Hochman: How new Mizzou QB Beau Pribula 'oozes' character like Brady Cook
Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula (9) celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter of a game against Washington on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in State College, Pa.
Barry Reeger, Associated Press
After practice, they’d practice.
Just the quarterbacks and receivers. Throwing sessions. Informal but important.
But one Pennsylvania day, the team practice was particularly punishing. So a receiver headed home.
“So Beau jumped in his car,” said Central York High coach Gerry Yonchiuk of his quarterback then, Beau Pribula. “And he went and got him — got his butt back there.”
Wait. Pribula didn’t just call the guy and ask him to come back? He literally went and got him?
“And Beau was a junior, and (the receiver) was a senior,” Yonchiuk said. “We’d had a good workout. Everybody was exhausted. But Beau is like: ‘No, we’re all in this together, man. We want to stay championship.’ He told everybody: ‘Don’t you leave.’ Drove to the kid’s house, 15 minutes from school, picked him up, came back and they got the throwing session in.
“And I thought: Oh, man. That’s leadership, you know?”
Look, Kelly Bryant was supposed to be great, too. Missouri has lured talented quarterbacks before — and not all have turned out like Chase Daniel. But it sure sounds like Pribula, who is transferring from Penn State with two years of eligibility left, has the character of another Mizzou signal-caller — current QB Brady Cook.
At quarterback, character matters. It helped Cook become a local legend. Brad Smith had it. Drew Lock had it. And Pribula checks all the boxes.
This is all quite exciting.Even if the Cardinals actually were looking to spend, this still might be our area’s biggest free agent of the winter.
Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz out-hustled, out-wooed and, likely, outbid other coaches from big schools. Drink got his guy (OK, sure, Drink probably wanted Miller Moss more, but after Moss chose Louisville, Drink then got his next guy).
“Your fan base is going to fall in love with him because he’s just unique,” Yonchiuk said of Pribula, who was the first three-year team captain in Central York High history. “This was my 41st year at coaching — he was, by far, the most dynamic (player) from every angle. ... I think that’s a blessing for Missouri and for Beau, the way it worked out. Because yeah, he is the most ultimate leader I’ve ever, ever come across.”
Incidentally, Pribula did indeed lead his high school to the state championship game (but lost). And Pribula could be part of a national championship team this season — with an asterisk, of course.
This is one of the crazier situations I’ve ever heard of in college football. The Pennsylvania kid was the backup QB for Penn State this season. He played in 12 games — often as a change-of-pace quarterback during the course of the game (and not just garbage time). And against Wisconsin, Penn State actually trailed at halftime, 10-7. Furthermore, star starter Drew Allar got hurt, so Pribula took over in the second half — and Penn State won on the road, 28-13.
Penn State graduate assistant Danny O’Brien, right, talks with quarterback Beau Pribula during a game against Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Barry Reeger, Associated Press
Sure enough, the Nittany Lions made the College Football Playoff — which overlapped with a transfer period. If Pribula wanted to be a starting college quarterback in 2025, he’d need to transfer.
And so he didn’t play in Penn State’s first CFP game (which was a win). And now he’s a Missouri Tiger, while the Nittany Lions next play on New Year’s Eve vs. Boise State in the CFP quarterfinals.
College football needs to — must! — figure out a better plan so the Pribulas of future seasons aren’t forced to make this type of decision.
Yonchiuk said Pribula called him the night before to tell his high school coach the news — he was headed to Missouri. And on the phone Monday with the Post-Dispatch, the proud coach shared numerous stories about Pribula’s character and ability.
There was the time during a film session that the QB got up and snatched the phone from a unfocused teammate’s hand. There was the impressive 335-pound power clean in the weight room. And there was this one, which reminded me of the character of another Mizzou legend — running back Cody Schrader, who once missed a practice, so he practiced by himself that night, alone in the cold, to go over all of the plays and running routes.
“Even the first year when he wasn’t playing at Penn State,” Yonchiuk said, “he would be in after spring ball for an hour in the facility. He’d go through every pass play, play action, drop. He would go back through it so he was up to speed — and that was with no one watching. Like, those are things that you just can’t teach. You can’t force him to do it. He totally has that ‘it’ factor.”
