An All-Shreveport affair this morning, in anticipation of this afternoon's rainy festivities...

Previews

• The Trib: Replacing Aldon Smith was harder than Missouri thought it would be
• KC Star: Missouri will show its SEC credentials in Independence Bowl
• The Missourian: Missouri, North Carolina predict running games for Independence Bowl
• The Missourian: North Carolina focused on Independence Bowl, not future
• Post-Dispatch: Mizzou vs. North Carolina: Five things to Watch
• Post-Dispatch: Bowl game was turning point for Mizzou

  When the Tigers fell behind the Gamecocks 21-0 in the first quarter and trailed 28-7 in the second, Pinkel's team seemed destined to finish 6-6 to have a fourth non-winning season in his five years.

  "I would not recommend you go down 21 … very often," Pinkel playfully said last week before MU left for Louisiana.

  But behind quarterback Brad Smith's 432 yards of total offense, Mizzou uncorked a comeback like no other in school history to beat the Gamecocks 38-31.

  That arguably was a springboard for all that came next, including MU's seventh straight bowl appearance today when it takes on North Carolina (7-5) at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.

  Including that 2005 bowl, MU has gone 56-24 (.700) since its resurgence that day.

  "If you go back and look at that point, it's kind of like (when) things kind of changed," said Pinkel, adding, "You never know. I always tell my players, as you go through adversity, greatness is around the corner …

Profiles

• Eggo
  Post-Dispatch: Michael Egnew is down, but still in
• L'Damian
  KC Star: Missouri's L'Damian Washington back in bayou for bowl game
  We Are Mizzou: L'Damian Washington Comes Home

Other Multimedia

• The Missourian: PHOTOS: Missouri football players take in Bowling Before the Bowl
• We Are Mizzou: VIDEO: The Big Game Show
• We Are Mizzou: VIDEO: Volunteering in Shreveport
• We Are Mizzou: VIDEO: Mizzou Christmas Carols
• We Are Mizzou: VIDEO: Big Man 7 on 7