South Carolina will place lots of attention on Smith

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Missouri quarterback Brad Smith didn't exactly squirm as he fielded questions before Friday's Independence Bowl. He acknowledged he'd rather skip the spotlight before the game, however.

He's not shy, though, about the attention he'll get from South Carolina, whose defense has labeled him as priority No. 1.

"I like that," Smith said. "I enjoy that challenge."

Gamecocks defensive end Orus Lambert had no trouble stating the game plan when South Carolina (7-4) takes on Missouri (6-5).

"Pretty much all we have to do is stop Brad Smith," Lambert said.

Spoken like a man who has studied the Tigers' stats.

Missouri put up 4,653 yards in total offense this season and Smith accounted for 3,173 -- rushing for 1,151 yards and passing for 2,022. That made Smith the first player in NCAA Division I-A history to pass for 2,000 and run for 1,000 in two seasons. Smith completed 216 of 362 passes with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.

And he really doesn't care how he makes a play, just that it's a big one.

"Big plays, any way you make them are exciting," Smith said. "It's more making the right decision, the one that works."

Smith already owns 59 school, Big 12 and NCAA single-game, season and career records.

"He's an excellent athlete with his ability to run, just like the Texas quarterback, Vince Young," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said. "You hope to try to make him throw the ball and not beat you running. We're going to try to contain him and try to cover their guys and try to get pressure on him."

An Independence Bowl victory would be big for both of these teams, which seemed long shots to make it to a bowl at different points this season.

South Carolina lost its first three Southeastern Conference games before a strong finish landed them the first bowl bid since going to the Outback Bowl after the 2001 season.

"It didn't start out all that pretty," Spurrier said.

After a rough couple of years with the Washington Redskins, Spurrier gave up golf for a chance to turn the Gamecocks' around. He described his team as a work in progress, but also admitted to having the most fun this year he'd had in a long time.

Unlike South Carolina, Missouri struggled down the stretch. The Tigers were at the top of the Big 12 North standings before losing three of their last four games, including a loss to rival Kansas and needed to beat lowly Baylor just to get a bowl bid.

The last bowl appearance for the Tigers was in the 2003 Independence Bowl, where it lost to Arkansas 27-14. Missouri is 9-13 all-time in bowl games, its last win coming in 1998.

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.