Associated Press
DESTIN, Fla. ó Suspended South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is back on campus and working out with teammates.
Heís on a very short leash, though. Coach Steve Spurrier said Wednesday that Garcia has no margin for error.
ěOne more, heíd be finished,î Spurrier said at the Southeastern Conferenceís annual meetings. ěHeís got some guidelines he has to follow or he knows heís finished. Hopefully he can do that.î
Garcia was suspended for the fifth time in his college career ó and second time during spring practice ó on April 6 after an incident at a life skills seminar.
Garciaís status will be reevaluated before fall camp opens. The first workout for the defending Southeastern Conference Eastern Division champions is Aug. 3.
Spurrier said ěitís too earlyî to determine how Garcia has responded from his latest suspension.
ěThe president and the athletic director, weíre all hoping he can act in a proper way,î Spurrier said.
If eligible, Garcia is the SECís returning leader in yards passing with 3,059 in 2010. He completed more than 64 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Garcia was instrumental in last seasonís division title and may have had his best game in a 35-21 upset of then-No. 1 Alabama, South Carolinaís first victory over a top-ranked team.
South Carolina returns two of the SECís top playmakers in tailback Marcus Lattimore and receiver Alshon Jeffery. An experienced quarterback would make the Gamecocks a strong contender to reach the SEC title game again.
Garcia, though, hasnít always shown the leadership Spurrier has wanted.