ELIGIBLE? Sterling Webb, Mark Mitchell STILL In Doubt

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With just two days until kickoff, Stirling Web, expected back in court tomorrow, plus the latest on Mark Mitchell, let's get into it.

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Hey, all you true sons and daughters. I'm John Miller your Mizzou Mafio. So and the central scrutinizer of Missouri Tigers football and basketball and today's episode is brought to you by Calche for a limited time.

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We get to some sound bites from what I believe couple of the most popular guys on the Mizzou football team, at least in the locker room to be sure we're talking dirty, Dominic Judice at the center position, also the plate skicker Blake Craig as well.

I'm going to talk a bunch of hoops on this episode as well, including what the rotation looks like with Mitchell, what should Missouri's goals be for this season with Mark Mitchell evidently in the fold, but you know what we're going to talk unfortunately about some more illegal wranglings here when it comes to college sports and first of all, Stirling Web schedule to appear here, reportedly on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in St. Louis County.

To talk about the NCAA's motion to dismiss the case involving the temporary restraining order for Stirling Web Web has currently been eligible has been practicing with Mizzou and was listed on the two deep on the second string with the interior defensive lineman here in the past few days or so.

So of course to Eli Drinkwitz point here on Saturday, my God, we're two days from kickoff and we're still having these questions.

Frankly, I don't know what to think at this point. I'm no lawyer, no legal expert whatsoever. And frankly, I'm just exhausted by all of this. Just let me know who's going to play and we'll just we'll figure it out from there.

That would be my deep desire and wish before the rest of this season. And when it comes to Mitchell, by the way, my assumption is that Missouri is going to be aggressive in terms of pushing the rules. That's why they got Stirling Web in the first place, right? Well, but not to the point of them running a foul of the SEC.

That was something I thought that was a pretty clear line in the sand, but well, most of the institutions wouldn't cross maybe the LSU football program is another story. That's a story for another podcast perhaps, but my point is I'm sure I'm absolutely certain that Missouri, the Missouri basketball ran the Mark Mitchell thing by SEC, the SEC front office by Greg Sankey, whoever it might be.

So I don't think that the SEC has any problem with Mark Mitchell being eligible to Mizzou. Now the question is, will Mitchell's original ruling the Colorado ruling as it's called and everything else, whatever legally needs to take place and not take place here.

That question does remain. I think the SEC question is off the table. That's a safe assumption, but how seriously we should take the NCAA and most importantly, the challenges, the legal system is is any of this going to hold up. I've got to think Missouri, at least to well, they do have their own lawyers and legal experts. I've got to think they're pretty confident. Otherwise, why waste all this time and effort getting Mitchell back into the fold. And by the way,

I know so a lot of Kentucky fans who are of course, well, a little bit of sour grapes at the moment are going, oh, well, they just had to force Mark Mitchell to play at Missouri, that type of deal.

If that's the way you want to look at it, hey, whatever helps you sleep at night, the reason Mark Mitchell wanted to play for Kentucky was, you know, they were offering him amount of money that he couldn't turn down and I wouldn't blame him for turning it down. The problem is, the SEC rules that Kentucky and every single member institution agreed to

does not allow him to transfer. So again, I would understand the frustration if I were a Kentucky fan at the same time, all of us, including Missouri with Sterling Web and to a, and of course with Mark Mitchell as well, trying to bring these guys back who from the beginning were told, no, the class of 22 high school classes not going to be grandfathered in.

If you played four years of college basketball already, you're finished. Sorry, that's how the rule was going to happen. And to be honest, I never cared one way or the other. I just can't believe that we're in this weird purgatory where the NCAA decided the rule and yet somehow we're still going through all these bizarre legal wrangling to try to make this stuff happen bottom line here is despite my, my exhaustion with the legal process here.

I'm guessing we're still going to see Sterling Web suit up on Thursday. I'm guessing we'll still see Mark Mitchell is suit up for the for the entire basketball season for the Tigers, but I certainly can't say that with 100% certainty and a big, but that was a big part of why I was hesitant on on Mark Mitchell and had sort of mixed feelings about all of this, but ultimately there's no doubt that this raises Missouri's ceiling.

