Gary Pinkel

SI: How hard was it to lose Blaine Gabbert and Aldon Smith early to the NFL?

GP: If we have a player who might go in the first round, especially in the top half, my philosophy is [as if he were] my son: He has to consider it. And that was great for our program. We've now had five first-round draft picks [over] the past three years.

SI: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TEAM?

GP: [IT'S] PROBABLY THE MOST EXPERIENCED TEAM I'VE HAD, EXCEPT FOR THE QUARTERBACK. IT GETS BACK TO HOW GOOD THE QUARTERBACK IS AND HOW WELL THE TRANSITION IS MADE.

SI: Will you adjust the offense?

GP: We're going to run. It allows a young quarterback to mature a little easier. That being said, we run a spread offense, and we also like to throw it.

SI: So what are your goals for this season?

GP: The same as every year: to win all of our games.

SI: You took a group of players down to Joplin to help with the tornado cleanup. What was that experience like?

GP: One thing that is great about the state of Missouri, and about our country, is that when tragedy hits, it brings out the best in people. The devastation was staggering. [The trip] was just a small thing that we did to make a contribution. People's lives changed in 15 seconds, and we all wanted to do something to help.