Stephen Garcia has been suspended for the balance of the spring semester at the University of South Carolina, or “USC,” as nobody from outside the Palmetto State calls them. The school did not specify the reasoning behind the suspension, but one report claims that Garcia reprised his public drunkeness from 2007. You can’t go wrong with the classics.

Sources told ESPN.com‘s Chris Low that Garcia was disruptive and loud at a mandatory leadership seminar Tuesday night. According to the sources, alcohol could be detected on Garcia’s breath and he was asked to leave the event.

Garcia later admitted to Spurrier that he had been drinking prior to the event while celebrating teammate Kyle Nunn’s birthday, the sources said.

Keep in mind that this is less than a month after Garcia committed himself to staying out of trouble. Garcia led the Gamecocks to the SEC title game last year, so as long as he doesn’t fight any dogs or bargian-hunt at Dillards, he should be fine. Hey, alcoholism is just like a gambling addiction: it’s only a problem if you lose.

With the NCAA Tournament, the NFL lockout, the arrival of baseball season and that Rebecca Black video, college football has found itself swept under the proverbial rug. You know what that sport could use right now? Coaches getting arrested. Enter South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier.

Anticipating that he would be asked about top signee Jadeveon Clowney‘s recent handcuffing by police after a case of mistaken identity, the South Carolina head coach arranged for a Columbia police officer to walk onto the practice field and “arrest” him during a media session this past weekend. The Head Ball Coach obviously was demonstrating that anyone can be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

–National Football Post.

Roll the video after the jump to the 2-minute mark to see Spurrier cuffed up. I’m sure the Ol’ Ball Coach is no stranger to bondage. They’re totally into that sort of thing in the South. My bets on his safe words are “Pickles,” “Cortisone,” and “Rex Grossman.”

This is obviously a leaked tape that was cut down to make current ESPN analyst Lou Holtz look like a total jerk, and to some extent, it’s effective, but it’s so chopped up that it’s impossible to assume what led to what. So don’t take this as “Oh, Lou Holtz just chewed out some intern.” This is more like “Some TV producer tried to embarrass Lou Holtz with a ten-year-old video.” Whatever.

I don’t really see what about this tape is supposedly incriminating. Doctor Lou is obviously bent out of shape about how the interview was presented to him and lets his feelings known. That’s what happens when you try to give up your time to give interviews to people. And I have no sympathy for that little crybaby intern because most of the people in TV that I’ve met are total dicks anyway. Yeah, I’m sure you’re sorry, homegirl. Now dry those eyes and put on some pants. YOU’RE AT WORK. And don’t even get me started on those camera guys. God forbid that I actually happen to stand someplace where you’re shooting, sir. Some of us actually have lives. Read the rest of this entry »

So after South Carolina beat Kentucky Tuesday night, the student body at the Columbia, SC school stormed the floor, getting their program a $25,000 fine from the Southeastern Conference. I don’t get it; suddenly the SEC doesn’t want its students showing off their great team speed?

The league levied a fine of $25,000 because the school was guilty of a second violation of the rule, which prohibits fans from entering the playing area during or immediately after a game.

“This policy is designed to create a safe environment for everyone who participates and attends our athletic contests,” said SEC commissioner Mike Slive in a statement. “The security and protection of our student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans is our primary concern.” –Sports Network.

People in the media love to bitch about college students running onto the court after a win, and most of the time that just comes off as hot air, even though Indiana doing so after beating Minnesota seems a bit much. But if you knock off the No. 1 team in the polls or a big rival at home, shouldn’t there be some kind of exemption from public sanction? A fine for that is ridiculous, but you have to admire their gall. The Big Ten only would have fined them $15,000.

Three days after being named the consensus No. 1 team in America, the Kentucky Wildcats lost their very next game. Kentucky and their very young squad headed to Columbia, SC, where they were met with hostile aggression and exuberant defense. One might have thought that John Calipari had just written a disparaging blog post about Haiti. The Wildcats also were met by Devan Downey, whose 30 points help push the South Carolina Gamecocks over the newest No. 1, 68-62.

“This is what happens when you have young guys who think we’re are going to win at the last minutes of the game,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.

“Those guys are very talented,” Downey said of the Wildcats. “But they’re also freshmen and this was a hostile environment.” –Y! Sports.

It was Downey’s fourth 30-point game in his last six outings. Also, Michigan State barely beat Michigan, and Kansas State did same with Baylor. We’re still about five weeks from the redundant conference tournaments, so let’s just come back to college basketball then, or until someone gets arrested. Cool? Cool.

The ESS-EEE-SEE saw one of its higher-ranked teams fall off the national landscape last night when Ole Miss wandered into Columbia, South Carolina to take its first loss of the season. After watching the Rebels quarterback Jevon Snead go JaMarcus Russell while running for his life (7 for 21 passing, 4 sacks), one has to wonder how that team was ranked fourth in the country by the AP.

The Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1) had been 1-31 all-time against Top 5 foes, but left Williams-Brice Stadium with the biggest win of coach Steve Spurrier’s five seasons.

“It was good to get a win when everybody watches,” Spurrier said. “It was good for all Gamecocks.” via.

I’m not burying Ole Miss based entirely based on their performance last night. After all, they started the season at No. 8, probably because of their 13 returning starters, including NFL scouting mancrush Jevon Snead. But seriously, fourth in the country? I’m just not that impressed with those middle-of-the-road SEC teams, especially when non-BCS schools are forced to run the table to garner any national respect at all.