Team meeting

The Missouri Tigers felt the need to hold a playersonly meeting Monday after losing at home to South Carolina 31-13 and Purdue 35-3 the previous two games.

Senior receiver J’Mon Moore told the St. Louis

Post-Dispatch that the meeting included some venting, aggravation and a sense of urgency.

“Some emotions were flaring all over the place,” Moore said. “It was something we definitely needed.”

How the Tigers — who play No. 15 Auburn at home Saturday night — have competed in practice and games came up during the meeting.

“It hasn’t been good enough,” senior tight end Jason Reese told the PostDispatch.

Monday was the players’ designated day off under NCAA rules, and Missouri Coach Barry Odom said the staff wasn’t involved in the meeting.

“I think we’ve got strong leadership within this team, and they’re trying to take it a step further and do everything they can to get us ready to go play,” Odom said.

Junior linebacker Terez Hall said a lack of energy has hurt Missouri.

“You either want to play or you don’t want to play,” Hall said. “It’s all about putting the players who want to be out on the field out there. They’ve got to want to go out there and play.

“The energy part will come when you’re out there making plays. You’ve got to want to do these things.”

Odom said the Tigers had their best practice of the season Tuesday, so presumably the meeting had a positive impact.

“The thing with that is it’s great and it’s a start,” Odom said. “Let’s do it again today.”