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
Elliot Garcia
November 2nd, 2009
2:48 pm
I guess that is all you have left all the way….now who is the back ass country hick??
Dean
November 2nd, 2009
2:48 pm
It’s really not much of a story. It happens and I’m not really concerned about it. However, as I read through this blog it’s mostly Gators talking about this. They also were the ones that cried on and on about the endzone dance in 2007. You have a great team. Your team is probably the best in the nation again. You’ve owned my team for 20 years now. Is that enough validation for you guys. Do you not have enough going elsewhere that you live through your football team. both teams acted like street thugs on Saturday. I’m more dissapointed in that than Georgia’s terrible play. Seriously, it’s just a game, no one needs to get hurt and as much as it pains you, it doesn’t mean your state is superior to this state or that any of your individual fans are better than Jimmy John from Timbuktu.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 2nd, 2009
2:48 pm
Hey. 17-20 kiss a rhino’s behind you ugly. pathetic excuse for a ventor…. you watched the two films showing Spikes coming in late after 4 players from Florida already had Ealey down…….. Spikes reached in to Ealey’s mask with fingers extended while Ealey’s arms were pinned down and Spikes gouged with force for at least 10 seconds. Once again the SEC refs were on the take and Spikes got off. Spikes should be suspended for the remainder of the season for trying to blind a defenseless player and Meyer is a yellow coward for not saying so – so much for Meyer’s “integrity”. The real Suburban has come out of the closet long enough take his wanting eyes off of Tebow.
ckgator
November 2nd, 2009
2:49 pm
If Golic had watched the game, he’d see the 3-4 incidents where Georgia players attacked Spikes. What Spikes did was wrong, but where are the supensions for Davis and Ealey for their eye gouge(s) / hair-pulls.
Golic should watch the WHOLE GAME before openning his yap.
EW
November 2nd, 2009
2:49 pm
Ok. so I have heard UF talk about Spikes getting “eye gouged”…watched the tape…nothing dirty happened…UGA fullback goes to make a high block, Spikes’ helment pops off and he INADVERTENTLY takes a poke to the eye…watch the tape for yourself. But I am curious about the Tebow eye gouge, can someone post this so I can make up my own mind on it?
Lou Vales
November 2nd, 2009
2:49 pm
As I said earlier Georgia is IRRELEVANT outside of Georgia. They are taunted by Tennessee’s Head Coach, will end up on a 2 game losing streak to Georgia Tech, are barely able to defend their home field against mediocre Oregon State and South Carolina teams BUT the ultimate is the ending of the Florida game when VIRTUALLY no Florida people at the game thought smacking down Georgia was worthy of excessive celebration. There was NO garbage–Glad of THAT–directed towards ANY Georgia fans after the game. There was almost a feeling of empathy for the people who follow the Reverand Mark’s team.
Going 0n 30!!!!!!! years since Georgia has played for a National Championship. There is no other “ELITE” team in America that has that kind of a streak. The Dogs have been spayed, and are as IMPOTENT as a 95 year old at the Athens Convalsescent and Rehabilitation Center for Advanced Geriatrics and Senile Demented Retirees and Football Coaches.
Grandad
November 2nd, 2009
2:49 pm
Just curious; which half will he be suspended?
BINGO uuugh
November 2nd, 2009
2:49 pm
You’re exactly right. You had to have known the SEC wouldn’t bat an eye at this, just like they’ve ignored how the Gators, LSU and Bama have gotten all the calls this year. It’s all about money.
EW
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
And if Spikes’ hair is getting pulled (how homo does it sound to say THAT) too much then he needs to cut it.. Ask Troy “Pert Plus” Palamalo (too lazy to look up spelling) about it. If it’s hanging out of your helmet it’s fair game and no different from pulling a jersey.
Lou Vales is literally retarded
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Oregon State? Dude, if you’re going to talk trash, at least have a clue what you’re talking about, moron.
ckgator
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Dean makes some great points. Both teams played a bit below the belt on Saturday.
A YouTube video showing only one event spins up the emotions, however. You could make a montage out of what Ealey, Davis, and others did.
