For the second time in three campaigns, Tigers have earned their independence

~ Missouri will face South Carolina on Dec. 30 in Shreveport, La.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For the second time in three years, Missouri will play in the Mainstay Independence Bowl, school and bowl officials announced Sunday.

The Tigers will face Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks on Dec. 30 in Shreveport, La.

Missouri's last bowl appearance was in the 2003 Independence Bowl, where it lost to Arkansas 27-14.

"We had a great experience at the Independence Bowl a couple years ago but obviously came up short against Arkansas," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "To go down again and have another opportunity is something I'm sure our players are going to look forward to."

Senior quarterback Brad Smith, who was named first-team All-Big 12 as an all-purpose player, is particularly excited. After leading the Tigers to Shreveport as a sophomore, Smith and Missouri struggled last year and fell short of a postseason bid with a 5-6 record.

"A lot of seniors have been there and want to go out with a win," Smith said.

Missouri (6-5) struggled again late this season, losing three of its last four games -- including the season finale against Kansas State.

Missouri is 9-13 all-time in bowl games, its last win coming in the 1998 Insight.com Bowl.

"The first time it was really an experience, and now its about the winning side of the bowl," senior safety Jason Simpson said. "We're more mature now. We know we can do it. We expect this now, and we're going to go out there and try to get a victory."

The Gamecocks (7-4) haven't been to a bowl since the 2001 season, but they have won the last three bowl games they played.

South Carolina had won five straight SEC games -- including wins against Tennessee and Florida -- before ending the regular season with a loss to Clemson. In 12 seasons at Florida, Spurrier took the Gators to 11 bowl games.

"All I can remember is Steve Spurrier and the Gators," Missouri cornerback Calvin Washington said. "He coached some great teams. It's going to be a privilege."

Smith is equally eager to face a team coached by Spurrier.

"I'm loving it already," Smith said. "He's one of the biggest coaches in the game."

It's the second bowl game in five seasons at Missouri for Pinkel, who led three Toledo teams to bowl games.

Missouri beat three bowl-bound teams this season, including Arkansas State, Iowa State and Nebraska. After losing to Kansas and Colorado, Missouri became bowl eligible with a win against Baylor on Nov. 12.