93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
A bipartisan resolution honoring the winningest coach in Mizzou football history has been approved by the Missouri House. Wednesday’s House vote was 142-0. One member voted present.
State Rep. Kurtis Gregory (R-Marshall), a former Mizzou football captain, is the sponsor of the three-page resolution.
“Whereas he joined Coach Bear Bryant and Coach Steve Spurrier as one of only three coaches in college football history to hold the most wins for two collegiate football programs,” Gregory says.
Pinkel is also the winningest football coach in Toledo history, and earned MAC coach of the year twice.
Missouri House members in both parties are praising the impact that Pinkel had on the program and on academic progress. State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) says the citizens of Columbia support the resolution 100 percent.
“And it changed the culture of our city, and really raised the bar for what winning means. And no longer do we really settle for mediocrity, there’s still that yearning to be great again. So what he did was incredible,” Smith says.
Mizzou is located in Representative Smith’s district.
The House resolution notes players on Pinkel’s Mizzou teams led the conference in academic progress rate numerous times. 95 percent of his senior players graduated.
Former Mizzou football coach Bob Stull, former Mizzou athletic director Mike Alden, longtime Mizzou football broadcaster Mike Kelly and several of Pinkel’s former players attended the event in the Missouri House chamber. Those former players include Martin Rucker, Tommy Saunders, Jimmy Costello and Tim Barnes.