Enough already – time to move on…
Habersham Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:52 pm
Darius
Elliot Garcia
Gatorzip74
ReptilesRule
archangeladidas
big fat alligator
Gator Fan
tim
Gators82
Gator Growl
Gatorbait
ckgator
Darrin “The Vent King”
Really? You are defending Brandon Spikes? Your class is revealed by your asinine comments. Keep ‘em rolling. It’s kind of funny.
Go Dawgs!
spikes is a thug
November 2nd, 2009
2:52 pm
I overheard a guy in Jacksonville this weekend calling Florida the alligators and it was actually quite funny. GO ALLIGATORS! BTW, the Jacksonville cops should be ashamed of themselves for making this weekend a revenue building event. Never have I seen more cops harrassing kids for no good reason. I’m 42 and I was ashamed of the way the cops went out of there way to try to find underage drinkers. I totally understand the need for safety and the law, but stopping EVERY kid on the sidewalk and asking for thier ID is wrong. Not that anybody is going to do anything about it.
Robert (who actually played football)
November 2nd, 2009
2:53 pm
Enter your comments here
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 2nd, 2009
2:53 pm
Ok, all you Florida fans need to wake up. You all know spikes is nothing but a wanta be thug. Always has been, always will be. He will be sitting next to Clarett or Buress before you know it. Funny how his helmet seems to be “TORN” of every game, but this was the first time HE was caught on tape, atleast in a football game. It is obvious that Crier doesnt care what the players do as long as the win. Where else would it be acceptable to be a walking bible billboard and a thug? You get suspended for punching a guy, who was atleast standing up at the time, but not for attempting to poke out his damn eyes. Yes, UGA is freaking terrible this year, but thats all he more reason NOT to cheat.
Ryan
November 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
GT
November 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
I think the public and maybe the press has some misconception of how clean Georgia is on a football field. They see a nice coach out there and think the team and assistant coaches are above this kind of stuff. For years I remember FSU playing exactly like this,with cheap shots on the quarterback, lots of talk, and real dirty under the pile. One of Tech’s coaches actually accused the refs of turning the other way and Bowden was incensed the subject was even pouched. Ross was actually stating that he was worried about the safety of his players on the field with these thugs. People thought Bowden was above this too. I think Georgia was sawing on that linebacker all day and they finally broke him. I think there probably is some film of his day getting poked a few times if anyone would care to look it up. Get Bowden to help you, he is the original edition of this. He will know exactly where to look.
Darius
November 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
Looks like Richard Seymour is a big fan of pulling hair …
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/richard-seymour-fined-for-pulling-hair/3
PMC
November 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
Perhaps Urban also made him say 3 dozen Hail Mary’s 50 Our Fathers and pay indulgences to be able to play by half time.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
Pay off the refs for “protection” like Florida and Bama does if you don’t like getting cheated, chop blocked and gouged. Take 5% of Richt’s multi-million salary and “donate” it to the refs “retirement” fund and then blow the S.O.B.’s up.
Brandon Spikes Suspension - UGA News
November 2nd, 2009
2:56 pm
[...] comment from the AJC’s Jeff Schultz in response: I guess SEC commissioner Mike Slive would have suspended Spikes if the player had done [...]
TybeeDawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:57 pm
Spikes just had a brief news conference. He was very contrite and apologized directly to Ealey for his behavior. He admitted it was wrong and said he was “very, very sorry and very remorseful”. That story can be read on TheOnion.com
Darius
November 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
Habersham – not to bust up your point with facts, but I called for Spikes to receive the same suspension he would have received had it been caught by the officials during the game and that would have been a half game suspension. It takes a complete lack of cognitive abilities to immediately associate someone pointing out how silly UGA fans are in their outrage with defending Spikes’ actions.
Ga boy
November 2nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Hey ckgator- show us some film- show us the evidence about the 3 or 4 incidents. Like we would believe anything you or Spikes say without some proof. It’s all too easy to cry “he did it to me first” when you get caught on tape. Show us some proof or shut up!!!
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 2nd, 2009
2:59 pm
ckgator – there was no film showing UGA gouging so you can’t say they did it unless you are just what you are – a biased – coward willing to back up and condone anything your boys do to win…….. you are a hypocrite.
uuugh...