So what should the goals be for this season? To me, forget about the NCAA tournament, at least for now. It's more about the actual season itself to me. And here's an example all use back in 2002, the 0102 season when Missouri barely made the field of 64 was a 12 seed.

It was one of the most disappointing teams in Mizzou basketball history for the entire season until they made March and went on a run, one three games in a row and made the elite eight. So a three game winning streak has people remember that season in a much different fashion than they otherwise would have.

My point here is if Missouri wins 18 or 19 games sneaks into the field, maybe it's even in the play in game, wins four in a row and makes the elite eight. We're going to be happy with that season because I certainly would not be now I'd be happy and thrilled and excited about the run and March.

That just like an 0 too, that was an absolutely thrilling thing to experience in a highlight of mine as a Missouri fan. The regular season, however, was basically four months of torture. I would rather much like I would very much not like to experience that particular bit of torture again.

So to me, I think Missouri needs to be at least a double by team. They need to be in the top four of the SEC next season. I think their goals should be to win the league quite frankly with the talent that they've amassed shoot for the moon. Let's try to win the SEC. That should be this team's goal. But I think really at the very least to consider it a successful season considering all Missouri has put in to this particular season.

I think it's top four bus. That's the way I'm looking at it. And by the way, just to just to, you know, circle back to that Kentucky point about their fans who are obviously upset right now. Some of them are saying, well, great. Now you're going to have to kick somebody off the roster as well. Well, according to Calum, Mick Andrew of the Columbia Tribune, a source confirmed to him that

Missouri will not need to cut anyone to make room for Mark Mitchell and has several people had assumed it sure seems like this is going to be the designated student athlete rule from the settlement. One player on the roster is going to get that designation. I suppose it would be honor boating if I had to guess that would make a lot of sense considering his current injury status.

But that's just a gas on my part. And frankly, this whole thing of oh, the designated student athlete rule. What? I'll be honest, I was completely number one ignorant of this and also number two. I thought they were all student athletes. What happened to that?

And you know, let's talk some more football on the program. It is opening game week after also let's hear from dirty, dumb and Blake Craig coming up on the program here in just a minute. Plus let's compare well, the impact of sterling web and Mark Mitchell, that type of deal plus some more basketball coming up on the program here in just a little bit. But first, let me tell you, before the season even kicks off. Of course, everyone's making predictions.

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So Dominic Judah, the Missouri starting center, formerly of the Michigan Wolverines narrowly missed playing with Chip Lindsey as his offensive coordinator last season with the Wolverines well as fate would have it.

Judeo, and Chip Lindsey, of course, going to be together this season and Judeo, has really become just a major part of this team, just immediately last season was not the Missouri center, but and this is no real shade to Connor,

Tylerson who I thought was, you know, as as much of a true son as you could possibly be trying to come off of what was a serious knee injury late in the 2000 and 24 season for him to gut it out and try the best he could last season.

I think he would have been much better this season, but the reality is I think having dirty DOM in the center position this year is going to be a real boon for this offensive line.

And I think this offensive line has a chance to be really, really good. Of course, assuming Kaden Green is healthy for the foreseeable future. Hey, let's just hope that Kaden Green is out there for week two against Kansas.

If he is, then we don't really have anything to discuss, but when it comes to actually discussing this Missouri offensive line, I just thought it was interesting that, you know, that position in particular.

You've got to be as together, I think, though that group of five, it's almost like a basketball team. You can't have any any weak links in the chain. So let's hear dirty DOM on this offensive line in that particular topic.

Really the biggest thing is just a communication. You know, obviously techniques and things like that is something that you can always fine tune. But the communication is the biggest, biggest piece because if you're not all fine with the same page, I mean, we've seen, we go over film and there's place where four guys are going to do the right thing, but if one guy is out of line, the whole place boss itself, we have all five guys doing the same thing on the same page.

