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Stephen Garcia throws at Florida Pro Day, because of course

By Will Osgood

Nov 1, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators helmet against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at EverBank Field. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators helmet against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at EverBank Field. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia participated in Florida’s Pro Day on Tuesday.

 

South Carolina and Florida are Southeastern Conference rivals. Tuesday they came together, sort of.

Former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, who played for former Gators quarterback and head coach Steve Spurrier in Columbia, was present at the University of Florida Pro Day as a volunteer.

Tight end Clay Burton had been working out in preparation for the NFL draft in Tampa where Garcia had been throwing with him. Burton asked Garcia to be his passer at Tuesday’s Pro Day as well, as Garcia threw to Burton and other Gators wide receiver and running back prospects.

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Garcia, though, did face a bit of difficulty on the day. When he first arrived at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, he was sporting his South Carolina digs.

Garcia arrived at the stadium before making his way to the weight room where Pro Days begin as scouts watch players as their respective heights and weights are dissected, and they’re asked to bench press–some for the first time in front of scouts.

Before he could make it to the weight room, however, a Florida equipment manager stopped him and gave him some Gators garb.

Garcia understood and made no fuss of having to wear a rival’s colors during a Pro Day he was merely volunteering at as a favor to a client and friend.

Garcia chose to have fun with it. “Everyone who recognized me gave me a hard time. Once they saw me with the hat off and the long hair, they’re like, ‘Hey that’s Garcia. I remember that guy’.”

Garcia even addressed his former coach, the ‘ole ball coach, on Twitter as he took a photo of himself in the Gators gear.

But Garcia also reiterated the two most important factors, that Clay Burton balled out in his Pro Day, and that he was appreciative himself for the opportunity to throw at the Pro Day.

Garcia has played in the Canadian Football League and with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League since leaving South Carolina in 2011, after several off-field incidents and inconsistency on it.

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