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Dr. Saturday

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:29 pm EST

What price an eye gouge? For Brandon Spikes, one half vs. Vandy

By Matt Hinton

Apparently the SEC decided to handle some of its recent officiating problems by importing a couple refs from the WWE for Saturday's Florida-Georgia game, because the men in stripes didn't see nothin' when Gator linebacker Brandon Spikes went Ric Flair on UGA running back Washaun Ealey:

Spikes wasn't flagged on the play, and if this was 1965, a good eye-gougin' might be par for the course in a pile-up. This being 2009, though, with high-powered cameras zooming in for tight slo-mo shots in a year in which "player safety" is the mantra and suspensions are unusually en vogue, coach Urban Meyer was left with no choice today but to send his star linebacker to the bench to think about what he's done -- for a whole two quarters:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Urban Meyer has suspended Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt after the star linebacker attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in a 41-17 victory.

Meyer says Spikes was retaliating after getting his eye poked earlier in the game.

Officials did throw a personal flag against a Georgia lineman who ripped Spikes' helmet off in the first half, and Florida fans are already posting clips of indicental contact they're referring to as "gouges" as apparent justification for intetionally pawing at a Bulldog in return, but if there was any act against Spikes of equivalent nature to his assault on Ealey, CBS' cameras didn't catch it. (Perhaps they were being distracted by the Bulldogs' comely manager?)

It would be easier to write this off as a light suspension to keep a good player in the lineup if there was any indication this year that Florida's top-ranked defense might need Spikes at any point Saturday to slow down the lowest-scoring offense in the SEC; there's a good chance he would have been out of a lopsided win over the Commodores not long after halftime, anyway, and won't necessarily get on the field as it stands, especially if the game is the expected blowout. Georgia fans will take it as an appropriate reparation for a relatively minor offense, I'm sure.

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  1. William S
    1. Posted by William S Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:44 pm EST

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    With the numerous off season incidents urban has swept under the carpet since he showed up at UF, this lax punishment should come as a shock to no one.
    Hopefully the SEC does the right thing and steps in with a full game suspension.
  2. mikez34
    2. Posted by mikez34 Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:53 pm EST

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    Meyer is so pathetic. A half game is an absolute joke, no matter the opponent.
  3. David B. Goldstein, CPA
    3. Posted by David B. Goldstein, CPA Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:00 pm EST

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    yo Hinton, write something about this:
    http://www.syracuse.com/today/index.ssf/2009/11/mike_williams_leaves_syracuse.html
  4. charles t
    4. Posted by charles t Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:30 pm EST

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    Ha anybody asked the uga RB how bad his eye was hurt/? Did he get treatment? What is his side of this?
  5. PurdueMatt
    5. Posted by PurdueMatt Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:54 pm EST

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    "Meyer says Spikes was retaliating after getting his eye poked earlier in the game."
    Is Urban saying that 2 wrongs make a right?
  6. saturdaynitelights.com
    6. Posted by saturdaynitelights.com Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:06 pm EST

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    It is self-evident that each respective fan base thinks that opposing teams are dirty, their coaches lax on discipline, and that numerous incidents are "swept under the rug" to keep good players on the field. This is amplified when, as is the case here, the team involved the top program in CFB.
    The truth is, however, that football programs are comprosed of young men and the game is built on controlled violence. So getting caught on tape gouging an eye, or stepping on a hand or twisting a knee (Darnell Dockett), happens from time to time. That's as true in the NFL as it is in Pop Warner.
    On a weekly basis it can be Alabama, FSU, Penn St., Da'U, Colorado, USC or fill-in-the-blank serving as the poster child for undisciplined behavior on and off the field. The truth is that Meyer is as fiendish on discipline as anyone, which is evident from his on the field success. Spikes got caught and, retaliation or not, he deserves a suspension of some kind. Does 1 game seem more provident, probably. Still, it would be remiss to fail altogether to note that this game was chippy from the start and there was alot of this sort of behavior going on in Jax on Saturday.
    Nonetheless, to blanketly assert that Meyer has "swept incidents under the carpet" is the banal dribble of the "hard of thinking," which seems to be the case here.
  7. Barny
    7. Posted by Barny Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:48 pm EST

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    Urban Meyer, You sir are a coward.
  8. m
    8. Posted by m Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:06 pm EST

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    Obviously Meyer is a complete douchebag.
    With a DIFFICULT game vs. 2-7 Vanderbilt, Spikes gets 1 half off?
    Give me an f-in break.
    Spikes might as well brought his AK out to play. That' d probably get him 3 quarter off though . . .
    Meyer once again leads the SEC in spineless leadership and willingness to support cheating and total scumbaggery.
  9. CB
    9. Posted by CB Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:13 pm EST

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    jdubthecrab,
    Actually, by handing out such a light punishment, Meyer is saying that two wrongs make a right...rather then condemning his player's dirty act, he's hiding behind the cowardly "they did it too" excuse. Let's compare this to the Blount incident...which had the potential for more long-term damage? Getting punched in the face could, at worst, give someone a concussion, which is actually pretty quickly recovered from (see Tebow). Eye-gouging has the long-term potential of blindness, which not only takes one out of football, but a lot of life's other experiences. Blount gets 7 games for his cowardly act, Spikes gets two quarters? Once again, Meyer displays his lack of class as a person.
  10. just4funsies
    10. Posted by just4funsies Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:27 pm EST

