Meyer goes soft on Spikes with half-game suspension
Urban Meyer just took, "Stand by your man," a little too far.
Florida coach Urban Meyer’s apparent policy on eye-gouging is now clear. Only a successful blinding or maiming can result in a full-game suspension.
Meyer suspended Brandon Spikes for only the first half of the Gators’ next game against Vanderbilt for eye-gouging Georgia running back Washaun Ealey.
I’m not sure if missing one half of a Vanderbilt game really qualifies as discipline. But apparently SEC commissioner Mike Slive didn’t want to get in Meyer’s way on this one. I guess Slive only worries about the real serious issues: sound bites about referees, not trivial matters like jamming fingers into eyeballs.
What happened Saturday certainly did not affect the outcome of Georgia’s 41-17 loss to Florida. The Bulldogs themselves have devolved into one of the nation’s most-penalized and least-disciplined teams. Meyer felt compelled to say the linebacker was retaliating for earlier incidents that resulted in him having his helmet knocked off and being poked in the eye (he said).
But Spikes’ act was on another level.
“I don’t condone that,” Meyer told reporters in Florida. “I understand what goes on on the football [field], but there’s no place for that. We’re going to suspend Brandon for the first half of the Vanderbilt game. I spoke with him. That’s not who he is. That’s not who we are. He got caught up in emotion.”
Ealey was not available for comment Monday. It was a day off for Georgia players (the NCAA mandates one day off per week for players). Coach Mark Richt declined comment on the incident Sunday night.
But that didn’t stop this from snowballing into a national story Monday. The strongest comments came from Mike Golic, co-host of ESPN’s morning, “Mike and Mike” radio show. Golic has some credibility. He was a defensive lineman at Notre Dame and an eight-year NFL veteran. He has been at the bottom of a few of these piles. So what does it mean when he calls this, “one of the biggest chicken-bleep things I’ve seen in my life”?
And what does it mean when he says it was worse than when Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount punched Boise State’s Byron Hout in the season opener? (Blount initially was suspended for the full season by Oregon. But several weeks later the school announced a tentative reinstatement, and he may return this week against Stanford.)
“You can clearly see Brandon Spikes’ fingers go into the facemask of the running back for Georgia, and, I don’t mean just go in there — go in there and twist around,” Golic said. “It is a bad looking eye-gouge. And I know this guy is a tough player and I know he hits and I know he’s considered one of the best linebackers. But that’s one of the biggest chicken-bleep things I’ve seen in my life. Ever. Ever! To be that good of a player and have to do that – stick your fingers in a facemask and try to blind a guy, eye-gouge him, is pathetic, Brandon! Pathetic, that you would do it!
“There needs to be some disciplinary action. Everybody wants to talk about LeGarrette Blount from Oregon for punching that kid. I’ll tell you what. I’ll take the punch over this garbage. Any day of the week. Any day of the week over that garbage on the field of sticking your fingers in somebody’s facemask and trying to blind him. Stick your fingers in their eye? Are you kidding me…?”
Golic later said: “What a horrible move that is. What a classless, unsportsmanlike move that is.”
Meyer said his wife and defensive coordinator Charlie Strong both mentioned the Spikes’ incident to him. His initial reaction was to move on. Then he saw a replay of the incident decided to speak to Spikes about it.
But his initial balking indicates he didn’t want to suspend Spikes at all.
“Very emotional things happened in that game in particular that were not good for either side,” Meyer said, “but the bottom line is we’re Florida and he’s Brandon Spikes and we expect certain things.”
Nice speech. But it would’ve meant more if there was some action to back it up.
If you haven’t seen video of the play, you can view it here.
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1,082 comments Add your comment
Amnesiac
November 2nd, 2009
4:59 pm
Nice, seeing Meyer go all Fulmer on us, taking it easy on the star players.
Golic’s right.
Tech Buzz
November 2nd, 2009
5:00 pm
Will richt step up and suspend the GA thug who ripped off spikes’ helmet and gouged him?
Time To Turn the Page
November 2nd, 2009
5:00 pm
I accept responsibility for my actions and I accept the consequences of my actions,” Spikes said. “I would like to apologize to my team and the coaching staff and Washaun Ealey. Football is a very physical and emotional game, but there is no excuse for my actions.”
Meyer said he spoke with SEC commissioner Mike Slive about the incident
Meyer said Spikes was retaliating for an incident earlier in the game in which Spikes’ helmet was knocked off by a Georgia player.
Spikes is a team leader and one of the Gators’ most emotional players.
