Garcia's Time To Shine: South Carolina Future Rests In His Arm

Stephen Garcia will start his sophomore year at South Carolina this year. Garcia has the pressure of a whole college on his shoulders.  He needs to worry about the man they call the old ball coach. Coach Steve Spurrier is one of the hardest coaches to impress.

Garcia is a 6’2” 220 pound Quarterback from Tampa Florida. At 21 years old this will be his most trying time in his life. So many questions to ask.

Can he lead this team?

Can he finally be the QB Spurrier has been waiting for?

Garcia was thrown into the fray last year. He entered in the Georgia game for a little bit going 0-1 and 2 rushes for 1 yard. That was week 3 for the Gamecocks and the fell to 1-2 on the season.

We would not see Garcia again until Week 5 vs. UAB. Garcia lead the Gamecocks to a victory passing for 131 yds  on 13-20 passing with 1TD and 1INT. Garcia had 18 rushes for 86 yards and 1 td in the game.  South Carolina went to 3-2 on the season.

After another break Garcia was back in the lineup vs. Kentucky. Gamecocks won going to 5-2 on the season. Garcia was 10-14 169 yards 1TD and 6 rushes for 22 yds.

This was the start of a five games swing where he led the Gamecocks over the next 4 games the Gamecocks won 2 lost 2. Garcia went 33-69 453 yds 4 TD 4INT 39 rushes for 64 yards during this 4 game stretch.

Garcia would not see action again till the Outback bowl lose to Iowa going 9-18 79YDS with 3 INT. He also rushed 5 times for 25 yds.

Garcia struggled a lot in his first season. He will need to find that something that Coach Spurrier  saw in him and bring it out if the Gamecocks are gonna  succeeded  in the tough SEC East.

Garcia final 2008 season stats    65-122 832 yards 6TD 8INT

For the Gamecocks to triumph this year Garcia will need to throw for at least 2200 yards and have 18TD with only 6 INT.