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    Oh, puuuuhhhleeeeeeeze... I don't see UGA castrating the guys who ripped off Spikes' helmet TWICE, or gouged HIS eyes, requiring a trip to the bench, all this BEFORE he went off... Football is a violent game, and those who don't stand up for themselves will be eaten alive... All you puzzies out there need to take up an interest in basket-weaving, ESPECIALLY you mutant media types, most of whom have never pulled on a helmet. You are ALL lower than worm sh!t.
  11. Havana Harry
    11. Posted by Havana Harry Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:31 pm EST

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    All you crybabies must be either Georgia or Alabama fans.Big frikin deal!!! He got his helmet ripped off prior to his retaliation.I bet you rednecks dont get so upset when youre watching the WWF and some wrestler rakes his nails across anothers face.Hell you probably cheer them on to do it again.The Gators took your team out back behind the woodshed and whooped them like rented mules.Save your crying for them halleluya Sunday masses.Aint no crying in football.If you dont like it,theres always Nascar for ya'll. Good day...
  12. Havana Harry
    12. Posted by Havana Harry Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:37 pm EST

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    #11: Ditto.That idiot Wetzel makes it sound like Spikes was trying to gouge his eyes out.You goofballs in the media(Wetzel) have only played football on an X-Box.Grow a pair and say it to Spikes face Wetzel.Tool.
  13. Steely Mcbeam
    13. Posted by Steely Mcbeam Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:24 pm EST

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    If only this guy would have watched the 3 stooges , he'd have known that by holding his hand flat and fingers together, turning his hand so that his thumb is pointing at him, and putting his index finger against his nose is the perfect defense for an eye-gouging. Soitenly, nyuck nyuck nyuck.
  14. G
    14. Posted by G Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:44 pm EST

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    this is pathetic.
    he waved his hand in front of his eyes.
    if spikes really wanted to gouge out this mans eyes, he couldve. football is a physical game, emotions run high. so quit b1tchin cuz what he did was nothing. you think that this type of crap is a rare occasion and only happens once in a while? only an idiot could think that.
    spikes shouldnt have been punished at all. its football for crying out loud, and rough actions are a part of the sport. if you cant take it, dont watch the sport and dont play the sport. stick to golf.
  15. G
    15. Posted by G Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:45 pm EST

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    this is pathetic.
    he waved his hand in front of his eyes.
    if spikes really wanted to gouge out this mans eyes, he couldve. football is a physical game, emotions run high. so quit b1tchin cuz what he did was nothing. you think that this type of crap is a rare occasion and only happens once in a while? only an idiot could think that.
    spikes shouldnt have been punished at all. its football for crying out loud, and rough actions are a part of the sport. if you cant take it, dont watch the sport and dont play the sport. stick to golf.
  16. jo mama
    16. Posted by jo mama Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:07 pm EST

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    students from one school are suspended for 4 games including a bowl, and the team hasnt done enough, you attempt to blind another player, you miss a half, fair punishment? absolutely NOT if the dawgs had done this, the gators would literally be calling for the entire uga staff and team's balls in jars, ridiculous, no class thugs.
  17. nick
    17. Posted by nick Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:26 pm EST

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    both meyer and spikes are complete douche bags. one for trying to purposely blind someone and the other for basically condoning it by sending out such a light penalty. The SEC powers that be are cowards for constantly having rules for Florida and then for everyone else. This isn't part of football and if it's no big deal then let someone gouge their fingers into your eyes. If someone from Georgia was doing it then they should be suspended too, but the cameras never showed that. If spikes tries to do that at the next lvl he's gonna get his @$$ handed to him
  18. ray
    18. Posted by ray Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:30 pm EST

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    Would this fall under President Obama's hate crime legislation?
  19. Donald Irving
    19. Posted by Donald Irving Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:38 pm EST

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    From the officials to this latest incident, this is more proof positive that the SEC has one standard for Florida and another one for everybody else. A half-game suspension is a joke. I expect no better from Meyer as he is simply too blinded by his own ambition to show any real character. On the other hand, the SEC office should be ashamed of itself if they let this fly.
  20. Scott
    20. Posted by Scott Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:44 pm EST

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    Yeah, yeah...he got his helmet ripped off--after he was cheap shotting and talking smack--like he always does. All I can say is this: It is guys like this that REALLY piss people off, and in comes the block to the knees on purpose, and he will be frying my burgers.
    Competition, I understand--mistreating human dignity--unexcusable. He will get his.
  21. asnfsu
    21. Posted by asnfsu Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:52 pm EST

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    So I would guess that eye gouging is not allowed by the NCAA. By the NCAA's own actions against FSU, sounds like UF should have to forfeit the game since Brandon Spikes was caught on film committing an NCAA violation during a game, and playing in a game after committing a violation is automatic grounds for forfiture.
  22. JLL
    22. Posted by JLL Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:55 pm EST

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    This is just another typical example of Florida's school's football programs. It started back with good old Bowden and FSU continued through to Jimmy Johnson at Miami and now it is on to Meyers at Florida. Florida schools seem to only recruit thugs and degenerates, athletes incapable of playing at schools that place a higher degree on sportmanship rather than wins. You will never see Trussel or Caroll giving players a free pass for playing dirty. But what do they know, they have never won anything! It gets very old watching Meyers sweep one problem after the next under the rug and everyone praises him as some second coming down in Florida. Hey Meyers, get a clue and learn from some examples of how to be a responsible coach!
  23. Scott
    23. Posted by Scott Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:58 pm EST

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    its the number 1 team in the nation they aint going to do anything else duhhhh

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