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As Stephen Garcia begins this new fight, the support keeps growing. His journey reminds everyone that even the toughest athletes face real-life battles, and that getting checked can save lives.
Stephen Garcia diagnosed with cancer(X)Former South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia has opened up about his Stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosis, sending shockwaves through the college football community. At just 38 years old, the one-time standout passer shared the news on Facebook this week, showing both honesty and fighting spirit as he starts treatment.
Stephen Garcia shares a tragic update and launches a GoFundMe for medical costs
Stephen Garcia posted directly to fans, explaining the situation. His wife, Maria, set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses, and supporters have already poured in more than $116,000. The page notes that Garcia is taking the most aggressive route possible to beat the disease.
In his own words, Garcia wrote: “Wasn’t overly excited to share this news but it is what it is. We have a great team of doctors and staff that’s confident we can beat this! It’s the only option.”
He added a strong message for everyone: “If there’s one lesson to be learned, get checked and don’t be afraid to visit the doctors’ office when you don’t feel 100%. The stuff we consume has been altered significantly over the years and we've been hearing more and more people in this age range are getting diagnosed with these things. We got this and I appreciate all yall!”
Treatment began immediately with chemotherapy using the powerful FOLFIRINOX regimen. After these early rounds, Garcia will meet with expert liver and colon surgeons to decide on the next steps. His full attention is now on fighting the cancer.
Remembering a memorable Gamecocks career
Stephen Garcia played every season from 2008 to 2011 under coach Steve Spurrier. He ranks high on South Carolina’s all-time lists with 7,597 passing yards and 47 touchdown passes in 40 games. He also added 777 rushing yards and 15 rushing scores.
One of his biggest highlights came in 2010. Garcia threw for 210 yards and helped the Gamecocks pull off a huge upset over the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. That win was part of a strong 9-3 season that ended with South Carolina’s first-ever SEC Championship Game appearance, the only one in school history.
His final college year ended early after a failed drug test and off-field problems led to his dismissal from the team. After college, he had brief stops in the CFL and AFL. Today, Garcia works as a personal quarterback coach in the Tampa area, helping young players develop their skills.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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