Had a chance to talk to Barry (who I've known for about 20 years) after practice today for a big story I'm working on. Going to hold a lot of that back for when the story runs, but wanted to drop a couple quotes on here I thought you guys would enjoy:
On Mizzou: "I’ve been here since 96 minus three years I guess. The people of the state of Missouri are awesome and it’s a great place to live in Columbia. Home is always home, where you grew up, but I met my wife here, we’ve had three kids in Boone Hospital. There’s a lot of great people here. And there’s been so much done at the University of Missouri, not only since my time here, but well before me, people that put in a lot of work to make this place what it is. I feel like I’ve got a responsibility to continue that and take it to another level."
On returning: "When I left, I didn’t really think, it would have been foolish of me to think, ‘Someday I’m coming back to Missouri.’ I’ve got such respect for coach Pinkel and the things that he has done and the way he approaches every day that I knew that hopefully when I left it wasn’t the last time that I was ever going to be a part of his staff."
On his coaching style: "I expect when you step on the field it’s work time. There’s not time for mental errors or lack of focus or lack of competitive spirit. That can’t exist. Any of those areas I feel pretty firm about as a belief. I don’t yell or scream just because it sounds great. I want to be a great coach and a great teacher for our student athletes. I want them to know that when we step on the field together, that we’ve got full trust in them and they do me and know that I’ve done everything that I can to put them in position to have a chance to have success."
On his desire to be a head coach: "Every time that I’ve started something new or different, I do set goals and I am not afraid to say it out loud that I want to be a head coach if the time’s right and if the fit’s right. I’ve got a tremendous responsibility to get Mizzou’s defense to play as good as we can play. Everybody’s got a role in this program and I’ve got to fulfill my role and do my best. If I work for a year and an opportunity presents itself then we’ll look at it there. If I work 25 years and no opportunities present themselves, kind of taking it a day at a time and still appreciate the approach of come into work, roll your sleeves up, keep your head down and go to work. If you are doing a good enough job, those things will come about and if you’re not then they won’t. I like the challenge, I like the opportunity. If that opportunity presents itself, it’s something that obviously you work for, but also understand the scope and the job that you’re in now there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with it."
On Mizzou: "I’ve been here since 96 minus three years I guess. The people of the state of Missouri are awesome and it’s a great place to live in Columbia. Home is always home, where you grew up, but I met my wife here, we’ve had three kids in Boone Hospital. There’s a lot of great people here. And there’s been so much done at the University of Missouri, not only since my time here, but well before me, people that put in a lot of work to make this place what it is. I feel like I’ve got a responsibility to continue that and take it to another level."
On returning: "When I left, I didn’t really think, it would have been foolish of me to think, ‘Someday I’m coming back to Missouri.’ I’ve got such respect for coach Pinkel and the things that he has done and the way he approaches every day that I knew that hopefully when I left it wasn’t the last time that I was ever going to be a part of his staff."
On his coaching style: "I expect when you step on the field it’s work time. There’s not time for mental errors or lack of focus or lack of competitive spirit. That can’t exist. Any of those areas I feel pretty firm about as a belief. I don’t yell or scream just because it sounds great. I want to be a great coach and a great teacher for our student athletes. I want them to know that when we step on the field together, that we’ve got full trust in them and they do me and know that I’ve done everything that I can to put them in position to have a chance to have success."
On his desire to be a head coach: "Every time that I’ve started something new or different, I do set goals and I am not afraid to say it out loud that I want to be a head coach if the time’s right and if the fit’s right. I’ve got a tremendous responsibility to get Mizzou’s defense to play as good as we can play. Everybody’s got a role in this program and I’ve got to fulfill my role and do my best. If I work for a year and an opportunity presents itself then we’ll look at it there. If I work 25 years and no opportunities present themselves, kind of taking it a day at a time and still appreciate the approach of come into work, roll your sleeves up, keep your head down and go to work. If you are doing a good enough job, those things will come about and if you’re not then they won’t. I like the challenge, I like the opportunity. If that opportunity presents itself, it’s something that obviously you work for, but also understand the scope and the job that you’re in now there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with it."
