Florida - half game suspension for eye gouging

[amazinblue]

I heard about this incident, but - I didn't see it until this article from Wetzel provided the link.

In light of the suspension that Mouton was hit with earlier this year - I find this "suspension" absolutely deplorable and laughable. Urban Meyer may be a good coach - I think he is - but, a disciplinarian, he is not.

This is one of the most egregious and intentionally malicious acts I've seen on a field. And, for those Buckeyes - yes, this was far worse than anything Ortmann or one of Michigan's lineman might have done on Saturday.

The linke to the article and the video: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news;_ylt=AmjoCzeOjj6XSlu8dW6UHlwcvrYF?slug=dw-spikes110209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[gator]

Yeah, I saw the incident in real time, but wasn't sure I saw what I saw....because that just hasn't been like him. The replay was embarassing. I know things go on in the pile (eye gouging, twisting ankles, punching nutsacks, etc.), but it is usually done in a very rapid manner as to appear "incidental." Spikes looked like the Energizer Bunny out there. Personally, I would have suspended him for 2 games, and I wish Meyer would have. Nevertheless, I think the emotion of the game really got to Spikes, and he was victim of what seemed to be several dirty shots up to that point. I'm certainly not saying his actions were justified, but I don't think he is usually a dirty player - I think he just lost his cool after a few heated plays (like when one of the UGA players clearly twisted his helmet off his head). Interestingly, the running back that Spikes committed the foul against said today that he doesn't think Spikes should be suspended at all.

[osusteve]

Blount, the Oregon star running back, punched the Boise State kid after the first of the game and was suspended indefinitely by coach Chip Kelly. He still has not returned to action.

Spikes, the Florida star defended, committed a far more eggregious act and coach Urban Meyer suspended him for one half the Vanderbilt game.

But Coach Meyer is a great coach.....

[Plus 1]

Yeah, I saw the incident in real time, but wasn't sure I saw what I saw....because that just hasn't been like him. The replay was embarassing. I know things go on in the pile (eye gouging, twisting ankles, punching nutsacks, etc.), but it is usually done in a very rapid manner as to appear "incidental." Spikes looked like the Energizer Bunny out there. Personally, I would have suspended him for 2 games, and I wish Meyer would have. Nevertheless, I think the emotion of the game really got to Spikes, and he was victim of what seemed to be several dirty shots up to that point. I'm certainly not saying his actions were justified, but I don't think he is usually a dirty player - I think he just lost his cool after a few heated plays (like when one of the UGA players clearly twisted his helmet off his head). Interestingly, the running back that Spikes committed the foul against said today that he doesn't think Spikes should be suspended at all.


Urban Meyer comes off looking like the JERK of the world, on this one.
As far as the kid not thinking that Spikes should be suspended at all, all I can think of in that case is the victim must have a BLIND WISH, {Kinda like a Death Wish.}
Its a good thing Spike's fingers were'nt any longer. The face mask kept the kid from having his eyeballs gouged out of his face. If he was'nt blinded it was'nt because Spikes wasn't trying. That's gotta be ONE of the dirtiest moves I've ever witnessed in Football. If not THE dirtiest.:eek:

[hail2mich]

The eye gouging is pretty bad, but I think this was the dirtiest thing I've ever seen on a football field:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEZw_aZBuPY

or maybe this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEVJyf0ft3I

[gator]

The eye gouging is pretty bad, but I think this was the dirtiest thing I've ever seen on a football field:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEZw_aZBuPY

or maybe this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEVJyf0ft3I

Nice call, hail2mich.

Look folks, I'm not defending the action. I would have suspended him immediately for two games. As far as Meyer goes, I'm not convinced that he didn't revisit the situation and realize a full game was needed. Maybe Spikes did make the call all on his own, but maybe Urban just wanted Spikes to come out looking better (at peril to his own reputation). I guess we won't ever really know.

I really hate that Spikes did this because it does tarnish his reputation and that of the coaches and the university. It's kind of hard to say "He's not a dirty player" when someone can show you that video. Reports around here say he's been going through some really bad stuff in his personal life. I think he has a brother serving 30+ years in prison somewhere, and of course they think he was wrongly convicted (I don't really know anything about the case). I do know Spikes wants to get better legal representation for his brother and he could have if he had gone pro after last season. Yet Spikes came back to be with Tebow and company for another year. The kid had a squeaky clean reputation for four years and now it is wasted. I guess you just never know what motivates people. My guess is that this was a one-time deal - probably had some heavy family problems on his mind and after receiving a couple dirty shots himself, he just snapped.

What everyone seems to be missing though, is that this incident is probably a symptom of a young man who has some issues right now, and probably needs some help. A suspension is necessary to remind him that no matter how bad things are going for you right now, you can't intentionally try to hurt others. Finally, I hope they are doing something behind the scenes to find out the source of that rage.