Eye on the Tigers - podcast cover

Eye on the Tigers

St. Louis Post-Dispatchwww.stltoday.com

A regular dose of Mizzou Tigers athletics, including football, basketball and other college sports, from game previews to interviews and everything else you need to stay ahead of the curve. Hear from St. Louis Post-Dispatch sportswriter Eli Hoff.

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Episodes

Suspiciously specific predictions for the 2024 Mizzou football season

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Post-Dispatch beat writer Eli Hoff is joined by columnist Benjamin Hochman to make suspiciously specific predictions about what will happen during the 2024 college football season. From a standout individual performance from one Missouri player against his former team to a game-deciding turnover to a very precise geographical way to look at College Football Playoff seeding, Eli and Benjamin go on the record with how they think Mizzou's upcoming s...

Aug 07, 202438 minSeason 4Ep. 1

Why Mizzou's 1960 football season is so compelling, with Brendon Steenbergen

On the latest episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff talks with author Brendon Steenbergen about Respectable Roughnecks, Brendon's recent book about the 1960 Missouri football team. They talk about what makes that season so transcendent, from first-ever competitive achievements to MU's first Black football player to the legacy of that era in today's game.

Jul 02, 202426 minSeason 4Ep. 1

Reacting to Mizzou's hiring of Laird Veatch for its next AD: Eye on the Tigers Podcast

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson share their relations to Mizzou's hiring of its next athletics director: Memphis AD Laird Veatch. Ben shares why he thinks there's cause for the excitement with the hire while Eli talks through Veatch's strengths and first priorities. Ben also assuages some concerns around the hiring process before they close out the episode with talk of how the hire will eventually be evaluated.

Apr 23, 202424 minSeason 3Ep. 38

AD search musings, SEC basketball shake-up and a football recruiting win

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson catch up on what has and hasn't happened with Mizzou's search for a new athletics director. They also discuss the potential impacts of John Calipari leaving Kentucky on a former Mizzou basketball target, and what the commitment of a four-star quarterback means for Eli Drinkwitz's program.

Apr 10, 202444 minSeason 3Ep. 37

Spring football observations and the Mizzou AD search's first steps forward

In this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson prepare for the end of the Mizzou men's basketball season, and weigh whether the Tigers have a chance of doing the surprising and winning a game in the SEC tournament. Eli shares some of his observations from the first spring football practices before he and Ben discuss MU's hire of a search firm for its athletics director hunt. This week's Quick 3 puts Ben on the spot as a hypothetical candidate for the gig, with so...

Mar 07, 202449 minSeason 3Ep. 36

What factors impact the Mizzou AD search and takeaways from the start of spring football

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson discuss the past and future of the Mizzou athletics director position, from how the university will handle Desiree Reed-Francois' buyout to what decisions will face her replacement. They also discuss some observations and questions from the start of the Tigers' spring football practices before turning to potential college postseason changes in the Quick 3 segment.

Mar 01, 202442 minSeason 3Ep. 35

Reacting to Desiree Reed-Francois' departure as Mizzou AD

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson react to the surprising departure of Mizzou AD Desiree Reed-Francois. They revisit some of the signs of friction between Reed-Francois and university leadership and why that contributed to her sudden exit before listing some potential replacements and discussing what recent turnover means for Mizzou athletics going forward.

Feb 20, 202432 minSeason 3Ep. 34

How to analyze the rest of Mizzou's season and how Dennis Gates is building a program with Matt Watkins

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff is joined by Rock M Nation writer Matt Watkins for an analytical discussion of Mizzou men's basketball's future. They discuss what to make of the Tigers' freshmen and their roles before talking through the stats that show off a player's role and style. Eli closes out the episode by picking Matt's brain about the concept of "program building" and how Dennis Gates' experience as an assistant coach at Florida State is shaping his current ap...

