HOOVER, Ala. – After a less-than-stellar inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference riddled with injuries and heart-breaking losses, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel and his team look forward to proving they belong in the elite league. 
Missouri finished last season fifth in the SEC East with a 2-6 conference record in 2012.
“Last year obviously was a difficult year for us,” Pinkel said. “… We had some adversities we did not overcome, so our players I think have worked tremendously hard; the staff has worked tremendously hard. I am excited that August is close by and we get a chance to get back out and compete.”
Missouri senior quarterback James Franklin spent at least part of six games last season on the bench with multiple injuries. 
Sophomore Corbin Berkstresser picked up the slack for the injured Franklin, leading to the starting position being up for grabs. 
“How we handle it is, if you are not an established quarterback coming in, we leave it open,” Pinkel said. “We are leaving this open until August.”
Franklin said the competition is not enough to make him regret choosing to miss out a games due to injury.
“We spend so much time in off-season and our lives to play only 13 games in the year,” Franklin said. “… I’m not trying to be selfish. I wanted to make sure my shoulder was healthy.”
Missouri will be looking to make major improvements on both sides of the ball in its sophomore season, as it finished 2012 11th in total offense and 10th in total defense in the SEC.
Perhaps the biggest hole left by a departing Tiger is that left by running back Kendial Lawrence, who finished last season seventh in the SEC in rushing, tallying 1025 yards in 200 carries.
Despite the rough start, Pinkel is convinced the Tigers worthy of wearing the SEC logo on their jerseys, and he is eager for them to demonstrate that on the field. 
“I think, like anything else, you have to prove yourself,” Pinkel said. “We are hungry. I think we are very, very hungry. We’re excited to get back in and compete.”