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Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard expressed excitement for the Bears’ transition to Conference USA while acknowledging that the road to being competitive at the FBS level will come with challenges.
Beard, in a Zoom interview while on a recruiting trip in Ohio, said he’s begun pitching recruits the opportunity to play football at “the highest level” when the football program begins CUSA play in 2025.
“This is an interesting time in college sports and we chose to go on the offensive and make a great move for Missouri State,” Beard said. “Everyone in our organization is excited to get that rolling.”
Beard, entering his second season, will be tasked with leading the Bears through a two-year transitional period that will disqualify Missouri State from the FCS Playoffs for the 2024 season and make it ineligible for a bowl game in 2025.
Beard will soon be given 22 scholarships to fill to meet FBS roster size standards, although he’s unaware of the timeline in which he’ll be able to use them. Further conversations will be needed with Missouri State athletics director Kyle Moats upon returning to Springfield.
More: Missouri State says it’s ‘time to think big and be bold’ with leap to Conference USA
Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard as the Bears take on the University of Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence Kansas on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
While recruiting, Beard said he and his staff haven’t done much to adjust who they’re targeting. He believes his staff has developed a “decent eye” for talent and they’ve gone after higher-profile recruits and made them say “no.” By doing so, he”s seen it help the Bears land players in future years if those players were to become available and have previous relationships with those on the staff. The biggest adjustment going forward might be that…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/missouri-state-football-coach-ryan-212832591.html
Author : Springfield News-Leader
Publish date : 2024-05-14 21:28:32
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