Feb 12, 202440 minSeason 3Ep. 33

How Mizzou's prospects will fare in the NFL Draft with analyst Joe DeLeone

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff is joined by NFL Draft analyst Joe DeLeone to talk through where some former Mizzou players will go in the draft. They discuss Joe's adventures at the Super Bowl and Senior Bowl before diving in with discussion of how Darius Robinson and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.'s skillsets will translate to the pros. Joe shares insight on how he scouts cornerbacks before putting Cody Schrader's potential in context. Joe closes out the show with valuable insi...

Feb 08, 202435 minSeason 3Ep. 32

As Mizzou hoops continues to struggle, what does the future hold?

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson dissect Mizzou men's basketball's latest defeats, including a rock fight against Texas A&M. They highlight an important change to the Tigers' starting lineup and what it means for the team's freshmen going forward. Eli and Ben also weigh how much time to give the freshmen this season and what expectations might look like for next year's highly regarded recruits. This week's Quick 3 segment takes on a bit of a dif...

Jan 24, 202440 minSeason 31Ep. 3

Baker walks away, Drinkwitz gets a payday, men's hoops still can't find its way

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, the Post-Dispatch's Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson weave through the latest Mizzou sports news, starting with the sudden departure of defensive coordinator Blake Baker. They unpack the timeline of his decision to leave, what it means for Missouri and where coach Eli Drinkwitz might go with his new hire. Eli and Ben also talk through Drinkwitz's recent pay raise before discussing another defeat for the men's basketball team – but one that showed so...

Jan 10, 202438 minSeason 3Ep. 29

Cotton Bowl preview, expectations and X-factors

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff is joined by Post-Dispatch columnist Benjamin Hochman at the Cotton Bowl media headquarters to discuss Mizzou's final game of the 2023 season. They talk through what the bowl appearance means for the Tigers, what storylines will impact the game and how Missouri has prepared. Eli shares his observations of what lining up for a 50-yard field goal in AT&T Stadium looks like before pressing Benjamin for predictions in the Quick 3 segment...

Dec 28, 202328 minSeason 3Ep. 28

Mizzou football gets portal, recruitment wins while hoops struggles once again

Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson dash around Mizzou sports, starting with the Tigers' coup of O-lineman Cayden Green from Oklahoma. They dance through the list of MU's early signees, including what holding on to the nation's top defensive prospect means for coach Eli Drinkwitz. Eli and Ben close out the episode by prancing past Missouri men's basketball's loss to Seton Hall and how the Tigers might recover for Braggin' Rights, wrapping up with a year-ending Quick 3 segment. See omnystudio.com/liste...

Dec 21, 202333 minSeason 3Ep. 27

What a Cotton Bowl appearance will mean for Mizzou football and what a loss to Kansas means for Mizzou hoops

On this week's Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli and Ben bounce around the world of Mizzou sports, starting with the Tigers' upcoming trip to the Cotton Bowl. They discuss what the atmosphere might be like, the recruiting implications and why a game against Ohio State matters for St. Louis-area football. Eli and Ben also talk through what MU's loss to Kansas says about the program, and they come dangerously close to talking about bracketology. They close out the show with a Quick 3 segment that bou...

Dec 12, 202338 minSeason 3Ep. 26

Mizzou men's basketball deep dive with Matt Harris

On this episode, Rock M Nation basketball writer Matt Harris joins Eli Hoff to talk about the start of Missouri men's basketball's season. Matt brings his spreadsheets and stats while Eli peppers him with questions about every position on the floor, from point guard shot selection to getting the centers in pick-and-roll. Eli and Matt discuss early impressions of freshman Anthony Robinson II, the scoring prowess of Sean East II and when the Tigers' offense has looked the best. To close out the ep...

Dec 06, 202351 minSeason 3Ep. 25

Keeping Mizzou football coordinators around, basketball turning a page and volleyball hitting tournament time

On this episode of the Eye on the Tigers podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson tour the wide world of Mizzou sports, starting with the Tigers' volleyball team preparing for its return to the NCAA Tournament. They talk through Missouri football's dominant win at Arkansas, how the university could try to keep coordinators on staff for another year and what might entice them. Eli and Ben also dig into another big road win for Mizzou men's basketball before concluding with a Quick 3 segment that bo...

