Drinkwitz favors transparency over Saban’s secrecy in regards to Covid

Last week, we thought Mizzou would be out (at least) 12 team members due to positive tests and/or contact tracing, and things were looking... well... bleak. Tuesday, we we learned that in actuality, the Tigers will be out 7 players.

Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch went in-depth with Drink’s thoughts on transparency in regards to Covid testing as well as how the number of players who were going to be out for the Bama game actually decreased.

So, how exactly did Mizzou end up for the better (as of right now anyway, since they still have two more rounds of tests before Saturday)? Apparently, some of the initial positive results were inconclusive.

From Drinkwitz:

“We contact traced several players. Once that that inconclusive test was retaken multiple times with PCR swab and concluded to be a negative test we were able to allow people to come back out of the contact tracing (quarantine),”

I must say, it’s quite nice to have a coach who believes in just telling us what’s going on. Unlike that coach in Alabama, or others, for that matter, Drink doesn’t see the competitive advantage in hiding a team’s Covid results.

According to Matter’s reporting, Nick Saban said Monday the only player who definitely won’t be available for Saturday’s game is defensive back Ronald Williams, and just because he’s got a broken arm. He revealed nothing regarding Covid testing.

From Drinkwitz, and I LOVE this:

“This is a public health issue. It’s not a competitive advantage issue. This is not an injury that we’re trying to keep (quiet.). This is a public health issue. People should know what’s going on within our football team as it relates to a pandemic. (That’s) where I would start. I would say that that for me is more important than whatever competitive advantage we feel like it might be to win or lose a football game. I would still cite that a pandemic probably is more important than that, although I do believe in the value of football...”

As with all of Matter’s stories, I highly recommend them, so please check it out to get the full scoop!

Also related to testing, it was revealed on Tuesday that the SEC will adopt the NFL’s system for contact tracing, using KINEXON SafeZone technology, which uses lightweight, wearable devices called SafeTags and will allow teams to determine proximity and length of interaction in practices and games to provide better contact tracing.

From their release:

“Through this new relationship with KINEXON, the SEC is committed to using innovative technology to provide solutions for use by our member institutions as we all work to support a healthy environment for student-athletes,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “KINEXON provides the SEC with a modern and effective solution to meet the unique contact tracing challenges associated with football.”

I’m all for it if it works. Keep those unpaid athletes safe so schools can continue to make money off them! (Sorry)

On to the links!

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Yesterday at Rock M

• Nate the Great Football Leader wrote about the depth chart release and put in some of his own commentary about Zeke Powell, DPJ, and Rakestraw.
• Josh & Co had a new Rock M Roundtable for y’all, looking at whether or not the secondary is actually as good as advertised.
• Aaron looked at the best DB recruits in Mizzou history, and it’s surprising.
• Nate ALSO previewed the safety position in his position previews.
• Kortay covered the newest MIZ-Zoom event, where we got to hear from a lot of players.
• COMING UP AT ROCK M: We’ve got a new Before the Box Score ep today, and we’ll continue with SO MUCH hot football content leading up to GAME DAY?!?! (I can hardly believe it’s here)

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More Links:

Football

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Ben Fred wrote that one big win would do wonders for Drinkwitz’s debut season. Dave wrote that the depth chart still didn’t reveal the QB-1.
• KC Star: Souichi wrote about Mizzou receiving its hopeful Covid news a week after the news was not so good.
• Columbia Tribune: Eric Blum wrote about Ennis Rakestraw, Jr. earning a starting CB start on the depth chart. He also wrote about how the SEC is adopting the NFL’s Covid tracing system.
• Columbia Missourian: Andy Kimball discussed the depth chart.
• Saturday Down South: Keith Farner covered Drinkwitz’s expectations for his Mizzou team, while Adam Spencer dove into how Eli Drinkwitz should handle Mizzou’s QB situation.
• PowerMizzou: Mitchell wrote about the depth chart and the new Covid testing results, and Gabe posted the video of Drink’s MIZ-ZOOM call. For subscribers ($$), you can dive into Mitchell’s look at the PFF data relating to what Missouri has lost and gained this season. The guys at PowerMizzou are also starting a YouTube show, The 573 Report, which debuts tonight at 7pm if you want to check it out.

• The Maneater: Jack Soble wrote about Kobie Whiteside’s lead on social justice initiatives, while Kyle Pinnell wrote 5 takeaways from Fall Camp.
• If you happen to be attending the game on Saturday (I am, thanks to my friend Robert), here’s a guide for everything you could possibly want from MUTigers.com.

Other Mizzou Sports

• Columbia Missourian: Emily Leiker wrote about William Sinclair, who won SEC Freshman of the Week for Cross Country, the first time a Mizzou runner has won this award since 2013.

• Cuonzo continues to be heavily involved in Coaches vs. Cancer, and their tipoff event is virtual this year:

• Possible Manager of the Year candidate, Jayce Tingler? He’s building an awfully good resume.

Mizzou in the Pros

• Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press wrote about how Drew Lock is sidelined again for his second season, but he’s vowing not to change his “risky” ways.
• Michael Porter Jr and his Nuggets’ squad hung on to win in Game 3 vs the Lakers. Porter’s stat line for the night: 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists in 22 minutes.
• According to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, several former Mizzou athletes had NFL tryouts on Monday:

• Also from Peter Baugh, former Mizzou footballer, Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms, he will wear Mike Brown’s name emblazoned on the back of his helmet this season.

Non-Mizzou & Interesting News

These are some of the best sports stories & other reading material I recommend— Enjoy!

• Jean-Jacques Taylor of The Undefeated wrote about Deion Sanders, who was announced as the head coach at Jackson State, an HBCU, and how he has the unique opportunity to sell players on something others can’t— a community where they can be unapologetically themselves.
• Presented without comment because I have nothing nice to say: Some Missouri schools in the southwest have allowed students exposed to Covid to come back to school and participate in sports without quarantining, according to this article by Mara Williams in the KC Star.
• This is cool, that you probably heard already. Bubba Wallace is joining a new NASCAR team, headed by Michael Jordan, the first Black owner of a team, and his friend (and NASCAR great), Denny Hamlin. (via NASCAR.com)
• The newest Old Man and Three podcast, hosted by my faves, JJ Redick and Tommy Alter, had a fantastic episode — I think their best one yet — with author Michael Lewis, author of Money Ball & The Big Short. If you are into the same spidery takes that I am and just some awesome podcast content, I HIGHLY suggest it. (The link goes to their YouTube of the interview)
• Newly crowned WNBA MVP, A’ja Wilson, was profiled in a piece by Dorthy Gentry for FiveThirtyEight.com, and it’s really great. It goes into how she was benched in college at South Carolina and how she’s found her role and her social justice voice.
• This happened on Tuesday, but it’s still super cool. The Tyrann Mathieu Foundation, headed by (of course) KC Chiefs player, Tyrann Mathieu, held a big voting event at Union Station where you could register to vote (on National Voter Registration Day) and cast your absentee ballot. LOVE THIS. Here’s an article on it from Fox4KC.

• If you’re looking to sign up for ESPN+, Rock M Nation now has an affiliate link: click Here for ESPN+ Now! (** RockMNation has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though RockMNation may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.**)