USC administrators have a challenge here.
Stephen Garcia is in trouble again — less than two weeks after he promised a clean record for the remainder of his time here. Athletics Director Eric Hyman suspended Garcia indefinitely Wednesday, saying that being a student athlete at the University of South Carolina is a privilege, not a right.
But now, USC administrators must decide whether they really will take a stand against Garcia’s antics.
Here’s a brief recap of our quarterback’s past. His previous mishaps include public drunkenness, keying a professor’s car, underage drinking, shady events in Atlanta and this undisclosed violation. We don’t know all the facts yet, but it’s safe to presume Hyman wouldn’t suspend the star quarterback for no reason at all.
After every infraction, there have been plenty of strong words. His actions have been harshly criticized by all sorts of people. He’s been threatened. And then within a few days, he’s returned to the field.
Why? Because he’s the star quarterback. He’s our best chance to win. In essence, because he’s Stephen Garcia.
So here’s the question: How much does winning matter? Are USC officials serious about student-athlete conduct? Or is all the talk just saying the right things before he’s quietly reinstated before the first football game?
Let’s be serious here. This university, like almost every major university, cares about the bottom line. And bottom-line success is almost always guaranteed by a successful football team. That puts fannies in seats and dollars in the coffers.
What happens next? We don’t know.
But it wouldn’t surprise us to see him behind center come September.