Gary Pinkel faces the media for the first time since his DWI arrest

Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel held a press conference at his lawyer’s office in Columbia on Monday afternoon to discuss his DWI arrest last week. Pinkel did not want this to be a distraction when the media would have its first opportunity to speak with him on Friday before the MU-KU game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Pinkel took full responsibility for his actions and said he “failed miserably,” in trying to be a good role model. Pinkel said this would “never happen again,” referring to his DWI arrest.

Listen to Gary Pinkel’s press conference (10:30)

Pinkel was suspended last Thursday and will not have contact with the team until this Thursday. I sat directly in front of him in the lobby of the downtown Columbia law office and he was visibly nervous, but answered each question head on.

Pinkel said he did not watch the arrest video and spent Saturday afternoon watching the game with a couple of friends at his condo down at the Lake of the Ozarks. He said it was gut-wrenching watching what his team had to go through on Saturday and said if the Tigers would have lost, it would have stayed with him the rest of his life.

Pinkel said he will live the right kind of life and not make this mistake again as he tried to earn back the respect of his team, peers and fans. He said he can never remember a time in his life when he has ever done anything to hurt anyone. When asked if he had a drinking problem or would seek help, Pinkel replied “No,” to each question.