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
dawgrific
November 2nd, 2009
3:15 pm
amen NC Dawg!
Matt
November 2nd, 2009
3:15 pm
Joe Cox looks like Scott Farkus from A Christmas Story.
wawel78
November 2nd, 2009
3:16 pm
Golic must be a dawg fan too since he thinks it despicable. Take the logos off the helmets. What Spikes did is awful. I don’t care that it was a bulldog just like I didn’t care the guy that got sucker punched was from Boise State. But feel free to keep defending the guy’s actions.
Herschel Walker
November 2nd, 2009
3:16 pm
I thought the eye gouge was classless.
Herschel Walker
November 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
Shut up Herschel!!!!
Herschel Walker
November 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
Don’t you tell me to shut up!!! YOU shut up!!!!
Robert (who actually played football)
November 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
I was almost blinded in a similar incident during a game. Spent about 2 hrs afterward for treatment of a cut on the pupil in a hospital and had to wear an eye patch for a week. I have no idea if it was intentional, but couldn’t imagine it was.
This case was obvious – Spikes should be suspended for the rest of the season if not charged with criminal assault. The same should be done to any Georgia player proved to have done the same thing.
I believe the permissive attitude toward this type behavior may help to explain later criminal activity by a few college and professional athletes.
The people I played with would have been embarrassed and ashamed by this behavior by a teammate.
Herschel Walker
November 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
Don’t you tell me to shut up Herschel Walker!!! YOU shut up!!!!
uberVU - social comments
November 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by JeffSchultzAJC: Spikes suspended for one-half of Vandy game. Does that even count? http://bit.ly/3r0Uk4…
Herschel Walker
November 2nd, 2009
3:19 pm
Alright you two…this is Herschel Walker and I’m telling you to calm the f*** down right now.
wawel78
November 2nd, 2009
3:20 pm
I guess Golic is a dawg fan too. Sigh…………
Lindsay Scott
November 2nd, 2009
3:20 pm
Could one of you loan me ten dollars?
Brandon Spikes
November 2nd, 2009
3:20 pm
I was just trying to let Ealy get a good look at all my championship rings. Yeaya!
KD
November 2nd, 2009
3:21 pm
Spikes looks like the creature from the movie “The Alien”, from around 10 or 15 years ago, which starred Arnold & Jessie Ventura.
dawgrific
November 2nd, 2009
3:21 pm
Another clueless and classless FL fans weighs in. Classic!
Are you serious?
November 2nd, 2009
3:22 pm
Robert- sorry to hear about that unfortunate incident you had.
UF fan
November 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
I believe that 98% of Gator fans believe that what Spikes did was very wrong and unsportsmanlike.
Now that it’s not in the heat of the moment, no one is more sorry than Spikes.
The fact of the matter is, however, the whole game was one of the most chippy and dirtiest games that I have seen. Not to excuse it but Spikes was, in fact, retaliating. Talking-head Golic just looked at the one YouTube clip (and not the full context of the game) and roared down from his high ground. I’ve listened to him talk about his days playing for the Eagles and Dolphins and he has revelled in how dirty a player he was.
Also, Tebow hasn’t made any comment about the gouging.
It’s really sad to read the bigoted ranting of so many rednecks out there. I have to remind myself that they were probably never inside a UGA classroom.
If the venting on this soothes the absolute beat-down suffered by UGA, then perhaps we should call Schultz Dr. Mark and thank him for the outlet therapy.
gatorINcali
November 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
georgia fans are the most rude and crying babies in college football. Again, we are BETTER than you little girls, GO GATORS!!
Georgia 1975
November 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Darius,
So, it is silly for a UGA fan to be outraged about Spikes receiving 1/2 game for his actions? He received 1/2 game suspension for trying to poke someone’s eyes out. You are the one that is silly.
dawgrific
November 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
tt doesn’t need thugly spikes to defend him , as he has his big brother JC and his own abilities to work miracles to take care of that.
dap01
November 2nd, 2009
3:24 pm
No class. Just like timeouts (against anyone) with little time left while still throwing while well up with points.
No class. If Spikes could fit all of that hair into his helment he could probably get it to stay on that mellon.
