Was there a penalty called on Brandon Spikes for eye gouging Georgia running back Washaun Ealey?”
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Top-ranked Florida will be without star linebacker Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt. Coach Urban Meyer suspended Spikes on Monday, two days after the defensive captain apparently attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in a 41-17 victory. “I don’t condone that,” Meyer said. “I understand what goes on on the football (field), but there’s no place for that. 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.” Meyer’s wife mentioned Spikes’ actions to him Sunday night, then defensive coordinator Charlie Strong did the same Monday morning. Meyer’s said his first reaction was to move on. Then he saw a replay of the incident, which shows Spikes shoving his glove-covered right hand into Ealey’s facemask and moving it back and forth. Meyer then spoke to Spikes and determined he was retaliating
Most of the time Brandon Spikes appears to be one of the best college linebackers in the country. During last night’s game against Georgia, however, the Florida linebacker looked more like Moe from The Three Stooges. During the Florida-Georgia game, Brandon Stokes appeared to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey after making a tackle. As any football player can tell you, things can get pretty nasty in a pileup, just ask anyone who has tried to recover a fumble. But even by those standards, the Brandon Spikes eye gouging looks pretty nasty. Florida coach did his best to diffuse any controversy stemming from the Brandon Spikes eye gouge. On his teleconference Sunday morning, Gators coach Urban Meyer said he hadn’t yet discussed the play with Spikes. “I’ll talk to him today, Meyer said. “He’s a very emotional player. If that’s the case, I’ll have a very serious talk with him.” That talk should end with Meyer suspending his best defender for Saturday’s game against Vanderbi
