USC QB Garcia Suspended Indefinitely

South Carolina indefinitely suspends QB Stephen Garcia

PUBLISHED 3 hours and 14 minutes ago

Staff report Sporting News

South Carolina has indefinitely suspended senior quarterback Stephen Garcia, athletic director Eric Hyman announced Wednesday.

"We have expectations for our student-athletes and we make them aware that there are consequences for their actions," Hyman said in a statement. “Stephen has exhibited behavior that is unacceptable for one of our student-athletes. Therefore, he has forfeited the privilege to participate in any football related activity until further notice."



Stephen Garcia (5) will give way to backup Connor Shaw (14) beginning with Saturday's spring game. (AP Photo)


Hyman did not say what Garcia did to merit the suspension, but The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier reported that Garcia’s behavior at a non-football event Tuesday led to the decision. Garcia was asked to leave a leadership and life-skills function, The Post and Courier reported, citing multiple, though unnamed, sources.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier told reporters after a spring practice session Wednesday that Garcia would be suspended at least through the spring semester. "Then we'll see," Spurrier said, according to The Post and Courier. Spurrier said he had input into the decision to suspend Garcia.

Spurrier was noncommittal about whether he wants the quarterback to return. "If he's back, he's back," Spurrier told reporters. "If he's not back, really it's same thing as maybe guy getting hurt, guy going pro."

Spurrier added: "Players come and go, as we all know. This incident should never have happened, but it did. This is where we are."

Garcia acknowledged the suspension Wednesday but said in an interview that the suspension did not involve an arrest and was not related to alcohol or drugs.

This is the latest -- and perhaps final -- punishment for Garcia, who has been suspended five times during his collegiate career. Last month he was suspended for a week of spring practice for violating team rules prior to the Gamecocks' Chick-fil-A Bowl game in Atlanta.
“It was a bad decision on my part down in Atlanta. Nothing bad is going to happen again. That is a guarantee," Garcia told reporters last month.

Hyman's announcement comes three days before the Gamecocks' spring game. Backup QB Connor Shaw could get the bulk of the reps in place of Garcia.