Spurrier discusses Garcia situation
COLUMBIA — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier explained Wednesday night why he removed himself from the disciplinary equation involving suspended quarterback Stephen Garcia.
"I really thought that Stephen should be treated like any other student, and I really thought most of his problems occurred in the dorm and this, that and the other," Spurrier said. "I did not want to influence whatever discipline he would receive. So, I really thought in this case, the university should make the call and I was going to accept whatever it was. So, that's the way we handled it."
Garcia and teammates Heath Batchelor and Zac Brindise were charged Saturday evening with underage possession of beer on campus.
It was the third time Garcia, 20, had been in trouble with police since arriving on campus in January 2007.
Monday, Spurrier said Garcia's fate was "out of his hands." Tuesday, athletic director Eric Hyman issued a statement saying Garcia had been suspended from team activities until Aug. 15, when the fall semester begins. Garcia will be allowed to finish the spring semester, but cannot take summer classes. He is expected to return home to Tampa, Fla. He will also be required to take an alcohol-awareness class.
His first arrest, in February 2007, was for public drunkenness and disregarding a police officer's orders. The second was for keying a visiting professor's car in a dispute over a parking space.
"Yeah, he needs some counseling," Spurrier said. "The stipulations the university's placed him under ... if he can complete these things, then he will maybe be a different person. It remains to be seen if he can do all this. He says he will and he's going to try his best. We'll just have to see."
Garcia was expected to compete with Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher for the starting job. Without argument, he is the most physically gifted of the three.
It's always been a matter of his off-field behavior.
"I don't know if he can be back or not," Spurrier said. "But we're going to try to see if he can change his ways. But we'll wait and see if that happens. He may or may not be back. But he says he's going to try so we'll see if he can do all this."
Hillary on hand
Freshman QB signee Aramis Hillary has been coming to recent practices.
"Yeah, he doesn't live too far from here," Spurrier said of the Johnston native. "He likes to come to just about every practice. Yeah, he's third man (at quarterback) probably right now. So, I'm coaching him on the side when we're doing our team stuff."
Extra points
Offensive lineman Kevin Young, nursing a sore shoulder, wore a yellow jersey. ... Batchelor served a one-game suspension for his part in the weekend incident with Garcia. Brindise returned Wednesday after sitting out Monday's practice. ... Running back Mike Davis (class) and tackle Ladi Ajiboye (sick) missed practice. Corner Carlos Thomas (hamstring) was limited.
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Comments
This article has 18 comment(s)
Posted by bigriver1 on March 27, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Steve Spurier is a gutless coward! Be a man. NCAA needs to step in and shut sc down. Stevie and sc are out of control! The funny thing is these thugs cant even win ! LOL. Parents are you watching?
Posted by pizzarolls on March 27, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For those who don't know, BigRiver is a Oklahoma fan. Do the names Ryan Broyles, Josh Jarobe, and DeMarcus Granger mean anything to you? All Oklahoma players and recruits. Let's see... stealing gas, receiving stolen goods, weapons on campus, and shoplifting come to mind when I hear those names. Funny that bigriver isn't calling for Bob Stoops to resign and for the NCAA to shut down the OU football program. Just stop with your holier than thou USC bashing posts, or at least do a little research before you throw stones.
Posted by bigriver1 on March 27, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah but we win CHAMPIONSHIPS! 38!! 7 NATIONAL titles!! I am only saying your coward coach at least could recruit thugs that can play. LOL. 1 ( one ) title in 108 years. 17-24 record against DUKE in FOOTBALL. sc football is a joke. A NATIONAL joke! Everyone laughs at your football program, and now your latest to the rescue legend is failing (big surprise) and turns out to be a coward which makes sc football even more laughable! sc football = joke. sc the whole NATION laughs AT you.
Posted by JRob on March 27, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And lose to a West Virginia team that couldn't even beat Pittsburgh. 48-28. LOL!
