Smelley, Garcia To Play Against Georgia
Get ready, South Carolina fans. You'll likely get your first look at much-talked about quarterback Stephen Garcia on Saturday.
Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said sophomore Chris Smelley would start this weekend against No. 2 Georgia. Then Spurrier threw in the words many have waited to hear the past two years: "There's a good chance Garcia will play this week."
Spurrier said Tommy Beecher, the Gamecocks first-game starter, was still not himself after a shoulder injury he got in South Carolina's 34-0 win over North Carolina State on Aug. 28.
Smelley started and played throughout last week's 24-17 loss at Vanderbilt. Smelley had won his first four career starts last season, but has dropped his past three including a second straight to the Commodores. Add that to Beecher's four-interception performance against the Wolfpack, and it's understandable why Gamecock backers want Garcia.
"We might as well put him there for a couple of plays here and there, see what happens,"
Spurrier said.
It's been a long road from recruitment to the playing field for Garcia.
He was a strong-armed, mobile quarterback from Tampa's Jefferson High and considered a centerpiece in Spurrier's 2007 recruiting class, which analysts placed among the country's 10 best.
Garcia enrolled in January 2007, ready to take part in spring practice and learn Spurrier's pass-friendly system. Instead, Garcia was arrested twice his first six weeks at school, and banned from spring workouts.
A repentant Garcia spent last fall on the scout team and figured to join the quarterback battle with Beecher and Smelley this season.
However, only days into spring practice, Garcia was ticketed for underage drinking. He was suspended by the university from team activities until Aug. 15. Spurrier said Garcia was given several conduct benchmarks to meet before he would be reinstated.
Apparently, Garcia accomplished the undisclosed guidelines. He won an appeal to join the team two week earlier than planned and reported Aug. 1 with his teammates.
Garcia has lived up to the vow he made then not to speak to the media until he took part in a real game.
Even earlier this week, that looked way down the road.
Spurrier said Tuesday that while Garcia's attitude and play had improved, he didn't think the freshman was "ready to go this week yet."
Beecher's slow rebound might have sped up Spurrier's timetable.
Spurrier made clear that should Smelley play well, "he may go the distance this week."
"He seems physically, mentally ready to play, a little bit better than all the other guys. So he's our guy,"
Spurrier said. "He's had a good week of practice and, hopefully, we can take of the ball a little bit better this week and play our best offensive game."
Smelley completed 23 of 39 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt. However, he also threw two interceptions.
If Smelley struggles, though, count on seeing Garcia for more than a couple of plays.
Spurrier's says Garcia's not ready to run all of South Carolina's offense and the coaches will streamline a package for the young QB.
Any boost Garcia gives would be welcomed by Spurrier. The Gamecocks are ninth in SEC offense and their six interceptions thrown so far are the most of any Football Bowl Subdivision team.
"Our offense is right where it's always been, it's ninth in the conference,"
Spurrier said. "Georgia's a very good defense. We'll see how it goes this week. We're ready to play, though. Ready to see what happens."