That's really the biggest thing we need to take the next step as offensive line and we're really working towards that.

You know, I think two after really years and years that felt like for, I don't know, maybe until the last five years or so, let's say until the 2020s at some point, it felt like the, there was a shift for a long time.

It felt like offense was just advancing ahead of defense, but it's really felt like the last few years that defenses have had, have had some, some counters to what offenses are trying to do. For example, well, Missouri famously was more

of the first teams that like to spread the ball out, go empty formation on the regular and to a real great effect. But one thing though, when you go empty, of course, there's trade offs to everything and football just like in life, when you go empty, you put your offensive lineman on an island. So I think defensive coordinators have gotten better and more creative at how to target those weak spots on the offensive line, whether it's a tackle inside center,

whatever it might be. So there is that to be sure. So just the fact that to that point, I think it's more important for offensive lineman to be on the same page, know what they're doing and to communicate that has ever been before and well, obviously, they emphasize as the importance of one brand and Jones. And of course, we saw the importance of a place kicker last season.

I was actually downplaying in the previous offseason, the transition from actually a couple off seasons ago, the transition before 2024 when Missouri, of course, lost Harrison Mevis, then got Blake Craig the next season. I was saying, well, let's not overanalyze this kicker is important, but it's not that important. And I think overall, that was a pretty good take.

Blake Craig filled in admirably for Harrison Mevis, he was maybe not as good as Mevis fair enough, but did that cost us any games in 2024. I don't believe it did. But on the other hand, if you don't have a replacement level kicker to replace your starting kicker, we're in deep trouble. We learned that last season. So it's going to be great to see Blake Craig back this season. And he was asked, hey, how are you going to feel for those for that first game? How about the nerves?

I like to call that feeling you get, I like to turn into excitement. So that way you're not sitting there thinking about everything, your shaking and nervous. It's just like, no, this is your body's response to me excited.

Pressures of privilege. So like going out there, that's my mindset is like, it's a privilege to be out there. And then, you know, just stay focused and focus on my processes home. I stay locked in with both of them right simply.

I just think that's a great attitude by Craig to just embrace it, embrace the emotions, the nerves and everything else because I from my experience, that truly is part of the fun. Even on much lower stakes, of course, than what Blake Craig will be facing this fall.

But even if you're over a five foot putt for five dollars or something like that with your buddies, you know, sometimes you can feel a little bit of nerves in your forearms and your fingers and all that kind of stuff. But then when you actually make the putt, just makes it feel all that much better. I think that's a great attitude from Blake Craig and also there's a little bit more on his preparation, something else I could also relate to a bit.

I like I keep everything at home very clean and I'm a little bit OCD. So that kind of helps me, you know, clear my mind. Just know there's not outside distractions, you know, just staying focused on what needs to get done. Everything's a process like I said, that's been a big focus for me this fall.

I've probably just talked about it a ton, like even with like coming in for a film inside, okay, what time are you going to come in for a film? So everything like that in my life, I've kind of detailed out, I started making my bed in the morning, you know, just little things that just stack, you know, and then it gets your mind in the right place. And then that helps you on and off the field, be consistent.

Little things that stack, what a great perspective for a young man, a young married man, by the way, is Blake Craig. So perhaps he is more, he is mature beyond his relatively young years at this point. I got to say when I was his age, I almost never made my bed as a single man. What's the point?

I'm just going to get into it at night, right? And just sleep again, mess up the covers once again. But as I got older and a little bit wiser, I realized, you know what, Blake Craig is right. I'm not exactly a military type of guy, but the military got something right. Well, you should make your bed every single day. It's just a good way to, for whatever reason, mentally, like Craig was saying, hey, just kind of gets you in the right frame of mind. I do think there's something to that is counterintuitive as that may seem.

And much has been made this off season about what Missouri's former special team coach Eric Link departing this off season now John Papuchus from Florida state is in the fold along with some new coaches as well. Here was Blake Craig on their change in the locker room.

