Football: Florida’s Spikes suspended for attempting to gouge player’s eyes

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.”

Spikes issued a statement apologizing for what he did.

“I accept responsibility for my actions, and I accept the consequences of my actions,” he
said. “I would like to apologize 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.”

Meyer’s wife mentioned Spikes’ actions to him Sunday night, then defensive coordinator
Charlie Strong did the same Monday morning. Meyer 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 after getting his helmet ripped off and eye poked earlier in the game. Meyer also talked to Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive, but Florida officials said it was Meyer’s decision to suspend Spikes.

“We understand the game of football,” Meyer said. “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 issued a statement saying it reviewed and accepted the discipline handed down by Florida.



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Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com

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