Missouri visits Florida following heartbreaking loss
Missouri had its first conference win of the season within its grasps last Saturday against 12th-ranked Kentucky, only to watch it slip away on the final play of the game in a gut wrenching 15-14 home loss.
Following a pass interference call against cornerback DeMarkus Acy in the endzone on what would’ve been the final play of the game, the Wildcats were granted an untimed play from Missouri’s two-yard line.
Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson connected with CJ Conrad for a two-yard walk off touchdown, dropping the Tigers to 0-4 in SEC play and barring head coach Barry Odom from what would’ve been his first win against a ranked opponent since taking the reins of his alma mater in 2016.
The Tigers will have little time to dwell on the agonizing defeat however, as they travel to Gainesville Saturday to face 11th-ranked Florida in The Swamp.
Odom said Tuesday his team is still fully invested in the remainder of the season despite the grueling defeat, and hopes it will motivate his team even more in preparing for another ranked opponent.
“Usually when you are (fully invested) and you come up short, it’s going to hurt,” Odom said. “And quite frankly, it’s supposed to. You’re not supposed to be able to just get by it and move onto the next one all of a sudden. That would be letting go of the rope. That would be being mediocre. That would be average.”
Missouri’s season has been a polar opposite from its 2017 campaign, when the Tigers began 1-6 before mounting a six-game win streak to close the regular season and reach bowl eligibility.
After winning their first three games, the Tigers are now 4-4, having lost four of their last five.
Odom said there are similarities and differences in the adversity faced last season as compared to this year, but wants the team to stay focused on this season.
“The motivational factors on what this team needs is different than last year,” he said.
“(Tough losses) are more difficult because this team is closer, we’re a better team … all those things that go into it, and then you come up short against quality opponents, last year we weren’t in those games, and this year we know that we’re good enough to be in them and go win them. We’ve made progress, but we’ve got to break down the next wall. We haven’t yet, and we’re going to.”