I'll tell you what what they brought is just a whole new energy and a level of focus that we haven't had before. It's definitely a more competitive room. And I think coach Papuchus said at that time, not JP. That's pretty good.

But he pushes that competitive environment, you know, and pushes us to keep better every day and more consistent. And I think that that's just the best thing possible. You know, when you have talented guys all in one room, it only makes you better. You know, if you don't have any competition, you know, you kind of stay where you're at. So I really enjoy having guys like Bruno, Mark, all those guys and then the coaches are less than same.

And of course, Blake Craig talking about Bruno Royce from Florida state via Brazil as well, who will be Missouri's new punter also crags holder on place kicking and also the designated kickoff guy as well. So a big job, big three jobs for the newcomer Bruno Royce this season.

Coming up here on the program, going to talk some more basketball. Let's talk about that rotation with Mark Mitchell. What's the version of Mark will need. Let's get into all that here in just a minute. First though, yes, it's time to talk about game time because there are more live events than ever worth seeing right now.

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Well, it's safe to assume that Mark Mitchell will be a starter next season for Missouri, but I also think it's safe to say we're going to see a little bit different version of Mark Mitchell and I'll just say this the four spot, the power forward spot ostensibly that is sort of what is a little bit of a question mark. I would say who was going to start there. I think the strong assumption of course Jason Crow Jr. going to start Bryce and Tiller.

Trent Pierce a returning starter and the two spot maybe Hey, Jameer Jones or or the Orkinard Davis, the BYU transfer former Vashon St. Louis guard. I think either one of those guys could start either one of them. They're both going to play a lot. That's pretty clear. So that part is less intriguing. The four spot though, that is pretty intriguing, especially now with Mark Mitchell in the fold. I got to say the Tennessee and the

Vanderbilt former player Jalen Kerry. He's the type of guy who's got to be wondering about his playing time the most maybe Tony Bryant, the other McDonald's all American freshman on this roster as well. There is a bit of a log jam now at that power forward slash four position, though certainly Bryant in particular could moonlight as a small ball five at times and Mitchell can as well. But I think especially maybe Bryant has more upside is

a certainly is a rim protector than Mitchell has ever shown, but the biggest question on this roster to me still is do the Tigers have enough shooting around Jason Crow. I think they have enough size, they've enough athleticism and they have enough

malleability for the most part as well. And by the way, the word on the street is the Tigers might still be looking to add another player, but who knows if the latest legal wrangling could slow their roll down a little bit. Everything is sort of up in the air at this point.

And speaking of things that are up in the air, what type of version of Mark Mitchell are we going to get what time per version do we need. In my opinion, well his half court offense is low post

offense. Well, that should still be an option, but certainly not your one a or even one B option, at least not anymore. If it is something has gone terribly wrong with this team in my opinion, it should be more of a bailout option when you need it sort

of a hey, late shot clock thing that type of deal. By the way, Mitchell is officially enrolled at Mizzou for people wondering, hey, just how official this is. It's officially happening. We just still are not 100% sure he's going to be eligible for the entire season. I bet on it, but gosh, I wouldn't bet a whole lot. That's for sure. I've got a lot more confidence on some other futures in my in my queue. Let's put it that way. And once again, on the 15 player limit.

Someone on this roster is likely the designated student athlete, whatever the heck, whatever the heck, but that means beyond just well, they don't count on the roster. So no, there's nobody on this roster. Who is going to be cut. But regardless, again, obviously as you can tell, I'm a little bit exhausted for all these legal wrangling.

But hey, in so far as they affect Missouri basketball and football, we got to know them. That's for darn sure. But if you want to figure out what's actually going to happen here, you want some real strong predictions of it. Well, I don't know, find a law firm. That would be my advice because that is not my particular bit of expertise. But you know what, thanks for joining me here on the podcast because my particular bit of expertise happens to be Mizzou football and basketball. So we're going to get some real football coming up.

Can't absolutely cannot wait for it. Can't wait for you all to see the new North in zone on Thursday. And until tomorrow, I'm John Miller. Thanks for listening to Locked on Mizzou.