With tears in his eyes, the football coach tried to get the words out.
It took a few seconds. As Gary Pinkel stood on the stage erected in Mizzou Arena on Monday morning for his farewell press conference, he couldn’t help but choke up at the thought of leaving what matters most to him.
He’ll miss the coaching staff. He’ll miss Ann Hatcher, his secretary, who was one of his most reliable friends during the tough times. He’ll miss the game, obviously.
“Most importantly, the toughest thing about this,” Pinkel stuttered. He gazed down, trying to hide the glossy eyes of a football coach known for being stern rather than emotional.