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Pinkel says he's ready to be 'a normal person'

 
Gary Pinkel says he’s “doing the right thing” in resigning after the season as he deals with lymphoma.
Gary Pinkel says he’s “doing the right thing” in resigning after the season as he deals with lymphoma.
Published Nov. 17, 2015

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Stepping off the podium, Gary Pinkel dried his eyes, put on a happy face and let his wife do the talking.

Missy Pinkel said the couple will be busy. Now that he no longer has to be football-obsessed, she can teach him to cook. Maybe help him become a better dancer.

"We'll be fine. We're going to do a little bit of everything, right?" she asked him. "Golf, travel and spend time with family."

Pinkel, 63, decided it best to enjoy life for however many years he has left while dealing with non-Hodgkins lymphoma diagnosed in May. In front of a couple hundred friends, relatives and players Monday, Pinkel joked that he'd rather "die on a beach" than coaching football.

"I've got to do something, work more like a normal job, where I can be significant," Pinkel said. "I'll just be able to be a normal person."

He added, "I'm doing the right thing."

Pinkel fought back tears several times during the news conference that served as a formal goodbye. He choked up when discussing his team and during multiple standing ovations from a crowd that included several assistants who ignored his suggestion to concentrate on this week's game plan, interim university president Mike Middleton and chancellor Hank Foley. Also there was Michael Sam, a star at Missouri before he became the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team.

"The most important thing," Pinkel said haltingly, "is my players. I'm going to miss them, scolding them when I had to scold them, hugging and touching them every day."

USF's Mack honored

TAMPA — USF sophomore tailback Marlon Mack earned three weekly honors in the wake of his sparkling night (21 carries, 230 yards, two touchdowns) in Saturday's 44-23 upset of Temple.

Mack, whose 272 total yards included a 20-yard touchdown reception, was named the American Athletic Conference offensive player of the week. Mack now leads the conference in rushing (118.3 yards per game).

Mack also was named national performer of the week by the College Football Performance Awards and the AAC's offensive player of the week by College Sports Madness.

SOCCER IN NCAAS: The USF men's soccer team returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. The Bulls (11-5-3, 5-1-2 AAC) will be a No. 14 seed and get a first-round bye. They'll open the tournament Nov. 22 against the winner of the first-round matchup between Boston College and Vermont.

NO. 3 ALABAMA: Backup tailback Kenyan Drake is likely out at least two weeks with a fractured right arm.

NO. 11 TCU: Quarterback Trevone Boykin (ankle) and wide receiver Josh Doctson (wrist) are questionable for this weekend's game against No. 7 Oklahoma.

ARIZONA ST.: Senior safety Jordan Simone, the national leader in tackles per game, is out for the season with a right knee injury.

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FAMU: The school announced several self-imposed penalties and sanctions relating to secondary violations of NCAA rules. It placed itself on three years of probation but expects the NCAA to announce an additional year.

KENTUCKY: Redshirt freshman Drew Barker will start at quarterback, coach Mark Stoops said.

MISSOURI: Freshman defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. will have an MRI exam for a right knee strain that could sideline him for the rest of the season.

Times staff writer Joey Knight contributed to this report.