Nov 29, 202344 minSeason 3Ep. 24

Mizzou football shows growth with dramatic win over Florida, men's hoops raises questions after Jackson State loss

In the latest edition of the Eye on the Tigers podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson recount a busy week of Mizzou sports. They discuss what Florida's success against the MU defense means for the Tigers' upcoming game against Arkansas, and where Missouri showed improvement from earlier games while managing to beat the Gators. Eli and Ben also air their questions about what has gone wrong for Mizzou men's basketball, from a sizable rotation to defense. In their "Quick 3" segment, they dig into w...

Nov 21, 202344 minSeason 3Ep. 23

We're Back! - Mizzou football wins big against Tennessee, men's basketball needs time to grow

In the return of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Eli Hoff and Ben Frederickson catch up on an eventful and positive Mizzou football season and discuss the start of basketball season. They dissect the Tigers' domination of Tennessee and why some coach-speak is translating to wins. Eli and Ben also dig into just how good of a running back Cody Schrader has become. They later unpack an up-and-down start to Dennis Gates' second season in charge of MU men's basketball and how he's sifting through a de...

Nov 14, 202337 minSeason 3Ep. 22

As season looms, Mizzou football momentum catches fire with five-star commitment

In the newest episode of the Eye on the Tigers Podcast, Dave Matter and Ben Frederickson break down this week's verbal commitment of five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri from Lee's Summit and discuss its impact on the program's momentum heading into Eli Drinkwitz's fourth season. They also discuss the state of Missouri's new NIL law and its potential to boost in-state recruiting. Then Ben and Dave take a closer look at Mizzou preseason camp, update the quarterback position and highlight ...

Aug 18, 202332 minSeason 3Ep. 21

Mizzou football marches on while realignment madness strikes again

In this week’s episode, Ben Frederickson and Dave Matter discuss the latest round of conference realignment that’s shaken up the map of college athletics as we approach another football season. Dave and Ben share their thoughts on Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz’s critical comments on the subject and compare and contrast MU’s move to the SEC with the latest departures in the Pac-12. They also discuss the first full week of preseason camp at Mizzou — or “fall camp” as Ben prefers — as Brady Cook attem...

Aug 08, 202343 minSeason 3Ep. 20

Mizzou football hits the right notes in Music City

In this week's episode, Dave Matter and Ben Frederickson review Mizzou's relatively quit stroll through Nashville at SEC football media days, where Eli Drinkwitz set out to avoid making any national headlines. Dave and Ben share their thoughts on Drinkwitz's analysis of the Tigers' quarterback situation, Brady Cook's chances of keeping his job and the transfer of play-calling duties to coordinator Kirby Moore. They also discuss SEC commissioner Greg Sankey's takedown of state NIL laws - like Mis...

Jul 20, 202328 minSeason 3Ep. 29

Not your normal SEC Media Days preview

The Post-Dispatch's Ben Frederickson and Dave Matter get you ready for college football's talking season and preview the upcoming SEC Media Days in Nashville, where Eli Drinkwitz and Mizzou's contingent will be among the first teams to greet reporters on July 17. Ben and Dave look around the league and the discuss the top story lines that will surface in Nashville - welcome back, not only Hugh Freeze but Bobby Petrino, too! - then take turns drafting SEC coaches for an assortment of what-if scen...

Jul 07, 202340 minSeason 3Ep. 28

2024 SEC football opponents are here, Mizzou hoops roster seems set and talking baseball with new coach Kerrick Jackson

In this week's episode, Ben Frederickson and Dave Matter open with conflicted thoughts on Mizzou's ties to the newly crowned NBA champion Denver Nuggets, MPJ's redemption game, Stan Kroenke's wardrobe, the curious Josh Kroenke tweet and why the billionaire family doesn't seem suited for the NIL game. Ben and Dave then pivot to the SEC's release of the 2024 football matchups and Mizzou's favorable cast of SEC opponents. They move on to Mizzou basketball's departure of Isiaih Mosley and addition o...