Really, I learned everything I needed to know about Pribula in two social media posts.
After he announced he was transferring from Penn State, two NFL players shared their thoughts on Pribula.
The Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, an NFL All-Pro linebacker, posted on X, formerly Twitter, to his 550,000 followers: “Wish you the very best lil bro! You did it right! Got your degree and was true class act! Good luck!”
And as posted by the Packers’ Sean Clifford, a former Penn State quarterback: “Cannot emphasize how much love I got for this dude. A winner, competitor, leader, and great teammate. Whatever program picks him up is lucky. Go be great!”
I mean, how many backup college quarterbacks get public praise from NFL alumni of the school they’re leaving?
On the phone Monday, Yonchiuk said he didn’t know much about Cook, who will make his final college start next week in the Music City Bowl against Iowa. I told him about Cook’s character. How his teammates adore him. How he returned from the hospital in the middle of a game to come back and beat Auburn.
“What you’re (describing),” Yonchiuk said, “you’re getting that type of guy because that’s the character Beau oozes. Just like Cook.”
Mizzou signed transfer portal quarterback Beau Pribula. Now what?
COLUMBIA, Mo. — A dozen players have transferred to Missouri since the transfer portal opened two weeks ago, a mad dash of personnel acquisition that will greatly influence what the Tigers look like when they take the field in 2025.
That process took a major step forward Sunday night when former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula signed with MU to wrap up the program’s highest-profile player pursuit of the portal cycle.
Yet portal season isn’t over.
Mizzou still has room to add several more transfers who would fill remaining positions of need, even if some of the most pressing holes are now filled.
That seems to be the bottom line of MU coach Eli Drinkwitz’s efforts in the portal this time around. He’s replacing a lot of starters and production, particularly on offense. The portal is a big part of that replacement effort.
But it isn’t everything, as surefire starters are hard to find in the transfer portal. There are some, sure, but established starters don’t walk away from their roles in search of greener pastures very often.
Hence why looking through Missouri’s list of incoming transfers seems indication an injection of competition into the depth chart more than layering players on top of it.
“The thing that I’ve learned in this portal is that it’s not my job to give anybody starting positions,” Drinkwitz said last week. “My job is to create competition and let everybody work to be the best version of themselves — and those guys will earn their roles. ... My job is just to give guys opportunities. It’s their job to take advantage of it.”
Maybe that’s just semantics at a position like quarterback, but it’s a framing that will almost certainly stick around through spring practice and potentially preseason camp.
Pribula left Penn State after serving as its backup and change-of-pace quarterback when starter Drew Allar decided to come back for another season. Pribula had a role that was netting him some on-field action, but he clearly wanted to be a starter.
It would be surprising, then, if he picked Mizzou out of the portal with the expectation that the 2025 quarterback competition would start without him on pole position. In a race that will boil down to Pribula versus the field, he ought to begin with a lead over the likes of Sam Horn, Drew Pyne and Matt Zollers — even if it isn’t externally presented that way.
Louisiana Monroe running back Ahmad Hardy (22) carries the ball during the second half of a game against Auburn on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.
Butch Dill, Associated Press
But elsewhere on the roster, paths to fairly open competitions in 2025 seem to be falling into place. In case you’ve (understandably) lost track of the Tigers’ incoming transfers beyond Pribula, they’ve signed:
Hardy could get a lot of work in the backfield but will be contending with Jamal Roberts and two promising incoming freshmen. Coleman has the talent to be MU’s leading receiver, but there are young wideouts who haven’t had a chance to shine and could pop in 2025.
Trost and Giudice will be part of an offensive line overhaul that could probably use one more piece out of the transfer portal — maybe West Virginia tackle Johnny Williams IV, who posted on social media that he was visiting Columbia over the weekend?
Johnson joins a group of edge rushers that remains deep and competitive despite losing two prospects to the portal. Missouri could look to add a defensive tackle still, too.
