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
OUSooner
November 2nd, 2009
7:15 pm
Spikes had the audacity to call OU a “dirty” team, yet in the very same game, here he is slapping at Trent Williams, OU’s o-lineman who bent him over the entire game, slapping at him like a little girlie!
YouTube clip follows:
And now we see just how “dirty” Spikes is…
And the Florida fans defending him: pathetic
football fan
November 2nd, 2009
7:16 pm
Urban Meyer is a smug punk, and Spikes is a punk thug. They will get theirs one day. Karma is a bitch!
OUSooner
November 2nd, 2009
7:17 pm
I’ll try again with the video clip:
Cautiously Optimistic
November 2nd, 2009
7:17 pm
Half a game????????? What a fricking joke!!! Hitting someone late for revenge is one thing but eye gouging is ridiculous! Not only could it end someones career, could ruin there vision forever, unacceptable no matter where, when or who started, all should be dealt with severly! Show me a UGA player doing it and I will still say a half game isn’t enough. It sure looks ridiculous seeing a 300 lb man doing this no matter who it is or what team, big tough guy huh?
I do have this thought though, maybe Meyer told him to do it? If it was a UGA player doing it first then maybe Meyer told his guy or guys to do it back? Either way there is no place for it in any sport.
wirebound
November 2nd, 2009
7:18 pm
TampaGAYtor, where is the story that says Teblows got his eye scratched? Please post the story. Please post the video. I await your Highness’ answer.
When i relook that part of the tape, Teblows gets knocked to the turf and nowhere do i see a UGA player DELIBERATELY putting his hand inside the mask to gouge him. I can’t even see a finger go in pink pants’ mask. Can you produce it missy? And by all means LISTEN to what the announcers say about him WASHING DIRT OUT OF HIS EYE when he went to the sideline.
brandon spikes
November 2nd, 2009
7:20 pm
Quit fightin word. I can’t be helpin my axeuns. I be halfin no you know parenst and my coach be gettin nasty with Tebow, like in the butt and stuff. It be weird up in the swamp sometimes you know. I be tryin to be getting a bug out of his eye ballz. Nuthin else.
Vick=Dog killing thug
November 2nd, 2009
7:22 pm
Refer back to Marcus Vick, brother of that piece of garbage Mike Vick
Kicked off the team for kicking another player. Eye Gouge more serious in my opinion. Meyer looks real bad on this one.
Richard
November 2nd, 2009
7:22 pm
Candy Canes,
Yes. I agree cheap shots should be punished and Ga. got plenty of personal fouls. However, a hard tackle out of bounds and jumping on a pile late to try to gouge the eyes of a player stuck in a pile are worlds apart and if you can’s see that you must have not played football (or maybe you grew up in Spikes’ neighborhood and can see). OldDawg said it best above and I agree with everything he said except I say Go Bama.
icedawg
November 2nd, 2009
7:24 pm
UF won period. They were clearly the better team and have been well over the past decade. When it comes to playing UF UGA is a consistent loser. It is also a consistent loser against Tennessee and Alabama. Yeah we’ve won the odd game here and there but over the past decade we have been losers against our important rivals. Even with CMR at the helm we’ve only won the odd one here and there though against other opponents (LSU) we’ve done better. But we are losers when it comes to the most important games. Sadly, we have to admit that and hang our heads in shame.
Farnsworth
November 2nd, 2009
7:24 pm
The jerk should have been arrested.
Really?
November 2nd, 2009
7:24 pm
Word is that Urban said that had Spikes damaged Ealey’s eye to the point that he became blind he would have sat Spikes for the entire Vandy game!
Simply the Truth
November 2nd, 2009
7:28 pm
Hey Richt… You must be “lovin” this… takes away from the fact that your “team” got WHUPPED again… UT and UF
Ramguy
November 2nd, 2009
7:30 pm
If you want to see why all the gators are here just to gatorsports.com What a Mickey Mouse rag. I don’t blame them for wanting to be here. If I were a gator fan I would too.
still a dawg
November 2nd, 2009
7:30 pm
Whatever, it will come back. You keep handling your players with baby gloves like that and it will come back to bite him.(look at georgia)
That is the lack of class I expect from them, and how old are you( they did to me first) My two your old says that.
CatsFly
November 2nd, 2009
7:31 pm
The SEC should be ashamed of itself if it ever lets that animal play another down. His actions were every bit as egregious as those of M. Vick. Some people just don’t have a conscience.
Golic Rips Spikes a New One | Hard Knox Sports
November 2nd, 2009
7:32 pm
[...] Saturday's game against Bayside High School Vanderbilt, but ESPN's Mike Golic considers Spikes' act one of the biggest chicken-bleep things he has ever seen in his life. There are times when Golic can be annoying about his live for Notre Dame, but Golic has always [...]
