St. Louis Recruits Like SEC Move, Kansas City Recruits Don’t
The Columbia Tribune‘s Dave Matter quoted offensive coordinator David Yost talking about the difference in local responses to Missouri’s conference move:
"Close to 20 recruits are expected to be on campus this weekend, several who have already pledged commitments, including St. Louis players Edmund Ray, Michael Scherer and Donavin Newsome.Speaking of St. Louis, and I’ll have more on this in an upcoming print edition, but Yost said Missouri’s move to the SEC has sparked opposite reactions from recruits within the state border. “In the St. Louis area, they’re very, very excited,” he said. “In the Kansas City area, they’re much more acclimated to the Big Eight and Big 12, with their families and where they’ve grown up. In St. Louis, they’ve had the Big Ten in that city and the SEC isn’t really that far away. For those guys, it was more of, ‘Sounds great, coach.’ “"
The differing opinions on each side of the state make sense. Kansas City has been the home of the Border War game between Missouri and Kansas for years, so players growing up there are more likely to be attracted to the tradition of the Big 12. Some recruits from Kansas City might withdraw their commitments to Missouri, but as the Tigers continue to be the most prominent athletic program near Kansas City, recruits from the area will continue coming to Missouri.