This time last week at the University of Missouri (UM), the school system's president resigned and its chancellor stepped down for another job.
A day earlier, UM head football coach Gary Pinkel announced he and his team would not participate in football activities until Jonathan Butler, a graduate student, ended his hunger strike. Butler's protest and Tim Wolfe's ensuing resignation highlighted an emotional week at UM.
Missouri wound up playing their game scheduled against BYU, and it turned into an emotional victory for the Tigers, but not because of what transpired on campus that week. On Friday, Pinkel told his staff and players he would resign at the end of year because he is fighting non-Hogkin lymphoma, according to MU's official athletics website.
The news had spread well before kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, where Missouri took on BYU. After the Tigers' 14-point fourth quarter led to a 20-16 win, the team swarmed Pinkel while he was talking to an ESPN sideline reporter.
"When you have something like this, you just start thinking about your time," Pinkel said in a tearful postgame press conference, according to ESPN. "I might live another 25 years. I just don't know what will happen. You re-evaluate your priorities.
"The way we run our program, the things we do, I want to have an impact on their lives. That's real, real important."
Pinkel will remain the MU head football coach until Jan. 1, 2016, or until athletic director Mack Rhoades names a permanent successor. Pinkel is not expected to be involved in the search, ESPN noted.
In 15 seasons with the Tigers, Pinkel won 118 games - more than any other MU football coach - and was named the SEC's Coach of the Year in 2014. He will coach his final home game this Saturday when Missouri hosts Tennessee.
Click here to see photos from Saturday night and here to see some Tigers football players talk about their coach.
