The Ruffian Returns (Yet Again): Stephen Garcia Reinstated for South Carolina Workouts

by cocknfire on May 30, 2011 7:39 PM EDT in SEC Football

The announcement that everyone knew was coming, at least if they had paid any attention to what actually caused Stephen Garcia's suspension and what Steve Spurrier had said in recent weeks, came Monday. Yes, Garcia will be back on the team "temporarily" and have a chance to take the field for South Carolina this fall.

"Stephen is returning to the team on a probationary basis and still has to do some things here for the next two or three months to prove himself worthy of being a student-athlete at South Carolina," said head coach Steve Spurrier. "We will give him another chance and hopefully he can do the right things and represent the University in a first-class manner."

There's a lot of back story here, much of it on the Web and thinly sourced if it's sourced at all. Suffice it to say that what Garcia apparently did was not enough to kick him off the team unless it was the straw that broke the camel's back, meaning that once he was only indefinitely suspended, it was a foregone conclusion that he would be back.

(As a South Carolina fan, I'll largely refrain from responding to some of the snarky comments I've seen. Though I would note that a certain former lineman turned analyst should probably refrain from tweeting a win at all costs remark until his team has gone an entire year without an arrest. Especially since Garcia isn't alleged to have broken any laws in the latest incidents, but I digress.)

The smart money is still on Garcia being under center when South Carolina tries to repeat as SEC East champions and perhaps bring home the first conference title in school history. Just like it always was.

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He didn’t do anything.

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/stephen-garcia-gamecocks-quarterback/

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by Bud Elliott on May 30, 2011 7:41 PM EDT reply actions

I think there was more than a little sensationalism in that article...

I seriously doubt the premise that Eric Hyman’s wife has some kind of vendetta against the “goofy hippy quarterback.” I do agree, though, that the seriousness of this incident was blown way out of proportion. I’m as guilty as anyone there.

The UGA response is amusingly typical. Pollack calling out Spurrier for this after Richt tolerated worse offenses from guys like Washaun Ealey is laughable.

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by Gamecock Man on May 30, 2011 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Truthfully...

this is either Spurrier being concerned with the mental well being of a guy who has proven to be somewhat unstable… or this is simply an acknowledgement of his desire to win a title at South Carolina and his knowledge that Garcia gives him the best chance.

I would like to point out however, that accusations of hypocrisy are not a defense.

by Caban on May 30, 2011 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

accusations of hypcrisy not a defense?

What exactly are we defending? UGA fans saying he should be kicked off the team? Then hypocrisy is a reasonable defense. If your staff isn’t willing to kick a player off of the team for a Hit and Run or an assault charge, than what has Garcia done to deserve such a punishment? I don’t see how you can justify the argument based off of sneaking girls into his hotel room and arguing with a seminar instructor.

by Charlestowne on May 31, 2011 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Wait, what?

I haven’t commented on this so far, but I don’t understand the argument. Georgia fans are RIGHTFULLY indignant at this, and stating that Richt gives people too many chances is hilariously biased if you’re the fan of a team where the starting QB has gotten 5 different chances. Give me one example of Richt pushing 4 on someone past sophomore year without kicking them to the curb, and I’ll be stunned.

I’ve got nothing against Garcia, and would rather him play, but acting like UGA fans are out of order by complaining about the ridiculous nature of this saga is just plain blind. I especially like the point about how he hasn’t broken any laws “in this incident.” So, yet again, Georgia’s continual minor traffic violations are somehow worse than a persistent pattern of drunken behavior by a 5th year senior? Let’s get a grip.

by blackertai on May 30, 2011 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

A couple of things

‘Hit and Run’ isn’t a ‘minor traffic violation’. While you are correct that I can’t think of any team member getting this many public chances on UGA’s team, how many of these things go on at Universities such as UGA and never see the light of day. I don’t think the bowl incident would have been public, at this school or any other, had it been any player other than Garcia. You really can’t say how many of these types of chances players have gotten. At other schools, on criminal issues get in the paper. Every once in a while you’ll have a ‘violation of team rules’ if it was severe enough for someone to miss a game or a half. Incidents like this don’t get reported elsewhere. That’s just fact.

by Charlestowne on May 31, 2011 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions

hit and run this state

is no longer on the team.

by knowshon loves legos on Jun 1, 2011 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

My point remains that Garcia did not break the law in this incident. Personally — as someone who called years ago for the guy to be kicked off the team — I think the suspension here is way out of line with what happened, which is one of the reasons I tend to think Mrs. Hyman might have had something to do with it. I’m not apologizing or making excuses for what he did, but Pollack taking shots at Garcia being back on the team after doing nothing illegal — minor or otherwise — for several years after Richt has allowed players who broke the law back on the Georgia team, sometimes in a matter of weeks, is beyond ridiculous.

Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.

by cocknfire on May 31, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions

'Beyond Ridiculous'?

Cocknfire, temper the hyperbole a little. Richt has done what you say, but Steve Spurrier’s handling of this incident has been transparent and predictable. Garcia is a repeat offender of the highest order, and David Pollack’s comment is fair.

by Hogbody Spradlin on May 31, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

"Repeat offender of the highest order"?

Who needs to temper the hyperbole here? Garcia has plenty of suspensions to his name, but none of them were for incidents that were particularly serious. He keyed a car and had a few instances of unfortunate public drunkenness. I’m not excusing what he’s done on several instances — Garcia has been way out of line more than once. But when we’re talking about a sport that has had people accused of beating their girlfriends and even murder, I think calling what Garcia did “of the highest order” is far more hyperbolic than anything I wrote.

Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.

by cocknfire on May 31, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

If I give you point 1, you'll have to concede point 2

So if I agree that this wasn’t the worst thing in the world, will you admit this reeks of Spurrier knowing he can win now, but only with Garcia? This is typical old-school Ole Ball Coach, right here. These were the kind of moves that kept Florida in the 90’s alive: selective enforcement of rules.

Show me Richt pardoning his more important players in ways he didn’t for the ‘regular’ guys. Mettenberger was very possibly Georgia’s starting QB, and it was 1 strike and you’re out with him. Let’s not kid ourselves about false equivalences.

by blackertai on May 31, 2011 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Only if you can answer this: Why does this have to be Spurrier thinking he can only win with Garcia? What suggests this being selective enforcement of the rules? Garcia is a unique case, a guy who started with some doozies but has lately made a habit of minor infractions, which doesn’t make for a lot of precedent. We’re not talking about Derek Watson here. I never suggested Richt treated his stars differently than his other players, and I’ve yet to see anyone indicate that’s what Spurrier is doing here.

Mettenberger doesn’t even apply here, for that matter, as kicking him off the team for that was a no-brainer. Garcia is not accused of anything near that bad, and should be kicked off the team if he is. And if would have been a starter over Murray, LSU will be an All-World team this year.

My point vis a vis Pollack was that he popped off with an idiotuc tweet about how it was “a joke” that a player who has not broken the law was still on the team.

Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.

by cocknfire on May 31, 2011 9:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions