Eli Drinkwitz, Mizzou Prepared to Renew 'Intense' Rivalry With Kansas

Drinkwitz and company seem more than ready to compete and embrace in an age-old rivalry game against the Kansas Jayhawks.

November 26, 2011; Kansas City, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Kendial Lawrence (4) catches a pass as Kansas Jayhawks cornerback Anthony Davis (30) defends in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Missouri won 24-10.Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Not much needs to be said about the excitement of the Missouri Tigers fanbase for Sept. 6.

That, of course, is the Saturday the Kansas Jayhawks will roll into Columbia, playing in a rivalry matchup that hasn't touched turf since 2011.

Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz is also excited for the renewed rivalry game. It's a game with deep roots and history dating back to the 1800s, so it's one Missouri absolutely should be excited for.

Drinkwitz also made a clear point at SEC Media Days July 17 that though there is some mutual respect between the two squads, it is still a rivalry and there isn't any love lost, at least from Missouri's perspective.

"This thing goes back to the Civil War," Drinkwitz said on SEC This Morning. "People died in this rivalry. So it's intense and we don't like each other."

Drinkwitz even went as far as to give a little history lesson for those curious. The football is an important part of this rivalry, but there is no denying the historical ties between the two states.

"The origins of our football name, the Tigers, is based off the militia that was formed to protect Columbia from people from Kansas and the Kansas area," Drinkwitz said. "So this is something that goes back a long way."

The game hasn't been played in 14 years since the Tigers were still members of the Big 12. Plenty has changed since then for both programs, which should lead to plenty of excitement.

The Tigers lead the series 57-54, with nine ties mixed in. Missouri won five of the last six matchups, with the lone loss coming in 2008 with a 40-37 result.

Nov 29, 2008; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks players hoist the Lamar Hunt trophy after the Jayhawks defeat the Missouri Tigers 40-37 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Getting the team to buy into this rivalry may have seemed like a challenge with it being so long since the last playing of it, but what Drinkwitz and his staff have done so far seems to be working. They've made it seem more important to the players because it's so important to the fanbase.

"It's very deep, and it's something that our team is very keenly aware of," Drinkwitz said. "We understand the implications, the importance to our state and look forward to playing that game, especially having it at home."

Missouri plays rival Arkansas every year, and now will often match up with former Big 12 rival Oklahoma as well. But the matchup with Kansas means more than any other rivalry.

"I think rivalries are a great thing for college athletics and college football, particularly, especially regional rivalries," Drinkwitz said. "This one goes back a long way."

Similar to Drinkwitz's message, center Connor Tollison recognized the impact and understanding of what this game means to the Missouri fans should help the Tigers realize it's important once they touch the field.

"I think the fans are excited," Missouri center Connor Tollison said. "I would say these players, us and I bet they are too excited to renew that border war."

Even if nobody on this current roster, or anyone in the last decade for that matter, has played against the Kansas Jayhwaks, it's becoming abundantly clear to the team as the season approaches that this is a meaningful matchup. Expect Faurot Field to be rocking when the game arrives for the second of Missouri's season.