70° SUNNY, Spikes to sit out entire Vanderbilt game
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 6:22 p.m.
By mutual agreement, the Florida coaching staff and All-America linebacker Brandon Spikes have decided that Spikes now will sit out the entire Vanderbilt game Saturday.
The decision was announced after practice Wednesday and comes in the wake of much national criticism over Spikes' eye-gouging incident in the Georgia game in Jacksonville on Saturday.
"He came to see us last night, coach (Charlie) Strong and myself," Meyer said. "A lot of the negative things out there are really weighing heavy on (Spikes') heart right now. As a group we decided it would be in the best interest of the team not to play him Saturday.
"We're doing it out of respect for our team so we can focus on trying to win our ninth game. We think it's the right thing to do. We support Brandon fully. We look forward to him coming back and finishing the season the right way."
On Monday, Meyer suspended Spikes for the first half of Saturday's game after conferring with SEC commissioner Mike Slive. The decision was made after Meyer saw a YouTube video of Spikes attempting to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey.
Ealey said Tuesday that he did not think Spikes should be suspended. Ealey said Spikes never came close to his eyes.
But now Spikes is missing one full game.
"I really don't want to be a distraction to the team," Spikes said. "I want the guys to prepare without any negative things going on. I feel like if I was playing it would be a big thing.
"I'm just trying to stay out of the way and motivate the guys. I'm pretty sure the staff has got may back and my teammates really support me on this decision."
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
Next Article in UF Football
-
Gators dominate both sides of the ball vs. FIU
The No. 1-ranked Florida Gators crush the FIU Golden Panthers Saturday at The Swamp....
Comments
Post a comment | View all comments on this topic.
November 4, 2009 3:29:25 pm
RE: LinkFigured this was coming...Good man. Don't think it is really needed personally, but I think this is the MAN thing to do!
November 4, 2009 3:40:57 pm
Now the critics will *****...why doesn't he sit out the SECC game instead....yadda...yadda...yadda....
Their crap isn't sticking....first the UGA RB says Spikes should play, now Spikes himself takes himself completely out of the equation.
November 4, 2009 3:44:56 pm
Brandon Spikes is a good promising young man. Itâ??s a shame ESPN chose his dirty play tape out of the many that exist from the UGA/UF game to run over and over again. ESPN is nothing but a hatchet job organization hell bent on building up people with praise only to destroy them later.
November 4, 2009 3:52:21 pm
As much as I'll miss seeing him fly around the field this Saturday, good.
Rest him up, he's still coming off an injury, and if we really need him vs. Vandy, we're in trouble.
Talk about taking one for the team. I admire him all the more for this decision, and I haven't weighed in on the hundreds of threads, but I think this whole episode will boost his draft prospects, all the way around.
My mom and I have a saying....looking back on a time when everything was perfect in my entire family's life (back before the disasters, deaths, divorces, etc.). The Salad Days.
The whole trick with the Salad Days is to recognize them while you live them. And my fellow Gators, we are living in the Salad Days. It's all good!
November 4, 2009 3:52:29 pm
I don't agree with the decision because all of the anti-Gators will continue to try to make this a distraction. They'd love for this to get insides these players' heads and cause a loss to Vandy or uSC.
Of course, these guys are way too professional to let that happen. As for Spikes, he's always had my respect (as if it matters), but I think this just shows he's really a class act that got caught up in the heat of battle and made a 3 or 4 second mistake after taking all the cheap shots from UGA.
That goodness there's a boatload of Gator alum and fans out there to counteract all of the jealous scum that want these guys to lose just because it would make these losers' days.
I'm also glad that someone just might take a look at the BS late hit on Tebow that could have potentially ended his season and career.
November 4, 2009 3:56:12 pm
Spikes sitting out against Vandy can only help us against USCe. I'm hoping Tebow sits out the second half against Vandy as well.
November 4, 2009 3:57:29 pm
Hope he's on the sideline in full gear just to intimidate Vandy
November 4, 2009 3:59:50 pm
Yeah, including his eyegouging gloves, that would be sweet
November 4, 2009 4:01:12 pm
...and that is why I love this team - anyone doubt that the rest of the D re-doubles their effort in response?
November 4, 2009 4:01:30 pm
Edward Scissorhands costume
Post a comment | View all comments