GSU Eagle 91
November 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
I do not condone this action, but Dick Butkus did this on every play! And that was after he screwed you into the ground head first…..Personally I would wear a plastic shield over my face gear to keep this from happening….
Sanford Drive
November 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
A cheap shot at the QB is NOT the same as eye gouging, you idiot. The first is done in the heat of the moment and the second is a CALCULATED move. By your logic, manslaughter and first degree murder would have the exact same consequences.
And yes, we got whipped AGAIN. Why would Spikes even need to do that since the Gators OWN us?
Wonderdog
November 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
Dirty play but – UGA fans are the biggest whiners ever. One UGA player was arrested last week but houlier than holy Richt let him play anyway.
Zero consequences? Desperate are we?
JB
November 2nd, 2009
3:26 pm
What a low class punk.
Golic hits it on the head.
HBTD!!!
Scoreboard
November 2nd, 2009
3:26 pm
41-17
Vanderbilt is next
November 2nd, 2009
3:26 pm
Cool, suspend him for the Vanderbilt game, it will be all good. He’s no worse than Vince Vance, Brandon Wood, or Brandon Boykin. For the record Brandon Spikes is the same age as Tim Tebow. Golic is mad because he can’t eat so much anymore, I think he is having hunger pains. It could have been worse, if the freshman running back who you can look forward to seeing in the future doesn’t cramp up there at the end it’s 48-17. Plus all the Meyer haters he could have tried to get in the endzone at the end of the game to run the score up but they decided to take a knee.
Red Foreman
November 2nd, 2009
3:26 pm
I hear all you poor poor dawgy fans whining…how bout all the arrests by Gawga playas going unpunished or suspending them for Ga southern and such. Yall are a bunch of two faced whiners…cant wait til KY Auwburn and Tach whip some dawg AZZ!!!!
Urban Liar
November 2nd, 2009
3:27 pm
I think the only reason for the suspension was not for the eye gouging, but for the bitch slap he put on Tebow in the locker room after the Miss St game.
Paul's Johnson
November 2nd, 2009
3:28 pm
Posted in the Boston Globe.
James LaShoto, a high school football player from Arlington Catholic High School near Boston, is facing criminal charges for assault and battery after allegedly head-butting an opponent — 17-year-old Daniel Curtin (pictured right) — from Abington High School in a game on Sept. 19, according to The Boston Globe.
The victim was in a pile after a tackle and his opponent pulls his helmet off and head butts him in the face.
The kid was kicked off of the team and faces assault charges.
Yet Spikes gets a slap on the wrist for attempting to sink his finger into someones eye socket.
Meyer is a tool.
Charlie
November 2nd, 2009
3:28 pm
Enter your comments here
You play like thugs, you make excuses and we are also suppose to think this is college football at its best. We see coaches making millions because they either win or your gone and they all rationalize they are passionate young guys caught up in the moment. Georgia two years in a row one of the highest penalized teams in Division1. It is all about money what is going to take before coaches, University Presidents and the NCAA watch a player loose his eye or have his neck broken. Because some thug rips off his helmet or gauges a players eye out. Yes we all know football is a contact sport and you get hurt. However there is a big difference in what we saw Saturday both from Florida and Georgia. As long as you coaches continue to make excuse and justify these actions you can only expect to watch it escalate. Because winning is the most important thing.
Rick
November 2nd, 2009
3:28 pm
Funny…no one is mentioning the play earlier in the game when a Georgia linman ripped Spikes’ helmet off and gouged his eye and ear. There had been a lot of talking, shoving, etc between the entire UGA line plus Ealey, directed at Spikes. So it’s the old question: which came first? What Spikes did was definitely uncalled for, but was probably just the most noticeable of a series of transgessions between both teams.
Pink Helmets and matching tutus
November 2nd, 2009
3:28 pm
I hope Coach Richt uses us to motivate the team in 2010.
Hypocrite Leghumpers
November 2nd, 2009
3:28 pm
I don’t approve at all of what Spikes did (he deserved at least a full game suspension), but give me a break with all the self-righteous hot air coming out of GA. Any of you leghumpers have a problem with Nick Williams taking a cheap shot at Tebow? Of course not. Nick is one of your own – you know, a Grambling State player. Spare me all your pissin and moaning until you’re willing to be critical of your own players too.
