Garcia ticketed once more

For the third time in his very short career, Carolina's freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia has met with the wrong side of the law.

According to police reports, Garcia was cited for possession of alcohol by a minor around 6:30 Saturday night. Garcia was not the only Gamecock football player to receive a ticket. Sophomore guard Heath Batchelor and walk-on quarterback Zac Brindise also received tickets.

Gary Garcia, the signal-caller's older brother, was cited for transferring beer to a minor.

Only five hours after receiving the ticket the younger Garcia encountered Columbia's emergency services for the second time that night. Around 11 p.m. an officer responded to a fire alarm in East Quad. Garcia met the officer and explained that he had discharged his fire extinguisher when he saw sparks coming from his oven.

Garcia is listed as a suspect in the incident report regarding the fire alarm but no charges have been filed as of yet.

Garcia made a lot of noise shortly after he arrived on campus last spring when police arrested him on underage drinking charges. Shortly after those charges Garcia was arrested and questioned in the keying of a car on campus, those charges were later dropped.

According to what USC spokesman Russ McKinney told The State, Garcia paid a $275.50 fine in Columbia magistrate's court today rather than have a long, drawn out trial similar to one he went through last spring.

According to USC athletics policies athletes who are arrested face definite suspensions, however, the policy does not specify the length or severity.

USC media relations director Steve Fink told The State that Garcia was already sitting out tonight's practice for missing class this semester.

USC coach Steve Spurrier spoke on the situation after practice on Monday.

"Right now Stephen Garcia's fate is in the hands of the University of South Carolina," Spurrier said. "If they allow him to be at practice then he will be there. His fate is out of my hands. He has had a lot of chances here and we will see what happens."

Through the turmoil Spurrier assured fans that the football team's success does not live and die with Garcia.

"Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher are both very capable of leading this team," Spurrier said. "They are great kids and they do everything we ask. We know that they are going to be here."

To view Stephen Garcia's ticket, click here.

To view Stephen Garcia's incident report, click here.

To view Gary Garcia's ticket, click here.

To view Zac Brandise's ticket, click here.

To view Heath Batchelor's ticket, click here.