Compared to some SEC states and Texas - Yes

Posted on: August 18, 2016 at 16:17:53 CT

Football is simply not as important in Missouri's (the state) culture as it is in the culture of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, etc. Therefore, it doesn't get as much interest, support and participation as football in those states and produces fewer (in both actual and relative terms) top prospects as those states do.

This is a more significant factor and a bigger handicap now than it was in the Big Eight or the Big XII. In the Big Eight, only Oklahoma and Nebraska had football crazed cultures and Missouri's greater population tended to offset that difference. The creation of the Big XII with the addition of Texas changed that and changed Mizzou's recruiting to hope to get the best in-state kids, but rely on Texas high schools.

The bottom line is Mizzou can't compete with the better SEC programs unless it goes out of state for the bulk of its talent. Pinkel followed the Don James's model. He tried to lock up his home state, but went to where his team played frequently for out of state talent, James to California, Pinkel to Texas and then with the move to the SEC, Georgia, Florida, etc.

Odom's shift of recruiting emphasis from the SEC states back to Texas is an interesting gambit since the Tigers will have only occasional games in Texas and therefore get less exposure than in the SEC states.

But yes, Missouri high school football is weak compared to most SEC states and it is a major disadvantage.