South Carolina suspends QB Garcia for 1 week

South Carolina opened spring practice Tuesday without starting quarterback Stephen Garcia, who coach Steve Spurrier said was suspended from workouts for a week for violating team rules. Spurrier wouldn’t specify what Garcia did, only saying it happened sometime last year. Backup QB Andrew Clifford also is suspended for a week. “Sometimes when players are removed hopefully they appreciate the privilege they have practicing with their teammates. It’s no fun being not being on the team, from what I understand. So hopefully, all these guys will understand, if they want to be on the team, just follow the simple rules we have,” Spurrier said after practice.

Garcia now has missed at least part of three of his five spring practices on campus. Three run-ins with the law during his first 15 months at South Carolina caused him to miss all offseason practices in 2007 and 2008. Garcia has started every game for the past two seasons, leading the Gamecocks their first Southeastern Conference championship game last season. But he threw five interceptions as South Carolina lost its final two games to Auburn in the SEC title game and Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. His relationship with Spurrier has often been rocky and Spurrier hasn’t committed to Garcia being the starter for 2011. Last year’s second-string QB, Connor Shaw, zipped passes for most of Tuesday’s practice along with Seth Strickland and Dylan Thompson.

But whatever Garcia did this time didn’t appear to sour his relationship with his coach.

“He’s actually been pretty good this semester,” Spurrier said. “This is something that happened in the past. Just got around to handling it. it’s a violation of team rules. He’ll be back next week to answer all y’all’s questions.”