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Associated Press

South Carolina's Stephen Garcia (5) runs in for a touchdown against Arkansas earlier this season at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia.

COLUMBIA — After being sidelined with a stomach illness last week, quarterback Stephen Garcia has been tapped by South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier as the starter for the bowl game — that destination will most likely be Tampa, Fla., for the Outback Bowl, which is also Garcia’s hometown.

Talk about a perfect situation.

“I’m pretty excited about it. You know, I’ve been talking to coach Spurrier everyday and yesterday after the run I went to throw the football with Melvin Ingram a little bit,” Garcia said. “A big opportunity for me as a quarterback and for the team in general so you know I’m really excited about it.”

During the week leading up to the season finale against Clemson, Spurrier selected quarterback Chris Smelley as the starter and said he would play the entire game. That idea came after Smelley and Garcia split time under center in back-to-back games against Arkansas and Florida, rotating almost every play.

But four interceptions against the rival Tigers doomed Smelley to a backup roll for the team’s next game while Garcia has been picked to play for the entire bowl game.

With a month left to prepare, the practices and preparation is something Garcia is looking forward to.

“It’s definitely going to help me a lot not to have to look over my shoulder and not worry about being taken out if I make a mistake. I think it’s definitely going to be helpful,” Garcia said.

The criticism Spurrier has made of both quarterbacks during the season has been something Garcia has been forced to get use to. But now the quarterback uses the statements as motivation for improving his play.

“It’s pretty tough, but he’s been doing that his entire career. Some guys respond to it, some guys don’t. It’s just a matter of how the quarterback takes it,” Garcia said. “I wasn’t really used to it. My high school coach kind of chewed me out a little bit but not near as much as coach Spurrier does. It’s pretty motivating some times, but it’s just a matter of how you take it.”

With just his third collegiate start looming, Garcia is excited to hear that the most like destination for USC could be the Outback Bowl.

A return trip to Tampa would allow Garcia to play in front of his family and friends for the first time since high school.

“That’s going to be pretty fun. Me and Mr. (Steve) Fink were joking about it earlier about how many tickets I’m going to have to get and it’s going to be a lot,” Garcia said. “Hopefully we make it down to the Outback and like you said that’s what it’s looking like so hopefully that happens.”

Along with the chance of playing in Tampa, the Gamecocks would spend some time practicing at Garcia’s alma mater Jefferson High School. While being around familiar places and seeing old friends is an opportunity Garcia is excited about he knows that it could sidetrack his time in Tampa. It’s a challenge he is ready for.

“There’s going to be distractions no matter what bowl we go to but maybe more in Tampa than anywhere else,” Garcia said. “But I mean I’m looking forward to it. Looking forward to being back home and seeing my family, my uncles and everybody.”