“He’s not a bad guy. He’s a great guy,” Meyer said. “I want to coach passionate guys, but I don’t want things that stand out. We have to live within the rules and do it the right way.”
Senior Ryan Stamper, a starter at outside linebacker, will replace Spikes at middle linebacker for the first half of Saturday’s game.
Gatorbait
November 2nd, 2009
5:01 pm
Gators won, UGA is won of the worst teams in the SEC. Keep whining.
Checking Out of Sports
November 2nd, 2009
5:01 pm
Low class street thugs … seems like that’s getting to be the norm in college football. Don’t matter about your actions … can you run fast or tackle. Forget the issues. Beat up on everyone else like you see it done on the street. I no longer watch NBA or NFL because of the attitude and low class players. I gave up my two season tickets at UGA this year and kept my $5,000 donation to the Athletic Department. I don’t plan on watching TT/UGA next weekend. I’m just about done. I thought college football was a game to be played by Student Athletes and not street thugs acting like gang members in a game. Slive is a coward. Florida is the golden child. Ealey should have taken a warrant for physical assualt and had Brandon Spikes locked up for awhile. Dreadlocks, tatoos, piercings, burns … what a wonderful image for college football. Someone on the Florida team would have to kill someone to get a full game suspension. College football has died with the emphasis on money and winning. I’m just about done with the mess.
Joe N
November 2nd, 2009
5:01 pm
BTW, I will gvie credit to Ealy for just getting up and playing (and Spikes, too, when his eye was gouged earlier in the game). It seems they’re not quite the whiners (yet) the Georgia fans have become. Of course, they’ve only lost a few to Florida, while you fans have lost for a couple of decades. Quit whining and man up for an ACC team you might be able to beat.
What if Spikes gouged an eye and there were no UGA fans to see it?
November 2nd, 2009
5:02 pm
We were all disguised as teal seats
Lane Kiffin
November 2nd, 2009
5:03 pm
If it was as bad as all the Georgia fans are saying then the SEC would have stepped in. Guess Meyer etc have the SEC fans on their side. UGA fans are starting to sound like Lane Kiffin- whining and losing- .
Harold
November 2nd, 2009
5:03 pm
Congrats to the Georgia team for a fine 2nd quarter.
Dirty
November 2nd, 2009
5:03 pm
Enter your comments here
Eley
November 2nd, 2009
5:05 pm
Gies, me ies hurted biggy tyme. I cantz evenz tipe me ownz naim.
Lane Kiffin
November 2nd, 2009
5:05 pm
Can’t UGA protest the loss? Maybe our Vols and UGA can play in the SEC championship. Who cares if it is 2 SEC East teams. The SEC office doesn’t like us and UGA. We are the two best teams and the most upstanding players if our players get arrested and are weak on the field. Cmon give us some slack SEC. Spikes for 1/2 game? he should be kicked out of the SEC and UF should have to forfeit the rest of their games.
College Football is Making Me Sick Too
November 2nd, 2009
5:05 pm
AJC …. why not a full interview with Slive and put him on the spot about this misjustice. Fans are getting totally disillusioned with the greed, power and sickening actions in college football. Does the AJC even have the guts to ask the tough questions and get the true answers. It is about money and greed and power and winning at all costs isn’t it?
I agree with Checking Out …. Street thug footabll is getting old.
GaCFB
November 2nd, 2009
5:06 pm
Can’t say I’m surprised at some of these comments being posted.
a play like this is bigger than some stupid rivalry, Golic sees the story for what it really is but I can’t say I’m surprised that others posting here do not. Some of the posts I’m seeing make some of you guys seem like you’re less than 10 years old and still in elementary school ….. at some point it’s time to grow up
So Now What?
November 2nd, 2009
5:07 pm
Spikes apologized and he’s been suspended.
We need another smokescreen so we can forget how badly we suck.
UGA COACHING STAFF
November 2nd, 2009
5:07 pm
We got the youtube video playing in the locker room already. Wait till we play the gators next year. Wow we will keep playing that video and we got some cool uniforms for next year’s game. UF should be scared.
Mike Slive
November 2nd, 2009
5:08 pm
It is the position of the SEC that fines will be issued to all fans who disagree with King Urban and Tim Tebow. By mere association with the greatness that is Tebow, Brandon Spikes, while still a thug, has been granted sainthood and will get a plaque outside of the swampa$$ stadium. Please stop talking bad about the gators or I will fine you all.
