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Garcia looking over his shoulder? I don't know what could be a more appropriate picture for this week.

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FOOTBALL

Gamecocks Work Out on Wednesday | Gamecocks Online
Interview with Stephen Garcia. 1) He's aware of his "ducking his head" problem while running. 2) He's working on it. 3) He will never slide.

Quarterback Quandary | Rivals.com
There is no quarterback controversy...and these are not the droids you're looking for.

Shaw was non-committal about his chances to start, flatly responding, "That’s not my call," to a question if he felt he put himself back into the starting discussion.

You know, the more I think about it, the more the notion of starting Connor Shaw against 'Bama seems ridiculous. Did Connor Shaw "put himself back into the starting discussion?" Certainly not. He led two drives that both ended in interceptions. If Garcia had done that we'd all be screaming for his head. Shaw is the future, people, not the present.

What Quarterback Controversy? | Leftover Hot Dog
General Malaise knows what's up. More evidence that making Garcia the starter versus Alabama is the right decision.Top notch analysis here, folks.

Garcia is the Gamecocks' best option | SEC Blog - ESPN
Chris Low is jumping on the Garcia Bandwagon as well.

Garcia is far from perfect, and his penchant for making the critical mistake would drive any coach crazy. But he’s also done a better job of playing within himself for much of this season.

South Carolina Football: History Asks Painful Question | Saturday Down South
Andrew Phelps echos the sentiments of many Gamecock fans out there. This is why so many people were so angry after the game. It's not just that we lost, it's how we lost. Giving away the game in the fourth quarter. Turning the ball over 4 times after having not turned it over the entire three quarters previous. There are a lot of solid points in here. Except for this one.

Stephen Garcia next please. For three quarters you played the best game of your career. You made the big play, read the defense well, and delivered fantastic down field passes. In the fourth quarter, you suddenly decided to be the same Stephen Garcia who has been arrested multiple times, fumbled multiple times, and lost football games multiple times. Thank you for your continued abysmal performances when it matters most, and I hope you aren’t allowed to be our quarterback again.

Dude, way harsh.

We’re Still Not Over It | The Rubber Chickens
Me? I'm in a constant state of rage this time of year.

Picture of Quarterback Slide for Stephen Garcia To Use | Leftover Hot Dog
Something tells me Garcia has actually done this before - except the Slip-n-Slide was covered in beer.

SEC Power Poll Week 4: Shakeup v Team Speed Kills
South Carolina is now the 6th best team in the SEC according to the TSK Power Poll. Actually, I think they nailed it.

BUDGETS

Hyman Responds To Moratorium Efforts | GamecockCentral.com
Is there anything Mark Sanford can't screw up? I'm not sure why he thinks there is a correlation between the privately funded capital projects and higher tuition costs, but there it is.

"USC Athletics does not begin a construction project until they know they can pay for it through money they raise," Hyman wrote. "The current economic conditions have so lowered the cost of construction and borrowing that it is wise to build needed buildings now, if there is a revenue stream to support it.

That last sentence is the real key. Hyman is displaying some real leadership here by having us build during the recession. We're getting our buildings cheaper than if we wait till the economy turns around. If you're going to build the buildings eventually, and you have the money to do it now, why wouldn't you do it?

Education summit leads to few answers | The Daily Gamecock
Of course, maybe the tuition increases have something to do with this.

 University officials said tuition increases have been approved hesitantly. Statewide funding for education in South Carolina has dropped significantly, said Ken Wingate, chairman of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education. Just 10 years ago, 17 percent of public college funding came from the state. Now, it's less than nine percent, Wingate said.

The state of South Carolina has actually been spending less money on its public universities, not more. That money has to come from somewhere...

Sanford, USC disagree on budget | The Daily Gamecock
But don't tell that to Sanford. He's focused on tuition increases, not the actual reasons why, mind you.

"Higher education tuition rates in South Carolina have been rising at a discouraging clip for the last decade," Sanford said in a release. "For example, at Clemson, we've seen tuition triple over the last decade - from $3,590 in 2000 to $11,908 today. Unfortunately, most South Carolinians' income hasn't tripled since 2000." USC administrators say Sanford's reasoning is flawed. Sure, tuition is higher than average in South Carolina than neighboring states, but a tuition increase was necessary to compensate for weakening state appropriations for higher education. This year, the University lost a little over $25 million in state funding in cuts from the general assembly.

And Let's put that $25 million number in perspective.

During the 2009 fiscal year, South Carolina spent $4,820 per in-state student. Georgia spent $7,788 and North Carolina spent $11,552. The price of college in these states is similar, which means tuition must be higher in South Carolina, Moore said.

It seems Achim's razor is slicing Sanford's theory to shreds. Frankly, I find it a little odd that Sanford, a supposed conservative and champion of the free market, thinks he needs to tell the University how to run its business model. Is the University getting public funds? Yes, but for a paltry 11 percent of its total budget. Cuts in appropriations from the legislature have directly led to the tuition hikes over the past decade. The University has to make up the deficit in funds somehow.

What I find most troubling is how the out-of-state student is so often bandied about as the scape goat in these discussions. As one having just attained in-state status, myself, I can tell you that my tuition was reduced by more than 50 percent. Indeed, it is the out-of-state students who are paying exorbitant tuition - and taking out loans to do so - that are keeping the public universities in this state afloat. But hey, when have the facts ever gotten in the way of a politician crafting his own legacy?