COLUMBIA, S.C. -- On the eve of the Gamecocks' annual spring scrimmage game, Connor Shaw finds himself as the most experienced signal caller on the team.
University of South Carolina Athletic Director Eric Hyman announced Wednesday that senior starter Stephen Garcia has been suspended indefinitely from the football program, leaving the former Flowery Branch High standout (Shaw) as the potential starter in Columbia.
"Being a student-athlete at the University of South Carolina is a privilege, not a right," said Hyman of Garcia's suspension. "We have expectations for our student-athletes and we make them aware that there are consequences for their actions. 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."
Garcia passed for 3,059 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2010, leading the Gamecocks to the Southeastern Conference championship game, where they were defeated by Auburn.
Shaw, a rising sophomore, played in nine games as a back-up in 2010, completing 69.7 percent of his passes (23-of-33) for 223 yards. He was also the team's fourth-leading rusher, gaining 165 yards on 32 carries.
Shaw practiced as the team's No. 1 signal caller during an evening session on Wednesday in Columbia.
"He did OK," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said in a recorded interview on Gamecocksonline, following the practice session. "They (back-up quarterbacks) all got a ways to go, but he's got potential."
Spurrier would not go into details of what caused Garcia's fifth suspension -- and second this spring -- since he arrived on campus in January 2007. Spurrier said he, Hyman and University President Harris Pastides were involved in deciding what should be done with the Gamecocks most experienced quarterback.
Garcia would also not discuss the reason for the latest suspension, saying only that it did not involve an arrest, nor was it drug or alcohol related.
"I don't want to talk about it now," he said told The Associated Press in a brief phone interview.
The Gamecocks are preparing for their annual Garnet & Black Spring Game, which will be held Saturday, April 9, at 1 p.m. in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Tuesday
June 17th, 2025
9:56PM
