University of Missouri football coach Eliah Drinkwitz, on Tuesday afternoon, gave no indication as to who will be under center for the Tigers when Alabama visits Faurot Field for the season opener on Saturday, September 26th:
MU has four quarterbacks on the roster heading into the 2020 season, with most considering TCU transfer, redshirt junior Shawn Robinson, as the favorite to win the starting position at Mizzou. Robinson transferred in 2019 and had to sit out last season due to NCAA rules. In 2017 and 2018, Robinson played for Coach Gary Patterson and the Big 12’s Horned Frogs, including passing for more than 1300 yards in his sophomore campaign.
Others in the mix are redshirt junior Taylor Powell, a native of Fayetteville, Arkansas. In 12 games played at Mizzou, he has passed for 431 yards. Redshirt freshman Connor Bazelak, recently recovered from an ACL injury, and freshman Brady Cook, a product of Chaminade High School in St. Louis, are also under consideration.
In other SEC news, the University of Georgia has announced plans to host fans at football games in Sanford Stadium in Athens this fall. Approximately 18,000 to 23,000 fans will be allowed access, somewhere in the vicinity of 20 to 25 percent. With tickets being available in “blocks of four”, it is hoped that social distancing can be achieved.
At Texas A&M, plans of allowing up to 30 percent capacity at 100,000-plus seat Kyle Field have been introduced.
At the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium, plans are to introduce capacity at 20 percent to start the season, while at the University of Tennessee, the Volunteers, in collaboration with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, are anticipating 25 percent capacity at 100,000-plus seat Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Governor Lee had that information Tuesday morning on Fox Sports Radio’s Outkick with Clay Travis.
Auburn University, in east-central Alabama, announced on Wednesday morning plans for 20 percent capacity at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
At LSU, where Mizzou travels to play in the third week of the season, the Tigers have been dealing with a few positive COVID-19 cases, according to coach Ed Orgeron. During a news conference on Tuesday, Orgeron confirmed “two to three guys out” of practice at LSU due to positives. He did not confirm which players had tested positive. Citing confidence in the school’s response to the virus, Orgeron praised Senior Associate Athletic Diretor of Health and Wellness Shelly Mullenix, saying she is “doing a tremendous job”. LSU has had two players opt out due to COVID-19 concerns, in senior cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. and senior defensive end Neil Farrell Jr.