Gbayor and Trotter are big acquisitions for a linebacker group that will see three veterans depart due to expired eligibility, and Banner and Phillips will enter a similar situation at safety.
What remains to be seen is whether the Tigers are after cornerback depth that would challenge the trio who struggled at times playing that position in 2024.
Weselman is on track to be the only punter on the roster in 2025, though he might not be the only specialist brought in this cycle. MU has looked at kicker options to create competition with returning starter Blake Craig.
At positions like wide receiver, along the offensive line and defensive line, younger players who have been in rotational or reserve roles over the past year or two will also be counted on to enter the fray and perform.
“For us, building a roster to be competitive in this league, you have to have competitive depth,” Drinkwitz said. “And then you got to allow young guys to grow into their opportunity.”
Regardless of who Mizzou still adds during this cycle and how the depth chart permutations stand now, the reality of modern college football also makes clear that there could still be roster tweaks when the transfer portal opens again in a few months’ time.
“Our job is to build the best team that we can so that when we start spring practice in March, we have the best team possible,” Drinkwitz said, “knowing that in April there’s another ‘free-agency’ period and your team could look drastically different.”
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri got its transfer portal quarterback.
Former Penn State signal-caller Beau Pribula committed to Mizzou on Sunday, checking off the Tigers’ highest-profile position of need this offseason.
With three-year starter Brady Cook out of eligibility and the list of quarterbacks carrying over to 2025 evidently not inspiring much confidence within the MU coaching staff, Pribula will enter the quarterbacking fray with a significant chance of spearheading the Tigers’ offense next season.
He spent two seasons at Penn State and saw the field regularly this year despite being parked behind Drew Allar on the Nittany Lions’ depth chart. Pribula operated as something of a change-of-pace, running-focused quarterback during that span.
He has 571 career rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground to his name. What’s less established on film is Pribula’s throwing ability: He’s thrown 56 career passes, completing 66.1% with 424 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception.
Pribula entered the transfer portal despite having a contributing role for Penn State, which advanced to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals over the weekend.
Mizzou will now have Pribula, Drew Pyne, Sam Horn and incoming freshman Matt Zollers as its contenders for the starting quarterback role in 2025. Pyne was the backup this season and started one game that Cook missed due to injury. Horn was No. 2 on the depth chart in 2023 but missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Zollers is a promising recruit but faces an uphill battle to playing time given the experience ahead of him.
Mizzou also acquired a punter from the transfer portal on Sunday, picking up a commitment from Stanford's Connor Weselman. He lost the Cardinal's starting job in 2024 but averaged more than 40 yards per punt in 2023.
BenFred: Best Braggin’ Rights game in years bodes well for both Illinois and Mizzou
Missouri guard Tamar Bates is defended by Illinois guard Tre White in the second half of the Braggin’ Rights rivalry game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
After last season’s Illinois avalanche (Illini by 24) and the preceding season’s Missouri massacre (Tigers by 22), Braggin’ Rights got back to where both sides of this rivalry can agree it belongs.
“It was a March game,” coach Dennis Gates said after he watched Brad Underwood’s Illini down his Tigers 80-77 at Enterprise Center. “Great NCAA Tournament atmosphere. That’s what it looked like to me.”
“The last two years have been pretty ugly basketball games for the fans,” Underwood said. “I think we gave them a pretty good show today.”
The assessment of both coaches was correct Sunday, and for two still-growing teams that look capable of later playing into college basketball’s sweetest month, there will be much to learn from a holiday thriller that gifted fans the closest Braggin’ Rights game since Mizzou’s 81-78 win in 2020. And that game, remember, didn’t happen in St. Louis. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed it to Mizzou Arena, making Sunday’s nail-biter the closest Braggin’ Rights game played at Enterprise Center since a 62-59 win by Illinois in 2014 that was secured by a last-second Rayvonte Rice 3-pointer.
Point is, this one delivered.
First up, because they never, ever seem to get the attention they deserve after a win, let’s give them some overdue love here. Free throws won this one. They were Sunday’s most valuable points. Period.
