Spikes to sit out entire Vanderbilt game

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."