Spurrier benches QB Garcia for UK game

Steve Spurrier is calling a quarterback shuffle for No. 18 South Carolina with sophomore Connor Shaw replacing inconsistent senior Stephen Garcia.

After hinting at the move since Saturday's 16-13 loss to Auburn, Spurrier made it official following Monday's practice.

"As most everyone knows, our quarterback play has not been as good as we hoped, and we've got to do something," he said.

The Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) seemed set at the position with Garcia, a fifth-year starter who had a breakout year in 2010 as he passed for 3,059 yards and 20 touchdowns in helping the Gamecocks reach their first SEC championship game.

But Garcia hasn't come close to that production this fall. His completion percentage has dropped from 64 percent last year to 51 percent this season. He's thrown nine interceptions and just four touchdowns in South Carolina's first five games.

Garcia was 9-for-23 for 160 yards and two interceptions against an Auburn pass defense that came in ranked last in the SEC.

"It wasn't that hard a call," Spurrier said. "At some point, we've got to do something to shake up this offense, and this is the first step."

Garcia has been suspended five times in his college career, including twice this spring.

Spurrier hoped it wasn't too late to spark an offense that was expected to do so much more than it has done this year.

The Gamecocks feature the SEC's leading rusher in Marcus Lattimore and another All-SEC performer in receiver Alshon Jeffery. The offensive line has as much experience as any in Spurrier's seven seasons, with three seniors and a junior. Garcia figured to be the steady hand under center making it all run smoothly.

Instead, Garcia has looked as lost as he's ever been in five troubled seasons under Spurrier.

The coach said Garcia took the news well. "I think he anticipated it," Spurrier said.

This story was originally published October 3, 2011 at 11:09 PM with the headline "Spurrier benches QB Garcia for UK game."