Illinois spent most of the afternoon stirring memories of UC Irvine in February of 1981, when it made 34 of 34 free throws to set the NCAA record for charity-stripe percentage. The Illini made 22 of their 23 free-throw attempts and did not miss one until Arizona transfer guard Kylan Boswell rimmed out the game’s final one with eight seconds left to go while his team led by three. That lone miss could have proved costly as the Tigers grabbed the rebound and pushed down the court to hoist up a Jacob Crews hope.
“It was in and out,” Gates said.
It ended out, though, and a Braggin’ Rights game that crackled was over, hopefully while reminding everyone why those so-called free throws are so expensive.
OK, enough about the freebies. How about the new-look Illini?
Good luck, Big Ten.
Underwood was set to return just one starter from last season’s Elite Eight run — and then Ty Rodgers had to redshirt. And? Illinois looks more than ready to give the Big Ten problems again, in large part thanks to Kasparas Jakucionis, the 6-foot-6 Lithuanian freshman who poured in 21 points, none bigger than the final two, drilled on a fadeaway jumper with 28 seconds left to break the game’s final tie.
It was an NBA move that captured exactly why NBA scouts are drooling over college basketball’s highest-rated international import.
Jakucionis fumed after his guys just missed their chance to topple top-ranked Tennessee the last time out. He took it out on the Tigers.
“I didn’t feel any pressure whether there are two minutes left in the game or it’s the start of the game,” Jakucionis said.
Cold-blooded, indeed.
“Best point guard in nation without a doubt,” teammate Boswell said.
Maybe he’s right.
Mizzou, still without key player Caleb Grill, who warmed up without a neck brace but did not play, will spend part of its Christmas what-iffing 10 missed 3-pointers (on 13 tries) and 12 missed layups. Ouch.
But the Tigers did get their best game yet out of Duke transfer Mark Mitchell (18 points), who shot much better than he did in the Tigers’ takedown of top-ranked Kansas earlier this nonconference season. They also watched Iowa transfer guard Tony Perkins take flight with two eye-opening dunks that showed previously undercover bounce. More of that, please.
And I’d be OK, too, if Gates gets a few more technical fouls like he did in this one. Officials responded in Mizzou’s favor after he vented. More importantly, Gates’ players responded to his on-court intensity.
Eliminating the stand-around-and-watch in the half-court offense is going to be a must for Mizzou in conference play. So will rebounding like the Tigers did in the second half, after the Illini beat them badly on the boards in the first.
“The SEC has proven to be the best conference in the country so far,” Tigers guard Tamar Bates (17 points) said. “Being in these close games and having these lessons to look back on, we will know what we have to clean up.”
As for trying to match the Illini’s 94.1% free-throw percentage, well, the good news for Mizzou is not many teams are going to do that. But the ones who can will have an underappreciated weapon come March. Both of these teams can make it there.
Mizzou, Illinois trade Braggin’ Rights blows before Illini prevail in final minute
Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis, left, passes the ball as he is challenged by Missouri guard Trent Pierce in the second half of the Braggin’ Rights game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Braggin’ Rights brought a taste of spring to this year’s holiday dinner.
After two years of blowouts between Missouri and Illinois, Sunday’s nonconference rivalry game saw the Tigers and Illini trade blows until Mizzou’s last punches clanked off an Enterprise Center rim.
Neither team led by more than 10 points, and MU responded to that deficit with an 11-0 run to keep a tight game intact down the stretch.
There were hairs to split around free-throw shooting and the calls that led to them. But after Missouri (10-2) missed two 3-pointers in the final nine seconds of the game, Illinois (8-3) prevailed, holding on 80-77 for its second consecutive Braggin’ Rights victory.
The Illini have back-to-back wins in the rivalry played in St. Louis for the first time since games played in 2016 and 2017.
In its closing minutes, a contest played in late December displayed enough intensity to feel like something fit for the postseason.
“It was a March game,” Mizzou coach Dennis Gates said.
Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood speaks with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
“After the last two years that’ve been pretty ugly basketball games for the fans, I think we gave them a pretty good show today,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “That was two very good basketball teams.”
