Controversy surrounding LB Brandon Spikes continues

The controversy over senior LB Brandon Spikes' play in Saturday's game against Georgia continues to grow.

He has become embroiled in the controversy after a clip was released on YouTube with CBS video that shows him with his fingers inside the helmet of Georgia freshman RB Washaun Ealey as the two are in a pile following a tackle.

Video posters are calling it eye gouging, and some national columnists are calling for Spikes to be suspended. Earlier in the game, Spikes had his helmet ripped off by Georgia LB Akeem Dent.

UF coach Urban Meyer said he was unaware of the incident, but would talk with Spikes about it.

"I'll talk to him,’’ Meyer said. “(He’s) a very emotional player and if that's the case, I'll have a very serious talk with him.''

Take a look for yourself.

Comments

[JC]

I love the Gators, but this is inexcusable. There is nothing else that Spikes could be attempting to do other than BLINDING the Georgia player during this clip.

I understand that he was still frustrated that his helmet was ripped off earlier in the game and his eyes were raked (one of his eye-black strips was torn off during the scuffle) but to intentionally attempt to do harm to another player that could have PERMANENT effects is appalling.

Spikes needs to take the rest of the season off, even if it jeopardizes the season - which would crush me personally as a Florida fan. He needs to be punished harshly for this cowardly act. He is one of the top-rated defensemen in the country, he should know better than this and be able to control himself on the field regardless of what has occurred in the game.

[John]

This is BAD! How can they not punish this guy? He could have put the ball carriers eyesight out and blinded him for Life. This is THUG MENTALITY football. I don't like either team or the SEC but this makes me hope Alabama beats the pants off Florida in the SECCG if they meet. This kind of conduct and behavior sends a bad signal and hurts the SEC's reputation.

[GatorSphere]

"...after a clip was released on You Tube..."

That was not "released" on You Tube. There are probably close to 100 videos of that and every last one of them are up on You Tube violating copyrights of CBS. If you're going to cop out of doing your job, Antonya, at least link one of the cleaner videos. The one you linked is simply some guy videoing his tv screen. Horrible audio, shaky video. There are better versions of it. Moreover, why doesn't the Times obtain a copyright permission from CBS and put up its own copy of that play? That would be nice but then again it would take far too much work from a beat writer who does nothing at all.

Here's a story idea for you Antonya: since earlier in the summer the Times made a big splash about how the SEC was going to try to prevent people using Twitter/Facebook and other social networking Web sites from the stands and no video cameras are allowed into games by fans, why not do a story on how CBS is just letting blatant copyright infringement go on with the You Tube deal? Oh, again, that would mean YOU actually had to work rather than copy and paste the latest press release from UAA.

As for Spikes, he should be suspended a game, or at least half of the next game. But where is all the outrage about the late hit on Tim Tebow from the Georgia player earlier in the game? I guess Ms. English can't be bothered to ask an actual question to find out something about that.

[mike]

The "eye gouge" is regrettable, but I am not sure it was intentional. And Easley (the goug-ee) got right up and was in the next play. If Spikes tried to gouge his eye, he very easily could have. Make him run laps and apologize.

[jesse]

The Gators play dirty. I also saw a defender get up off the Georgia QB and he had his knee across the QB's neck and he pushed the knee into his neck. Very Dirty.

[Tim]

Spikes is big lazy guy anyway. If you watch him he's very slow on his feet and lazy.

[Not Very Nice.]

I hate Yankee and Red Sox Fans.

The worst are the tools that move here -

I have a GREAT Idea!

MOVE AWAY and take your fat family with you.

[Jesse]

Ok all you Gaytor heads lets see you defend Spikes? Urban suspended him for a 1/2, wow what a tough penalty. The Gaytors are a joke.

[GatorSphere]

Spikes suspended for one half. Since our resident blogger is too busy doing nothing, I'll link it here and save her the trouble. Probably getting her nails done so she can't type at the moment anyway. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4616581

You're welcome, Antonya. ;)

[gambo]

While this was regrettable, nowhere was it mentioned the amount of times that ealey got up and was talking smack to many of the Gator players. As the score continued to get worse, the weasel dawgs continued to get nastier, and I'm sure that had something to do with it. Watch the replay, as I did on my DVR and you'll see Ealey barking at Spikes and other defenders EVERY time he is tackled, which was pretty ridiculous, considering he was usually tackled for a loss on those plays.
Here's the scoop--this happens ALL the time on the bottom of piles, if it's not called by the officials, then it will continue to go on, but it's very hard to see on the field. So it's sort of Ex Post Facto--if he wasn't called for a penalty, how can you possibly suspend him NOW?

[D]

Nice gambo...so the Georgia players were talking trash, that somehow justifies attempting to gouge someone's eyes, potentially blinding them? Then, because it wasn't caught by a ref, why suspend him for committing a total dirty thug act? What Spikes did was disgusting, and he should be suspended for at least a few games, not 1/2 of a game against cupcake Vanderbilt. Of course Urban wouldn't risk a National Championship over something as silly as his players acting like goons. At least this won't go down among the long list of Gator arrests over the past couple of years.

[Jesse]

Just as you would expect the Gator heads are defending this dirty play. Typical

[Tim - Gator]

Agree with JC - it is inexecusable. A vacation until the SECCG for Spikes is about right, IMO.

As for berating Ms. English, not sure what your point is Sphere: This is a newspaper, not a fan site. She provides coverage that is 90% positive, sometimes the ugliness of an action demands that other 10%. If you know there "are 100 clips" of the incident, why don't you provide a link? (And the late hit on Tebow doesn't justify Spikes' actions)

[Dru2012]

What a collection of HATERS! Apologies to (the few) actual Gators who've signed in, but to the rest: we're past trying to reason with y'all...football is football, what's done is done, the coach has now given Spikes the same penalty called for by SEC rules if THEY were to rule on it (ie. "flagrant", no one injured, no flag on play)--let's move on. BTW: The more you scream and yell and trash us everywhere you can, the more this team will circle the wagons, come together and WIN. So keep it up. EAT 'EM UP!!!

[greator]

Hey you super jealous Gator haters,(including Jesse queer bait)a hand in a helmet doesnt show or prove any attempt to blind anyone. No physical proof of that. Ealey wasnt hurt, not a scratch. Get real losers. Go to the Atlanta Journal and post you hate and homosexual fantasy.

[UF FELONS - 29 in 4]

Man that's weird - he's wasn't one of the 29 arrests in 4 years - win at all costs - i love it. "National News - Uf dirtbag tried to blind player"

1% of 1% - hahhaaaha - class act.

[Mark]

I like the Florida fans trying to justify the attempt to intentionally blind someone because "they were talking trash." Hmmm.... typical, very, very typical.

The nation will begin to see what everyone in the SEC knows: Meyer and the Gators...and their fans are the worst sportsmen in college football.

[Rest of SEC laughs at UF]

Take it from a Vandy grad... Florida is the southern trailer park of the SEC. Always has.

[Jesse]

Keep Greator, defending your thugs you look like fools. If this was any other team you gator heads would be all over them, when its a gator theres no proof. He admitted it you fools.