University of South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia has been suspended for a second time this spring, this time by Gamecocks athletic director Eric Hyman. In a statement released on Wednesday night, Hyman said "Stephen has exhibited behavior that is unacceptable for one of our student athletes. Therefore, he has forfeited the privelege to participate in any football related activity until further notice." Garcia's suspension was indefinite according to Hyman's press release, but following Wednesday night's spring practice Spurrier said that the quarterback will be suspended for the rest of the semester and his future will be determined after that at a later date.
The State newspaper is Columbia offered details of the reason for Garcia's suspension reporting that the quarterback showed up at an SEC mandated life skills event smelling of alcohol and did not finish the event:
GoGamecocks.com: Garcia suspended indefinitely
ESPN.com: Garcia suspended indefinitely
Gamecocks beat writer Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier reported earlier in the evening that the suspension is the result of an incident at a leadership meeting:
Travis Haney blog: Garcia suspended (again)
Former Gamecock and NFL linebacker Corey Miller, who works in sports radio in Columbia, tweeted about the suspension:
Corey Miller's Tweet
@pastorofpain: Garcia was sent home from a Senior leadership function last night! Heard he was rowdy so you can fill in the blanks!!!
Here's the story from the Associated Press, which includes Garcia denying that the suspension is the result of an arrest or alcohol or drug related:
Gamecocks suspend QB Stephen Garcia indefinitely
By Pete Iacobelli
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia has been indefinitely suspended from the football program. Athletic director Eric Hyman announced the suspension Wednesday, but did not give a reason. Hyman said in a statement that Garcia exhibited "unacceptable" behavior for a university student-athlete and would not take part in any football activities until further notice. Garcia told The Associated Press that the suspension did not involve any arrests, nor was it drug or alcohol related. It is Garcia's fifth suspension and second this spring since coming to South Carolina in January 2007.
Garcia was suspended for the first week of spring practice due to an incident that allegedly involved alcohol during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl week in December of 2010. When Garcia returned to spring practice, he addressed the media guaranteeing that he would not get in any more trouble.
“The last time I got in trouble was three or four years ago," Garcia said. "It was a bad decision on my part, about Atlanta. Nothing bad is going to happen again. It’s a guarantee.” That guaranteed lasted less than two weeks.
The Gamecocks spring practice is set for Saturday at 1pm and Connor Shaw has been thrust into the starting quarterback slot for now.
