Missouri Tigers College Football Pregame Quote, 12/26/2023

Q. Finally getting to practice in AT&T [Stadium]. First time we’ve talked to you. How is it getting out there and seeing the bigness of it all?

OL JAVON FOSTER: It’s just a blessing, honestly, to be in this position. Our team, we worked so hard for this. Man, I’m just glad all our guys can experience this and especially our seniors, we can go out this way.

Q. We haven’t gotten to talk to you since this was first announced. What has the last few weeks been like for you? Has it been hectic for you?

OL JAVON FOSTER: No, we’re just taking it day by day. It’s a great opponent, but we face great opponents all the time. We’re trying to lock in and make sure we do the right things.

Q. To have this much time to prepare for an offense, what does it do?

OL JAVON FOSTER: Give us a little time to look at more film and figure out stuff to beat them.

Q. What stands out to you about this Ohio State defense?

OL JAVON FOSTER: They’re a great defense. Got great linebackers. The box is really great. I can’t really say that much bad about them. It’s honestly going to be a good challenge.

Q. I want to ask you about your OC, Kirby [Moore], signing an extension to stay here. What has Kirby meant for you?

OL JAVON FOSTER: Kirby has done a lot for us on the offense, brought a lot more confidence, a lot more swagger. What am I trying to say, the sky is the limit with Kirby. He’s just such a great offensive coordinator, he put us in a great position every time so he’s been a blessing.

Q. What do you feel it is about Kirby [Moore] that we don’t see off the field that makes him so successful in this role?

OL JAVON FOSTER: He makes sure you understand everything. He doesn’t make it too complicated, makes it simple and makes sure all the guys know exactly what to do.

Q. As a guy who has been on this team for years now, what would it mean for Mizzou to get a win in a bowl game like this, the Cotton Bowl?

OL JAVON FOSTER: It’d be honestly a blessing. We worked early all year for this and I feel like this is going to be a great match-up, and we’re going to end up with it.

Q. Going back over to Kirby [Moore], just talk about how you’re not going to be here for many more years. Talk about the future of Missouri football and being in his hands. The offense had a big job from last season to this season. How can you go even farther with Kirby?

OL JAVON FOSTER: I believe the offense is going to keep improving each year. He knows exactly what he’s talking about. He knows how to put the right players in the right positions, so the offense is going to keep improving.

Q. You mentioned this would be the 11th win if you were going to pull off Ohio State, the most since 2013. Does that show how much this team has grown from last year to this year?

OL JAVON FOSTER: We all knew we had this. Last year we kept falling short each game. We just couldn’t play a four-quarter football game. But this year we played a lot together and we just keep on moving.

Q. I remember the big quote from Eli [Drinkwitz] on social media: We’ve been at the bottom, we know how that feels. Now you said the sky’s the limit. How do you feel that helped you grow?

OL JAVON FOSTER: Us being at the bottom, it humbled us and we know with challenges and adversity how that feels. Us right now, we’re all blessed and just honestly excited for this position.

Q. Theo [Wease Jr.] said his advice to his teammates, because he’s played here before, don’t get distracted by the big scoreboard, however long it is. Now you’ve had three practices in there, do you feel you and the guys are ready for the moment?

OL JAVON FOSTER: When we first walked in, we were all looking at it, but that’s how it always is. We ve never seen anything like that. So we just all looked at it. I feel like Friday we’re going to be ready and locked in.

Q. The two losses you have had this season, you had the ball in the fourth quarter and a chance to win the game. What have you learned from those games?

OL JAVON FOSTER: Trying to put together a four-quarter football game. You never know when the game is in your hands. We had it in our hands a few times and let it slip away. We learn from that and keep improving and we feel we got better from that.

Q. How did that showcase against Florida and even Arkansas later on in the season?

OL JAVON FOSTER: When it came down in the fourth quarter, we knew we had to finish it, just make sure we finish and finish out the game, like I said.

Q. Is this game an opportunity to sort of finish out the season in that same vein? Is that how you guys are viewing it?

OL JAVON FOSTER: We want to send our seniors out the right way. We know us seniors have been around a long time. We’ve seen Missouri go up and down.

Q. How much pride do you take in that?

OL JAVON FOSTER: A lot. There’s so much pride. We’ve been battling so much for the Tigers and we want to be on top.

Q. I was talking to Darius [Robinson] about being part of that foundation. To be part of that foundation, to see where it can go, what does it mean to you?

OL JAVON FOSTER: It means a lot. It’s a blessing to be in this position and I see how the Tigers are growing each year. And I can’t wait to see them go up and a national championship is coming soon.