Garcia Leads USC Over Kentucky
Thank God for second chances … and third chances … and fourth chances.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia has gotten plenty of reprieves from his coaches since arriving at the University of South Carolina two years ago, but they all paid off Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky.
Garcia shredded one of the best defenses in the Southeastern Conference for 169 passing yards (and picked up another 22 yards on the ground) in only a quarter and a half of work to lead South Carolina to its second straight SEC win, a 24-17 victory over mildly-favored Kentucky.
Not bad for a kid who many thought was done at Carolina after repeated off-field troubles.
Of course, now is not the time for South Carolina fans to grow overconfident. As improved as Kentucky and Ole Miss have looked at times this year, they’re still two middle of the road SEC programs, and the Gamecocks will have their hands full next week at home against defending national champion LSU.
Also, road games remain against Florida and Clempsun, which despite its present turmoil always shows up to play against their in-state rival.
The Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2 SEC) clearly have a long way to go before they’ll be favored in any of those games, as offensive woes continue to hold the team back from reaching its full potential.
In fact, Garcia only got his chance to play the hero in Lexington thanks to stellar defensive and special teams play, including an 85-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown and 80-yard kickoff return by defensive back Captain Munnerlyn.
South Carolina’s so-called “Cock-n-Fire” offense is still average at best, and it looked positively putrid on Saturday when Chris Smelley was at the controls.
A week after earning SEC offensive player of the week honors in South Carolina’s win over Mississippi, Smelley flat out stunk up Commonwealth Stadium, going 9 of 23 for 105 yards with two interceptions and a fumble.
In total, Carolina turned the ball over four times (and also missed four field goals), but Munnerlyn’s special teams heroics and another solid defensive effort bailed the Gamecocks out -setting the stage for Garcia’s heroics.
Incidentally, South Carolina’s come-from-behind win gave head coach Steve Spurrier his sixteenth straight victory over the Wildcats, the third-longest winning streak against one opponent by an NCAA coach in history. The Gamecocks winning streak over Kentucky as a team also advanced to nine games.
Last but not least, props to USC wide received Kenny McKinley, who broke former Gamecock great Sterling Sharpe’s career receptions record with his 170th career catch.
Of course, in typical USC fashion McKinley fumbled the football on the play, but he did finish with 7 grabs for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Pictures courtesy of Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina.
Comments
By Harry on October 11th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Win or no win, he i still a punk.
By TigerByBirthOnly on October 11th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
This is a first: a spout-off on a sports blog!!! What is happening to me?
But I like Garcia–he and I went through PTI in parallel hells together.
You go, Garcia. Anyone who thinks LSU doesn’t tap into the voodoo conduit is naive. If he wins it next week for the GameSlongs, it will be due to benevolent forces.
By KBR on October 12th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Whether he is a “punk” or not, Garcia showed up when all else seemed hopeless. Does he have a long way to go? Absolutely, but the numbers speak for the potential this young “punk” has. While his cockiness (no pun intended) may be a turn off for some, I think many will agree that most successful quarterbacks tend to have a greater degree of arrogance than those who are not as successful, i.e. Smelley.
By Harry on October 12th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
KBR
I suspect you are correct. I jst refuse to participate in PUNK worship. I know the rest of the world is OK with it…but I am not.
By Marcy on October 12th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
We’ll know if this is really the beginning of the Garcia Era this time next week…let’s see him scramble on a steamed-up LSU…
By Toyota Kawaski on October 13th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Dam i am so sunburn from that cool KY october weather
By Tired on October 13th, 2008 at 9:47 am
just a thought…..but those “mildly retarded” Gamecocks that so many people like to talk down to are merely a game away from bowl eligibility. All you need to know Clempsun fans it that the tigers might not even make it that far.
Those are the facts and they are without dispute.