Quarterback banned following third run-in with police

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia has been suspended from the team after being ticketed for underage drinking in his third run-in with police in about a year.

Athletic department spokesman Steve Fink says Garcia will not be allowed to practice or meet with the team until August 15.

His attorney said Garcia paid a $257 fine Monday after he and two other players were charged with underage drinking over the weekend.

The 20-year-old Garcia was arrested in 2007 and charged with drunkenness and failure to stop for a police officer. The highly touted redshirt freshman was arrested a month later on charges of malicious injury to personal property after a professor said Garcia had used a key to scratch the man's car.

Garcia has previously successfully completed a pretrial intervention program to clear his record of misdemeanor charges.

After practice Monday night, coach Steve Spurrier said he would let the university hand out the latest discipline for Garcia.

"His fate is out of my hands," Spurrier said. "... He's had a lot of chances here, and we'll see what happens."

South Carolina's first game is Aug. 28 against North Carolina State.

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