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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,082 comments Add your comment
POSER
November 2nd, 2009
9:50 pm
Spikes is just a big Gorilla. Every time some big dumb knucklehead gets caught doing these things the first thing they do is point to someone else.”Well he did this to me earlier”. It makes no difference what was done to him. If the refs. didn’t see it doesn’t get called. And all you GATORS do the same thing. “Well look at the Ga. players” what they’ve done all game. You are all like a bunch of kindergarten kids. “This goes on in those pileups every game”. It most likely does, but it needs to be watched a STOPPED, Little league players watch these games and what does it say to these kids? Stop with the excuses and stop with the cheap shots.
Jail-Dawgs
November 2nd, 2009
9:52 pm
Dawgs had two players arrested in the last two and a half weeks so their not little angels in red themselves.
LincolnHusker
November 2nd, 2009
9:53 pm
I was surprised by all of the penalties in the game on Saturday. while I don’t like the action of Mr. Spikes, I can understand his frustration with all of the facemasks and late hits on his teammates. Most of the country was watching the game and felt Georgia was playing a dirty game (usually reserved for Oklahoma), and the late hits to Tebow have not been discussed.
What ever happened to the famed Southern Gentleman? Mark Richt is one, but it is clear that his staff has not coached a team of gentleman.
The obvious part of this game is that the Spike situaion was the focus, but the earlier personal penalty when Brandon James recieved a facemask could have had far worse medical complications. Mike Golic should focus on that, but then again, it would not have put him into today’s headlines!
Congratulations to the Florida Gators for coming close to the great Huskers of the 90’s! Urban Meyer is building a dynasty that the rest of the nation respects. Best of Luck to all for the balance of the year!
GETITRIGHT
November 2nd, 2009
9:53 pm
All the many posts point out one simple truth. Some fans
will justify anything out of there camp no matter how low.
And no amount of reason will persuade a fool.
There has been little to no justification by UGA fans about
any thuggish behavior but it is brushed off as no big deal
by Florida fans. But the truth of the matter is known
among decent people and no amount of name calling and denials
will change that fact. Anyone with any degree of self respect
would not begin to defend the serious matter of someones eyes
being gouged at. As a matter of fact there are few fans here
who have tried to defend that kind of behavior that would ever
want thsir identity known because they would be viewed as scum
by society at large.
Paul's Johnson
November 2nd, 2009
9:54 pm
Dawg Whisperer:
“UGA still has the series lead because we pounded you for several decades, not just two. Life is full of cycles and your time is up.”
Well said… true dat beotches…what comes around goes around, there is still alot of football to be played.
The University of Florida GAYtors (emphasis on the GAY) will NOT win the 2009 BSC championship. Place your bets at http://www.FUGAYtors.com.
TWD
November 2nd, 2009
9:57 pm
Jeff- what do you expect, it’s the gators, as always finding a way to combine low class & arrogance.
SuspendNickWilliams
November 2nd, 2009
9:58 pm
Jeff- check out this video of Nick Williams hitting Tebow- maybe he should be suspended. Just one of the many thugs on UGA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvFbD7wIAg
Jealous Dawgs
November 2nd, 2009
10:00 pm
Gator Nation – Isn’t it funny the Dawg fans like the guy at 8:08, “Urban Crier” makes fun of the relationship between Tebow and Meyer. I think Mark Richt should get a better relationship with his players because Tebow and Meyer are winning, Richt and Co. are not. All Richt is good for is some bail money for his players. Anyway the scoreboard is all that really matters and this year it said Florida 41 Georgia 17, so whatever the Gators are doing is working. I told you people the Dawgs would not score more than 20 and they have not given up more than 20 this year. If that trend continues they will not lose. So we will keep Meyer and you guys can pay Richt $3 million for 4-4 season so far, what a bargain.
