For one moment, try this: Forget all the negatives about South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia. Forget the attitude, swagger, multiple arrests, bad decisions and suspensions.

Let’s not even talk about all the meaningful time missed during spring practices and offseason workouts.

While his debut against Georgia on Saturday was pretty limited, USC coach Steve Spurrier said Tuesday that Smelley would continue to start, but Garcia is close to learning the whole offensive package.

So, is he good for the team?

Well, take a look at the offensive unit right now. Starter Chris Smelley is 0-2 so far this year. While Smelley has completed 61 percent of his passes for 596 yards and five TDs, he’s lacked big-play ability and a sense of leadership. In fact, it’s hard to find any leaders on a team that’s lost seven of its last eight games dating back to 2007.

While Garcia’s actions point to leadership problems, he did come to USC with the attitude of fearlessness.

The team has problems running the ball, and the offensive line is continuing to hold weekly tryouts in mid-September. Garcia can avoid the rush.

With receiver Kenny McKinley out with injury, the rest of the group is totally inexperienced and needs more time to break free from defenses. Garcia can give them that.

Decision-making has been poor at the position. Tommy Beecher started the opener with four interceptions, and Smelley has thrown three in two games. Tack on the bad reads and overthrows and really, Garcia couldn’t do any worse. He might make many of the same errors, but he’ll likely balance it out with a play neither of the other guys could make.

I said before the season started that if Garcia saw meaningful playing time it meant the Gamecocks were in trouble. It wasn’t that Garcia didn’t deserve to play, it was just a guy with so little time in the system seeing action meant the others were unproductive.

I’d say 0-2 to start league play constitutes peril.

But face it Gamecock Nation, when he took the field against Georgia on Saturday, the stadium erupted. And Garcia knew it.

“I don’t even know how to describe how nervous I was when I first went out there,” Garcia said. “Through all of the stuff that I’ve had to deal with here, to have the support of the fans still, I mean that was incredible.”

The media was also just as pleased to see him out there. We’ve written story after story about his off-the-field exploits and unused talent. Finally, we all got to see him take a snap and answer questions for the first time since arriving at USC 20 months ago.

With Wofford and UAB on the slate for the next two games, signs are pointing to a Garcia start on the road at Ole Miss on Oct. 4.

What do you have to lose?