOW MUCH ARE THE MIZZOU FAITHFUL ENJOYING THE SEC?
 
“They’ll like it a lot more when they win. Honestly, now, it’s just what they’re used to. I mean there are still a few places they haven’t been, but they’ve played every team in the league at least once in every sport. Students at Missouri were never students when Missouri wasn’t in the SEC. We’re about five years away from young fans having to be told there was a time Mizzou was in a different league. The SEC has been good for Mizzou. But right now, they’re not so happy. And that has nothing to do with which conference they’re in.”
 
 
 

 
 
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