Kansas football's Civil War-themed hype video released ahead of Friday's Border War rivalry game against Missouri did not sit well with Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz.
The Tigers'
seventh-year coach shared his thoughts on the video following his team's 38-21 victory over the Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11 in Lawrence, Kansas. Missouri's victory marked the Tigers' fifth straight win in the rivalry series.He went so far as to say he was "embarrassed" for the Jayhawks for posting the video.
"I was disappointed in the rivalry, the turn that it took today. I thought that was uncalled for," Drinkwitz said in his postgame news conference. "... I'm
just glad that this whole right versus wrong bullcrap that was started just got settled on a football field, because it's a football game.
"It's an American football game that people love to come watch and cheer for their teams. It's not even deeper than that. I get there's a past to it, but why are we stirring that bullcrap up? It's 9/11. This country needs unity now more than ever. I was embarrassed for them, to be honest, and that's why I tried to embarrass them at the end."
"I'm just glad this whole right vs. wrong bullcrap that was started just got settled on a football field...I get there's a past to it but why are we stirring that bullcrap up."
— Jacob Cersosimo (@JacobCersosimo) September 12, 2026
Eli Drinkwitz shares his thoughts on "the turn" the Mizzou/KU rivalry took this week. pic.twitter.com/g5fmQypJx6
Kansas' video was narrated by former Jayhawks defensive lineman Gilbert Brown and included the following comments:
"Love doesn’t exist here. Neither does mercy. This rivalry is different. ‘Cause it’s built on something much deeper than just school pride. It’s fueled by hatred, passed down through generations. Our roots reach back to the Civil War, when blood was spilled over what you believed in, and which side you stood on."
"There are heroes and villains. Only allegiance decides their legacy. There’s right and wrong. There’s Kansas and Missouri," the narration added.
That "embarrass them at the end" comment from Drinkwitz could be referencing his decision to go for it on fourth-and-9 late in the fourth quarter, when the Tigers were already up by 10 points. Austin Simmons would perfectly place a pass across the middle to tight end Brett Norfleet for the 13-yard touchdown that pushed Missouri's lead to 17 points.
That'd be one of three touchdowns for Simmons on the night. The Mississippi transfer looked rather comfortable and poised in his second start at Missouri, as he completed 19-of-29 passes for 293 yards and finished with no turnovers for the second straight game.
Following the Tigers' win, Drinkwitz abruptly left his on-camera TV interview with Fox's Josh Sims as a brief scuffle broke out on the field between Missouri and Kansas players. Drinkwitz was also heard screaming to someone off-camera to stop planting a Missouri flag on the field.
"I got to go make sure we don't have anything stupid happen here," Drinkwitz said on Fox.
Missouri next hosts Troy on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. ET before heading into conference play. Kansas will travel to London to take on Arizona State in a Big 12 showdown in Week 3.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz rips Kansas for Civil War-themed hype video: 'Embarrassed for them'
