[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Hoover, Ala.–South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier stole the show Wednesday afternoon at SEC Media Days, especially with questions and comments concerning the status of quarterback Stephen Garcia.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]While Spurrier is confident that Garcia will be a steady player heading into August, he didn’t waste any time stating the facts that there is still an open competition in Columbia.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Throughout his stand at the podium, Spurrier assured the media that Connor Shaw would also have an opportunity to earn the starting quarterback position, and Stephen Garcia would have to earn his playing time. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]
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[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]“Stephen Garcia and Connor Shaw will battle it out a little bit. (Garcia) may be our quarterback, but we’re going to have a little competition in pre-season this year.”[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Many would think that the idea of the starting quarterback being in question would affect the rest of the offense. Obviously, it will, but All-American receiver Alshon Jeffery feels comfortable with either Garcia or Shaw.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]”I feel 100-percent comfortable with Connor Shaw. I think we’ve built a good relationship over the past year,” Jeffery said positively.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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South Carolina and Spurrier have taken a lot of criticism for continuing to allow Garcia to come back to the team after suspensions, but the ‘ole ball coach gave everyone a laugh when he said this:[/SIZE][/FONT]
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“I guess we don’t want to kick him out for stupidity,” he said with laughs. “But basically, we believe he is a good kid, good person.”[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Spurrier also had a lot of great things to say about star position-players Marcus Lattimore and Jeffery. He stated that that Lattimore was the best running back in the country, and the same for Jeffery at receiver.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Spurrier can say that for right now, but you have to have a quarterback to get the ball to both players come August.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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It’s going to be interesting to see what happens come pre-season camp.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Follow Garrett Tucker on Twitter [URL=”https://twitter.com/#%21/GTuckersports”]@GTuckersports[/URL] for more info on Kentucky recruiting
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