COLUMBIA, Mo. - Eli Drinkwitz has been the head coach of the University of Missouri's football team for just more than seven months.
He has yet to lead the Tigers onto the field, much less win a game, yet his role in the community already has forced him to take some important stands.
First, it was supporting his players as they pushed for equality as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. Now, it is encouraging people to wear face masks when they are out in public, which health experts insist is among the best ways to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus - even though, much like social justice, it has become a highly politicized issue - and might improve the Southeastern Conference's prospects for a 2020 season happening.
"I don't believe I have power. I have influence," Drinkwitz explained during a Zoom meeting Wednesday, which he began by wearing a mask with the Tigers' logo on it. "There is a certain amount of influence being a head coach of an SEC school, being the head coach of Missouri, having the logo on your chest. It gives you a certain amount of credibility when you make conversations. What we are trying to do is encourage people that it's OK to wear a mask. It's OK to do it.
"I get that there are arguments on both sides. I get that for some reason it's been politicized. I just happen to believe that is good public health policy. Does it solve all the problems? I don't know. I'm a football coach. But I know that to get things done we have to buy into a collective mission. Is it a perfect plan? Seldom are plans perfect. But they have a plan in place. Let's work the plan. That's what were trying to do. Let's see if it works."
Time is running out to see if it works before decisions must be made on the upcoming season.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 already announced they will play conference-only games this fall, if they are able to take the field at all. The Ivy and Patriot leagues from the lower-tier Football Championship Subdivision have decided to not compete in the fall.
Officials from the SEC met Monday to discuss their plans but will not make a final decision until later this month.
"It is clear that current circumstances related to COVID-19 must improve," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a released statement. "In the coming weeks we will continue to meet regularly with campus leaders via video conferences and gather relevant information while guided by medical advisors."
Missouri has become one of the latest hot spots for the coronavirus, reporting 28,826 cases with 932 people who were hospitalized Tuesday. Nationwide, nearly 3.5 million people have contracted the virus, and more than 136,000 have died.
Part of the problem in Missouri has been inconsistent messages. Many communities have implemented policies that require the use of masks in public spaces and where social distancing is not possible, and Gov. Mike Parson encouraged people to do the same - but even he went without a mask while making a series of public appearances over the weekend.
There is no such waffling for Drinkwitz, who still plans on the Tigers playing their opener Sept. 5 against Central Arkansas.
"I'm frustrated with the fact that when people argue against it, why are we not willing to try it?" he said. "My decision for me is a personal decision because of how it affects me on a personal basis. I can't affect if someone in Florida is going to wear a mask, but I can - as an avenue of change - I can help recommend here in Columbia that people wear a mask."
It isn't just the football season that is hanging in the balance, either. Drinkwitz wants to be able to visit local restaurants and bars, meet with fans and attend the kind of events with boosters that are vital to running a successful program.
"I'm not sure exactly what the numbers need to be or what they're looking for and all that. What I know and what I am suggesting is that numbers in and around our community are going up," he said, "and I don't know about you all, but I like going to Shakespeare's Pizza and some of the great spots in Columbia, and I really don't want to not be able to go to those places anymore. And in order for my wife to not have to home school this fall, we have to wear masks."
Drinkwitz's edict appears to be working as the football team continues offseason workouts. The school has administered nearly 400 tests since early June with just 10 positive cases, none of which were connected to the Tigers' facilities.
Meanwhile, nearby schools Kansas and Kansas State, both Big 12 programs, have been forced to halt workouts after too many positive tests.
"Look at our numbers compared to everybody else," Drinkwitz said. "I think our guys have heeded the message. They have gone above and beyond to ensure they are doing everything possible. You can do everything right and still get exposed, but you don't have to put yourselves in an adverse situation. Now the trick is to continue doing it."