Urban Meyer suspends Florida LB Brandon Spikes for first half of Vandy game

Florida coach Urban Meyer has suspended senior LB Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt for his involvement in a tackle on Georgia's Washaun Ealey in which Spikes is pulling on Ealey's facemask with his fingers inside his helmet after the play is over.

"I don't condone that and I understand what goes on on the football [field], but there's no place for that,'' Meyer said. "We're going to suspend Brandon for the first half of the Vanderbilt game. I spoke with him. That's not who he is. That's not who we are. He got caught up in emotion. I love Brandon Spikes. Our team does. We're going to move on. He has our full support.''

Meyer said he spoike with SEC Commissioner Mike Slive Monday morning. Asked if Spikes was retaliating against Georgia for an earlier play, Meyer said "yeah.''

"The Southeastern Conference has reviewed and accepted the disciplinary actions taken by the University of Florida regarding football student-athlete Brandon Spikes,'' the SEC said in a statement. "

Florida is off on Monday and Spikes was not available for comment, but issued a statement expressing regret for the incident.

"I accept responsibility for my actions and I accept the consequences of my actions,'' he said. "I would like to apolotize to my team and the coaching staff and Washaun Ealey. Football is a very physical and emotional game, but there is no excuse for my actions.''

Spikes became embroiled in the national controversy after a clip was released on YouTube with CBS video that shows him with his fingers inside Ealey's helmet as the two are in a pile following a tackle.

Earlier in the game, Spikes had his helmet ripped off during a play. There were five personal fouls called in the game, four in the first half. Georgia was called for three, Florida had two. At one point in the second quarter, officials gathered Florida QB Tim Tebow and Georgia LB Marcus Dowtin and warned them about things getting out of hand.

Tebow said while he doesn't condone Spikes' behavior, Saturday's game was emotionally-charged and things were happening on both sides. 

"I don't think that we did anything in that game that they didn't do,'' Tebow said. "If you go back and look at it and study it, you can see it in the film, too, It was an intense game, both teams were very passionate about it.''

The YouTube video is here.

Comments

[Mark]

Now, if Meyer would only apologize for his own behavior in the Georgia game last year I might remove the "worst sportsman in football" label from him.

[Retired Marine]

Brandon Spikes should be suspended for the rest of the year! Urban Meyer's punishment doesn't fit the offense, he could have blinded his opponent with his unsportsmanlike act. The SEC should take control of the punishment handed to Brandon Spikes. If they need to review the game to see if other should be punished as well then so be it. Let’s get it right before Brandon thinks his actions were expectable by the NCAA.

[GatorSphere]

Mark and Ret. Marine, you need to get some enlightenment on this. If you'll recall Tebow had to have water sprayed in his eyes on the sideline b/c a UGa player gouged at his eyes. They also took a late...make that a VERY late shot on Tebow as well. Marine, you made a living around war. It's human nature to retaliate, Spikes had his team's backs. Instead of trying to sound high and mighty, you ought to respect him for getting his teammates' backs. I'm not saying it was the BEST way to do it, but after seeing a lot more of the crap that Georgia tried earlier in the same game, maybe it was needed. Ealey was a trash-talking little SOB all game long, maybe he said some things that finally crossed the line. We will never know.

As for you Mark, what UF did last year with the last minute time-outs is kids play compared to INSTRUCTING the ENTIRE TEAM to run onto the end zone and celebrate the year before. Georgia made this bed, now they get to sleep in it for two years, going on three.

You can dislike Urban Meyer all you want, but you can't argue with the results his teams are achieving.

[Sue]

Urban is a pathetic coach who will let any thug play to win. He is arrogant and jerk in all aspects.

[Jennifer]

I wholeheartedly agree with GatorSphere....and Sue you are an idiot.