Five suspensions and countless other benchings/expressions of disappointment by coach Steve Spurrier later, quarterback Stephen Garcia has apparently used up all his chances at South Carolina.
Earlier today, two sources confirmed to Josh Kendall of the State that Garcia has been dismissed from the South Carolina football team. An official announcement from the university came shortly thereafter.
“Being a student-athlete at the University of South Carolina is a privilege, not a right,” said athletic director Eric Hyman, “and we remind all of our student-athletes that there are consequences for their actions. For Stephen to return to and remain with the football squad this fall, we agreed on several established guidelines. Unfortunately, he has not been able to abide by those guidelines and has therefore forfeited his position on the roster. We wish him the best of luck as he moves forward in life.”
“We are all saddened that this has occurred,” said head coach Steve Spurrier. “We all feel like we’ve given Stephen numerous opportunities to be a student-athlete here at South Carolina. Obviously, he has chosen not to follow the guidelines of his reinstatement contract. We wish him the best.”
Garcia’s received his fifth and final suspension -- classified at the time as indefinite -- in April after allegedly showing up to a mandatory meeting smelling of alcohol. He later returned to the team on a probationary status during the summer months before eventually making his way back to the team full-time.
“Stephen Garcia has changed his lifestyle almost completely,” Spurrier said over the summer.
Before he could be reinstated, however, it was reported by Travis Haney of the Charleston Post & Courier that Garcia was asked to complete certain school and athletic department requirements -- one of which was for Garcia to complete an outpatient alcohol treatment program signed off and approved by doctors.
According to Haney, Garcia’s dismissal came after the school learned the senior had failed an alcohol test, which he was required to take regularly.
When asked in August if he had an alcohol issue, Garcia stated “Negative, no.”
Garcia’s problems weren’t strictly off-the-field, either; inconsistent performances during the first half of this season prompted Spurrier to bench Garcia in favor of sophomore Connor Shaw for last week’s game against Kentucky.