Point guard Kasparas Jakucionis led the Illini in scoring, as he has regularly this season. The Tigers threw a handful of different defenders at him — handsy guards and lanky wings at various times — but he still got to his spots, scoring 21 points while shooting 3 for 7 from 3-point range.
With just over two minutes left in the game and the score even, Jakucionis laced a side-step 3-pointer through the net for a vital lead. Then he got a fadeaway mid-range shot to roll in with 28 seconds to go for the game-winning bucket.
“I don’t feel any pressure — two minutes left in the game or it’s the start of the game,” Jakucionis said. “I’m just trying to make the plays for the team, make the right decision.”
A three-headed attack kept Mizzou in the mix despite spending five seconds short of half an hour playing from behind.
Point guard Tony Perkins matched his season high with 18 points, including a couple of statement dunks, and grabbed six rebounds. Forward Mark Mitchell also recorded 18 points and six boards.
He was a focal point of the MU offense, frequently driving from the perimeter into contact around the rim. That netted Mitchell a handful of free throws, but his charity stripe struggles led to him making only 6 of 12 free throws.
That was a differentiating factor. Mizzou made 28 free throws to Illinois’ 22, technically getting more points from the stripe, but the Tigers got there on 37 attempts while the Illini missed only one free throw — with eight seconds to go, giving the Tigers one final possession to try to tie.
And that was the differentiating factor: execution in the final minute.
After Kasparas’ fadeaway shot went in with 28 seconds to go, Missouri took the ball up the floor trailing 79-77 with the shot clock off but plenty of time to run its offense and generate a shot. That look wound up being a 3-pointer from the right wing for Mitchell, who hit a crunch-time 3 against Kansas a couple of weeks ago but is shooting 22% from beyond the arc this season.
Mitchell missed and the Tigers intentionally fouled to extend the game. Illinois’ Kylan Boswell, who’d made all 10 of his free throws to that point, went 1 for 2 at the line to give MU a chance at a tying 3-pointer.
The Tigers rebounded Boswell’s miss and took the ball up the court on a fast break. Forward Jacob Crews, one of the team’s better 3-point shooters, tried to slow his momentum enough to make a buzzer-beater from beyond the 3-point arc but missed that, too.
The Illinois men’s basketball team poses with the Braggin’ Rights trophy after defeating Missouri 80-77 in the rivalry game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Mizzou basketball coach Dennis Gates speaks with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
Gates could have called a timeout before that but didn’t like the idea of giving the Illini a chance to reset their defense and foul while leading by three points.
“We got a shot up, and you’re not going to get an open shot more than that,” he said.
Gates, coaching in his third Braggin’ Rights game, picked up a technical foul early in the second half for vociferously charging onto the court to yell at an official after a physical sequence sent Missouri’s Anthony Robinson II tumbling to the floor with no whistle.
Gates said entering the season he would take a technical foul if he felt that was necessary as a last resort to get the attention of officials who were missing too many calls.
Mizzou basketball coach Dennis Gates speaks with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
“I didn’t mean to get a tech, but I had to,” Gates said. “I had to get a tech. Our guys responded from that technical foul. Because if I did not get a technical foul on that, Lord knows what would have taken place the entire game.”
Guard Tamar Bates was Mizzou’s other top performer, scoring 17 points while stealing the ball three times. He was involved in a late-game sequence that summed up the Tigers’ second half.
With the game tied 72-72 and two minutes remaining, MU was backed down on defense but knocked free the ball. Multiple Missouri players dived after it, including Bates — though it looked as if his dive also was partly a tackle on the part of an Illinois player. There was no foul called, and officials said the ball went out of bounds off of Bates.
One half of the Enterprise Center booed the decision, but out of the brief stoppage, Jakucionis hit his side-step 3-pointer that put Illinois in front.
Mizzou was close and just needed another moment to go its way.
“We just couldn’t get that,” Gates said.
Analytics corner
Missouri entered Sunday’s game facing an uphill battle on the boards — Illinois is a solid rebounding team while that’s one of the Tigers’ weaknesses. Key to how the game would play out was whether Mizzou could get enough production off the turnovers it forced to negate the Illini’s advantage on rebounding.
