The DDL is a week old. We start week two with the third open practice of fall camp coming up this afternoon. Pete and I will be over for interviews later this morning. We will be concentrating on chasing down all the newcomers for chats this week.
First, let's catch up on what you might have missed over the weekend. Following are links to Pete's stuff from Saturday's practice and fan day:
Saturday camp notebook
Saturday camp photo gallery
Overhaul in the Tiger backfield
Notes from Fan Day
Here are the stories we have posted on the front page this morning:
Alex Schiffer: Mizzou joins list for Marcus Carr
Film Room: Larry Borom
*Had someone tell me (as others have also reported) that East STL QB Reyondous Estes should be making a final decision soon. We feel that it will be Missouri, but not sure when the official word will come down.
The obvious question is what that means for elite 2017 WR Jeff Thomas. From what we hear, it helps an already strong case for the Tigers with Thomas. Missouri has been in much better shape for Thomas than has been reported from what we've been told over the last few weeks. We've even had some tell us they are very, very confident that Thomas will choose Missouri. He won't make a decision until National Signing Day or very close, at least publicly. The ESL kids tend to do that. It shines a positive light on their school on a big day nationally and that's the way the guys have done this recently. We expect the same for Thomas. As of today, we think it will be Missouri whenever he does decide.
Now, some even better news with Thomas. A source has told us that the academic situation is actually quite a bit better than we've been led to believe in the past. It's not a slam dunk, but there is a much greater chance Thomas makes it than we've previously been told. We don't like airing a kid's academic laundry in public, but this one has been talked about a lot so there hasn't been much choice. All along, we've thought whoever signs Thomas will have to do so again in two years. We are no longer sure that is the case.
UPDATED 9:07 AM
**Okay, quick resets on a couple of situations for those that may have missed it over the weekend:
First, let's talk Athletic Director. And by that, I mean both old and new. As I reported on Friday morning, Mack Rhoades was working at Mizzou through last week. Nobody could really tell me exactly what his role was. He was "helping with the transition" which I am told "is not unusual." On the face of it, I agree, but Missouri named an interim AD (actually three) which surprised people. Generally, you name an interim when the old guy is gone (or at least name an interim that you don't KNOW is looking at the possibility of taking another job). Anyway, Rhoades was on campus through much of last week.
As far as his permanent replacement, I continue to hear that could be done this week. And I continue to have absolutely no clue who it will be. As I posted on Friday, word I'm getting is that it won't be Jon Sundvold and likely won't be Mike Owens. Missouri is leaning toward someone who has been working in a D1 athletic department. Who? Your guess is as good as mine.
The other thing I'm pretty confident in is that the search firm is figuring heavily in this hire. Hank Foley and the firm have been doing all of the interviews up to this point. Hank Foley simply doesn't know a lot of people in athletics and hasn't ever had to hire an AD. He's leaning on Todd Turner's firm heavily. Whether that is good or bad, who knows? What it means, though, is that Missouri ties are pretty much a non-factor. I'd be shocked if they don't hire someone who, when we look at it, has been placed somewhere by Todd Turner's firm before.
*On Ehren Earleywine, a resolution (finally) is expected this week. He's been cleared of Title IX violations. I've been pretty vocal that if that's the case, I have no idea why there hasn't been a statement from Missouri that he's coming back already. I mean, if he didn't do what he's being investigated for, what's the hold up? But this is Missouri. Multiple outlets (I saw it on ABC17 last night) have reported that Earleywine is supposed to meet with Foley and current Interim AD Sarah Reesman this week. Not sure when. I'd assume a resolution will come after this meeting.
As I posted on Friday, Mack Rhoades will not have any official input into whether Earleywine is retained or not. But he has been consulted on the matter according to multiple sources.
I'd be shocked if Earleywine didn't return. But Missouri has shocked me before.
UPDATED AT 2:17 PM
While I stared at a color wheel for a couple of hours, I wrote this up to catch you guys up on what happened this morning.
First off, Missouri has a new Athletic Director. Credit to Bill Pollock of Missouri Net for breaking the news, which I confirmed a few minutes later.
I can confirm Mizzou met with a few other candidates. It seems Jon Sundvold, based on what I've been told, would have been interested, but it became apparent pretty early on that Hank Foley wanted to go with a sitting AD. That's what he did.
***Pete and I have talked to a lot of the new guys in the last couple of days. Cale Garrett, Damage Crockett, Greg Taylor, TreVour Simms, Trystan Castillo, Dimitrois Mason, Tucker McCann and Tre Williams are going to play. I’m virtually certain of that. I would assume that Kyle Mitchell and Nate Strong will as well. I think there’s a chance Christian Holmes does. That tells me two things:
*This class is viewed by the coaches as much better than Rivals thinks it is
*The new staff doesn’t think it inherited a roster that is in great shape. That’s putting it kindly.
***The Rivals100 for 2018 is out. Trevor Trout (22), Kamryn Babb (78) and Michael Thompson (92) are in it. I don’t have time right now to go back and look, but I can’t remember a time the state of Missouri had three players in the top 100 at any point in time. To say the Class of 2018 could be large for Missouri is a large understatement.
Here's our notebook from Monday's morning player availability
UPDATED 7:12 PM
Some more links:
Pete's practice notes
Another freshman to watch
Curators to meet Tuesday
Ehren Earleywine had a meeting, but no answer
Post-Practice Periscope Interviews
Jim Sterk to Mizzou confirmed by San Diego State
Sorry for just linking everything, but it's been a crazy day. Still getting stuff done from practice, trying to get everything in one place here. Hope we did a decent job keeping you guys up to date. My head is spinning a little bit.