Jun 15, 20231 hr 25 minSeason 3Ep. 27

Mizzou's Eli Drinkwitz heats up talkin' season at SEC meetings : Eye on the Tigers

In this week's episode, Ben Frederickson and Dave Matter share their thoughts on Eli Drinkwitz's comments about NIL at SEC meetings that drew some criticism earlier this week. They also discuss the SEC's inability to reach a consensus on future football schedules, Mizzou's decision to fire baseball coach Steve Bieser and Kobe Brown's legacy as he stays in the NBA draft rather than return to college. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jun 01, 202346 minSeason 3Ep. 26

NIL-ZOU? Can the state's NIL reforms give Mizzou coaches an edge in recruiting?

In this week's episode, Dave Matter and Ben Frederickson take a closer look at the new NIL bill passed by state lawmakers in Jefferson City this week and how it can impact recruiting for Mizzou and the state's other colleges. Also, would Kobe Brown dare finish his college career at another program? They discuss Brown's looming decision: NBA, Mizzou or ... the transfer portal? Finally, Dennis Gates looks to put the finishing touches on his roster makeover, while Eli Drinkwitz landed a crucial por...

May 12, 202340 minSeason 3Ep. 25

What to make of Mizzou's looming QB competition?

In this week's episode, Dave Matter and Ben Frederickson share their thoughts on Mizzou's recent Come Home Tour stop in St. Louis and take a deep dive into Eli Drinkwitz's plans for the quarterback position. Does a healthy Brady Cook have a shot at recapturing the job he held last year? Was the plan all along for newcomer Jake Garcia to take over? What factors will shape the race this summer? Dave and Ben also discuss Dennis Gates' latest roster rebuild and how he's approaching the transfer port...

Apr 28, 202350 minSeason 3Ep. 24

Transfer portal musings for Mizzou football, basketball

In this week's episode, Ben Frederickson recaps Thursday night's Mizzou fundraising event in St. Louis where he visited with football coach Eli Drinkwitz on the state of the program coming out of spring practices, as well as athletics director Desireé Reed-Francois on all things Mizzou sports. Ben and Dave Matter then discuss the latest roster arrivals for Mizzou men's basketball (Tamar Bates, Caleb Grill) and Dennis Gates' latest pursuit of an ACC standout with ties to Mizzou's staff. Ben and D...

Apr 21, 202338 minSeason 3Ep. 23

Can Mizzou find (Caleb) Love during Transfer Portal Palooza?

In this week's episode, Ben Frederickson and Dave Matter break down Mizzou basketball's returning roster, possible departures, incoming newcomers and potential additions via the NCAA transfer portal, starting with former North Carolina guard and St. Louis native Caleb Love. Dennis Gates needs a big man (or two) for his roster, but Love, the former Post-Dispatch player of the year at CBC, is the most intriguing target on the market. Ben and Dave also discuss Mizzou's decision to bring back women'...

Apr 06, 202339 minSeason 3Ep. 22

Revived defense has Tigers on brink of Sweet 16

Fresh off Mizzou's first NCAA Tournament win in 13 years, Dave Matter and Ben Frederickson break down the Tigers' victory over Utah State in Sacramento, highlighted by Kobe Brown's second half takeover and another impressive defensive showing by Dennis Gates' team. Then the conversation turns to Saturday's second-round matchup with Ivy League champion Princeton. Mizzou has the better athletes, but will that be enough to punch a ticket to Louisville for next week's Sweet 16? See omnystudio.com/li...

Mar 17, 202325 minSeason 3Ep. 21

Can Mizzou be kings of Sacramento in March Madness?

Eye on the Tigers: Dave Matter and Ben Frederickson are 3,000 miles apart but they have plenty to say about Missouri's first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against Utah State on Thursday in Sacramento. Dave is in California for the game and shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities the Tigers face against the Aggies from the Mountain West Conference. Ben and Dave also unveil their Final Four picks as March Madness gets ready to tip off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Mar 15, 202324 minSeason 3Ep. 20
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