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UF's Spikes to sit a half vs. Vandy after reach into opponent's helmet

The Associated Press

Spikes celebrates his interception return for a TD. He had a hand in a far more controversial play, however.

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By DAVID JONES

Florida Today

Published: November 2, 2009

Updated: 11/02/2009 05:21 pm

GAINESVILLE - After a telephone conversation with Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive, Florida coach Urban Meyer said he suspended Brandon Spikes for the first half of this Saturday's game against Vanderbilt for the linebacker's actions last Saturday against Georgia.

Spikes released a statement through the school's sports information department: "I accept responsibility for my actions and I accept the consequences of my actions. I would like to apologize to my team and the coaching staff and Washun Ealey. Football is a very physical and emotional game, but there is no excuse for my actions."

During Florida's 41-17 win, CBS video shows Spikes reaching into the helmet of Bulldogs running back Washaun Ealey and moving his arm back and forth as if trying to gouge at the freshman's eyes.

"I don't condone that, and I understand what goes 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 Spikes' action was retaliation for something that happened in the game. There were five personal fouls called, three on Georgia. Officials gathered Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Georgia linebacker Marcus Dowtin together in the second quarter to warn them about the rough actions of both teams.

"The thing is, he needs to know we're all [behind him]," Meyer said of Spikes. "We understand the game of football. Some of us have played it. Very emotional things happened in that game in particular that were not good for either side, but the bottom line is we're Florida and he's Brandon Spikes, and we expect certain things. He understands."

The SEC said it won't add to Spikes' punishment. "The Southeastern Conference has reviewed and accepted the disciplinary actions taken by the University of Florida regarding football student-athlete Brandon Spikes," the conference said in a statement.

Tebow said he hadn't seen the Spikes play, but said it was an emotional game and he didn't condone the actions his teammate was accused of.

"He's very emotional on game day," Tebow said. "He's a very emotional player and a very caring person, someone who cares about his team, cares about his players, off the field, too, helping them and taking care of them. Obviously, he's not that emotional off the field. But he's very intense and very emotional and very passionate. I think that's what makes him part of the great player that he is because he brings that fire."

Spikes had a game-high 10 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown against Georgia. He ranks fourth on the team with 42 tackles and has three sacks.

"People look at him and the defense wants to play for him," Tebow said. "The offense, they want to score so it makes it easier on him. He brings fire and he brings juice to everybody. Without that, he would not be as great of a player as he is, and he would not be even close to the leader that he is."

Tebow also noted Georgia was also using tactics that were similar to Spikes. Several Gator players complained about being poked in the eye during the game – including Spikes, who also had his helmet ripped off.

"I don't think that we did anything in that game that they didn't do. 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," Tebow said.

Asked if those actions are normal in most games, Tebow chuckled.

"Probably a little bit because of the rivalry," he said. "It was an intense game, both teams wanted to win."

Meyer didn't react to the play immediately. But thanks to the modern world of the Internet, it was hard for him not to eventually notice as it has spread on various Web sites.

"We're living in a world of YouTube and all that other stuff," Meyer said. "Our job is just to do what we have to do. I saw it. My wife said something last night and then assistant coach [Charlie] Strong said something to me today, and then I said, 'Let's move [on], I don't care,' and then I saw it, and I said that's not right."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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