UGA Hypocrites
November 2nd, 2009
7:34 pm
So UGA fans how many games was Trinton Sturdivant suspended for intentionally diving at Terron Sanders knee and ending his season in 2007?
I know the video of that was sent to Richt back then and he didnt do a damn thing about it.
Spikes is a thug but there’s not much difference in the 2 dirty plays and at least Urban suspended Spikes. Richt turned a blind eye.
http://www.sectalk.com/boards/sec-football-talk/58256-sturdivant-video.html
Simply the Truth
November 2nd, 2009
7:38 pm
Catsfly… Don’t be so hard on Richt… He learned it from Saint Bobby….
Bark no Bite
November 2nd, 2009
7:40 pm
I wish Mr. Spikes had poked me in the eyes around 3:30 Saturday.
wayxbulldawg
November 2nd, 2009
7:41 pm
As a Christian I feel like I should say a prayer for Brandon Spikes. “Dear God, please send Brandon Spikes straight to hell. Amen.”
Barry Jay
November 2nd, 2009
7:46 pm
It is sad that the UF fans want to talk about all the dirty stuff UGA did. If it wasn’t so sad I’d laugh at them. The bottom line is that video caught Spikes intentionally trying to damage the vision of another player. He admitted it. Nothing else matters.
If you can provide video and prove intent of UGA dirty play…then those players involved should get a suspension too. This is not about being a homer, it is not sour grapes, it is not deflection. It is about a proven case of dirty play that could damage the vision of another player. It was caught on tape and admitted to.
JMS
November 2nd, 2009
7:47 pm
enough whining! you weren’t on the field during the game, you don’t know everything that transpired. Coach Meyer is a good man and you all know it. and, as info, there are FAR more toothless, classless red-necked trashy uga fans than gator fans. so, leave my state alone
Jeffey Schultz
November 2nd, 2009
7:47 pm
CMR hope this column distracts the Dawg Nation. P.S. I will finish mowing your lawn this weekend.
Ginger
November 2nd, 2009
7:47 pm
Bull…….. !!! 1/2 game suspension……Just lost respect for Urban Meyer…..That deserves at least 1 game suspension….It was a cowardly act by Spikes….eye-gouging defenseless player who can’t move and can’t defend himself..stuck at the bottom of the pile. ….Spikes is a very good player and He does not have to play dirty…………And the dang–SEC not doing anything…..come on…come on……..But they wanted to be sure to throw flag for AJ Green and excessive celebration…. now SEC did go back and finally discipline that officiating crew….but eye-gouging is 10 times worse and Spikes should have been discipline by SEC…….And lets face it—–Meyer just giving 1/2 game suspension….effectively says—to Spikes and the other FLA thugs….hey you got caught—so I have to do this to you…but I am going light on you….Do it again and just next time don’t get caught.
Like I said “Bull……….”
Matt
November 2nd, 2009
7:48 pm
Good column on it on yahoo sports.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news;_ylt=AoG_NcxhNj.24HZxr0kQXAYcvrYF?slug=dw-spikes110209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
G8TR
November 2nd, 2009
7:48 pm
When you are a Dawg, it’s always, always anything but yourself that’s the problem. A bad celebration call by the ref lost us the LSU game. D.J. Shockley was injured or we would’ve beat FL. Jasper Sanks didn’t fumble. Spikes poked somebody in the eye. On and on and on. When will UGA ever look in the mirror and admit that their program is mid-tier SEC at best. Face it. You’re Ole Miss in black helmets. You’re Wake Forest with a one national title — three decades ago. Simply. Pathetic. UGA.
GaGator
November 2nd, 2009
7:48 pm
AND BY THE WAY, I HAVEN’T SEEN ANYWHERE THAT #24 COMPLAINED ABOUT THE INCIDENT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FILM, WHEN HE GOT UP, HE WASN’T RUBBING HIS EYE OR TAKING HIS HELMET OFF TO RUB HIS FACE OR COMPLAINING TOO THE REF. NO HARM, NO FOUL.
Matt
November 2nd, 2009
7:49 pm
Enough Dawgs. There were cheap shots all game long. How do you explain not getting suspended for this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvFbD7wIAg
Barry Jay
November 2nd, 2009
7:50 pm
The suspension for a half for the infraction is pathetic.
Any player who attempts to injure another player deserved to sit for two games or more.
The SEC is setting a precedent here…a bad one. Such play should not be tolerated and should be met with harsh discipline.
I guarantee you, some other team that is not UF will get caught doing something like this and the suspension will be for the year.
The SEC is DEFINITELY biased.
Barry Jay
November 2nd, 2009
7:53 pm
Matt:
You equate a hit like that to gouging someone’s eyes? What?
There was plenty of dirty play on both sides. Not much of it rises to the level of eye gouging.
I’ve had a scratched cornea and I know how easy it is to lose your vision.
Your video doesn’t even compare.
UrbanLikesThugs
November 2nd, 2009
7:54 pm
Lets hope someone targets Spikes knees.