Posted by MSC on March 27, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A joke but yet you are so consumed with them. Hey Mr USC sports information director, when was the last time Duke even played USC in football?
Posted by pizzarolls on March 27, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wasn't talking about OU vs. USC football records. You said that the NCAA should come "shut sc down." Now its okay to recruit thugs as long as they win? I must have missed that NCAA rule interpretation. Everyone knows that Spurrier doesn't have the program where he wants it, but 21-16 overall with wins over Florida, Tenn., and Clemson is a decent start. USC was #6 in the country last year before the free fall of 6 losses. I can't even remember the last time they were in the top 10. And what exactly makes him a coward? He is doing the same thing Stoops and many other coaches are thoughout college football. I guess they are all cowards.
Posted by ashleyriver on March 27, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ain't it amazing how usc fans ridicule Clemson's football program and head coach, and yet count the one win over Clemson as one of Spurrier's premier accomplishments while he's been at "the graveyard of college coaches"????
Congratulations on that missed field goal, Steve!.....:~)
Posted by pizzarolls on March 27, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When did I ridicule Clemson's program? Considering it a great win is a compliment. Sorry you have are hard time accepting it.
Congratulations on that field goal you made this year, Tommy!.....:~)
Posted by fantasy5 on March 27, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gentlemen, let's not get carried away here and forget what this whole issue is about. The bottom line here is that Spurrier could have easily stepped up and kicked Garcia off the team, but chose to let the school make the decision. It seems as though he knew that the school would not give him the boot but yet another slap on the wrist. If Carolina wants this thug on the field, let them have 'em because a person who makes stupid decisions in life is prone to make stupid decisions on the field and continue to make them off the field. I tend to agree that Spurrier is acting cowardly in THIS situation, but he is a good coach and no one can take that away from him. Also, as a Clemson fan I appreciate the compliment pizzaboy...
Posted by ashleyriver on March 27, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pizzarolls---only difference is----Clemson doesn't count ANY win over usc as some sort of major accomplishment----come to think of it,neither does anyone else.
Posted by bribetaker on March 27, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, I'm keeping score at home and in my book, he currently has 4 strikes. The first one was his choice of a barber. Good god, boy, I thought teenagers in Florida kept up with the current fashions. You sure he's a USC recruit and not App. State? (aka Hippy State, LOL)
Posted by Rooster07 on March 27, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bigriver, if the SC program was shut down what would you do all day long??
Posted by bigriver1 on March 27, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Three arrests and 0 snaps. Hmmm what do I do? Become a coward. Spurrier. What a joke! Glad all you gamecocks could watch my YOUNG Sooners play in ANOTHER BCS game! Best young qb in the nation! The future looks great for my Sooners! You sure had plenty of time on your hands....... sitting at home. LOL! sc football is a joke. Quick question. What will you do when this latest legend fails? He is playing with his players ( thugs ) now. He has no one to blame for this years failure. 3-5 again, 6-6 overall in 08. Home for the holidays again. Any new old legends lined up?
Posted by ashleyriver on March 27, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW gamecock fans, very sorry to hear about Curtis Johnson....hope he makes a complete and speedy recovery from surgery (if necessary)
Posted by notafan on March 27, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah Oklahoma is a clean program. Barry Switzer and Brian Bosworth were real role models. And didn't Oklahoma kick players off of the team for being paid for jobs they never went to. Is this the same team that was throttled by Boise State in the bowl game?? Talk about a team that has loads of talent but does nothing with it.
bigriver- you do know that you are not suppose to eat the blue mint in the men's room unrinals don't you???
bigriver is a very lonely person. Let's all hope he can get out and find a girl some time soon and then maybe he can contribute something positive for a change.
Posted by wonderdog on March 27, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bigriver, don't insult App State. Jerry Moore wouldn't put up with that punk on his team.
Posted by wonderdog on March 27, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And another thing....Garcia would be (at best) second string at App.
Posted by wonderdog on March 27, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sorry, bigriver.....I meant to say bribetaker!