When it was time for Brady Cook's press conference at SEC Media Days on Tuesday, he embodied the Mizzou spirit, and made clear where the teams focus is at heading into 2024. One of Cook's first statements to the press was "No one is going to talk about the Cotton Bowl versus Ohio State moving forward. It's in the past. It's in the history books."
Cook knows that expectations will be higher on the team following their 11 win season in 2023. But, Missouri is still being slept on by tons of national media outlets. The fire lit last year should feed into the upcoming season.
""Last year our motto formed into something to prove. I'm sure you guys have heard it. We lived by it, and we still do. Although we had a good year last year and accomplished a few things, we still have to go out and prove it this year. For the guys that came back, for the team we have now, 2024 is all that matters.""Brady Cook
Entering his fifth year in college, and his third as the starter, Cook also touched a little bit on how those first two years on the bench helped him develop. "To sit back and have those two years of just kind of learning and being away from the in-game action, it was hard, but at the same time, I learned a ton. I was able to see different perspectives. I wasn't thrown into the fire too early."
This method has proven successful time and time again, with both the NFL and college sports. Sometimes learning from the sidelines is the best way to grow as a quarterback. After those two years for Cook, he turned it on when his number was called.
#Mizzou QB Brady Cook-- "It's year 5 for me and it's all there on the table, I've gotta go take it... I hope to leave a legacy that people will remember forever in the state of Missouri." pic.twitter.com/x9j0CVURMa
— Ben Arnet (@BenArnetKOMU) July 16, 2024
Ahead of the 2024 season, the expectations for Cook have shifted once again, and this time he has a national championship in sight. The weapons around Mizzou's fifth-year quarterback are certainly amongst the best in the country. Before ending the press conference, Cook was asked what it feels like having the pleasure of throwing to Luther Burden.
""It's great. As a quarterback, that's what you want. We're going on year three together right now. So our chemistry is at an all time high. We've worked really hard this off-season. We spent many times one-on-one working sessions, working little details. He's definitely growing. He continues to get better, and we're confident... He goes deep, and I can just put it in an area, and he makes a play on it. So Luther is a fun guy to have in that room.""Brady Cook
Based on all the talk coming out of Missouri's camp; national championship aspirations seem more real than they've possibly ever been heading into a season. It's been over a decade since Mizzou has had this kind of talent. It'll be fun to continue watching the offseason unfold, as we get closer to the start of football season in just over a month.