Number 18 Missouri fell to Number 7 Texas Saturday night, a tough 34-20 loss that saw the Tigers lead three times before late-game scores and some truly “curious” refereeing decisions flipped the script. And head coach Eli Drinkwitz had *thoughts* on those whistles, even if he couldn’t actually say them.
Drinkwitz’s Post-Game Silence Speaks Volumes
You know the drill. A coach gets smoked, the refs make some calls that leave you scratching your head, and then it’s press conference time. Drinkwitz, facing the music after a competitive game slipped away, opted for the high road. When asked about the officiating, he absolutely held back, barely containing what he *really* wanted to unload.
“If I say what I want to say, I’m going to get fined until I don’t have any retirement,” Drinkwitz declared. Ouch. Talk about a statement that screams frustration without actually saying it. He quickly added, “I’m not going to blame the officials. That would be disrespectful to Coach Sarkisian & his team.” That respect for Sarkisian, a veteran coach who caught Drinkwitz’s eye back when he was coaching at Washington and USC, is clear. But make no mistake, his words definitely insinuate that Drinkwitz was far from satisfied with what he saw on the field from the officiating crew.
Those ‘Curious’ Calls That Swung the Game
This clash between the Tigers and Longhorns was tight for a long time, but a couple of late Texas touchdowns, alongside some highly unconvincing refereeing, really cranked up the tension. And not in a good way for Missouri fans.
It wasn’t all bad for Missouri, though. They actually caught a break early when what looked like a fumble deep in their own territory got overturned due to forward progress. But the football gods giveth, and the football gods taketh away. Later on, Missouri was on the wrong end of the whistle when an apparent Arch Manning incompletion was bizarrely ruled a fumble on third down. Texas scooped it up, got past the sticks, and kept their drive alive, pushing deeper into Missouri territory. They ended up scoring on that possession, tying the game at 20 points apiece and totally setting the stage for their fourth-quarter outburst that sealed Missouri’s fate.
It was a brutal way to see a competitive game slip away, fueled by calls that left everyone scratching their heads. Drinkwitz kept his cool, but you know he’s already fired up, hoping the officiating crew gets things right next time out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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