Real punishment is to Spikes' image

It's always something, isn't it?

Even after the Florida football team had its prettiest win of the season, you knew there had to be something to smear it.

In this case it was Brandon Spikes, a senior team leader, reaching into the helmet of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey. If you haven't seen the YouTube video, well, you probably don't know what YouTube is. But it appears Spikes is trying to poke Ealey in the eyes. Either that or help him with his contacts.

UF coach Urban Meyer has seen it. So has Mike Slive, the commissioner of the SEC. (He's probably thinking the same thing I wrote in my first sentence).

The two had a talk Monday and the commish was satisfied with Meyer suspending Spikes for the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.

So am I.

When I saw the video Sunday night I was stunned. I never saw it during the game but — unfortunately for Spikes — this is a different world we live in. He certainly wasn't the only one doing something unsavory on the field. (Georgia fans insert joke about Joe Cox here).

But he was caught.

"Things happened in that game in particular that were not good for either side," Meyer said.

Spikes certainly knows because he was the victim of some of those "things." Like when he was uppercut by a Georgia lineman and his helmet went flying.

Spikes' action was clearly retaliatory but it doesn't make it right. He had to be punished with something more than running extra laps.

We all know football is a rugged game that is played by emotionally charged young men with incredible pressure on their backs. Things happen in dog-piles. Fingers are bent, elbows are bitten and, well, certain parts of the body are targeted. I could get more graphic but I'm already wincing just thinking about it.

You add in the emotions of a rivalry game where one team is trying to win a national title and the other is fighting for survival, and there are going to be some gouges and scratches.

Certainly, going for the eyes crosses any line you want to draw.

Especially when you don't hide it.

"I don't think we did anything in that game that they didn't do," Tim Tebow said. "You can see it on film."

Imagine being Tebow and being in so many of those dog-piles. I asked what was the worst thing that happened to him during the game.

"We didn't convert on a few third downs," he said with a smile.

He got a big laugh with that but we all knew what he was saying. Bad things happen in football games, especially a rivalry game. So much so that Tebow said he didn't think he should talk about it with a bunch of media boys and girls.

"People want to do things to get an edge," he said. "Sometimes I'll make a joke. Or I'll put my hand out for them to help me up. They're looking at me funny. 'Why would I help him up?' I think it irritates them, too.

"I'll never let that get under my skin."

But Spikes, who plays a position that requires extra ferocity, did let it get under his skin. Not only will he miss half a game, his reputation has been changed around the country. People will see his name and think "dirty player."

That's his real punishment.

I'm sure there will be some people out there who will think a half-game punishment is too light, but that's the same penalty a player receives for getting in a fight and throwing a punch.

And so it goes on, this season that has been bizarre and beautiful at the same time.

"Without the bad times, this season wouldn't be that special," Tebow said. "When times are tough, you have to lean on your brothers more."

Even if they are sitting out the first half.

Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at dooleyp@gvillesun.com and follow at http://Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.