November 2nd, 2009
3:00 pm
Here is a question for all you super classy Gator fans. Do you think it was neccessary for 3 dbs to hold AJ Green upright long enough for a safety to come in and bury his helmet in AJ’s stomach…when the game was already clearly out of reach?
Trying to hurt a defenseless player is just wrong.
That play plus the Spikes play and now weak punishment, make me think it is an organized push by the coaching staff to injure.
You may be the best in the country, but if you have to get there playing dirty…is it worth it?
Our guys play dirty too but we suck…so we don’t really benefit in anyway.
I’d be interested to know whether or not Golic would endorse Meyer for HC at Notre Dame.
Neutral
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
I don’t care who wins between Georgia and Florida, so I guess what I have to say won’t matter to either side. There was no sportsmanship present on either side in the game, but most of it involved playing the game. Once you get to trying to hurt players, you cross a line that most coaches will punish when they see it. Oregon officials sent a message that they will not tolerate the behavior seen on TV that night. Florida sent a different message. No harm no foul, so I won’t do anything. (A 1/2 game suspension) Yes there were several no calls that should have been made, but the SEC officials have shown all year that they have no idea how to call a game. You decide if the teams showed classless or classie. The truth hurts.
Neutral
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
I don’t care who wins between Georgia and Florida, so I guess what I have to say won’t matter to either side. There was no sportsmanship present on either side in the game, but most of it involved playing the game. Once you get to trying to hurt players, you cross a line that most coaches will punish when they see it. Oregon officials sent a message that they will not tolerate the behavior seen on TV that night. Florida sent a different message. No harm no foul, so I won’t do anything. (A 1/2 game suspension) Yes there were several no calls that should have been made, but the SEC officials have shown all year that they have no idea how to call a game. You decide if the teams showed classless or classie. The truth hurts.
can't make it up
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
Does anyone get the feeling that I do, that these blogs are like taking part in the WWF….
VA dawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
Wow, it’s amazing what you really learn about the Florida program, when push comes to shove. All their talk about Jesus H. Quarterback, and what an inspiration he is to his teammates, and not one of them can follow his (His?) example and admit it when one of their own got caught doing something wrong. Admittedly, we Georgia fans can’t cast too many stones, but at least our players get caught and suspended when they step out of line. You may win another national championship this year, Gator nation, but the gold on those rings will have lost a bit of its luster because you have Brandon Spikes on your team.
Ron Burgandy
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
Stay classy Gainesville!
Skipper
November 2nd, 2009
3:02 pm
Wow. Now Gators are child molesters? Has Washaun reached the age of consent? And just what lies beneath that facemask?
And just how does pointing out a few racists on this blog make me a liberal?
And how is it that a blog entry about a football player in a different state generates more interest than a story about who is playing quarterback for Georgia next week? You guys point out Tech’s interest in what goes on in Athens, but how about your state’s largest paper giving the Gators more coverage than the Gainesville Sun? I’ll send in my resume whenever the AJC is ready to hire a UF beat writer.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 2nd, 2009
3:02 pm
Gators are just Meyer’s tool and they do what he instructs them to do….. Meyer is the one who should be suspended.
UGA
November 2nd, 2009
3:02 pm
I have read alot of true statements about Spikes and the gouge. Not only does this make Florida look like a bunch of classless thugs, which we already new, it makes the SEC look even worse. Crier did make the wonderful decision to suspend Spikes for half a game ONLY because he was scared that he was going to get something worse if he didnt. Why are all the videos of UGA players assaulting Spikes floating around? Because it didnt happen.
Bill Stanfill
November 2nd, 2009
3:05 pm
Can you believe that Gator fans are trying to justify Spikes’ behavior?!
