| Coach Steve Spurrier is looking for someone who | | | | And while Spurrier is looking for a quarterback he |
| can actually play quarterback for his South | | | | can build an offense around, he needs to find |
| Carolina Gamecocks. After the Outback Bowl on | | | | more position players and speed merchants. |
| New Year's Day (1-1-09) he is still looking because | | | | South Carolina came into the Outback Bowl at 7-5 |
| redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia had more | | | | and left as an even more average team. |
| issues than completions and sophomore starter | | | | The Gamecocks lost their last 3 regular season |
| Chris Smelley was not impressive either. | | | | games to Florida (56-6), Clemson (31-14) and to |
| He started Garcia against Iowa and the freshman | | | | Iowa in the Outback Bowl 31-10 while being |
| turned the ball over on his first pass which the | | | | outscored 118-30. For a guy who has been known |
| Hawkeyes turned into a touchdown, he fumbled | | | | for his explosive passing offense, Spurrier doesn't |
| on his first run and then managed to throw 2 | | | | have any at the moment. |
| more interceptions on his next 2 possessions. | | | | Spurrier lost 3 times to SEC rivals Vanderbilt, |
| Iowa was up 21-zip at the half and 31-zip entering | | | | Georgia and LSU by a single touchdown. Then the |
| the 4th quarter. Garcia is supposed to be a | | | | wheels came of the bike against Florida, Clemson |
| dual-threat and big-time recruit (I am trying to | | | | and Iowa. |
| say this with a straight face.) | | | | Coach Kirk Ferentz and his Iowa players came in |
| "I can't take a lot from this," said Garcia after the | | | | at 8-4 and left at 9-4. The Hawkeyes won 3 |
| game. "They way it ended was not the way it | | | | straight, lost 3 straight and then won 6 of their |
| was supposed to go. It's pretty frustrating for | | | | last 7, including a signature win at home over then |
| me, playing in my home city (the game was in | | | | No. 3-ranked Penn State. |
| Tampa) and to not do well. I've just got to get | | | | The Hawkeyes also had junior Shonn Greene who |
| better." Yes, Stephen, it really was all about you. | | | | rushed for 121 yards and 3 touchdowns. Greene |
| Garcia was arrested twice in his first month on | | | | finished the year with Iowa single-season records |
| campus, so he is legitimately some kind of threat. | | | | of 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns. He won the |
| Let us hope that he gains some maturity and | | | | Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running |
| responsibility as well as sharpening some of this | | | | back. |
| passing and running skills. | | | | (I voted for Michigan State's Javon Ringer |
| "I thought he would play a little bit better," said | | | | because I like any guy who is 5-foot-9, can dead |
| Spurrier. A little bit better? After 4 turnovers in | | | | lift 620 pounds and carry two tacklers on his back |
| his first 4 possessions? How about play a lot | | | | for more yardage after the initial hit.) |
| better. A little advice, coach, people do not want | | | | Greene, who is 5-foot-11 and 235 pounds, plans to |
| to know what you think, they want to know | | | | skip his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. It |
| what you know. | | | | may be a good move for him considering he sat |
| Smelley, who started 9 games for South Carolina | | | | out the 2007 season after losing his scholarship |
| this season, replaced Garcia at the half. | | | | because of academic problems. |