GaGator
November 2nd, 2009
7:54 pm
HER AGAIN IS JUST WHAT THE GEORGIA THUGS WERE DOING ALL DAY.
TAKE A LOOK AT IT YOU LOSSERS.
Matt
November 2nd, 2009
7:49 pm
Enough Dawgs. There were cheap shots all game long. How do you explain not getting suspended for this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvFbD7wIAg
GaGator
November 2nd, 2009
7:55 pm
THANKS MATT GREAT POST
Matt
November 2nd, 2009
7:56 pm
Tebow had his eye gouged. Spikes had his helmet ripped off. And don’t forget 2007 when Sturdivant took out Terron Sanders for the season with a cheap shot to his knee (after the whistle).
UrbanLikesThugs
November 2nd, 2009
7:58 pm
GaGator, Since Tebow will not play QB in NFL he can get a job in Hollywood. Great acting from a guy who weighs 240+ lbs getting “knocked down” by a guy who weighs 219 lbs.
Are you really comparing this to ripping at someones eyes while in a huddle?
St.Nick
November 2nd, 2009
7:59 pm
GaGator, we will spank your butts but good. Can’t wait to see you thugs in the ATL Dome next month. It’ll be so nice to see the redneck UF fans leaving the dome late in the 2nd quarter. Saban is smarter than your coach and he doesn’t have a man crush on Timmy. Urban loves that Timmy.
icedawg
November 2nd, 2009
7:59 pm
I hope that the Dawgs will somehow find it in themselves to put the Bugs in their place later this month. It sure would be nice to have something to gloat over.
wawel78
November 2nd, 2009
8:01 pm
I don’t condone Nelson’s actions against Tebow and I think he should be suspended for that hit. However, it’s amazing to me that UF fans are fine with sticking up for a man who was intentionally trying to do harm to another player’s eyes. I’m happy that Spikes apologized today but he should still face the consequences for his actions. UGA got humilitated on Saturday. No matter how many times you say it, it does not excuse what Spikes did.
wawel78
November 2nd, 2009
8:01 pm
sorry icedawg, but you wouldn’t see me gloating over a UGA player doing what Spikes did.
St.Nick
November 2nd, 2009
8:02 pm
GaGator, what exactly is a ‘losser’? Maybe you should get off of your step-daddy’s computer and go back to your room at the very end of your trailer (mobile home to Florida folks).
UrbanLikesThugs
November 2nd, 2009
8:03 pm
12 gauge buckshot can do wonders to a guys knees. Maybe Spikes will find out?
Army Vet
November 2nd, 2009
8:04 pm
How many think that Spikes was smart enough to come up with that statement all by himself? After the game, his “street creds” just improved.
wawel78
November 2nd, 2009
8:06 pm
I’m sure he didn’t write the apology himself but I think that’s fine. UF just wants to be sure he doesn’t say something that makes the situation worse.
Keeping It Real
November 2nd, 2009
8:06 pm
One last comment as I prepare to watch the Saints and their highly paid thugs come marching home on the Falcons. Most of the people on this blog are hypocrites and racist. Now, I feel so much better in getting this off my chest.Tennessee and Kilfin will kick all of your collective asses over the next few years. Go VOLS!!
Barry Jay
November 2nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Matt, all those things happened on football plays. Tebow got his eye gouged? Where’s the tape? Did someone just walk up between plays and thrust his hand into Tebow’s facemask?
I saw Spikes helment incidents. All happened on football play or close to the whistle. On one of them Spikes was trying to push someone backwards over the pile after the play. And Spikes doesn’t snap up his helmet, either.
Sturdivant’s play was questionable as well.
Spikes infraction was not. It was obviously after the back was down. It was admitted. No question at all about what Spikes did.
Mid town
November 2nd, 2009
8:08 pm
To just keep it real- Just to keep it real, Chick Granning was hit by Darwin Holt trying to field a punt. There was no flag thrown on the play. It was a very hard legal hit.
Just trying to keep it real, although that does not fit into your distorted remebrance of the play.
icedawg
November 2nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Sorry, I wasn’t referring to the Spikes thing.
Urban Crier
November 2nd, 2009
8:08 pm
I love Timmy and Timmy loves me. We are in love. I spend a lot of my time in the dorm at night with Timmy. Hey, it’s the 2000’s and I can say that. Besides, Timmy has never, ever done anything wrong in his whole life and that’s why I love my Timmy. Timmy will win the HT this year no matter how much money I have to spend to make it happen.
wawel78
November 2nd, 2009
8:08 pm
and I’m sure you’re an upstanding citizen. Way to call people out over the internet tough guy! That’ll show em : electronic eye gouge:
Chuck
November 2nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Does Tebow still qualify as a virgin since he has only slept with Riley Cooper and Urban Meyer? Just checking. Roll Tide! Go Canes! Go Noles! To hell with white trash floriduh.