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Gary Pinkel got $$$ in 2014

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By nearly any financial reckoning, Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel had a pretty fabulous 2014 season.

His basic compensation was $3.4 million, and when the Tigers advanced to their second consecutive Southeastern Conference title game, it set the stage for a contract extension that included raises to more than $3.75 million for this season and more than $4.1 million for 2016.

Then there were the bonuses. Seven of them. Totaling $900,000.

It was the greatest bonus haul for a football head coach in the NCAA’s Bowl Subdivision last season, according to USA TODAY Sports’ first comprehensive analysis of the incentives actually paid to public-school coaches over the course of a year.

College football coaches piling up more cash through bonuses

Michael Sam says start Drew Lock vs South Carolina

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Michael Sam says start Drew Lock vs South Carolina

On the Missouri quarterback situation:

"I think we need to get rid of the dual quarterback situation. If Maty Mauk’s the guy, go with Maty. If Drew Lock’s the guy, go with him. I want the guy who’s going to win my games. We’re not supposed to lose to Kentucky in football. I don’t know if Maty is right there mentally. In the end, it’s all about winning your team games. This dual quarterback situation needs to go." "We’re trying to win games in 2015. Not games in 2016 or 2017. We’re not scoring any points. That’s not the Mizzou offense I know."

Who do you think should start at QB?

"I think you start Drew Lock in (this week’s South Carolina game). See how he does, then he might be the guy. I’m not a head coach, but I’m a former Tiger and I know the system. I played against Maty. He’s a great talented quarterback. But I don’t know where his mind is right now. I don’t know what the heck is going on right now in Columbia. The most important game is the next game."

Michael Sam Says Drew Lock Should Start Vs. South Carolina > insideSTL.com - St. Louis Sports, Music, Entertainment and Nightlife > Mizzou Tigers

Charles Harris and Kentrell Brothers back on the PFF Dream Team

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Charles Harris and Kentrell Brothers back on PFF "Dream Team"

Charles Harris, Missouri, +15.4

Harris continued his strong play with a +1.2 effort against UConn including a sack, two hits, and a hurry. He is now grading at +10.6 as a pass rusher with 14 total pressures on 79 rushes.

Kentrell Brothers, Missouri, +14.9

Add seven more stops to Brothers’ stat sheet, putting him with an absurd 28 total stops through three games. He’s performed well in the run game at +11.0 but also in coverage at +4.0.

PFF's college football Dream Team | ProFootballFocus.com

Gary Pinkel imparts fatherly advice

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Missouri’s players, for the most part, enjoy Pinkel’s non-football lessons, even if they think that he sometimes imparts them at odd moments. Two seasons ago, while preparing for the Tigers’ regular-season finale against Texas A&M, Pinkel spent the first 15 minutes of a meeting lecturing his players on how to be a gentleman while on a date. No matter that a victory over the Aggies would send Missouri to the SEC championship—Pinkel wanted to make it clear that while walking a date home, the man should always stand on the outside of the sidewalk. "So that if a Bud Light truck comes out of control, [the man is] the one who gets hit," he says. Simon recalls the meeting with a cackle. "I was like, Okay, well, if that’s what you think we need to talk about ," he says. "That’s coach Pinkel for you. Sometimes you don’t know what you're going to hear."

And then the Tigers beat A&M 28–21.

Gary Pinkel and Missouri's quest to cement their status as SEC power

Charles Harris, Kentrell Brothers make PFF "Dream Team"

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Charles Harris, Kentrell Brothers make PFF "Dream Team"

Charles Harris, Missouri, +14.2

Overshadowed by other SEC true freshmen pass rushers last season (Myles Garrett, Derek Barnett), Harris was respectable in his own right and he’s dominated early in 2015. He’s posted two sacks, four hits, and four hurries on 46 rushes to go with a +5.8 grade against the run.

Kentrell Brothers, Missouri, +10.5

Brothers has lit up the stat sheet through two games with an absurd 21 stops that leads the nation by a big margin. His +8.2 run grade is also best in the country and he’s been solid in coverage at +2.3

PFF's college football Dream Team | ProFootballFocus.com

"An indictment on the entire East when Missouri wins..."

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"It’s an indictment on the entire East when Missouri wins the East two years in a row and gets destroyed by Auburn, then Alabama in the SEC championship game," the coach said. "Georgia screwed it up last year (by losing to Florida), which Georgia is prone to do. Missouri is definitely not the most talented team in the East. It’s time for Georgia and Florida and Tennessee and South Carolina to restore order to the East."

and

"And somehow they won with Maty Mauk at quarterback. I think the kid is gritty, but he’s a career 52 percent passer. And what did he do against Florida (last season) – throw for 20 yards? Yet they beat the Gators 42-13."

SEC football coaches dish on other SEC football coaches

"Tigers United"

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SEC Storied: "Tigers United" on the bond between Michael Sam, L'Damian Washington and Marvin Foster

"Tigers United" - Directed by Marquis Daisy When Michael Sam announced on February 9, 2014 that he was gay, he became football's first openly gay active player. For most, the revelation was a surprise. For his teammates in Columbia, Missouri, it was not news. In the Tigers football family, Michael had found acceptance. The extraordinary bond Sam forged with wide receiver L'Damian Washington and defensive tackle Marvin Foster was bigger than football - they became brothers. That brotherhood helped bring the Tigers together on the field in 2013 and fueled the 12-2 SEC East Championship season.

SEC Storied

"Tigers United" will run on Tuesday, September 22nd at 8pm CT on the SEC Network

Should Mizzou play Tulsa in basketball?

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Game that should have been scheduled but wasn't: Tulsa-Missouri

Many Missouri fans blame Tulsa coach Frank Haith for leaving the program so threadbare that the Tigers stumbled to a 9-23 finish in Kim Anderson's debut season. Haith countered last February that he could have won at least 20 games were he still Missouri's coach, a comment that made headlines nationally and could not have sat well with Anderson or his staff. The heated emotions on both sides would make a Tulsa-Missouri clash compelling even if the Tigers are likely headed for another rebuilding year.

Non-conference schedule studs and duds: American Athletic Conference | The Dagger - Yahoo Sports

"Put Maty Mauk at LSU they might not lose a game."

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"Smart," the defensive coach said. "Does not put the football at risk. Average arm. His instincts are good. I don't think he has a good arm. He throws a good deep ball, but it's the deep digs and deep out cuts that he can't make. He's a very good game-manager. He's Major Applewhite-ish. He doesn't make mistakes. They believe in him. But do they fear him? No."

The same coach goes on to say, "He does nothing but win with lesser teams. He doesn't lose the game for you. He ain't the best one, but he ain't going to lose for you. If you put Maty Mauk at LSU, they might not lose a game."

http://espn.go.com/college-football/insider/story/_/id/13526023/auburn-tigers-gus-malzhan-hand-picked-quarterback-jeremy-johnson

Shane Ray is highest rated 1st-round rookie through preseason

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Denver Broncos: Shane Ray, DE (PFF Grade: +6.2) Ray has been a force throughout preseason, and is a little unlucky that second-year teammate Shaquil Barrett is stealing his thunder and doing even better. Ray has a sack in each of his last two games and has graded positively against both the run and pass in each preseason outing. He will have to fight for playing time during the season, but could have a real impact as a situational option.

Grades for every 2015 first-round pick | ProFootballFocus.com