Stephen Garcia vs. Melvin Ingram

[trapper82]

Originally Posted by gamecockgal

Garcia did some great stuff on the field, but its impossible to forget all the trouble he brought with him, so I have to say Ingram.

Sadly he made it impossible. I have often wondered what he could do had he actually "gotten it" and dedicated himself.

[gamecockboy89]

If this were a competition of the "best" player or "classiest" player I would go with Ingram. But since this says "favorite" I have to go with Garcia. Dude was just a rockstar who just couldn't balance his priorities.

We all got a little Garcia in us, but you gotta be able to work hard and play hard.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

This isn't even a question. Ingram.

[Spurticus]

No hesitation

MELVIN INGRAM !

[AikenRooster2112]

No contest, here. Melvin overachieved. Garcia underachieved. Melvin gave us a lot of positive press. Garcia gave us a lot of negative press. We won because of Melvin. Often, we won DESPITE Garcia.

[Copperhead]

No contest...Big Mel. Described by coaches as the most athletic guy on the team. Did not bring annual embarrassment on program, self and family.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

I scanned over the posters who voted for Garcia and made a mental note for future reference.

[sporkgod50]

Ingram over captain Brah-some all day and twice on saturdays.

[cocky2007]

Originally Posted by Jim Lahey

Surprised Garcia doesn't have more votes. I voted for Melvin because he came in as a 2 star MLB and worked his ass off to become an NFL d lineman. Garcia had some off the field issues, but dude gave it his all when he was on the field.

MI6 was actually a highly rated 4 star.

[M.C.]

this isnt fair...

garcia made to many mistakes of course ingram is the choice here

[Dizzy01]

Maybe there could be a special run off with Garcia, Watson, Summers and Mitchell for favorite player that let off field issues impact their on field results.

[Emery]

I look at this as who did the most for the program. Ingram is great and arguably won us the Georgia game, but Garcia lead us to wins over a top 5 Ole Miss team and number one Alabama. Sophmore year had 2800 passing yards and 3000 the next year. Was he a bit of a d-bag at times? Sure. Did he let his off the field crap hold us back (I still have nightmares about Auburn)? Absolutely.

Was he more instrumental for driving the program to where it is today over Ingram? I think so which is why I voted for him.

[gamecockguy]

Originally Posted by Dizzy01

Maybe there could be a special run off with Garcia, Watson, Summers and Mitchell for favorite player that let off field issues impact their on field results.

Blake Mitchell? I don't recall him having off-field issues. He definitely isn't on the level of the other 3 you mentioned, he at least got to finish his career.

[eightohhthree]

Or how about Phil Petty vs Stephen Garcia? Phil had a few decent seasons in 2000 and 2001. Those were fun years, and coincidentally the years I was in school.

[Dizzy01]

Originally Posted by gamecockguy

Blake Mitchell? I don't recall him having off-field issues. He definitely isn't on the level of the other 3 you mentioned, he at least got to finish his career.

Mitchell loved the bars in 5 Points and the incident with punching the bouncer helped put him on the bench for a period. He did finish his career but I think he arguably had more potential especially in Spurrier's system than the other 3.

[trapper82]

Originally Posted by Emery

I look at this as who did the most for the program. Ingram is great and arguably won us the Georgia game, but Garcia lead us to wins over a top 5 Ole Miss team and number one Alabama. Sophmore year had 2800 passing yards and 3000 the next year. Was he a bit of a d-bag at times? Sure. Did he let his off the field crap hold us back (I still have nightmares about Auburn)? Absolutely.

Was he more instrumental for driving the program to where it is today over Ingram? I think so which is why I voted for him.

Ingram impacted a game like I've never seen a non-qb (much less a defensive player) do in UGA. If we are talking individual games, he ranks right up there. I think we've gotten past individual games personally, Garcia did as much to lose several with his lack of preparation like Iowa and Connecticut. Personally I like him and wish him well, but I don't think its a close contest, and the votes pretty much reflect that.

[garnetmike]

Garcia was unquestionably one of my favorite gamecocks, and while he brought a lot of crap on himself...the politically correct society we now live in added to his delemma. However, between him and Melvin there is ONLY Melvin. I think Garcia did however always give his utmost when on the field. To me its a shame that someone who helped us become a top shelf team and the guy who led the biggest win in our programs history can't visit the team and field in Columbia without a whole lot of "what could have beens" being brought up.

Every time I think of garcia's what Ifs I think of the what IF coach spurrier would have praised Garcia every time HE took off running like Connor does? Instead he had Garcia wondering wtf... Coach spurrier praised Connor for what Garcia wanted to do. Just saying.

Regardless this poll is definately all Melvin...though I appreciate what both young men did fir the university.

[Cartiaze]

While Garcia was a complete for lack of better words, f*ck up, he was the better Gamecock to me. I know Ingram was a better player at the end of his career, he didn't do more for the team than Garcia did. Garcia played in more games, contributed more for the team overall. Ingram didn't really started contributing for the team until his junior year. I know Garcia dropped the ball in more ways than one, but the dude did win us some games. Ingram did too, but not more than my man Steve (Thats what I call him when we kick it... Pfft yeah right!).

[trapper82]

Originally Posted by Dizzy01

Mitchell loved the bars in 5 Points and the incident with punching the bouncer helped put him on the bench for a period. He did finish his career but I think he arguably had more potential especially in Spurrier's system than the other 3.

Don't recall him getting into much trouble either, seems it was one thing at 5 points one time where someone wanted a fight with him. Mitchell gained 15 lbs. of muscle, lowered his 40 time, and put more on his bench press and squat for the combine. Maybe he didn't have that kind of time to prepare at USC, I don't know. Maybe his problem was motivation and he just had more of it when he left. That can't really be said of any of our current qb's, they all seem to push each other to be the best.

[ColaCock]

Originally Posted by gamecockboy89

If this were a competition of the "best" player or "classiest" player I would go with Ingram. But since this says "favorite" I have to go with Garcia. Dude was just a rockstar who just couldn't balance his priorities.

We all got a little Garcia in us, but you gotta be able to work hard and play hard.

Can't say it any better.