Stephen Garcia: Why Maligned QB Was Never Good Enough for South Carolina

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Stephen Garcia is the epitome of a student-athlete that forgot he was a student.

Garcia had every opportunity to succeed at the University of South Carolina, and with every chance he was given, he chose to throw it away.

The Gamecocks quarterback flashed greatness and had spurts of impressive production.

Now those moments will quickly be erased from fan's memories as they are forced to look back in disdain at the troubled path Garcia went down.

He Was Never Good Enough for the NCAA

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Stephen Garcia was not only not good enough for South Carolina. He was not good enough for NCAA athletics.

He was a highly touted recruit for the Gamecocks, but once on campus, he quickly showed that he was not ready for a collegiate lifestyle.

In Spring 2007, during his freshman year, Garcia was arrested twice. Once for public intoxication and once for keying a professor's car.

In March of 2008, still his freshman year, Garcia again showcased his juvenile tendencies by being cited for underage drinking and pulling a fire alarm.

He was suspended from the university for a short time before being reinstated and named the starting quarterback for the Gamecocks.

The lack of true repercussions may of been a driving factor in Garcia's continued troublesome behavior throughout his career.

He Was Given Five Chances

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Coach Steve Spurrier must of had a real soft spot in his heart for Garcia because he brought him back from suspension five times.

Spurrier continued to put his faith in Garcia even as he was let down time and again.

The quarterback was clearly a talent, throwing for over 7,500 yards in a Gamecocks uniform, but for Spurrier to repeatedly give chances to someone who was so clearly undeserving is a travesty.

Obviously the Ol' Ball Coach's job is to win football games, and when Spurrier finally found a suitable replacement this season in Connor Shaw he was quick to dismiss Garcia.

Apparently five chances is fine, but six is just crossing the line.

Garcia Never Seemed to Care

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Perhaps this is just speculation, but did Stephen Garcia ever seem to care that he was repeatedly given chances to clean up his act?

His biggest change in the offseason before his senior year was that he cut his long and shaggy hair.

Really? That's how you show you are focusing solely on football?

Garcia did not undergo formal counseling sessions after he was suspended in the spring. Instead he opted to have a few discussions with team doctors.

Being an NCAA athlete is a privilege, not a right. Stephen Garcia either forgot that along the way or never cared to begin with.

Garcia Often Struggled on the Field

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

While Garcia was clearly a problem off the field, he also had his issues while actually playing for South Carolina.

The quarterback may of been named ALL-SEC Third Team in 2010, but he was a turnover prone player with a penchant for making crucial mistakes.

Garcia threw 10 and 14 interceptions respectively in the two seasons he was a full-time starter. His career completion percentage hovers at around only 56 percent.

Garcia was much maligned both on and off the field during his college career. He was never good enough to play in the NCAA and especially not for an SEC team such as South Carolina.