Garcia or not, USC's offense has issues

Fifth-year quarterback Stephen Garcia, leading the nation's major college football teams with nine interceptions, has been benched for No. 18 South Carolina's game Saturday against Kentucky. Head coach Steve Spurrier will go with unproven backup Connor Shaw, hoping the sophomore can rise above some shaky trends. This after watching Garcia throw four interceptions against Vanderbilt two weeks ago and two more in Saturday's 16-13 loss to Auburn.

Spurrier was a master of offense while the head coach at Florida, where he won a national championship in 1996. But the Gamecocks have not sizzled in the passing game, with or without Garcia, since Spurrier took over as head coach at South Carolina in 2005.

THE NUMBERS

South Carolina's SEC rank in total offense (yards per game) under head coach Steve Spurrier:

9th 3rd 6th 7th 9th 7th 7th

(333.8) (406.5) (390.5) (316.5) (347.4) (392.8) (372.0)

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

PASS INEFFICIENCY

2011 statistics:

Player Att.-Comp.-Int. TDs Yards Efficiency

Connor Shaw 4-11-0 0 29 58.5

Stephen Garica 61-118-9 4 884 107.7

HBC vs. Garcia

Head Ball Coach Steve Spurrier's South Carolina record: 48-34 (.585)

With Stephen Garcia as the starting quarterback: 20-14 (.588)

Without Stephen Garcia as the starting quarterback: 28-20 (.583)

The good:

2-0 vs. Clemson

Beat No. 1 Alabama

20 wins as a starter

The bad:

5 times suspended from team

0-3 in bowl games

9 interceptions this season