Performance earns Garcia starting role

LEXINGTON, KY. — Sure, Stephen Garcia came on in relief Saturday to lead South Carolina past Kentucky. That's all fine and good.

But, down to business, how about his abilities as a postgame comedian?

In explaining how he'd handle being given the reins as USC's starting quarterback, he said he planned to keep a "low profile."

The bright, honest youngster then paused for the appropriate laughter, and he got it.

Ed Reinke
AP

USC quarterback Stephen Garcia's performance coming off the bench Saturday at Kentucky earned him the starting spot against LSU next week.

The idea of Garcia ever being anywhere but the spotlight is wholly humorous.

The redshirt freshman from Tampa, Fla., now has the equal number of games played (three) and arrests or citations from Columbia-area police.

"I try to forget about last year as much as possible. I'm just kind of moving forward with my life," Garcia said Saturday afternoon. "Those days are behind me. I try not to think about it, to be honest."

This is the guy senior receiver Kenny McKinley, among myriad others, once labeled a "rock star" quarterback. People are insatiably curious about the bad boy with the big arm.

After a summer in Floridian exile to get his act together, Garcia is now — finally — making news on the field.

Never more than Saturday, leading the 24-17 come-from-behind victory that stretched USC's unlikely win streak against Kentucky to nine games and moved the Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2 SEC) to within a game of bowl eligibility.

The next step for Garcia is a doozy: Facing an LSU team (8 p.m. Saturday, ESPN) that was drilled by 30 at Florida.

The defending national champs probably aren't too happy about now, especially a defense that's receiving a ton of criticism for giving up 51 points to the Gators.

"I'm very excited (to start)," Garcia said.

"I'm very nervous. I'm playing against LSU for your first start."

Saturday, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier turned to Garcia when he gave up on the idea of Chris Smelley turning his day around.

Smelley, who blamed himself afterward, finished 9-for-23 for 105 yards, with a touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble in 2 1/2 quarters.

Garcia responded in the final quarter and a half to go 10-for-14 for 169 yards, with a touchdown. He also splashed in 22 rushing yards, including a 25-yard scamper around the right end that helped set up the game-tying field goal.

Transcending the numbers, Garcia came in and calmed an offense that had looked more miss than hit all day.

Upon entrance, down 17-14, Garcia told the offense it was going to muster its first legit touchdown drive. (A kickoff return set up the first score, and the second came on a blocked field goal return.)

"He was a real leader today," said McKinley, who set USC's all-time receptions record during the game. "He got all the respect from me and the rest of my teammates today. He came in there, did what he had to do and played a great game."

Garcia made the downfield throws the offense had desperately been seeking and seldom finding. Spurrier said that was something of a "surprise."

Two different times, he hit redshirt freshman receiver Jason Barnes streaking down the right sideline for long gains. The second, a 38-yarder, set up the game-winning touchdown on a trick play.

Garcia also zinged other routes, including a third-down slant to Joe Hills and a tight end sit-down route to Weslye Saunders, also on third down. He found Barnes on a seam route against the UK zone, as well.

"He was on target," Spurrier said Sunday. "He hit all of his passes. In only one half or a little less than a half, actually. We're hoping, believing that will continue."

To that end, Spurrier said he plans to help Garcia in his efforts to stay underground. Well, sort of.

"We'll keep him away from the media this week and try to get him a normal week as he goes into his first start," Spurrier said, adding that he's leaning toward making Garcia available one time, and one time only, on Tuesday. "I know you all want to talk to him and all that, but history just tell us the more attention they get, the worse they play."

But, in Garcia, he might be dealing with a different bird entirely. A rock star needs his stage.

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the new South Carolina blog at charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks.