67° CLOUDY, Spikes suspended for eye gouge attempt
Last Modified: Monday, November 2, 2009 at 1:02 p.m.
Florida coach Urban Meyer suspended All-America middle linebacker Brandon Spikes for the first half of this week's Vanderbilt game after watching the tape Monday of Spikes attempting to gouge the eyes of Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey in Saturday's game in Jacksonville.
Another video shows Spikes grabbing his face after his helmet is knocked off in the first quarter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnPj3aeAzZU
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"I understand what goes on in football, but there's no place for that," Meyer said. "I spoke with him. That's not who he is; that's not who we are. He got caught up in the emotion.
"I love Brandon Spikes; our team does. That's not something (we condone). We'll move on. He has our full support."
The SEC released a statement Monday saying it "has reviewed and accepted the disciplinary actions taken by the University of Florida regarding football student-athlete Brandon Spikes."
The video, which is posted on YouTube, shows Spikes digging his right hand into Ealey's helmet during a pileup.
"I saw it," Meyer said. "My wife said something (about it) last night and coach (Charlie) Strong said something today. Then I saw it and said, 'That's not right.' "
Meyer said he spoke with Spikes on Monday morning after watching the tape.
"The game of football is very emotional," Meyer said. "The bottom line is we're Florida and he's Brandon Spikes. We expect certain things."
Spikes issued a statement through the UF sports information office Monday apologizing for the incident.
"I accept responsibility for my actions and I accept the consequences of my actions," Spikes said. "I would like to apologize to my team and the coaching staff and Washaun Ealey. Football is a very physical and emotional game, but there is no excuse for my actions."
Meyer said he spoke with SEC commissioner Mike Slive about the incident
Meyer said Spikes was retaliating for an incident earlier in the game in which Spikes' helmet was knocked off by a Georgia player.
Spikes is a team leader and one of the Gators' most emotional players.
"He's not a bad guy. He's a great guy," Meyer said. "I want to coach passionate guys, but I don't want things that stand out. We have to live within the rules and do it the right way."
Senior Ryan Stamper, a starter at outside linebacker, will replace Spikes at middle linebacker for the first half of Saturday's game.
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Comments
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November 2, 2009 6:41:30 am
RE: Link
Hopefully Meyer will use this as a teachable moment. UF fans have always taken pride in being able to say that we our players are clean, not dirty. That FSU and Miami are the thugs and goons. We do it the right way on the field, we have had some problems off. But I always felt we were clean on the field.Meyer should get out in front on this, rather than have the incident grow unchecked. It will be on Sport Center and other programs as the week goes on. Rather than just have the video out there to report on, I would love for Meyer to make a statement and take action, so those things are reported along with the video being played through various outlets without comment from UF.
November 2, 2009 6:44:43 am
Link UGA caught poking Spikes's eye.
November 2, 2009 6:46:21 am
Agree with Sid... Meyer needs to suspend Spikes for the Vanderbilt game...get out in front of this right now and not let it become a distraction...
...besides, I can only imagine how fired up this will make Spikes for South Carolina...like he'll need the help...but you know he'll be tweaked just a little bit...
November 2, 2009 6:49:52 am
Wow. There goes the first week without any drama prior to game week. I actually thought that after Georgia we could focus on football, not Swine Flu, Tebow's concussion, referees, fights in the locker room, Tebow not talking to the media,etc.
November 2, 2009 7:10:04 am
Yes, this does look bad and you can't defend what he did but know it was just a little revenge. Feel free to look at one of the three times Spikes eyes were gouged. Finally, right before Spikes did what he did, on the previous play Spikes tackled Ealey or whatever his name is, and as he was getting up Ealey elbowed him in the throat but yes, I know, no one wants to talk about that because UGA is a pathetic team and Florida's been #1 for two years now.Link
November 2, 2009 7:11:38 am
You people should be ashamed for accusing our best senior defensive player for playing dirty and questioning his sportsmanship. Perhaps you should go to a Bulldog site where this kind of harmful speculation would be expected. This video clip proves nothing.
If you watch the game replay at 7:07 of the 3rd quarter, Ealey gets up and shows no sign of an eye gouge.
Ealey said nothing about this in his post-game interview with the press.Get Your Facts Straight
November 2, 2009 7:16:53 am
Your theory is easily explained....maybe he didn't see who it was at the time and maybe it was an accident or another uGA player. WHich would be why he didn't mention it after the game.....he just didn't know who it was....your theory that because he didn't mention it didn't happen is pretty lame. I'm sure millions of rape victims would disagree with you. Pathetic.
November 2, 2009 7:19:18 am
Not only that....you describe him as "best defensive player" so because he's our best player it makes him above reproach? He can do no wrong....because he's our best? Ah, I understand you very well.....got it.
November 2, 2009 7:20:14 am
Except that that doesn't explain no outward signs on Ealey's behalf that anything happened to his eye...no head shaking, no going to the sideline for saline...nothing. He didn't even make a move to push the hand off his helmet.
November 2, 2009 7:24:22 am
A lot of stuff goes on at the bottom of those piles...we don't know if it happened to him or to soemone else-
Rarely do we see Spikes playing dirty and in that game his helmet was ripped off pretty hard and his hair was yanked so as I said, some stuff was going on that we didn't get to see on camera-
It's a rival/heated game...Urban needs to talk about it though-
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