Stephen Garcia has done it again.
South Carolina’s long-haired, talented quarterback has been removed from Spring practice for the second year in a row.
Taking a look at this kid’s timeline over the last year is painful, but let’s do it anyway:
Early January 2007: Shows up in Columbia, SC with a long ponytail, a big pickup truck, and a ton of beer.
Mid January 2007: Unknowingly impregnates his girlfriend.
Mid February 2007: Arrested for drunkenness and failure to stop on police command. He is suspended indefinitely by Steve Spurrier.
Early March 2007: Arrested again, this time for vandalizing the car of a USC professor two days earlier. He is suspended indefinitely. Again.
A few days later, Garcia issues a public apology. His long hair, somewhat of a distraction itself, is trimmed to satisfy those who want him to cut it all off.
About two days after his haircut, Garcia is officially suspended from Spring practice.
Mid April 2007: Spurrier reinstates Garcia to the team. Fans around Columbia share high-fives.
June 2007: Garcia begins pretrial intervention program that would clear charges from two previous arrests.
Late August 2007: Unable to grasp enough of the offense in so little time, Garcia is announced as a redshirt for the 2007-2008 season.
September 2007: USC’s football season begins with much success.
October 2007: Garcia’s girlfriend gives birth to a boy, Memphys, named after the main character in the animated movie “Happy Feet.”
November – December 2007: Football season ends poorly; Garcia stays out of trouble.
March 2008: Spring practice begins, and Garcia’s campaign for the starting quarterback job starts well. However, his hair is noticeably longer than last season.
He speaks to reporters about how much he has matured; how fatherhood has changed him; how it’s easier to focus on what is important.
After three practices, Garcia gets in trouble again.
Along with two other players, Garcia is cited and charged with underage drinking; five hours later, a fire extinguisher in his dorm is discharged. Garcia is shockingly the only “suspect.” There is approximately $100 worth of damage to the extinguisher.
Three days later, Garcia is suspended from team activities until August 15 by the university. He is allowed to finish Spring classes but is kicked out of his dorm residence.
He must apply for re-admittance to the school in August.
*****
Garcia came to South Carolina as Spurrier’s first big-time quarterback recruit—and Spurrier’s first ever dual-threat recruit.
But the kid isn’t going to make it.
And I’m not suggesting Garcia is “in early stages of alcoholism,” as many around this city have tried to claim. He’s a college kid. College kids drink. Most of them drink quite a bit.
Unfortunately, Garcia appears to think he’s above the law, like so many other athletes who have been told they are the best since age 10. We’ve seen this song and dance before.
Until August and then beyond, Garcia’s life has to change drastically. He has to take part in alcohol counseling and be willing to give random drug tests. He has to open up his life to people he doesn’t know.
Based on his track record, I don’t think he can do it.
I’m glad the University and Spurrier want to support the kid; they are doing all the right things for the improvement of Stephen Garcia as a person. But I’m not sure they are helping Stephen Garcia the football player.
I’m no Gamecock fan, but I’ve been to Spring practices, and I’ve seen Garcia play. He’s big, he’s fast, he throws darts, and he’s popular with his teammates. I would love to see him get a chance to play in the SEC on Saturdays.
Sadly, I don’t think we’ll ever see that.
But I hope Stephen Garcia proves me wrong.
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3 months ago
He must have went to school with Ryan Perrilloux. I don't get these guys! Is it really that hard to stay out of trouble?
3 months ago
I hear you.
This dude is Perrilloux with a ponytail and no playing time.
3 months ago
This guy broke my heart. With smelly, we will NEVER EVER win more than 6 games, at best. What Garcia brought was mobility and the ability to throw under fire, and thats exactly what it takes to compete in the SEC with so many big, physcial d-lineman. Sorry to say it you Gamecock nation, but neither Smelly nor Tommy Beecher can ever win us more than 6 or 5 games. sorry.
3 months ago
As much as I wanted to see Garcia play, I must disagree with your assessment of Smelley. He was 4-2 as a starter, and that was with an awkward huddle (i.e. everyone waiting to see if Mitchell would act like he cared or not).
With another year under his belt--and it's clear he is going to get plenty of reps now--he should be improved. His WR's are only getting better. And in Spring so far, he has actually showed the ability to run a bit.
The Gamecocks will definitely improve upon the 6-6 record. NC State, Vandy, Wofford, UAB, Ole Miss, and revamped Kentucky are winnable games. From there, you know SOS is good for a few surprises. What is key is all the home games. LSU, Arkansas, and Tennessee all have to play in Columbia.
You just never know. If Perrilloux can't stay out of trouble, LSU is instantly mediocre. Jonathan Crompton at UT? Is he really the answer? And who knows what Arkansas will put on the field.
SEC East should be another great race.
3 months ago
I think the Gamecocks will be fine with Smelley but they could be great with Garcia....He's really screwing up his chances here. Best-case scenario, he cleans up his act and maybe starts the second half of the season if Smelley struggles. Garcia's not going to start right away after losing everyone's trust.
I'm in the process of putting together an article about emerging stars coming out of spring ball. Stephen Garcia was one of the guys who I had and probably will still have on my list. But like Perrilloux, he's walking on eggshells right now so I'm not too confident if he'll even make it to August.
Tim, I think you're right though about SC improving. They have too many winnable games. I don't see them at the level of Georgia or Florida, but they can definitely beat Arkansas/LSU/UT - even with Smelley over Garcia.
3 months ago
Spurrier said today that "We aren't giving up on Stephen," and that surprised me. Steve usually doesn't mess around with this kind of stuff. That said, I simply can't imagine Garcia showing up 2 weeks before the season starts and ending up getting any playing time this year.
Then again, Steve is known to do the qb shuffle...(I think I just contradicted myself three times.)
I guess we'll see if Garcia can keep his nose clean until August.
3 months ago
If this had been his first incident with the law, I wouldn't see it as that big of a deal. Yes, he was stupid for being outside the dorms, in a courtyard with a cooler full of beer. But come on, he is a college kid, and like you wrote, college kids drink. The stupid part was doing it out in public when he knew he was on a short leash. I think this is his last chance. One more misstep and his career at USC is over before it ever got started. What a shame.
3 months ago
Jody, it's been a while. Good to see you back on BR.
Not sure if you caught this tidbit or not, but apparently Garcia's 25 year old brother (who played for Harvard--???) supplied the beer for all the players.
First imagine a Garcia at Harvard; then picture one stupid enough to give his trouble-making little bro a bunch of beer.
The whole situation is strange.
3 months ago
BFD
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