As a Mizzou fan, we do not need a big mouth kid trying to get respect. We must earn it on the field. Do not judge the rest of us because this juvenile shot his mouth off.
All offseason Missouri players have bowed their backs and complained of a lack of respect coming out of the national and SEC media. But on Saturday night, Tiger defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson opened his trap and proved that his team could be just as guilty of not dishing out proper respect.
Asked by a Columbia Tribune writer if he watched Georgia’s game with Buffalo, Richardson made it clear he wasn’t impressed by the Dawgs — Mizzou’s next opponent — or their style of play:
“I watched that game. I turned it off, too. It’s like watching Big Ten football. It’s old man football…
They got a Heisman candidate at quarterback. OK. So we’re going to get some and do what we’re supposed to do. We create our own pressure. That’s it, man. Don’t nobody put no pressure on us. We come out there for every game. We do what we’re supposed to do. If we execute, nobody in this league can touch us. Period.”
Let’s pause so you can digest all that. Georgia plays “old man football?” Worse, “Big Ten football?” And “nobody in this league can touch” Mizzou?
Here’s guessing Mr. Richardson just got every SEC fan to pull for the Bulldogs on Saturday. And as we’ve said before, it’s just too darn bad that both teams won’t come in at full strength due to injuries, suspensions, etc. It would be fun to see if UGA could “touch” Missouri with its full compliment of defenders.
Oh, but Richardson wasn’t done. Asked again if the Tigers’ transition to the SEC has been overhyped he said:
“Way overhyped. They make it seem like we came from the WAC or something or never played against Oklahoma or Texas Tech and everyone else who plays for national championships. It’s about that time we show them who we are…
We could have played Alabama today. It don’t matter, man. We’re coming out here every game like this, high-intense football.”
Missouri may well roll through the SEC with the greatest of ease including a date later in the season with Alabama, but I’m pretty sure the Tide — which whipped Michigan 41-14 on Saturday — won’t be intimidated by Mizzou’s “high-intense” football. After all, Richardson’s comments were made after a 62-10 win over, ahem, Southeastern Louisiana. That’s hardly Michigan. Or even Buffalo, for that matter.
Georgia coach Mark Richt was asked about Richardson’s comments and reacted just as you’d expect him to… with class. “Well, did he say ‘old man’ or ‘old school,’ or what did he say?” Then The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer says the coach laughed and stated: “I don’t know what he meant by that. You know botttom line is we’ve got to get after it and do what we do well, and they’ll trying to stop everything we’re trying to get accomplished.”
Whatever Richt and his Bulldogs plan to do on Saturday, MU’s Richardson would likely remind them: “Don’t nobody put no pressure on us.” (Much to the chagrin of every University of Missouri English professor.)
Saturday in Columbia a UGA team with a thinned out secondary will carry the SEC banner into Faurot Field and attempt to provide Richardson with a taste of what “high-intense” football really means in the SEC. Missouri and Richardson will come in with a banged-up offensive line and an “us against the world” attitude. It should make for a heckuva “hello/how are ya?” between these new SEC rivals.
And we’ll see who’ll be barking loudest afterwards — Richardson or the Dawgs.
[...] Mizzou wide receiver hand Georgia the greatest of insults. Call their style of play “like watching Big 10 football.” [Mr. SEC] [...]