After Saturday’s game between Missouri and Murray State, we made our way down into the media room for post game interviews which sits adjacent to the Tigers’ lockerroom at Faurot Field under the south end zone bleachers. I heard a tremendous roar come through the walls and thought to myself that was pretty animated for a 40+ point win over an inferior school. It wasn’t about the win. It was for Henry Josey.
Josey’s 68 yard touchdown run with 6:23 left in the third quarter symbolically stamped his official return from a major knee injury that could have ended his college career. The rehab work that Josey put in to get back to this point was an inspiration for his teammates and everyone involved in the Mizzou football program and Coach Pinkel felt it was the right thing to do. Giving out a game ball was something he had never done before in all his years of coaching.
AUDIO Pinkel on his decision to give out a game ball to Josey.
After the touchdown, Josey returned to the sidelines and gave hugs to Mizzou’s head trainer Rex Sharp and surgeon Pat Smith, who worked twice on Josey.
Josey talked about the game ball presentation as more of a family moment and they all celebrated together. Josey said Sharp and Smith are like family to him and he prays for them everyday. Watch as Pinkel awards the game ball to Josey following the game. The video is courtesy of the Mizzou Network.
