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
Wally Butts
November 3rd, 2009
12:11 am
17 of the last 20
William C
November 3rd, 2009
12:11 am
This is a joke. This guy should be out for the season, flat out. Would the punishment be any different if he blinded the guy? Maybe he would of gotten suspended for a whole game. When did we stop caring about our young men, and start worrying more about league standings and having key players for next week. Do we worry about our young men in the line of battle(not war), but the football field? Or should we be worried of what we let ourselves become?
Wally Butts
November 3rd, 2009
12:11 am
Richt is 4-4
Wally Butts
November 3rd, 2009
12:12 am
Joe Cox has thrown an interception in every game
Jared
November 3rd, 2009
12:14 am
Have fun trying to convince UF fans that there is a problem with this. As long as UF keeps winning they don’t care if the devil itself suits up for them.
Wally Butts
November 3rd, 2009
12:15 am
UGA Sux
quaildawg
November 3rd, 2009
12:22 am
This just in Meyer & Florida get to pick the SEC Officiating Crew for the SEC CHampionship game!!!
In other breaking news Mike Slive indited for taking candy away from a baby!!!
That’s one tough Hombre’.
Care to Wager Grambling State Fans
November 3rd, 2009
12:24 am
So Which Is It?
Will the larger line be Tech vs. Duke,
or Tech vs. Grambling State?
I think vs. Grambling St.
What do ya’ll think?
Watchful Eye
November 3rd, 2009
12:27 am
Always wondered what that squahed G stood for:
Green Bay
or
Georgetown
or
Grambling State
Now we know.
Watchout NFL
November 3rd, 2009
12:38 am
Urban just told the UF opponents that if Tebow gets gouged seriously, he will be satisfied with a half game (30 minute suspension). As for the punishment Urban dealt out, the SEC said okay,’ just get it quiet as quickly as possible. Thank God it wasn’t a white boy that got gouged.”
MJ
November 3rd, 2009
12:43 am
I’m sorry..but how many games did Mark Richt suspend his entire team for after they all ran onto the field and taunted UF in 2007?
Can't Stop Laughing
November 3rd, 2009
12:44 am
Open wide and swallow UGAG ers.
Jeff and Tony are feeding you what you want.
Say mmmmmmmmmm
loveofthegame
November 3rd, 2009
12:44 am
Jeff Schultz and AJC management, are you proud of this 10 page blog full of nothing but 90% garbage talk. It is disgusting to me that you guys at he AJC allow posts like I have read here tonite.
Barry Jay
November 3rd, 2009
12:44 am
The UF fans are sick.
This is not about school colors.
It is not about winning or losing.
This is about a player who was caught on video tape gouging the eyes of another player.
This is about Spikes ADMITTING he did it.
This is about keeping our players safe.
Any player whose intent to injure is proven should be suspended for at least two games.
The UF fans who defend Spikes should stop deflecting blame for the thuggish actions of Spikes.
You are definitely a bunch of low class jerks…just like your coach.
put on the eye shields
November 3rd, 2009
12:45 am
YES _ this does happen often – this is why many players wear the eye shields on their helmets.
you UGA whiners are pathetic MAN UP!
MJ
November 3rd, 2009
12:47 am
So UGA fans…how many games should this UGA player get for this dirty hit?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvFbD7wIAg&feature=player_embedded
MJ
November 3rd, 2009
12:49 am
Even your own damn sports writers call your team dirty..check out number 2!
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/11/01/51-reasons-ugas-loss-was-even-worse-than-it-seemed/
Barry Jay
November 3rd, 2009
12:50 am
The Nick Williams hit does NOT compare to eye gouging.
Allen
November 3rd, 2009
12:52 am
Wow! A one half game suspension for the VANDERBILT game for trying to blind another player … hmmmmmm … Meyer really knows how to dole out tough punishment — so terribly, terribly severe . . . I don’t know if they’ll ever recover from not having a thug to help them beat Vanderbilt for two whole quarters. Good thing the Gators aren’t playing another of their challenging opponents, like Troy or Charleston Southern.
get your UGA souvenirs here!
November 3rd, 2009
12:53 am
http://www.google.com/products?q=grambling+state+helmet&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=FsXvSrb0Dsq0tgf87unpBw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CBsQzAMwAw
Allen
November 3rd, 2009
12:53 am
, , , and Spikes needs to get a helmet he can keep on his head.
Barry Jay
November 3rd, 2009
12:57 am
Mike Slive apparently agrees with Meyer. They are both classless.
The SEC is losing all credibility.
I think the SEC must be in bed with UF. I can’t understand how Tebow can avoid unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for his celebrations. And I don’t understand how Spikes gets away with eye gouging that is video taped and admitted to. The SEC is letting Spikes off with a slap on the hand. Incredible.
