Florida pleads an eye for an eye

Half a game? Wow. What would have happened if Brandon Spikes had succeeded in actually removing Washaun Ealey's eyeball from its socket?

God forbid, Spikes would have to sit three quarters.

Instead, Florida coach Urban Meyer sat down his star linebacker for the first half of Saturday's Vanderbilt game. Videos on YouTube outed Spikes on Sunday afternoon. From there on, it was clear Florida had to do something. Shame on the SEC, which had the final say in the matter, accepted the penalty as is.

Conspiracy theorists you may once again start your engines. Florida is protected -- this time against the league doormat. It's a good thing this wasn't the week of the Alabama game, Spikes would be, gulp, running steps.

In the wire story, Meyer mentions something about Spikes getting eye gouged early in the game, as if that is any excuse at all. That sounds like the logic speeders tell the cop that stops them: "Everybody else was doing it."

What Meyer did -- or didn't do -- was an insult to Georgia. Just when this "rivalry" was cooling down, the Dawgs have reason to hate again -- if they can ever get within three touchdowns.

Spikes deserved to be suspended a full game, at least. Maybe more. Spikes has apologized. That's a good start, 48 hours later. Thank goodness for hi-def TV or we wouldn't have seen this assault.

We're told that eye gouging is part of the game, much like a punch to the package. That doesn't mean it's right and certainly doesn't mean it's right when someone did it to you first.

C'mon Urban, we expected more of you and your star linebacker.

Come on Dodd, you were there. I saw you. Did you ask Urban about it after the game? Did you ask any of the players about it then? Did you ask any of the Georgia players. Ealey was quoted by others, did he mention it at all?

I guess that all the answers to the above questions are "no". Because it's easier to write about it after the fact than to actually talk to the people involved. I would have more respect for you if you said this to Urban directly in the press conference and if you did then I have great respect for you. But since no one reported about it that night, I'm guessing you didn't.

You were there, it was a chippy game from the beginning. It wasn't a friendly contest between respected teams. It was just short of a brawl the entire night. Both teams were at fault. There were late hits, pushes, shoves, words, and punches exchanged throughout the night, some were called, most were not.

That being said, I don't think what Spikes did was right by any stretch of the imagination. But since there wasn't any damage to the other player or a penalty being called, I'm not sure that the punishment doesn't fit the crime as the other posters said. Is anybody calling for the punishment of the half dozen Georgia players that intentionally landed on Tebow's head after he was on the ground or the guy who pulled Spike's helmet off by the facemask? I don't think so. I don't want anyone to get hurt and I'm not condoning Brandon, but that game on Saturday was not for sissies or the faint of heart. Those were grown men going at each other both inside and outside at times of the rules of the game.

Joe Cox, Mark Richt, and the Georgia players basically called the Gators out again with their sideline celebration after they scored their first touchdown. Cox and several defensive players came on the field and gestured toward the Gator sideline. The Gators should have kept their revenge within the rules of the game and Spikes will pay for not doing so. I don't hear anything about Richt and his angels on the other side. Let them play and let the players and coaches take care of the punishment.

That is unless you want to strap on the pads and a helmet and get in the game! Yea, I didn't think so!

