The Missouri Tigers have been one of the biggest disappointments in the SEC so far this season after being considered by many to be a bowl contender heading into the year.

Saturday’s 35-3 home loss to Purdue was a low point for coach Barry Odom, now in his second year as head coach, as his team was thoroughly embarrassed at Faurot Field.

Speaking with STLToday.com on Wednesday, Mizzou AD Jim Sterk revealed what he said to the struggling coach the day after the big loss:

“Not any special meeting, or anything like that,” he said. “I saw him Sunday. I asked him what he thought, and about the challenges that Auburn brings. I wanted to make sure he felt supported. I know and he knows he has a lot of hard work to do.

“But it was one game. Don’t let that one game impact the next nine. Let’s move forward from there. And he was doing a good job of it with his staff and the players. But I need to help him a little bit too with that. It’s a tough one. You feel like you lost your first-born when you have a loss like that … It’s disappointing. You can wallow in it for one day, that game. But by Sunday you have to start heading in the right direction, so it doesn’t impact you again.”

Later in the interview, Sterk discusses the firing of defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross, his plans to evaluate Odom in the future and other important Mizzou football topics. Check out the full interview here.

Things may get worse for the Tigers before they get better, as they host Auburn this weekend. Saturday night’s game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Central time and can be seen on ESPNU.