re: Just how good is Gary Pinkel, really?

The best thing about GP is that ever since he got to Mizzou, our team has been a train that always picks up steam. We were in horrible shape when he got here. After he arrived, we were still mediocre for a while without a lot of talent on the roster. He got us over the hump against Nebraska and the Big 12 North with Chase Daniel as his QB. He got us over the hump against OU and Texas once our DL and OL play really started to improve. He's got us to 14-2 in conference play our last two years in the SEC with some good wins. It'll be interesting to see how far he can take this program.

He's molded the Tigers to be opposite of teams like Auburn. Auburn goes out and signs great talent or grabs talented transfers after they're booted off their previous teams for various crimes against humanity. Auburn then barfs this talent all over the field and hopes it is good enough. That works every once in a while at a very high level.

GP has only signed a handful of five star recruits. He shines at finding unpolished stones and turning them into diamonds. He's also had a long run of great QB play, but outstanding QB play has not been as imported for the last five or so years as our DL and OL play has improved. It's tough road, but it's the best way for a school that isn't going to bring in top ten recruiting classes every year.