Nov. 30, 2008

Redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia has been tabbed as the starter at quarterback for the Gamecocks’ bowl game, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier announced today.

“We’re going to give the bowl game to Stephen, just like we gave the last game to Chris (Smelley),” said Coach Spurrier. “We are going to coach him as hard as we can and get him as ready as we can to play at a high level in the bowl game. We’ll give him a chance to take it and see what he can do.”

Garcia, a 6-2, 221-pounder from Lutz, Fla., has appeared in seven games this season, making a pair of starts. He has completed 53.8 percent of his passes (56-for-104) for 753 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions. He also has rushed 65 times for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Garcia has made two starts this season, getting the nod in a loss to LSU and in a win over Tennessee. He was 14-of-26 for 215 yards and a touchdown against the defending national champion Tigers, and was 9-of-19 for 139 yards and two touchdowns against the Volunteers.

The Gamecocks completed the 2008 regular season with a 7-5 record (4-4 in the SEC) and are bowl eligible for the fifth straight year, including all four years under head coach Steve Spurrier. They won their last bowl game, posting a 44-36 win over Houston in the 2006 Liberty Bowl.