Notebook: Players, coaches have Spikes’ back

Despite the negative attention surrounding Florida senior linebacker Brandon Spikes, his teammates and coaches have his back.

“Everybody’s rallying around him,” junior cornerback Joe Haden said after Tuesday’s practice.

Spikes was suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5 SEC) by coach Urban Meyer after reviewing tape of Spikes reaching into the face mask of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey during No. 1 Florida’s 41-17 win over the Bulldogs last Saturday.

While Meyer has come under intense fire from multiple media outlets for the lack of severity in Spikes’ suspension, Meyer said he discussed his decision with defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and SEC commissioner Mike Slive and each agreed that the suspension was appropriate.

“I think (incidents on the field are) hard to gauge during (pileups),” Meyer said Tuesday.

“Football’s a violent and tough sport and we don’t condone any of that.”

Florida’s players are defending their defensive leader.

“He’s not a dirty player at all. He’s a good person on the field,” redshirt senior receiver David Nelson said of Spikes.

“He’s going through a hard time and he doesn’t want the perception of him being the way it is, right now. He’s an emotional player and he’s a very hard-nosed player. He just got caught in the moment and made a mistake. We all make mistakes sometimes.”

Nelson went on to say Spike’s suspension wasn’t his only punishment and that his situation is being handled in other ways, as well.

“Right now, we’re dealing with what we have and coach Meyer did what he thought was right,” he said. “He’s also doing some other stuff in house that no one knows about.”

Injury update

Meyer said redshirt sophomore running back Chris Rainey (shoulder) practiced in a yellow, non-contact jersey Tuesday and could play Saturday.

“He was good today,” Meyer said.

“I think he’s going to play. I was very impressed that he came out and practiced today.”

Redshirt sophomore receiver Deonte Thompson has a “chip on the rib,” and was also in a non-contact jersey, but Meyer said he’ll play Saturday.

“It might be a strain on his rib,” he said.

Freshman running back Mike Gillislee (hamstring) looked good Tuesday, Meyer said, but will be limited until Thursday.

Senior cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis (hamstring) practiced a little Tuesday and could also play Saturday. Cornerbacks coach Vance Bedford said Pierre-Louis had also been nursing a minor knee injury before his hamstring issue.

New quarterback, same defense

Commodores quarterback Mackenzi Adams will start in place of injured starter Larry Smith on Saturday, but Meyer said his defense won’t change.

Meyer said because Adam’s running nature is similar to Smith’s, he anticipates seeing the same offense.

“(Running backs) coach (Kenny) Carter was there (Vanderbilt) and coached (Adams), who’s now playing,” Meyer said. “Very good athlete and we’ve played against him before. We’re not changing our game plan. I don’ think their changing their offense.”

Quotable

Nelson on his team getting complacent after clinching the SEC East: “For one, I don’t even know if half our team knows that. We haven’t talked about it.

“Right now, the talk is about Vanderbilt.”