We will update this post throughout the day as things happen.
First, let's catch up on what you might have missed over the weekend. Following are links to Pete's stuff from Saturday's practice and fan day:
Saturday camp notebook
Saturday camp photo gallery
Overhaul in the Tiger backfield
Notes from Fan Day
Here are the stories we have posted on the front page this morning:
Alex Schiffer: Mizzou joins list for Marcus Carr
Film Room: Larry Borom
*Had someone tell me (as others have also reported) that East STL QB Reyondous Estes should be making a final decision soon. We feel that it will be Missouri, but not sure when the official word will come down.
The obvious question is what that means for elite 2017 WR Jeff Thomas. From what we hear, it helps an already strong case for the Tigers with Thomas. Missouri has been in much better shape for Thomas than has been reported from what we've been told over the last few weeks. We've even had some tell us they are very, very confident that Thomas will choose Missouri. He won't make a decision until National Signing Day or very close, at least publicly. The ESL kids tend to do that. It shines a positive light on their school on a big day nationally and that's the way the guys have done this recently. We expect the same for Thomas. As of today, we think it will be Missouri whenever he does decide.
Now, some even better news with Thomas. A source has told us that the academic situation is actually quite a bit better than we've been led to believe in the past. It's not a slam dunk, but there is a much greater chance Thomas makes it than we've previously been told. We don't like airing a kid's academic laundry in public, but this one has been talked about a lot so there hasn't been much choice. All along, we've thought whoever signs Thomas will have to do so again in two years. We are no longer sure that is the case.
UPDATED 9:07 AM
**Okay, quick resets on a couple of situations for those that may have missed it over the weekend:
First, let's talk Athletic Director. And by that, I mean both old and new. As I reported on Friday morning, Mack Rhoades was working at Mizzou through last week. Nobody could really tell me exactly what his role was. He was "helping with the transition" which I am told "is not unusual." On the face of it, I agree, but Missouri named an interim AD (actually three) which surprised people. Generally, you name an interim when the old guy is gone (or at least name an interim that you don't KNOW is looking at the possibility of taking another job). Anyway, Rhoades was on campus through much of last week.
As far as his permanent replacement, I continue to hear that could be done this week. And I continue to have absolutely no clue who it will be. As I posted on Friday, word I'm getting is that it won't be Jon Sundvold and likely won't be Mike Owens. Missouri is leaning toward someone who has been working in a D1 athletic department. Who? Your guess is as good as mine.
The other thing I'm pretty confident in is that the search firm is figuring heavily in this hire. Hank Foley and the firm have been doing all of the interviews up to this point. Hank Foley simply doesn't know a lot of people in athletics and hasn't ever had to hire an AD. He's leaning on Todd Turner's firm heavily. Whether that is good or bad, who knows? What it means, though, is that Missouri ties are pretty much a non-factor. I'd be shocked if they don't hire someone who, when we look at it, has been placed somewhere by Todd Turner's firm before.
*On Ehren Earleywine, a resolution (finally) is expected this week. He's been cleared of Title IX violations. I've been pretty vocal that if that's the case, I have no idea why there hasn't been a statement from Missouri that he's coming back already. I mean, if he didn't do what he's being investigated for, what's the hold up? But this is Missouri. Multiple outlets (I saw it on ABC17 last night) have reported that Earleywine is supposed to meet with Foley and current Interim AD Sarah Reesman this week. Not sure when. I'd assume a resolution will come after this meeting.
As I posted on Friday, Mack Rhoades will not have any official input into whether Earleywine is retained or not. But he has been consulted on the matter according to multiple sources.
I'd be shocked if Earleywine didn't return. But Missouri has shocked me before.
UPDATED AT 2:17 PM
While I stared at a color wheel for a couple of hours, I wrote this up to catch you guys up on what happened this morning.
First off, Missouri has a new Athletic Director. Credit to Bill Pollock of Missouri Net for breaking the news, which I confirmed a few minutes later.
I can confirm Mizzou met with a few other candidates. It seems Jon Sundvold, based on what I've been told, would have been interested, but it became apparent pretty early on that Hank Foley wanted to go with a sitting AD. That's what he did.
***Pete and I have talked to a lot of the new guys in the last couple of days. Cale Garrett, Damage Crockett, Greg Taylor, TreVour Simms, Trystan Castillo, Dimitrois Mason, Tucker McCann and Tre Williams are going to play. I’m virtually certain of that. I would assume that Kyle Mitchell and Nate Strong will as well. I think there’s a chance Christian Holmes does. That tells me two things:
*This class is viewed by the coaches as much better than Rivals thinks it is
*The new staff doesn’t think it inherited a roster that is in great shape. That’s putting it kindly.
***The Rivals100 for 2018 is out. Trevor Trout (22), Kamryn Babb (78) and Michael Thompson (92) are in it. I don’t have time right now to go back and look, but I can’t remember a time the state of Missouri had three players in the top 100 at any point in time. To say the Class of 2018 could be large for Missouri is a large understatement.
Here's our notebook from Monday's morning player availability
UPDATED 7:12 PM
Some more links:
Pete's practice notes
Another freshman to watch
Curators to meet Tuesday
Ehren Earleywine had a meeting, but no answer
Post-Practice Periscope Interviews
Jim Sterk to Mizzou confirmed by San Diego State
Sorry for just linking everything, but it's been a crazy day. Still getting stuff done from practice, trying to get everything in one place here. Hope we did a decent job keeping you guys up to date. My head is spinning a little bit.
We will update this post throughout the day as things happen.
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