The families of football players should contact the SEC to complain about this.
MJ
November 3rd, 2009
1:04 am
I agree…the Nick Williams hit doesn’t compare. But it is a dirty cheap shot and i’m tired of UGA fans pretending their team is saints. Spikes should have been suspended for longer, but he wasn’t. He’s already issued an apology.
Do you really want to turn this into a witch hunt where after every game people submit videos of dirty plays? Because it can turn into that.
Here’s another video….why does the UGA full back have his right hand up in Spikes face / throat area? That’s at least a 10yard penalty for illegal hands to the face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnPj3aeAzZU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnPj3aeAzZU
froggy
November 3rd, 2009
1:10 am
So, this happens all the time, but mysteriously, the 12 cameras covering SEC games have never revealed this before? Are you kidding me?
This is not about how great Florida is, and they are, or how frequently penalized UGA is, and they are, but how we preserve the game of football, which I am pretty sure everyone on this blog loves. What should I tell my 14-year-old, about to end his first HS season and committing himself to a year of off season training to get better? Learn to blind your opponent in a pileup?
Wicked hits, including some that, tragically, do permanent damage, are part of the game of football. We hate it when anyone is injured but understand it occurs in the context and flow of the game. What we saw Spikes do is nauseating. Let’s get a level set here. That the SEC winks at this is appalling.
BUZZTIME
November 3rd, 2009
1:15 am
Seemed to be a lot of thugery going on Saturday.
http://www.onlygators.com/11/02/2009/georgias-cheap-shot-on-tebow-goes-unnoticed/
PHIL
November 3rd, 2009
1:17 am
Wow that little love smack to his highness Tebow was sure life threatening! He must not be fair game when he stands around like the other players on the field?
What is amazing to me is that daily, people and I use that term very loosely, calling themselves fans of UGA lament the fact that we don’t have a coach like the Cryer. Really? There is a reason why fans of other schools are always making fun of our fans for being white trash……….it’s true.
Oregon suspends their player for a year and UF suspends this moron Neanderthal for a half of a Vandy game? Obviously winning is more important thatn character at UF and so it is among UGA fans posting on AJC blogs Most of them can’t even spell character.
CALIGATOR
November 3rd, 2009
1:21 am
first of all, people still listen to Mike and Mike? they are a joke…I bet Mark Richt is happy cause all the heat is off him, i guess UGA is more worried about Spikes then how soft and mediocre Georgia is…WOW how UGA has falling since the endzone celebration, Beating Hawaii is all you won since, also throw in BIG TEN Mich. State! WOW…And for Golic to refur the Spikes play as a bigger deal than Blount’s punch is laughable…Blounts actions that day was embarrassing! UGA was targeting Spikes all day and he got tired of it…UGA cheap shotd Tebow and spit in the face of Spikes…Enjoy battleing Vandy and Kentucky for last in the SEC!
Stone Cold Schultz
November 3rd, 2009
1:40 am
I despise both UF and UGAg…But gouging and twisting someone’s eyes is a CRIMINAL OFFENSE if it happens off the football field!!!
How can ANY FAN OR COACH defend this thug’s obvious intent to permanently BLIND another player?!?! Bet you’d feel different if it was YOUR SON getting his eyes gouged out on Nat’l TV, huh?
Urban Meyer & FLA FANS — Pathetic slime at the bottom of a turd treatment plant. The fact that this kind of “play” is accepted by the SEC shows they are clueless turds floating around in the same turd treatment plant.
Normally the only criminal offense in a UGAg game would be, well, UGAg’s “criminal” offense, or lack of one. UF enters the field and everyone HAS to wear eye protection googles now?!?! Next year they’ll be strapping Bowie Knives inside their socks so they can “really get ‘em” in the bottom of the scrums. Wow, fight your way to #1 takes on a whole new meaning in G’ville…
How embarrassing for UF…Gouge eyes on nat’l tv…Get slap on wrist…SEC Office stays in coma.
I’ll always look at every Gator Fan differently now because of all of the mindless defenses posted here on behalf of a GUTLESS player/thug. You are truly pathetic and deserve the TARNISH your school will receive as a result of this…Just go away…Nobody likes you anymore.
The VANDY PLAYERS & COACHES SHOULD ALL SHOW UP WEARING GOGGLES WHEN THEY ENTER THE FIELD…Then the UF players will have to resort to pulling out razor blades from their wrist bands to earn pats on the back from Urban Meyer.