By the way, get back to me when Richt comments on Williams’ cheap shot. It’s on tape for him to see too.
Lindsay Scott's Parole Officer
November 2nd, 2009
3:29 pm
These boys could use a little more Jesus.
Ryan
November 2nd, 2009
3:29 pm
I love it!! UGA fans are so hypicritical. UGA has the most miopic fans in sports. I don’t mind the eye gouge because it means I get to hear UGA fans cry for months to come! It always entertaining to listen to UGA fans say things like “UF represents all that is wrong in college football” and “He should have criminal charges pressed against him and suspended for the year!”
By the way for the Georgia fans that love to point out that UGA leads the series against Florida – you do realize that most of UGA’s wins were in the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s right? Take the last 50 years and Florida dominates.
UGA Fans Dressed As Teal Seats
November 2nd, 2009
3:30 pm
We heard Spikes scored a TD later in the game, but we weren’t around to see it.
Lower Thyself
November 2nd, 2009
3:30 pm
First of all, Darius has no Character as he indicated Coach Bryant was a cheater. I dare you to stand in front of any player that had ever played for him and tell them that. I would pay to see that one.
Spikes should be suspended. I did not see any late hits on Spikes. The late hit on Tebow should have been flagged. The Dogs have no discipline as they are the most flagged team in the conference. This is why they will not win. Florida lowered itself to the Dawgs level and should be embarrased. Bull Gator had it right. Glad some Gators have class.
Herschel Walker
November 2nd, 2009
3:33 pm
I’m a little teacup, short and stout…..
Lane Kiffin
November 2nd, 2009
3:34 pm
Hey guys, let’s talk about me now….I beat the dog piss out of Georgia too!!
What about me??
Fan of anyone but UGA
November 2nd, 2009
3:35 pm
now the excuse making cry baby UGAly fans will blame the “eye” incident for losing saturday. the dawgs are a bunch of thugs who live in glass houses, period end of story.
ckgator
November 2nd, 2009
3:35 pm
“Brandon Spikes” – enough of the ebonics. No one is laughing at your low-brow, bigoted humor.
Talk about facts or shut it.
gdawginkalamazoo
November 2nd, 2009
3:36 pm
WTF do you mean Georgia’s off today I thought they had Saturday off?
You have to remove Spikes name from any National Awards that he might be up for. It is a shame but the guy got caught.
Darius
November 2nd, 2009
3:36 pm
Bryant was a cheater. End of story.
Gator Rob
November 2nd, 2009
3:36 pm
It seems like UGA and FSU fans are making the biggest deal out of this. Coincidence? I think not. They’re both 4-4 programs struggling for relevance and bowl eligibility.
Meyer wasn’t obligated to do anything here. That crap goes on in piles in every game, this just happened to be caught on camera. UGA had been playing dirty all day. But why let facts get in the way of a good story that puts UF in a bad light?
King Gator
November 2nd, 2009
3:37 pm
Queer Eye for the Geogia guy says — black jerseys, red helmets, white pants and silver diapers for the Dawgs this week. Fashion is so motivating Dawgs!
Georgia 1975
November 2nd, 2009
3:37 pm
Florida Fans,
Yes, UGA had some late hits on UF players. Those should be addressed by the Georgia coaches.
However, in NO WAY are those late hits equal to sticking your fingers in someones eyes. How ignorant are you? QUIT TRYING TO JUSTIFY A HORRIBLE ACT.
South Carolina Dog
November 2nd, 2009
3:38 pm
The lack of intelligence articulated on this page is incredulous. I think it is quite ironic that Georgia still leads the series. History shows what goes around, comes around, so you Gators should learn some humility. Also, archangeladidias, – what an ibecilic name, you obviously have not graduated from any higher instituion of learning if the best “diss” you can generate is garbage for Georgia. At the end of the day, I will take the class of Dooley and Richt any day.
#51
November 2nd, 2009
3:38 pm
Ealey should thank me for making sure he couldn’t watch the rest of that pathetic effort from the little bitches in the black helmets.
Bama fan
November 2nd, 2009
3:38 pm
The Bear is not dead, he just smells funny.