Illinois scored 13 second-chance points to MU’s eight, with its advantage materializing as expected.
And Mizzou forced 17 turnovers while coughing up the ball only nine times itself, the kind of margin that would usually bode well for the Tigers. But they scored only 12 points off turnovers while Illinois managed 11 — not enough ground made up.
In total, the Illini scored 24 points off of offensive rebounds and turnovers while Missouri scored 20. The margin between those key metrics was four points in favor of Illinois, which won the game by three.
Twelve points from 17 turnovers is far less production than Mizzou usually gets from those situations, plays that are a core tenet of Gates’ system. So what kept the Tigers from taking care of business in transition?
“It’s not more complicated than we just didn’t convert,” Bates said. “It could be a combination of us not running hard enough or just not making the ball change sides of the floor when we were able to turn them over or not getting the paint touches — combination of a few things. But at the end of the day, we just didn’t convert.”
Photos: Illinois retains Braggin' Rights in 80-77 win over Mizzou
Illinois forward Will Riley leaps into the air and grasps for the ball in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in a game against the University of Missouri at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
The Illinois men’s basketball team poses with the Braggin’ Rights trophy after defeating Missouri 80-77 in the rivalry game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois fans celebrate after the Illini beat Missouri 80-77 in the annual Braggin' Rights game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis, left, passes the ball as he is challenged by Missouri guard Trent Pierce in the second half of the Braggin’ Rights game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Anthony Robinson II drives down the court as he his defended against Illinois guard Kylan Boswell in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois guard Kylan Boswell drives to the paint for a layup as he is fouled by Missouri guard Jacob Crews in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Tony Perkins dunks in the first half as he is defended by Illinois forward Ben Humrichous during the Braggin’ Rights rivalry game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois forward Ben Humrichous defends against Missouri guard Mark Mitchell as he looks to go towards the basket in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic attempts to block Missouri guard Tamar Bates' shot in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Tony Perkins puts back a rebound for a dunk in the second half against Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri's Trent Pierce, left, and Illinois' Ben Humrichous fall while battling for a loose ball in the second half of the Braggin' Rights game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri fans celebrate after guard Jacob Crews hit a three-pointer in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois forward Will Riley drives to the paint while being guarded by Missouri guard Tamar Bates in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Mark Mitchell celebrates after scoring in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois guard Tre White defends Missouri guard Anthony Robinson II as he cuts back in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Spectators look on as Missouri takes on Illinois in the Braggin' Rights game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois forward Ben Humrichous defends Missouri guard Trent Pierce in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois forward Morez Johnson Jr. lays flat on the floor after being fouled in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Trent Pierce attempts to dunk over Illinois forward Morez Johnson Jr. in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Tony Perkins has the ball stripped from him by Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Tamar Bates drives the ball towards the paint in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois' head coach Brad Underwood challenges the referee after a call went in Missouri's favor in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri's head coach Dennis Gates signals to his team in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri gathers at center court after Peyton Marshall, center, received a technical foul in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Tony Perkins clutches the ball as he is challenged by Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois forward Will Riley attempts a three-pointer in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri guard Tamar Bates is defended by Illinois guard Tre White in the second half of the Braggin’ Rights rivalry game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Illinois's head coach Brad Underwood celebrates after his team won the 44th annual Braggin' Rights game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Missouri gathers at center court after center Peyton Marshall, center right, received a technical foul in the first half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
The University of Illinois keeps their Braggin' Rights after defeating Mizzou 80-77 in the annual game on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Enterprise…
Videos: Hear what Mizzou, Illinois coaches, players said after Braggin' Rights
Illinois basketball guard Kasparas Jakucionis, center, and Kylan Boswell, left, speak with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood speaks with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
Mizzou basketball coach Dennis Gates speaks with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
Mizzou basketball guard Tamar Bates, left, speaks with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
Mizzou basketball coach Dennis Gates speaks with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood speaks with the media on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, after Illinois' Braggin' Rights win over Mizzou at Enterprise Center. (Video by Ethan Erickson, Post-Dispatch)
BenFred: This year’s Braggin’ Rights winner? It’s me.
