Missouri's stellar season continued during the weekend with a nail-biter over Florida, but the Tigers came under fire for their on-field antics after the game.
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Missouri's Harrison Mevis drilled a 30-yard game-winning field goal with five seconds left, and almost immediately afterward he did the "Gator chomp" gesture. In addition, other Mizzou players made their way to Florida's bench afterward to do the Gator chomp in their faces — so much so that Gators defensive line coach Sean Spencer had to hold some players back.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 19, 2023
#Gators DL coach Sean Spencer had to keep players from fighting. Mizzou came over to Florida’s bench, guys going back and forth. pic.twitter.com/Ew9VzwmAnO
— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) November 19, 2023
It's the type of stuff that looks bad considering Missouri was favored coming into this game as a top 15 team. Plus, 5-5 Florida lost starting quarterback Graham Mertz to injury in the third quarter, and backup Max Brown nearly completed the upset on the road.
The classless behavior is typical of a team so used to bottom feeding in the Southeastern Conference East. Missouri hasn't been nationally relevant (or even conference-relevant) since 2013 and 2014, when the Tigers played (and lost badly) in the SEC Championship Game each year.
And it's not as if Florida-Missouri is some type of storied SEC rivalry. I would expect similar mockery from Florida State or Georgia fans — but Missouri? Nope. But then again, after back-to-back losing seasons in 2022 and 2021, this must have felt like the Super Bowl.
What Missouri could have done is shake hands and celebrate the fact that they're now the No. 10 team in the country in the AP Top 25 poll. Instead, they opted for the immature move, something head coach Eli Drinkwitz knows a thing or two about.
Still, I have to admit this is what makes college football great. I'm sure Florida players will remember this next year when Missouri comes to The Swamp.
