There are a lot of rumors floating about Garcia these days
It seems like everyone has a version of the series of events that led to Stephen Garcia’s latest suspension. You don’t even have to be a reporter to file a story on what allegedly happened. Now rabid Gamecock fans that dabble in photography are posting reports on what “may or may not have happened” the night Garcia was allegedly involved in an incident at a school mandated event.
It is getting a little silly at this point. Let’s separate fact from myth.
First, Eric Hyman’s wife Pauline DID NOT have Stephen Garcia suspended. She was not at the event and there is no cover-up on the part of USC to protect Mrs. Hyman. In an email to SportsTalk Eric Hyman made this clear.
SportsTalk has and is continuing its investigation into what exactly happened between Garcia and the moderator of the MVP event. Shortly after the suspension we reported the some of the details of what exactly happened at the event. We also confirmed from the SEC office that it was not a part of the event and did not have a representative there.
Obviously there are two sides to every story and until we get that other side details will remain somewhat vague. We can say that we have tracked down the person who was moderating the event and several phone calls to this person seeking comment have not been returned.
The key here is to know that the SEC and Eric Hyman and/or Eric Hyman’s wife had nothing to do with the event in question. While it does appear there was some sort of provocation from the moderator of the event, given Garcia’s track record you can’t blame Hyman for stepping in and making sure Garcia took a step back and put his life back in order.
Garcia has sought counseling and earned his degree, proving this decision may end up being beneficial for him in the long run.
There have also been some questions about Garcia’s scholarship and if and when it will be renewed. Based on our information Garcia’s scholarship will be renewed when he is reinstated to the team. We still expect that reinstatement to occur sometime late this month or in early June when the players return for summer voluntary workouts. Recent comments from Steve Spurrier are more evidence that Garcia is going to return at some point.
You say the SEC had no part in this event. Travis Haney never mentions Garcia’s suspension without saying “GARCIA admitted to drinking prior to the SEC mandated event”. Are you saying this was not an SEC mandatory participation event?
Thank you for trying to keep us informed. USC needs to hurry up and get him back on the team and working out. I still think that the AD should have stayed out of it. I also feel very strongly that HBC should step up and show some praise and support for Garcia. We have seen how much he has accomplished with hearing nothing but negative remarks from his coach. Can you imagine how much success he would garner with some postive feedback from HBC?
It is an SEC sponsored event but it is not conducted or run by the SEC and they did not have anyone at the event. The event is run out of Northeastern University.
Garcia has made his mistakes and is paying for some of them. HBC has given him every chance to return to the team after each suspension. Garcia has to accept his share of the blame in this issue as well.
K-Mac how about the speaker at the event, did he make any mistakes; has he had to accept his share of the blame? The way the media has shielded this guy you’d think he was in the witness protection program. Meanwhile, Garcia’s the one that’s being pilloried
by the National media. Tried and convicted and Garcia will certainly never be able to defend himself if he ever expects to play for USC. So K-Mac stop spewing the party line
bilge and go get us some facts. You’re a gadfly go earn that big SportsTalkGoLive paycheck.
Brian, as I am sure you read in the story we have found the person in charge of the event and have been trying to reach him for the past two weeks. He has not returned our calls. We aren’t shielding him. We are continuing to investigate and plan to report more.
Photojournalists are journalists, too. Kevin, you would help your own credibility if you spelled Eric Hyman’s first name correctly. HBC may not have heard about the ruckus until after Hyman, since no official USC brass were at the event (allegedly) and Professor Rocky Lobster from Northeastern U. went boo-hooing straight to Hyman (and Possibly Pastides) after the event. If there was a “if you don’t do something, I will” ultimatum from Prof. Lobster, USC may have had little choice but to suspend Garcia.
Yeah, someone who in her bio claims to be a huge Gamecock fan is a real legit journalist. What other “reporting” has she done? Her story was a joke. That Website is also a joke as displayed here:
@heathradio A satirical post http://tinyurl.com/3n9e5wg is plagiarized to bash a kid http://tinyurl.com/3mmacfz by saturdaydownsouth.com
K-Mac,
I’m sure you realize that you are in effect shielding him, why all the mystery? why not at least release his name. I wasn’t speaking specifically about you, but the details of this event are known, and the media has unfairly tried to make it look like Garcia was falling down drunk and his actions were unprovoked. You know better. If you had been in Garcia’s position would you have responded in a similar fashion? Before you answer that; I’M A FREQUENT LISTENER TO SPORTS TALK. I hear the frequent dust-ups you have with Phil Kornblut. It makes for a lively show but you’re a little thin-skinned.
I agree with Brian. Its kind of funny that they only details of the speaker’s actions have come from the players via Facebook & Twitter. Why does it seem that no one in the media wants to report about a professional speaker attempting to publicly humiliate a college athlete in front of his peers? Especially considering the fact that what WAS actually reported by the “media” was pure speculation about Garcia showing up for the event in a drunken stupor, spewing obscenities without provocation. If this is not an attempt at a cover-up it sure resembles one.