Garcia Dismissed from South Carolina
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/10/11/south-carolin…
Supposedly fails alcohol test after his FIFTH (!) suspension. Little fishy that his dismissal comes after he played poorly this season, but as the saying goes: Fool me once, strike one. Fool me five times...Strike three.
October 11th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
serious help. Help that I hope Stonum is getting.
October 11th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
Apparently he also failed a test for Pot too, kid just couldn't keep it together
October 11th, 2011 at 7:39 PM ^
A college kid who drinks and smokes pot. What is the world coming to?
October 11th, 2011 at 7:45 PM ^
Rabble rabble college athlete rabble rabble fifth violation rabble rabble
October 11th, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
The kid was arrested twice in his first two months at school, later suspended again for violating team rules, then again for showing up at a team function drunk, and now he's failed a substance test. I think it's fair to say that this isn't just "a college kid who drinks and smokes pot". I hope he figures things out and gets his life in order.
October 11th, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^
Yeah, not the same thing. Plus, right or wrong, NCAA football players, especially at major schools, are held to a much different bar than you or I (thank God).
October 11th, 2011 at 8:06 PM ^
I think the difference is that in this case, the Garcia kid got *caught* FIVE times.
<br>How many times was he partaking in illicit activities and going unoticed?
<br>Even non-athlete students know there are consequences to getting caught.
<br>Starting QBs should know better: keep your drugs/alcohol out of sight, an away from an automobile (derp)!
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October 11th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
A college kid who drinks and smokes pot. Is usually not cited by the law 5 times either. Garcia's just being irresponsible.
October 11th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
He's been suspended five times for substance abuse related activities. Kid needs help, man.
October 12th, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^
Not a kid. He is probably 22 or 23 years old, and is a 5th year senior. I had full time job by the time I was his age.
October 12th, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
Well, if there's one thing that's important in the OP's post, it's certainly the word "kid" and not the fact that Garcia needs help.
October 12th, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^
I understand that he needs help. I just dislike when everybody uses the "kid" card for excuses when they talk of college student athletes.
October 11th, 2011 at 7:38 PM ^
The old five strikes and your out.
October 11th, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
Coach Mark Dantonio says, "Dude, that is WAY harsh!"
October 11th, 2011 at 7:41 PM ^
I think Stonum has gotten 3 and possibly 4 strikes (if you include probation violations, which you should). So we shouldn't laugh.
October 11th, 2011 at 7:58 PM ^
I just find it peculiar that the fifth strike, happened to be at a time he was not playing well. So it's out the door with you!
October 11th, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^
I hope that he gets the help that he needs to at least get his life in order, but you would think that Spurrier & Co. would have been a little more proactive in making sure he got some help. It should not have gotten to a fifth suspension, in my opinion. There should have been someone saying, at some point, "If you want to stay on this team, here's what you need to do..."
October 11th, 2011 at 7:46 PM ^
If the guy is winning and positive for the program you do what you can to keep him. Once he gets to the point where he is a liability and not getting it done on the field, then what is the incentive to keep him with the program. I wish him well.
October 11th, 2011 at 7:46 PM ^
Honestly if I am a South Carolina fan at this point I say, "Good riddance."
Garcia is the type of player you don't want to have the address to your facility. He is the type of guy that always puts himself ahead of the team. He has been in trouble 5+ times and the first time he gets benched it takes him a week to say, "Fuck it, I can't help this team." And do something stupid.
October 11th, 2011 at 9:02 PM ^
agree with you but I also think the coach put him ahead of the team as well. The timing of this whole thing just stinks of a coach who is putting winning ahead of everything else. Garcia is a d bag though.
October 11th, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^
If he has any eligibility left, he'll probably end up at State or Oklahoma.
October 11th, 2011 at 8:02 PM ^
if he turns up at Wisconsin next year.
October 11th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
I forgot that they will lose their "4 year starter" after this season. Wisconsin getting Wilson was Cheesy!
October 12th, 2011 at 6:32 AM ^
Ya but he's having a muenster season!
October 11th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
Why do players get so many chances, in the SEC? Makes you wonder who will be the next OSU
October 11th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
....if both things have a common cause, one of them may (incorrectly) appear to cause the other
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<br>Getting drunk a lot ---> poor fball performance
<br>Getting drunk a lot ---> disciplinary action
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<br>But in the above case we cant conclude that poor performance gets you booted from the team....
October 11th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
Clearly this kid has a substance abuse problem and needs professional help. I hope he gets it and dedicates himself to the lifelong commitment it takes to stay away from those demons that seem to haunt him on a daily basis.
Good luck you man.
October 11th, 2011 at 8:46 PM ^
I totally, 100% predicted that Stephen Garcia would get kicked off the team...
...I just figured it would have happened a year or so ago.
I don't know why it took them so long.
October 11th, 2011 at 8:49 PM ^
Because their backup QB was a freshman?
October 11th, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^
That's always a good reason to let a criminal and drug addict stick around on your team.
October 12th, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
Whenever I see the Brandon Graham picture, I know it's you. I always read you comments because they are either witty, or informative. Not kissing ass, just stating the truth. Keep em' coming brotha.
October 12th, 2011 at 7:46 AM ^
Thanks.
October 11th, 2011 at 9:08 PM ^
this guy was a trouble maker. a rotten egg!
October 11th, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^
Is a hell of a drug.
October 11th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
Did Spurrier let him have one last party?
October 11th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
Kind of crappy so many details were leaked about this kid. He obviously wasn't doing what he needed to do but he's an amateur athlete and his private life shouldn't be public unless he wants it to be (which might be the case but I doubt it).
October 11th, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
know they are under the microscope. It comes with the territory and the easiest way to avoid negative details leaking is to not get caught doing something on five different occasions. Garcia has nobody else to blame, but himself, even though I do believe that the South Carolina coaching staff didn't do him any favors by basically doing nothing about the situation.
October 11th, 2011 at 11:43 PM ^
Before you go out and start committing crimes, it’s important to first make sure you’re at least slightly better than the 30 or 40 guys the team’s assistant GM could instantly pull off some practice squad to replace you. Otherwise you will become fodder for the team’s zero-tolerance discipline policy.