Stephen Garcia was released from the football team once and for all, culminating an up-and-down career in a rather sudden departure.
The dismissal comes after his fifth suspension from the team this spring, which led to a signed document laying out rules that Garcia had to follow in order to come back to the team. Unfortunately it appears those rules were violated, and Garcia was let go.
We commend the university for sticking to its guns on this. Rules are rules, even though this is our quarterback that led the upset victory over Alabama last year.
While there are surely extenuating circumstances surrounding Garcia’s actions that were in contradiction to this signed contract, that’s not an excuse. People all around the world deal with tough times everyday, and many stay within the rules that bind them while doing so.
Yet we also feel a sense of compassion for him. Here is a guy who has taken his fair share of licks throughout his career, both on the field and in the media.
His hot and cold performance on the field led a relationship with fans that can be described as abrasive at best. He dealt with a head coach that demands near-perfection from his quarterbacks. Pressure from all sides was something Garcia dealt with day in and day out.
So as we look back, we can remember his career as one of great triumph as well as great failure.
We wish him the best moving forward, he has certainly left his mark on our football program, but now its time to move forward.