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SEC: Spikes not a target

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2009

GAINESVILLE - Rogers Redding, the SEC's coordinator of football officials, said Florida LB Brandon Spikes - suspended for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt after a video showing him poking into the helmet of Georgia RB Washaun Ealey gained national attention - won't endure extra scrutiny by officials the rest of the year.

Redding, who attended Saturday's game, said officials don't concern themselves with the past. Spikes will certainly be watched closely the rest of the year, with TV cameras and fans keeping an eye on his every action to see if he does anything else that would cause controversy.

But Redding said the senior captain will get a fair shake with officials.

"You'd be surprised at how little officials identify with individual players in games," Redding said. "I don't think that will be the case at all (with watching Spikes closer)."

Redding's office has been busy this fall, with Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, Bobby Petrino of Arkansas and Tennessee's Lane Kiffin blasting officials in the media. It got so bad that the SEC changed its policy about coaches speaking publicly about officiating.

Florida's Urban Meyer was fined $30,000 on Friday for being publicly critical of officials earlier in the week, the first to be punished under the new policy.

Redding would not comment on the SEC's new rules. But he said the league officiating overall has been on par with other seasons. The league coaches have cast a bad image on the officials by speaking out so much publicly.

"This is not broke," Redding said of SEC officiating. "It doesn't need fixing. ... I think we've had a really good season so far."

Nelson gets first TD

After an offseason of optimism, WR David Nelson finally produced for the Gators.

Nelson made his first touchdown catch of the year when he caught a deflected ball that was intended for Riley Cooper with a little more than nine minutes to play in Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. The 8-yard catch put UF up 27-3.

Nelson's last trip to the end zone came when he was the recipient of a Tim Tebow jump pass that clinched Florida's third national championship against Oklahoma last year.

Harvin, Murphy make return

NFL receivers Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy made the trip to Gainesville during their bye weeks.

Harvin, a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings, and Murphy, a fourth-round pick by the Oakland Raiders, watched from the sidline.

Streak ends

Florida had not given up any punt return yardage on Chas Henry's first 21 kicks through eight games.

That streak ended Saturday when Henry's 58-yard punt was returned 6 yards by Vandy's Alex Washington before he was knocked out of bounds midway through the first quarter.

David Jones, Mike DiFerdinando

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