With all due respect to Dennis Gates’ Tigers and Brad Underwood’s Illini, I already won braggin’ rights.
I’m forever thankful for where I’ve been and truly fired up about where I’m going.
This is a reflective spot to be in during the holiday season, so please forgive some schmaltz.
Sunday’s holiday college hoops staple between Mizzou and Illinois will be my last event covered as a Post-Dispatch sports columnist before I start a new career at BJC Health System as an editorial strategist.
I know what some of you are thinking.
What’s an editorial strategist?
I’m going to be writing, mostly. Helping shape stories on behalf of a world-class health system that has helped so many, including my family and many of your own. We have gotten to know BJC well during our time in St. Louis. I have been amazed and inspired by the work done there. Incredible stories happen daily, hourly. I’m excited to help share them and thankful a sports guy has been trusted to join the team that does.
I know what some of you are thinking.
Why?
Good question. It’s one I would ask.
Not burned out. Not sour on the industry. Not sick of the nights and weekends of the sports schedule, though I’d be lying if I said some more nights and weekends with friends and family will be nice.
What this boils down to is a lot of reflection and an opportunity that made me excited and nervous in the best of ways.
Most of my favorite stories told during my the time at the Post-Dispatch have, I realized, happened off the field.
Nine-year-old Brody Sedlacek blew me away with how he squared up against Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with the help of the Edwardsville hockey team. When trailing in games, players asked one another how Brody would respond. How cool is that?
Sadie and Kyle Finke are two of the strongest people I’ve ever covered. The Cardinals fan (Sadie) and Cubs fan (Kyle) raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for efforts to combat pediatric brain tumors after the loss of their daughter, Emma. Among their biggest fans? Anthony Rizzo.
When Jack Morris was 5, his dad got him a glow-in-the-dark toy boat. But for Jack, the boat didn’t glow. Hearing that story prompted a big sports name to become an MVP level contributor and fundraiser for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. It’s Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.
I plan to help find and tell more stories like this throughout a health care system that makes miracles happen. I know they’re there. Many of you do, too.
I know what some of you are thinking.
Aren’t you going to miss covering sports?
Of course.
The daily challenge of giving readers something to chew on, the deadline adrenaline, the camaraderie between the members of our sports department, which I’ll put up against any newspaper’s in terms of both talent and pound-for-pound production. I love the Post-Dispatch and its people, the diehard sports fans of St. Louis and the dedicated readers. I’m feeling so sappy today, I even love the people who holler at me about the website’s paywall.
What I won’t miss? Doesn’t matter. I took a swing at a dream and feel good about my at-bat. Time to start another game. The memories, they’re coming with me.
There never has been a silence so quiet as the one in Boston Garden after the Blues dropped the Bruins in Game 7. The hardest I’ve ever laughed in my life might have been with Benjamin Hochman, Tom Timmermann and Jim Thomas up there on that nosebleed press row. Well, maybe during one of those long, late-night spring training car rides with Derrick Goold and ‘Commish’ (Rick Hummel).
Hearing Albert Pujols barrel a pitch and Yadier Molina sizzle a throw to second base are other sounds you never forget. Tiger Woods and Simone Biles came to St. Louis on my watch and took my breath away. One of my proudest moments is hearing the lawyers representing the Rams and the NFL complain during the relocation lawsuit that my columns could impact jurors in favor of the St. Louis side.
Yes, we lost the NFL, but we bit back, and we got MLS. I’m glad the professional sports teams in town all have ownership groups that truly care about this region and its people. Never take that for granted, even during the down times.
I’m also thrilled for readers about Lynn Worthy becoming a columnist and Daniel Guerrero moving up on the Cardinals beat. Both have been key additions to sports editor Roger Hensley’s department. The last (and easiest) prediction I’ll make: They will crush in their new roles. I hope to in mine as well, and I head into it with nothing but gratitude for our time spent together.
