There were two big headlines at the Proving Grounds on Thursday at USC spring football practice. Gamecocks basketball star Bruce Ellington was on hand and Steve Spurrier confirmed that the former high school option quarterback at Berkeley HS will join the USC football team in the summer. In addition, Stephen Garcia addressed the media for the first time since returning from a one week suspension.
Ellington was a South Carolina Mister Football Finalist who announced that he was playing just basketball after he won a state title in his senior year at Williams-Brice Stadium. But a change of heart came after his freshman campaign for Darrin Horn where he averaged nearly 13 points a game and was named to the SEC's All-Freshman team. Horn released this statement on Thursday night:
“To me the most rewarding thing in this job is the players and my relationship with them. From the first time I met Bruce I knew playing both sports in college was a possibility and we support him in every way we can. We hope he has a lot of success in football and look forward to having him back next year for basketball.”
Charleston Post and Courier: Ellington to play footballAlso on Thursday, Stephen Garcia spoke to the media for the first time since serving a one week suspension at the start of spring football. Garcia was suspended due to an off the field incident during Chick-Fil-A Bowl week in Atlanta. Garcia did not address the specifics of what happened during the bowl and insisted that the off the field problem did not impact his play in the Gamecocks loss to Florida State on December 31st at the Georgia Dome.
Charleston Post and Courier: Garcia speaks to the media
Garcia cut his trademark long hair saying it was one of about a dozen suggestions Spurrier had passed on to him. He would not reveal any of the other ideas, calling it confidential between him and his head coach.