DawginTexas
November 2nd, 2009
10:00 pm
Great chance for UGA to look in the mirror. Yes spikes is punk and should be suspended for a year. Coach’s Meyer’s response is a joke.
What if Ealy was hurt? Spikes would be gone!!!! Back to the opening point: Georgia is REALLY starting to look like one of those late hitting cheap shot, trash talking (Dowtin doing gator chomp after tackle, down by 3 scores, Please)teams I have always hated. Kind of like those FSU teams when MR was there. And what does he say about penalties? “we always led the nation and it didn’t bother us at FSU” Well Mark, you had the very best players in the country for 10 straight years!! That might have had something to do about it…..AND YOU SAID you were going to address the problem LAST year.. YOU DID NOTHING I CAN TELL. Such an undisciplined team…..The penalties, the late hits,….It does not loook good. You are about to lose a long time fan
Dawg Whisperer
November 2nd, 2009
10:04 pm
Joe’s Shakey Shack… what’s funny is we still get to count all of them.
BCS chance
November 2nd, 2009
10:09 pm
Paul Johnson’s, Dawg Whisperers – in your lifetime the Gators have the edge against the Dawgs, unless you are like 80. The Gators will not win the BCS? At least we have a shot at it loser, Georgia played for a BCS Title? The answer is no.
Paul's Johnson
November 2nd, 2009
10:13 pm
Jail-Dawgs:
“Dawgs had two players arrested in the last two and a half weeks so their not little angels in red themselves.”
Minor infractions…Uf has had 24 players arrested in 4 years.
Spikes will be really getting his dreads pulled as someone’s cellmate beotch after he pulls some duma.. move fueled by “emotion” in an after hours goes club dispute that ends in him spending the rest of his life in prison after stabbing or shooting someone.
Not Disappointed
November 2nd, 2009
10:17 pm
Spikes should be ashame. It’s a coward thing to do. I still feel Spikes should be forced to make a public Apology.
Keep running Ealey.
From a Tech Fan!
SuspendNickWilliams
November 2nd, 2009
10:19 pm
Spikes did apologize it was on ESPN. Get over it. You guys got whipped. Maybe you guys should talk about how pathetic your football team is. Hope your gymnastics team is better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvFbD7wIAg
Dawg Whisperer
November 2nd, 2009
10:20 pm
BCS chance… I never personally played in any of these games and I doubt you did either. I haven’t lost anything and my life isn’t about the next football game. BTW, name calling is actually indicative of a loser.
Paul's Johnson
November 2nd, 2009
10:22 pm
“BCS chance”
More like winning the BCS… NO CHANCE!
“Paul Johnson’s, Dawg Whisperers – in your lifetime the Gators have the edge against the Dawgs, unless you are like 80. The Gators will not win the BCS? At least we have a shot at it loser, Georgia played for a BCS Title? The answer is no.”
Yeah… in my lifetime we do have the RECORD!
You’re probably 18, tell mommy to give you access to her computer when you are of legal age. Go to bed, it’s past your bedtime.
SEC ELITE
November 2nd, 2009
10:31 pm
Florida – 2 BCS Titles
LSU – 2 BCS Titles
Tennessee – 1 BCS Titles
Georgia – 0 BCS Titles, 0 BCS Title Game Appearances
END O’ STORY
LHardingDawg
November 2nd, 2009
10:32 pm
If it was a Georgia player caught stabing Tebow in the eyes. The SEC would have him jailed for assualt. Where is the Jacksonville police department? The act was premedatative and deserves a court date. The SEC should ban him for the rest of the year.
Cautiously Optimistic
November 2nd, 2009
10:32 pm
We are forgetting the fact of Spikes pouncing on Moreno, that shows his mentality right there. Oh I suppose he was retaliating then also……………..
