Missouri backup QB Eddie Printz is a patient man

What's On

Talk to us, Gary.

Meanwhile, Donavin Newsom stripped DeSean Blair...

As important as development on the line is, both Newsom and Anthony Sherrils (who recovered the fumble) will both have opportunities to shine this season. A few more of these play (only, maybe not at the expense of Blair), please...

And hey, speaking of Blair:

More practice notes:

University of Missouri Athletics - #MIZCamp - August 12

* LB Terez Hall jumped a route and intercepted a pass during the WR/TE vs. LB/DB drills.

* QB Marvin Zanders found WR Johnathon Johnson on a long pass along the sideline for a 35-yard gain in 11-on-11.

* DL Nate Howard recorded a sack during 11-on-11 after reading a designed rollout.

* K Andrew Baggett converted a 47-yard field goal with plenty of leg as the ball soared through the uprights.

* DB Tavon Ross delivered a strong hit during the receivers vs. secondary period.

* K Nick Coffman closed practice with a 53-yard field goal after the second-team offense drove down the field to put the special teams unit in position to score.

* TB Morgan Steward showed a burst on running plays to go along with impressive speed in the open field.

Eddie Printz is a patient guy

I certainly wasn't that patient at age ~21...

The Trib (David Morrison): MU Notes: The "Biding his time, waiting his turn" edition

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Printz completed 43 of 85 passes for 240 yards and four interceptions over spring scrimmages, playing mostly with an overmatched second offense against the first-string defense.

It was a difficult, relatively thankless job, but it continued the progression he's made since stepping onto campus in the spring of 2013, getting a head start on the rest of the signing class.

"You can always get quicker through reads, making throws, all that stuff," Printz said. "That's something you always want to keep improving, either getting better through film or just reps. That's something we always take very seriously. Fundamentals, you can never overemphasize them. Every morning, we do 20, 30 minutes of fundamentals. There's always room for improvement somewhere."

Post-Dispatch: Tigers pleased with Printz's progress

"He’s done a nice job in the sense that he’s got a great grasp (of the offense)," quarterbacks coach Andy Hill said of the 6-3, 205-pound sophomore from Marietta, Ga. "He’s a great leader. He’s very trustworthy. That’s the biggest thing, that you’re not going to screw it up as the No. 2 guy. If you come in there, we count on you to make plays, but let’s not screw it up first and lead this team second."

Told of Hill’s guideline for the No. 2 quarterback — "Just don’t screw up" — Printz laughed.

"If my QB coach says that," he said, "then it’s gold."

PowerMizzou: Printz happy at Mizzou

"What's kept me at Mizzou is a lot of things," Printz said. "Coaches are great, teammates are great. Great atmosphere, love it here, I have a home here. There's so many great things going for Mizzou. I don't want to leave. I don't want to go somewhere and just try to figure something out or just play my cards.

"I love it here. I'm happy. I have no reason to leave. I'm developing, I'm building relationships on and off the field. I'm getting my degree in May, so many things are going for me here and I have no desire to go anywhere else."

Nothing like a guy working to become a college quarterback AND finishing his degree in three years to make you feel like a total damn slacker, huh?

(And yes, graduating would making him immediately eligible if he were transfer somewhere else for his final two years of eligibility. Feel like that needs pointing out.)

#ReprimandedStubble

Ehren Earleywine certainly hasn't made a ton of friends in the coaching profession. Something tells me he doesn't lose much sleep over that, though obviously this is a pretty bumpy road he's going down. Your peers can make your life awfully difficult.

Post-Dispatch: Coaches association reprimands MU's Earleywine

Shane Ray is learning

Bleacher Report: Shane Ray Q&A: What Rookie Has Learned from His Mom, Pot Bust, Sam and Manning

My mom, being the strong woman that she is, showed me that—she worked hard to give me something even when we had nothing. So just looking back at the sacrifices my mom made and then at football, the two don't even compare. If my mom could have this kind of strength in raising me by herself, then I should be able to come out here on the football field and have that same level of confidence and dedication to do what I can do.

So when I come out here, it's not being cocky; it's I believe in myself. I believe in everything I'm going to do on this field, and everything I say I can do I'm gonna do. But the key thing that separates just saying it is working hard to be able to do it. Anybody can come out here and say, "I'm going to do this and this," and then get dominated. But if I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to work hard to do it.

A solid first step for soccer

The Trib: MU soccer picked sixth in SEC poll
MUtigers.com: Mizzou and No. 4 UCLA Play to 0-0 Tie in Exhibition Opener

The Mizzou soccer team opened preseason action with a 0-0 scoreless tie at No. 4 UCLA Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles, Calif., in a match played in three 30 minute periods.  Tiger freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Dossey (Plainfield, Ind.) made five saves in goal, including a number of diving stops, to keep the two-time defending Pac-12 Conference champions off the scoreboard.

"We got what we wanted out of this trip," Head Coach Bryan Blitz said. "This is a good UCLA program, we knew they would test us in ways we needed to allow us to move forward. We were able to gauge some things we did well and some we still need to work on. We now have a quick turnaround for a good Arkansas team on Saturday."

Volleyball approaches

The Trib: MU volleyball team seeks better setting, passing in 2015

Will Missouri receive better production from the setter position?

Sophomore setters Ali Kreklow and Courtney Eckenrode, a transfer from San Diego State, each have a year of experience running an offense.

Kreklow, who is Coach Wayne Kreklow’s daughter and Molly Kreklow’s cousin, shared time in a 6-2 system last season with Loxley Keala, who transferred to Iowa after the season. Eckenrode started last season splitting time in a 6-2 at SDSU before the Aztecs switched to a 5-1 system midseason, with Eckenrode as the setter.

Missouri probably will stick with the 6-2 system for a second straight year, meaning Kreklow and Eckenrode would share time, with each playing back-row only.