COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -Clemson’s Kyle Parker and South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia don’t know one another, yet have much in common in their first year as starting quarterbacks.
Both are young, both are improving and both are headed for the biggest stage of their lives Saturday when the 15th-ranked Tigers (8-3) take on the Gamecocks (6-5) at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Both better have strong shoulders, too, since each carry the hopes of roughly half the Palmetto State’s football fans into the annual showdown.
“It’s kind of funny how much this means to the Clemson fans and to the state of South Carolina,” said Parker, who’s from Jacksonville, Fla.
Welcome to South Carolina, Kyle.
The game is a yearly happening for many in this state of close to 4.5 million people, split mostly down the middle – Tiger orange on one side, Gamecock garnet on the other.
Win and you’re a hero. Lose and … well, it’s not pretty.
Parker’s already heard plenty of awful things from Gamecock fans as Clemson baseball’s standout designated hitter the last two years.
ou realize how much they really hate Clemson and really want to beat us,” Parker said. “That’s what I’m expecting.”
Parker has shown an ability to achieve in difficult circumstances.
He helped engineer the Tigers’ comeback from 24-0 down at Georgia Tech in September for a 27-24 lead before they eventually lost to the Yellow Jackets. He zipped in a 26-yard TD pass at Miami in overtime as Clemson beat its first ranked team in more than two years.
And he threw a sidearm scoring pass to Ford in last week’s 34-21 win over Virginia that left tight end Michael Palmer amazed.
“He looked like he just picked up a ground ball and slinged it over to first base,” Palmer said. “After Jacoby caught it, I went to Kyle, ‘What are you doing, man?”’
What Parker’s done is lead all freshman QBs with eight wins and help Clemson to its first ACC Atlantic Division title.
South Carolina assistant head coach for defense Ellis Johnson understands how valuable Clemson stars C.J. Spiller and Ford have been for the Tigers this season. For his money, though, the Tigers’ revived attack and six-game winning streak hinges on Parker.
“He ain’t missing a beat. He’s making the right reads, he’s buying time when the protection breaks down, his throws are accurate, he’s giving kids a chance to make plays,” Johnson said.
13 touchdowns and four interceptions the past six games.
“I think that just happens whenever you get out there and get comfortable,” Parker said.
Garcia, from Lutz, Fla., has also grown in comfort and skill in his first full season under center.
He joined the Gamecocks in January 2007 as the fans’ great, long-haired hope to master coach Steve Spurrier’s offense and move South Carolina to the top of the Southeastern Conference.
However, he was suspended for most of his first two spring practices and did not grasp things right away. Garcia played in eight games last fall, making three starts.
He entered this year as the team’s unquestioned leader – quarterbacks Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley transferred – and has largely lived up to that role.
Garcia is second in the SEC with 237 passing yards a game, ahead of Tim Tebow of Florida, Jevan Snead of Ole Miss and Greg McElroy of Alabama.
Garcia has had four 300-yard passing games and his eight interceptions are the same as last season – but he’s thrown more than triple the passes (373 to 122) he did in 2008.
Garcia’s also shown a toughness and will to succeed that at times even impressed Spurrier, who’s rarely seen a quarterback he didn’t want to yank.
Against Kentucky last month, Garcia leaped a defender in the fourth quarter for a first down as South Carolina ran out the clock on a 28-26 win.
ay,” Spurrier marveled then.
Garcia nearly had a moment for the ages two weeks ago in a 24-14 loss to No. 1 Florida. He stopped short when it looked like he was heading out of bounds, held his ground and rushed for a first down deep in Gator territory on 4th-and-short.
It’s a fire Garcia’s teammates see all the time these days.
“Even when he did have a bad play here and there, he didn’t let it deter him,” receiver Moe Brown said. “He just kept on playing. Stephen’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
Spurrier and quarterback coach G.A. Mangus have kept Garcia’s focus pointed to the field. Garcia has been off limits to media most of the season, speaking only as required after games.
“He’s done well,” Spurrier said. “There’s a lot of areas he can hopefully get better in and go from there.”
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