BCS Bound
November 2nd, 2009
10:33 pm
I guess Paul is 75+ Congrats
Gator apologist
November 2nd, 2009
10:36 pm
Listen guys. I know last year when Spikes punted the ball after an interception against LSu that was a little excessive but all he did this time was get caught trying to poke some kids eye out. I mean everybody is doing it. I am glad Tebow said something and blamed it on what was happening from the other team. The Gators do nothing wrong. Go Gators.
Dawg Whisperer
November 2nd, 2009
10:39 pm
I’ve already invested more time than I intended with this silliness. Seriously, I don’t hate Gator fans or any other school’s fans. I have friends that attended most of UGA’s rivalry schools (including UF) and we get to poke fun at each other. I just think that the mentality of some of these football players and the rabid fans that support their actions no matter what is detrimental to the sport. I bid you all a good night. Some of us have to got to bring home the bread (that’s right, it’s a 70s word).
bad brad
November 2nd, 2009
10:45 pm
Somebody explain to me the difference in what Spikes did and what LaGarette Blount did at Oregon. A thug is a thug; kick him out for the rest of the year.
Chea
November 2nd, 2009
10:45 pm
I was watching around the horn today flabbergasted that these columnists were saying it happens all the time in piles. NO WAY! There would be constant fights.
Once again Jeff, your blogging instincts come through.
Gen Neyland
November 2nd, 2009
10:50 pm
Game over, done deal, suspension given. Aren’t there bigger fish to fry in Athens, like winning football games..? I don’t think Spikes’ finger poke made a darn bit of difference in the outcome. What a smokescreen.
One tin soldier rides away
November 2nd, 2009
10:50 pm
The continued lack of enforcement by the SEC office against UF is outrageous. I have never thought that I’d say this, but the SEC Office is starting to confirm what all the Techies and others have been saying, that is that the SEC is becoming a conference of thugs. Unfortunatley the thugs are the SEC comissioners and adminstrators. Mike Slive approving this wrist slap further confrims the apparent fear of having one of the SEC teams to have a loss, and not guarantee and SEC team in the MNC BCS game. Too bad, for those of us from the other 10 schools that are absolutely sick of the obvious bias. Hopefully this won’t last much longer.
Rex
November 2nd, 2009
10:51 pm
Gator fan here, and I think he should be suspended for the entire Vandy game.
One tin soldier rides away
November 2nd, 2009
10:53 pm
Neyland, you are an idiot. It is not about that game, it is about what that guy did. What a paradox, Tim Tebow showing pretty good virtue and this thug gouging at someones eyes. It is not about that game, those teams, it is about a Thug from Shelby, NC.
# 24
November 2nd, 2009
10:54 pm
Come on coach, speak up and defend the Bull Dawg Nation!!! No comment ain’t going to get it!!!
Seymore Hiney
November 2nd, 2009
10:55 pm
I’ve heard trailer parks are tornado magnets for clearing out white trash-now I realize that hurricanes are God’s way of dealing with the disgusting mullet stench of those proud NATIVE Floridians. Classless and chicketsh*t. Maybe the 30 year old linebacker has the guts enough to confront ESPN? Bad as it looks, Kiffin appears to know what he was talking about regarding the SEC doing everything to protect the Florida and Alabama rankings. Sad.
Paul's Johnson
November 2nd, 2009
11:06 pm
Gen Neyland:
“I don’t think Spikes’ finger poke made a darn bit of difference in the outcome.”
You’re right… but that’s not the point now is it doucheb.g?
College Football Fan
November 2nd, 2009
11:11 pm
Nice Column Jeff!
Hard hitting jounalism.
That’ll rile up the ‘ol Grambling State fans.
Its a gator world
November 2nd, 2009
11:13 pm
Seymore,
Gee. What a funny handle you have. Not! Please don’t start acting like Lane Kiffin actually knows what he’s talking about. He’s perhaps the biggest idiot this conference has seen EVER!!!! Its very difficult to catalog all the various mishaps and downright dumbass statements this guy has had. And to blame the officials over a close loss to the bammers. Classless! If their back doesn’t fumble the ball for the first time in his career with 3 minutes left then the game is over. And you get a lucky onsides kick on top of that. Ya’ll were lucky just to make it close much less have a chance to actually win. Lane, well he’s a bigger whiner than some of the dawg fans on here complaining. BTW, congrats on the moral victories against both us and the tide. Now STFU with the dumbass Kiffin talk.