G8orEd1
November 2nd, 2009
5:08 pm
The game was very “chippy” on both sides of the ball Saturday with some very unsportsmanlike conduct; however, that is no excuse for Spikes to have done what he did. IMHO, he should have been suspended a full game. As a diehard Gator, I am disappointed in his actions and even more so in the discipline handed out by Coach Meyer. Although UF players have gotten into their fair share of troubles throughout Meyer’s tenure, I have defended the program based upon his suspensions, dismissals, etc. I can not defend him this time. I hope the SEC hands out a more appropriate suspension. I also hope the SEC reviews the game tape carefully and hands out appropriate suspensions to other Dawgs or Gators that may have gotten away with comparable behavior during the game.
Add Me to The List
November 2nd, 2009
5:09 pm
Low class players with low intelligence trying to beat each other up is getting old to me too. Pride, sportsmanship and school spirit have been lost in the interest of money and winning. It’s time for changes. I won’t sit in the seat of another stadium … I’m fed up too.
GaCFB
November 2nd, 2009
5:09 pm
What I really meant to say was, the thought of 10 year-olds in elementary school really turn me on.
What if Spikes gouged an eye and there were no UGA fans to see it?
November 2nd, 2009
5:09 pm
That play alone, had it been seen by the referees, would have wiped out all 41 of Florida’s points.
Dawgs win, Dawgs win, Dawgs win!
bamaguy
November 2nd, 2009
5:10 pm
You guys forget there is a ESPN/SEC conspiracy going here! There will be uncalled eye gouging, unsportsmanlike conduct and a myriad of others called and uncalled between LSU and Bama because the SEC has huddled all the refs and told them to make sure Florida and Bama win and meet for the mega-millions title game (rolls eyes)!
UGAinFargo
November 2nd, 2009
5:10 pm
I am giving up on the Dawgs. They are horrible to watch.
Jefferson
November 2nd, 2009
5:10 pm
I bet he had his eyes closed anyway, UGA are sore losers.
G8orEd1
November 2nd, 2009
5:11 pm
BTW,,,in my prior post, I meant at least a full game suspension.
Brandon's Hands
November 2nd, 2009
5:11 pm
My owner is suspended for a half, and Slive agrees. So back the f off my owner. It was my fault, not his.
Mike Slive
November 2nd, 2009
5:11 pm
Also, we are issuing a $5,000 fine against UGA for stealing Grambling’s helmets for use in a game. It would have been a travesty if somebody had tuned in and actually thought that the great Tim Tebow was playing against Grambling. In addition, UGA will have to wear pink jerseys and helmets next year until they start playing defense. Willie Martinez gets to wear a pink skirt on the sidelines.
Mike Slive
November 2nd, 2009
5:12 pm
Enter your comments here
2N4YEARS
November 2nd, 2009
5:12 pm
SPIKES is a THUG.
Freddy
November 2nd, 2009
5:13 pm
Personal Foul UGA..Another 15 yards.
BamaJoe
November 2nd, 2009
5:13 pm
Georgia really is pathetic
dawgs
November 2nd, 2009
5:14 pm
Jeff- Can’t Meyer suspend AJ Jones and some of the Gators that will be back next year for the UGA game? At least let’s make it possible for UGA to stay within a few touchdowns.
Mark the Coach
November 2nd, 2009
5:14 pm
This will motivate us for next year.
G8orEd1
November 2nd, 2009
5:16 pm
Just read how the SEC is satisfied with Meyer’s suspension. They’re as bad as Spikes and Meyer,,,or worse. They have no rooting interest in Florida and still accepted that slap on the wrist as adequate.
Lane Kiffin
November 2nd, 2009
5:16 pm
Damn, does Spikes have any eligibility left? Maybe he’ll transfer here. That would be more street cred for me. I’d also offer the entire UGA team (except Cox…he’s a little too white) because that is the thuggiest team I have ever seen…Street cred biatches!
Also, Nuke, I miss you. xoxoxo
Freddy
November 2nd, 2009
5:18 pm
This will motivate us for next year
^ hahah. Thats a great comment. The timeouts last year were suppose to do that. And the Black helmets
Spikes would be in jail
November 2nd, 2009
5:18 pm
If Brandon Spikes had done what he did on the streets, his butt would be in jail. How low class can you get than wanting to hurt someone. What if he’d had a gun with that mentality. I’m betting he will physically hurt someone outside the game in the future. Street thug
mentality will always come out (see Michael Vick). He’ll get his when the time is right. He will reap what he has sown. Someone will put his lights out sometimes in the future. This is sports not the streets.