rpd13131 Reputation: 90 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 27, 2007	Posted on: November 2, 2009 2:40 pm Score: 128 Florida pleads an eye for an eye Spikes actions were unexcusable, but does it really matter if he sits a half or two games (Vandy and Florida Atlantic)? Punishment is punishment and that's up to the coach. It probably would work out better for Florida is he "rested" two games. I wouldn't condone that from my kids, but I've been at the bottom of a football pile and had my eyes poked, been punched in the junk and pinched as hard as you can be pinched. It's part of football whether you like it or not. Spikes just got caught. Looks terrible on him and the university, but these are passionate kids at "war" each saturday and stuff happens. The penalty is the penalty and everyone has to live by it. Maybe you should write an apology letter to the university of florida for constantly putting down the university, traitor. [ Reply to Comment ]
hill raiser Reputation: 74 Level: Pro Since: Sep 5, 2008	Posted on: November 2, 2009 2:57 pm Score: 59 Don't tease the tiger UGA's gameplan was to make this a chippy game and get after Spikes in specific. The late hit/closeline/facemask was just as dangerous and agregious an act. Ealey was acting a fool the entire game. Was Spike right? No. But don't get mad at the tiger. With apologies to Chris Rock, he didn't go crazy, he went tiger. [ Reply to Comment ]
BarefootSerpent Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 12, 2006	Posted on: November 2, 2009 3:01 pm Score: 88 Love hurts Until Mike Slive's bromance with Urban Meyer runs it inevitable course leaving one or the other with nothing but a broken heart and a Brokeback briefcase full of romantic memories, this protection of FL is going to continue at all costs. Mike Slive says, "Who needs bias when you're choking on hypocrisy?" [ Reply to Comment ]
Gator 15 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 22, 2009	Posted on: November 2, 2009 3:02 pm Score: 41 Florida pleads an eye for an eye It was apparent they were going after Spikes all day long: Closeline, Helmet to Helmet, ripping off his helmet, gouging his eye, etc. The kid asked for it, screw him. [ Reply to Comment ]
DrunkenIrish Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 24, 2006	Posted on: November 2, 2009 3:02 pm Score: 68 Florida pleads an eye for an eye omg, the old "everyone else is doing is excuse"... Too bad everyone else isn't doing it. [ Reply to Comment ]
jks9202 Reputation: 82 Level: All-Star Since: Jul 9, 2009	Posted on: November 2, 2009 3:10 pm Score: 8 Florida pleads an eye for an eye What about the playeer who eye gouged spikes how come everyone isnt calling for his head???Lets at leasat be fair Spikes should be suspended and so should the player who did it to him. [ Reply to Comment ]
nustyreesham Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Aug 20, 2006	Posted on: November 2, 2009 3:12 pm Score: 98 Florida pleads an eye for an eye whatever, don't compare this to blounts AFTER THE GAME ASSAULT on an opposing player AND FANS of the other team. I am disgusted by this act by Mr. Spikes, the Gators should have never given those Dawgs the satisfaction of lowering to their level. I am also not satisfied with with 30 minute suspension, But I'm not a national championship winning coach. which is why im in the same position as Mr. Dodd, sitting on a computer letting my opinion be heard. [ Reply to Comment ]
Big Gator 52 Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: Dec 15, 2008	Posted on: November 2, 2009 3:27 pm Score: 139 Florida pleads an eye for an eye Come on Dodd, you were there. I saw you. Did you ask Urban about it after the game? Did you ask any of the players about it then? Did you ask any of the Georgia players. Ealey was quoted by others, did he mention it at all? I guess that all the answers to the above questions are "no". Because it's easier to write about it after the fact than to actually talk to the people involved. I would have more respect for you if you said this to Urban directly in the press conference and if you did then I have great respect for you. But since no one reported about it that night, I'm guessing you didn't. You were there, it was a chippy game from the beginning. It wasn't a friendly contest between respected teams. It was just short of a brawl the entire night. Both teams were at fault. There were late hits, pushes, shoves, words, and punches exchanged throughout the night, some were called, most were not. That being said, I don't think what Spikes did was right by any stretch of the imagination. But since there wasn't any damage to the other player or a penalty being called, I'm not sure that the punishment doesn't fit the crime as the other posters said. Is anybody calling for the punishment of the half dozen Georgia players that intentionally landed on Tebow's head after he was on the ground or the guy who pulled Spike's helmet off by the facemask? I don't think so. I don't want anyone to get hurt and I'm not condoning Brandon, but that game on Saturday was not for sissies or the faint of heart. Those were grown men going at each other both inside and outside at times of the rules of the game. Joe Cox, Mark Richt, and the Georgia players basically called the Gators out again with their sideline celebration after they scored their first touchdown. Cox and several defensive players came on the field and gestured toward the Gator sideline. The Gators should have kept their revenge within the rules of the game and Spikes will pay for not doing so. I don't hear anything about Richt and his angels on the other side. Let them play and let the players and coaches take care of the punishment. That is unless you want to strap on the pads and a helmet and get in the game! Yea, I didn't think so! [ Reply to Comment ]
buckeyedan75 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 6, 2006	Posted on: November 2, 2009 3:36 pm Score: 123 Florida pleads an eye for an eye I have seen a lot of sinister acts in college football this season and the leagues tolerance to this conduct better get real short before we some serious injuries. The NCAA better take a long look at incidents like this that happen every week because it is turning into dumb violent acts. Spikes was getting harrassed and yes, both players should be suspended for eye gouging - but its just stupid! These action have no part in the game of football whatsoever and they should be dealt with in that manner. [ Reply to Comment ]
ryno189 Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Mar 11, 2008	Posted on: November 2, 2009 3:52 pm Score: 80 Florida pleads an eye for an eye Don't you all know that you can't punish the darlings of the SEC? Coaches have been reprimanded for complaining about the calls that went against their team WHILE they played the Gators. Officials have "missed" calls that would have penalized the Gators, and now a star player is told to sit a 1/2 against a WEAK Vandy team. The punishment does not fit the crime. Reverse the rolls and Meyer would be calling for someone's head if they went after Tebow's eyes, or knee, or persona for that matter [ Reply to Comment ]

Dennis Dodd

Dodds and Ends