Mizzou, Carolina — Independence Bowl

Missouri visits the other Columbia in conference this Saturday at 3:30 pm EDT. The Tigers own a 2-0 all-time record against South Carolina, defeating the Gamecocks 24-14 in the 1979 Hall of Fame Bowl and 38-31 in the 2005 Independence Bowl.

The most recent matchup saw South Carolina blow a 21-0 first quarter lead in what was the biggest comeback in Independence Bowl history as well as Missouri history. The Tigers were led by QB Brad Smith, now a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, who ended the day with 432 yards of total offense (282 passing yards and 150 rushing yards). Smith held 69 different Missouri, Big 12 and NCAA game, season and career records when he finished his career as a Tiger, starting for four seasons.

The 2005 Independence Bowl team was the first South Carolina team led by Steve Spurrier, finishing 7-5 overall and 5-3 in conference for 2nd place in the SEC East and derailing Florida’s chances of a division championship with a 30-22 November win over the Gators in Columbia, S.C. It was Urban Meyer’s first year at Florida’s helm also.

Highlights from the 2005 Independence Bowl:

 

Pinkel, Richt

Pinkel was Toledo’s head coach before his Missouri days.

Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel and Georgia head coach Mark Richt are each in their 12th seasons with their respective programs. Only five head coaches — none in the SEC — in the country have been with their programs longer. During that time, Richt is 107-38 at Georgia while Pinkel is 86-54 at Missouri, a program that suffered losing seasons in 15 of the 17 seasons before Pinkel’s arrival in Columbia.

Richt, then Florida State’s offensive coordinator, actually interviewed with Missouri athletic director Mike Alden in November 2000 for the head coaching vacancy that then Toledo head coach Gary Pinkel eventually filled.

Richt served as FSU’s offensive coordinator during three consecutive national championship games from 1998-2000.

While both head coaches have shown consistency to remain with their programs for 12 years, Richt’s true road record has fallen to 8-6 from 2009-2011 after a sterling 30-4 true road record from 2001-2008. Two of those six recent losses came in Big 12 territory, losing to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., in 2009 and Colorado in Boulder, Colo., in 2010. Meanwhile, Pinkel brings a 9-2 record with him against current SEC foes. That record is aided by his 5-1 mark against Texas A&M, however.

Missouri also boasts a 35-6 record in its last 41 home games.

The Tigers’ spread welcomes “Old Man Football” to Columbia Saturday.