(Photo Credit: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The off-field antics and repeated team violations have finally caught up to (now former) Mizzou quarterback Maty Mauk. On Thursday, Tigers head coach Barry Odom met with Mauk and formally dismissed the junior from the football program.
“I met with Maty Mauk this morning and informed him of my decision to permanently dismiss him from the football program,” Odom said in a statement. “When I met with Maty back in December, I wanted to give him an opportunity for a fresh start, but I also made it very clear what our expectations would be moving forward. After gathering information and speaking with a number of individuals this week, it is clear Maty has failed to live up to those expectations by violating team rules in recent weeks.
Mauk’s college football career at Missouri will end having passed for 4,373 yards and 42 touchdowns over the course of three seasons.
After being told of his dismissal, Mauk posted an online “thank you-note” to all the fans of the Tigers, as well as teammates and coaches.
“It is with a heavy heart that I come to term with the fact I will be not a part of this great University of Missouri Athletic organization. There are no words to describe my disappointment. While I cannot provide you with specifics about my future, there is one thing I am very sure of — How incredibly thankful I am fo the overwhelming support I have felt from the Athletic Department, the coaches, academics, my teammates, and most of all from the fans. I will and cannot tell you how much this support has meant to me and how thankful I am. Please know that my intent was never to bring any harm to the University or football program. I will continue to make myself the best I can be. I wish the Mizzou football program the best.”
As of now, Drew Lock will be the starting quarterback, and with the struggling’s of Lock dealt with over the course of his first season, expect to see a quarterback competition before the 2016 season begins.