Slimey Slive and the Conspiracy Theory
November 3rd, 2009
1:48 am
So what if I didn’t make the suspension for more than a half? Hasn’t Spikes suffered enough? He’s been ridiculed on national radio and the Internet has all kinds of access to the photographs. I think we’re making a mountain out of a mole hill. Okay? And his coach recommended the suspension, I didn’t. In fact I went along with Coach Meyer because he is the head coach and he knows how to discipline his players far better than do I.
And what do I care that Oregon suspended their criminal, excuse me, player and we didn’t suspend ours. We’re talking about the SEC not some Humpty Dump conference like the PAC 10..
In a violent sport such as football, we need to make exceptions for such violence. Players get out of control on occasion. This was one of them. Keeping Mr. Sikes out of the first half of the game against Vandy inflicts a rather stiff penalty on the Gators. Sikes is the heart and soul of that defense and Florida is fighting to maintain its lofty standing among football fans everywhere.
The SEC has truly become America’s conference. While we have some players who can be “difficult” at times, on whole, we strictly enforce the rules against coaches who criticize our fine officials. Otherwise we have a lack of stability that will reverberate through the conference. And my job is to keep us in the forefront of sports fans everywhere even if certain conduct is unseemly.
And to be honest with you, we are going to maintain that status no matter what Mike and Mike say on ESPN. We have a fifteen year deal with them so what the hell are they’re going to do with us? Nada. Zip. Nothing.
Besides, we want to put our best foot forward come the playoff in December. That means having two undefeated teams clash on national TV in prime time. This should be an advertising bonanza for us.
Please. Let’s keep things in perspective. So Sikes didn’t act gentlemanly. There really wasn’t enough room between Ealey’s face and helmet for him to get in direct contact with Ealey’s eyes. So what’s the big deal? He really couldn’t do anything to hurt Ealey. I want to move on, I have sponsors to see and a business to run.
Thank you for you time but I have more important other things to attend to like refining the coaches code on criticizing our fine referees and officials.
Now, if you’ll excuse me. Oh, I think that is Coach Saban on the phone to congratulate me for imposing such a stiff penalty on Florida. He says that there will be a halftime tribute to the Commissioner’s office. I think that is really splendid. It validates all what we stand for in the good ole SEC.
As for the writer, Georgia born, Georgia bred, and when I die I’ll be a BullDAWG dead.
Punisher
November 3rd, 2009
2:15 am
“Whats the difference between what spikes did and what the Blount guy at Oregon did earlier in the year? Oh I know, what the Blount guy did might not of ruined the career of the other player.”
Blount also punched his teammates. And he also ran into the stands to fight fans. He also fought the police and coaches trying to get him off the field.
That’s why he got alot far harsher punishment than Spikes.
Dangle
November 3rd, 2009
2:38 am
I agree that Spikes was more than wrong. The whole atmosphere of the game was intense. However, to pinpoint Spikes in the media as the only player playing rough that day is incorrect in the scope of the game. See this clip:
http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=cERuyek0 2wA
Why is no one calling for action against Williams?
http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=cERuyek0 2wA
As an integral team leader and simply as a person, he should have held his head above the fray and he did not.
GTAllDay
November 3rd, 2009
3:20 am
Funny how if some people actually used brains, half the crap in the comments section wouldn’t even b postd….
Football has been dirty EVER since its creation… For Golic to say this is classless is the lip service you expect b/c its never right, but it will always continue… This is by far the most violent team sport where its a serious hard hitting game and the players are in a constant fight each play…. so I say 2 those that want every little issue 2 be blown out of proportion, maybe you should just go back to daydreaming all day and being super naive about life since you have no sense of what reality is. But hey, this is America right?
GTAllDay
November 3rd, 2009
3:38 am
An 2 these a$$es that keep all this thug crap going… please use a word that defines actual conduct then something you like to use when it comes to minorities… if its a story about sports or entertainer, 1st thing you hear is THUG when some type of poor decision making has taken place. You dont know wat a thug is until you’ve been beaten and robbed, last time I checkd… but most of you wouldn’t know since you don’t get out
GTAllDay
November 3rd, 2009
3:56 am
Furthermore 2 blind someone, a simple poke would not suffice due 2 tha fact the ergonomics of the facemask design… We need 2 investigate this 2 bring about change so we don’t have 2 argue about intentions. Ha! IT SEEMS I CAN BULLSH*T 2
Jenner
November 3rd, 2009
5:21 am
Urban Meyer is a tool, 1/2 a game suspention vs Vandy, wow, way to make an impact!
As for a UGA player ripping Spikes helmet off, maybe Spikes should strap it on!!! and cut his nappy dreads……..looks like there are sticks and such in his braids!……and HE DOES look to be 35!