Falc. exec.
November 2nd, 2009
5:19 pm
forget the eye poking…I want Meyer fired for what he was doing to Tebo..
Freddy
November 2nd, 2009
5:21 pm
Who cares..They will finish MAYBE 6-6. They are a HORRIBLE team with rec league coaches. Right now I think the best high school team could beat them
Lifelong Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
5:22 pm
When I failed to outgrow my Terrible Twos, my momma knew that I’d grow up to be a diehard Bulldog.
hometeamdawg
November 2nd, 2009
5:23 pm
If there were similar video of a UGA player doing that to Tebow, and CMR suspended said player for ½ a game, do you think the SEC office would have quickly endorsed the suspension?
shane#1
November 2nd, 2009
5:23 pm
1- This didn’t start with Spikes and this didn’t start this year. There is too much hatred being spewed on the blogs and on the field and in football programs and it is time for the adults that love football to say enough! 2- The blame begins with the coaches of both programs. This “pay-back” crap needs to stop and stop now. Does an 18 year old kid have to be blinded for you guys to start acting like grownups? UGA did the endzone dance and all summer Gator players see the video in the weight room and have to do a pushup for every point the Dawgs scored. At the end of the 2008 game Meyer calls two needless timeouts to “show up” Richt and his team. All summer UGA players see photos of Meyer calling timeouts posted everywhere in the football facility. Is it any wonder these kids take it too far? A heads up to both coaches, these kids don’t need any extra juice for this game. 3- The officials need to call emotional games like Ga-Fl tight early. If Spikes is called for piling on when he jumps on a pileup after the ballcarrier is down maybe he doesn’t get his helmet ripped off and this incident never happens. I don’t see piling on called much anymore but there is no reason for a player to jump on a pile after the RB is down. Call those penalties early Mr Ref and get the kids attention, then later on they will settle down and you can let’em play. 4- Mr Coach, if your guys lost it was because they didn’t play well enough, period. Take the blame for the loss in the press, but let those kids know that they lost because they didn’t do their job. Never let the players blame the officials or their coaches or each other. They need to know that they did not lose because the other team cheated. Every player needs to realize that he didn’t play well enough and that he lost the game. That is accountability, people, and the quicker these young people learn that they alone are responsable for their success or failure the better.
California Kid
November 2nd, 2009
5:25 pm
ON JOE COX still be the starter:
IT WAS UNANIMOUS???? what the f*** was Unanimous??? Who takes votes of what should be done with a football team??? do you think Urban Meyer is talking to his staff taking votes of who should start???? Your the Head Coach Mark YOU make the decision this isn’t Congress its FOOTBALL TEAM or atleast it used to be….
HE just sealed his own fate – got back to Tallehassee and the ACC – get out!!!!
Joe N
November 2nd, 2009
5:28 pm
Here you go Georgia fans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cERuyek02wA Now can you stop whining about this and begin whining about your next loss?
Ga Thugs
November 2nd, 2009
5:29 pm
Georgia has more thugs on that team than anyone in the SEC. If the SEC office reviewed tapes, about 1/4 of their team would be suspended for hitting late, tripping, twisting knees, etc. But, because of ga fans whining and complaining, only florida had to suspend a player. check the late hit by the uga thug on Tebow, way after the play. No complaints / no suspensions???????????????
bamaguy
November 2nd, 2009
5:31 pm
Seriously. Is there a youtube video of the supposed eye gouge of Tebow? I haven’t seen any. Spikes will get what is coming to him one day. And being an Alabama fan, I hope the ones who deliver that message are wearing crimson.
Captain Gator
November 2nd, 2009
5:31 pm
lol.. i love hearing all the bulldogs cry about this. Is the picture of Spikes gouging the RB going on the lockers next year? It was a bad play by spikes, but only a little worse than what the uga players were doing all day to him (ripping his hat off) and late hits on UF players. Spikes will grow from this, UF will keep winning, and UGA will struggle to finish 6-6 this year.
Whatever helps distract you from the fact your team stinks and has no direction.
Ealy
November 2nd, 2009
5:32 pm
I’m classy
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j301/slmdls1/sports%20randoms/ealey20shove.jpg
Randy Shannon
November 2nd, 2009
5:33 pm
This game will help Georgia more than you’ll ever know.
georgiagirl
November 2nd, 2009
5:33 pm
Classless Gators fan trying to find a good reason for a thug to try and put someone eyes out. There are no excuses get over his a THUG, and Myers is just as classless. Golic said it right all the way.