Throwing from a distance of about 25 to 30 yards, it took Stephen Garcia only 10 tries to drop a spiral into a trash bucket Wednesday night long after most of the other position groups had cleared out.
That drill, performed with the team’s other quarterbacks, followed a new conditioning regimen in which players go through different stations at the close of practice.
Doing conditioning drills after a two hour-plus practice isn’t generally greeted with a lot of enthusiasm, whether you’re talking about a Pop Warner team or an SEC squad.
But USC players act like they’re enjoying the stations, or else they’re doing a good job faking it. Garcia complimented his teammates on all the “yelling and screaming” they did as they went through the drills.
It turns out they were taking a cue from their coach.
“Coach Spurrier said before (Tuesday) night’s practice he wants us to just have fun and be enthusiastic the whole night,” Garcia said.
Garcia seems to be having as much fun as anyone. After hearing and reading all spring about what Spurrier expected of him, Garcia met with his coach in May before the summer conditioning and passing workouts started.
Garcia said Spurrier told him the public comments were just a way to “light a fire” under him.
Garcia used that fire to help melt 10 pounds off his 6-2 frame, as he dropped to about 225 by running harder and cutting back on a certain adult beverage
“There’s a few things that I didn’t take. I’m sure you guys know what I’m talking about,” Garcia said. “You can edit that out if you want to.”
Beer bellies are out. New conditioning stations are in.
Sounds like a plan.