NC-Gator
November 2nd, 2009
3:05 pm
It was wrong to do it and Meyer punished him for it. How about what Georgia’s player did to Tebow? He slows after realizing Tebow doesn’t have the ball and then speeds up and blindsides him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cERuyek02wA
King Gator
November 2nd, 2009
3:07 pm
Spikes deserves the suspension, much like Georgia deserved the three personal fouls that were called (and the one missed for the hit on Tebow); but the Gators deserved to win and the Dawgs didn’t – plain and simple .. with or without Spikes the Gators would have and will continue to pound the hapless Dawgs in Jax. The Gators celebrate National Championships and the Dawgs celebrate touchdowns, enough said! Black helmets, really?? is that supposed to motivate? scare the other team? How about reducing the penalties and not turning over the ball instead of worrying about what color jersey, helmet, pants, diaper, etc to wear Dawgs.. how about just playing some good football dawgs? Go Gators!
Are you serious?
November 2nd, 2009
3:07 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cERuyek02wA
Watch this clip if you want to see more chicken****. You have to wonder why people do dumb things sometimes. Spikes obviously had enough of getting spat on, kicked, and poked in the eye himself. A one game suspension would be fine by me. Cheap shot our star QB and live with the consequences chihuahuas.
ckgator
November 2nd, 2009
3:07 pm
Bill – we are not. Spikes’ behavior was wrong. All I am saying, is that the punishment fits the crime, and now the rest of the perps should be caught and punished as well (Davis, etc.).
Raleigh
November 2nd, 2009
3:08 pm
Gator child:
BUT MOMMY! HE DID IT FIRST!!!!
Gator mommy:
I’m sorry little Timmy but you have to pay for your actions. No child molestation for 30 minutes! That should teach you!
Gator child:
But mommy – everyone in Florida does it!
modawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:09 pm
What Spikes did was deliberate. He is a thug and will eventually end up in prison.
GatorPoop1
November 2nd, 2009
3:10 pm
Classless act, from a classless player, on a classless.team, with a classless coach, and obviously thats what Gator fans love. This will come back to you gator fans.
Dbalcer
November 2nd, 2009
3:10 pm
Even former UF football player Jesse Palmer thinks this is too soft a punishment. Shame on Urban Meyer and shame on the SEC for agreeing to it.
Nc Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:10 pm
Typical Gaytor thug garbage. Once trash. Always trash. Urinebin is a classless leader of a classless program. UF represents all that is wrong in college football.
@ Gatorbait
November 2nd, 2009
3:11 pm
“your football program is a joke and always will be compared to the mighty gators”
Which explains why UGA leads the series, moron. Reading is your friend.
Paul's Johnson
November 2nd, 2009
3:13 pm
NC-Gator:
“How about what Georgia’s player did to Tebow? He slows after realizing Tebow doesn’t have the ball and then speeds up and blindsides him.”
Late hit….15 yard penalty. Can’t see how that can be justified as being the same as trying to maim someone.
TCB
November 2nd, 2009
3:13 pm
I love the way that Meyer said, “That’s not who Brandon is.” What a joke! Just fill in the name….That’s not who Mike Vick is……That’s not who Ray Lewis is….it goes on and on. Give us a break.
dawgrific
November 2nd, 2009
3:14 pm
We stunk, and they beat us, but Spikes, like his coach, is a classless and dirty thug who will do ANYTHING that he an get away with. By the way, defending him in any way is just pointless, and, there is NO way that this clueless moron could have stayed legitimately eligible for all of this time, unless, of course, his major is CAR-JACKING!
Kerryb
November 2nd, 2009
3:14 pm
What do you expect. They’re Florida players. Just like Miami in the 80’s and early 90’s. They were great teams that won and were made up of a bunch of thugs just like this team is. Sooner or later they fall just like Miami did. I believe the fall begins to start next year. Enjoy watching your thug team this year FL fans. Next year when Tebow and the thug are gone along with a lot of your defense to the NFL you will be just an average SEC team. You may have beat up on us in the 4th quarter but if you noticed the majority of your starting team are Juniors and Seniors. Georgia’s starting team was mostly Freshmen, Red-Shirt Freshmen, and Sophmores, so our time is coming.
Paul H
November 2nd, 2009
3:14 pm
What a surprise by Florida fans – justifying, rationalizing Spikes’ actions, even acting like it didn’t happen despite the video.
CLASSIC Florida fans. No surprise here at all.