But Spikes real punishment will come net year in the draft…….Most NFL teams are steering clear of these kinds of players………..hope Spikes enjoys his career with the Raiders.
Jimbo
November 3rd, 2009
5:42 am
Spikes’ helment probably would not have been knocked off if he didn’t have so much hair under it that it wouldn’t fit! Get a haircut and fasten your chinstrap!
GT Rules State
November 3rd, 2009
5:51 am
Pathetic … shows how thuggy the game has become. Shameful that we accept this.
GT Rules State
November 3rd, 2009
6:00 am
Sorry fellow GT … GETALLDAY, but your dead wrong. A thug is a thug is a thug. Trash talking, dreadlocky, inconsiderate crap is ruining what many of us use sports to teach our children. Sportsmanship. So the game is becoming adult rated huh?
big dog
November 3rd, 2009
6:25 am
For the UGA fans to be whining about Spikes is so typical. Coming from the most undisciplined and dirty, trash talking team in America is laughable.
Dog Island Gator
November 3rd, 2009
6:27 am
I’ll bet that little twerp doesn’t spit in faces anymore. 17 out of 20. Here comes TECH! Wear black again. Yea, that’s the ticket.
bull-gator
November 3rd, 2009
6:31 am
Now Georgia has another reason to hype the game next year. Retaliation for the eye poke. What’s it gonna be, Georgia? Black fingernail polish and “spike” heels? Get over it Shultz and the rest of you homers. What’s done is done and it’s been three days now. Time for Georgia to focus on their next game and get their team whipped into shape.
Gator 4 Life
November 3rd, 2009
6:33 am
GA players couldn’t have gouged anyone because they can’t tackle or block. I don’t buy it.
Gator 4 Life
November 3rd, 2009
6:38 am
GA can only play in big games, they surely can’t win them. You are awful. You have great players and you cannot win. It’s amazing. Florida will continue to slap you as long as you have a girls soccer coach running your defense.
Call it Like It Is
November 3rd, 2009
6:44 am
Hey Paul’s Johnson
You sound like most UGAY morons.
Have not won anything in 29 years. Therefore, PUNK until they do, SHUT THE F UP!
What a classless ACT!
Enough Said!
dawgma
November 3rd, 2009
6:44 am
WHAT – HALF A GAME SUSPENSION FOR REPRESENTING YOUR TEAM LIKE A CRIMINAL?
NO CLASS! NOT THAT GEORGIA REPRESENTS ANY BETTER THESE DAZE WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTSMANSHIP. GO VANDY!
Football Fan
November 3rd, 2009
6:52 am
Wow Jeff, way to stir up the fanbase and bring out the racist UGA fans showing their true colors. Using any excuse they can to tie his actions to the color of his skin. I know it isn’t all or most, but it is enough. This story should have never been a blog.
TampaGator
November 3rd, 2009
6:56 am
Hey, Nick Williams, why don’t you take a dirty, classless, cheap shot and try to hurt a QB who just recovered from a concussion. That cheap shot was disgusting and was probably the reason Spikes did what he did since he and Tebow are best friends. Again, no justification for what Spikes did, but Georgia fans are idiots if you think what Spikes did was not retaliation for the repeated acts of thuggery and unnecessary violence on Gator players after plays were over…including acts by Georgia players against Tebow (twice), Spikes (4 times…and Spikes never lost his helment in any game leading up to the Georgia game or any game since he has been at Florida that I can rememeber), and James (out of bounds). How the officials did not call a penalty on Williams on that his and kick him out of the game is beyond me….but probably because Williams knew the refs were not looking and he was trying to illigally get Tebow out of the game because, one on one, Georgia players cannont compete with Florida players who are better coached. Georgia fans should shut the _ _ _ _ up!!!! Or write the same things about your multiple players…not just one Florida player.
Real Gator Fan
November 3rd, 2009
7:00 am
Football fan. I totally agree that I have read many posts about Spikes that seem to be racist in nature. Comments about his age, his hair, his physical build, etc. Nothing but racist. Also ignorant.
TampaGator
November 3rd, 2009
7:04 am
Hey, Georgia Tech, would you please add on to the total humiliation the Dawgs fans are experiencing. PLEASE….65-14. You sure are capable of doing so. Also, take the biggest cheap shot you possibly can on NICK WILLIAMS and any of the other MANY dirty, classless, thugs that play for Georgia!!!
King Gator
November 3rd, 2009
7:08 am
Who cares about any of it really, both teams have players that took some cheap shots, Spikes was bad and he’s suspended; but at the end of the day Florida won, still #1 in the BCS and Georgis sucks. This is all they’ve got! Keep deflecting attention and the heat from your reeling football program Dawgs.. very sad.