College Football Fan
November 2nd, 2009
11:13 pm
Talk about playing to the base.
A page right out of Sahah Palin’s playbook.
Way to go Jeff! Yoo da man!
SuspendNickWilliams
November 2nd, 2009
11:16 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvFbD7wIAg
Mark
November 2nd, 2009
11:16 pm
UGA- The first team to ever whine and complain their wat to a national title.
ckgator
November 2nd, 2009
11:33 pm
Geez – almost 1,000 posts on a complete non-story.
Kiffin better make an incendiary comment before this thing fizzles out!
Z.Itchy
November 2nd, 2009
11:36 pm
What a crock!!! Spikes went way, way over the line. Jungle behavior. Meyer just condoned this behavior for the rest of his lizards. The whole announcement was made with his eyes cast down, just like liars behave. Just giving Spikes a half game suspension is like tipping at a restaurant. If you get poor service, you don’t refuse to tip at all. To send a message, you only tip a small amount. UF has sunk low on this one and I’ve lost respect for Meyer and the SEC leadership.
ParrotHead
November 2nd, 2009
11:38 pm
Late hits are not the same as eye gouging. Are UF fans really trying to rationalize Spikes’ behavior?
UF owns UGA plain and simple. Why kick a man while he’s down?
Go Gators
November 2nd, 2009
11:52 pm
I hope this adds more fuel to the fire to win it all. Then let more of the hatin for the Gators!
Go Gators
November 2nd, 2009
11:54 pm
Hey mutts, your yearly beat down in Jax still hurting??
brandon spikes
November 2nd, 2009
11:54 pm
Word yo un! I be tryin to be gettin a bug from da boyz eyesballz. I be not should be halfin to be you know repeleatin my wurds yo uh you know what I be sayun yalls be trippin on a black man.
bigstack19
November 2nd, 2009
11:55 pm
Huh?
College Football Fan
November 2nd, 2009
11:56 pm
Gosh Jeff… You’ve aroused Grambling State Nation.
Way to Go. Then again that was the point wasn’t it?
Oh you unbiased journalist are so clever!
Courtney
November 3rd, 2009
12:02 am
He will end up in jail just like his brother. Forget conference loyalty this year. I am rooting for Texas in the MNC game.
Nilo Silvan
November 3rd, 2009
12:04 am
Gator fans would defend these actions. I guarantee you that if one of the players on my favorite team did this, I would be as disgusted as all opposing teams fans would be. This was flat out ridiculous.
I'm a sissy Georgia fan
November 3rd, 2009
12:08 am
I whine and cry about everything. It’s everybody’s fault that my dawgs haven’t won anything in 29 years and those Gators continue to beat us like a goverment mule every year. Thank god Brandon did what he did because it takes the focus off on how bad our football team is.Will anybody be suspended for those ugly uniforms and helmets too? I think they should.
Jared
November 3rd, 2009
12:09 am
A game between UF and UGA is a tough one for me, I deep down always want both teams to lose. Normally this would be impossible, but with the stupidity of the players actions on both teams we have a case of both teams being losers. Also the SEC in general is a loser for treating this so lightly compared to the threat of conspiracy theorist uncovering the conferences scheming to make sure they get Bama and UF into BCS bowls.
Lawrence McCook
November 3rd, 2009
12:10 am
I used to respect Meyer as a coach but, no longer, I am not a Georgia fan but, I am a former highschool coach of two college All-Americans and one 10 year NFL player………..
Wally Butts
November 3rd, 2009
12:10 am
41-17