Story perspectives

Drinkwitz Calls on Companies to Boost Missouri Football

11/19/2025

Summary

Story summary

Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri Tigers football head coach, urged Fortune 500 companies to boost the program in the SEC.
He noted Missouri has strides in name, image and likeness (NIL) funding but trails larger programs.
Drinkwitz says his focus includes greater athletic department investment to help build a championship-caliber team, despite ongoing speculation about his future.
He urged local businesses to support student-athletes, saying, "We need their support."

History

Historical Context

The NCAA's name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy, implemented on July 1, 2021, marked a significant shift in college athletics, allowing student-athletes to profit from endorsements. This change followed years of legal challenges, including the 2021 Supreme Court ruling in NCAA v. Alston, which deemed the NCAA's compensation restrictions unlawful. The NIL policy has since transformed the financial landscape of college sports, particularly in competitive conferences like the SEC.

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Story summary

Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri Tigers football head coach, urged Fortune 500 companies to boost the program in the SEC.
He noted Missouri has strides in name, image and likeness (NIL) funding but trails larger programs.
Drinkwitz says his focus includes greater athletic department investment to help build a championship-caliber team, despite ongoing speculation about his future.
He urged local businesses to support student-athletes, saying, "We need their support."

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