SEC Flagged for Illegal Man On Field
The Florida Gators beat the Georgia Bulldogs in tackle football Saturday. I had hoped for a better showing, but I’m not the least bit shocked we lost. What I am shocked about is the fact that apparently it’s okay to attempt to injure your opponent in today’s SEC with impunity. I expected Urban Meyer to react with minimal objections, but Mike Slive’s office should be ashamed….again.
As you may know, Brandon Spikes, LB for Florida was caught on video holding Georgia running back Washaun Ealey down and purposely attempt to gouge him in the eyes. The punishment? Sit down for the first half against Vanderbilt, and don’t do it again, okay? I saw some Gator blogs today that stated if…IF Spikes did this intentionally, it was bad. Except the prick that does EDSBS…who thought it was great. Screw him.
The Southeastern Conference is now a wild west show, where anything goes. I know you are familiar with the officiating, but this is a safety issue. If nothing else, player safety should be job one in Birmingham, but it’s not. Don’t worry, I can still say what I want. Let them try and reprimand or suspend me!
Now, players can do whatever they want up to and including purposely injure another player without any real repercussions.
The main lesson here? Don’t get caught next time. Great job Mr. Slive!
Has Slive done anything right? Ever?
Would the NFL sanction this kind of play like the SEC jut did?
Fire all these people NOW- get someone in there who can run the SEC and provide competent officials and maintain order, and END THE EMBARRASSMENT.
11/04/2009 at 6:11 AM
Rex……Slive and Meyer are so clever as fools. Want to know why only a half’s suspension? It’s obivious they want this to go away quickly. A full game suspension would drag this negative story to another week when Spikes returns for the next game and thus ever closer to the SEC Championship game. Slive doesn’t want anything to detract from the image he wants to create and Meyer is just as eager this go away quickly for his Florida program’s reputation. So they act like they are taking action (the half’s suspension) and turn their heads quickly away as if nothing is wrong. This is the triumph of the “image” of integrity over true integrity. Its a fool’s game no matter how clever they think they are and one day its going to result in something very ugly and tragic happening on that field. I just hope we remember to hold them responsible for their value of image over the safety of the players.
I also hope that we Georgia fans hold our own Coaches accountable for insuring our players play the game tough and hard but always clean. I never want Georgia to become known as a dirty, cheap shot team….leave that to others.
11/04/2009 at 12:19 AM
Why did Oregon’s player get suspended for the year for slugging an Boise player? In my opinion this was much more agreigous.
11/03/2009 at 2:43 PM
Things do happen in a pile that most folks don’t see or know about. Having been the recipient of shots to the groin, dirt/grass thrown in my eyes and an occasional eye gouging, myself the facts are that these things happen. It is not right that it happens, and it should not be viewed by the general public as “it’s just football”, because it’s not. When these things were happening to me, I was in middle and high school, not a 22 year old man at the D-1 level, defending national championship level like Mr. Spikes. You have to figure the reason Ealey didn’t make more of it is because he is trying to earn a spot on a football team and the last thing he wants to do is come “crying” to Coach Richt or anyone else about it.
The 1/2 game suspension and the SEC’s willingness to accept that as proper punishment is the travesty in this whole thing. That, to me shows me that college football is all about the money and may be what drives me away from the college game and into the pro game where it has ALWAYS been about the money.
I’d love to see UGA bring a motion against Mr. Spikes on an assault charge as being “above and beyond” the reasonable force that the sport allows.
Gouging someone’s eyes, with a gloved hand no doubt covered with dirt, sand and grass with the intention of causing bodily harm is an offense that should be dealt with much stronger than a 1/2 game suspension.
If Curran had tried to gouge Tebow’s eyes like this, he’d most likely have been suspended for the rest of the year if not dismissed from the team. And I would have agreed with the punishment.
Pretty obvious the SEC, TV and other powers that be want a UF/Bama championship game. Needless to say I am a huge ‘Bama fan for the rest of the year.
11/03/2009 at 1:41 PM
I can’t believe it. I hope someone offers all the teams that play FL the rest of the season eye protection. That is not a part of football that I want to watch. I don’t want to see anyone hurt on purpose. It is uncivilized. I am disappointed in the SEC approving the half a game suspension. I wonder if the NCAA will speak up. I hope the other conferences make that happen.
11/03/2009 at 12:18 PM
Rex,
What it infuriates me more than anything is this could have been by son or yours or whoever ! Did you see Urban Meyer never look at the camera yesterday when he announced his penalty. He wasn’t sincere or apologetic at all. What a creep ! Spikes really got called out on the Mike & Mike show yesterday morning by Mike Golic and then yesterday afternoon after the SEC annoucement and UF’s, he like to have lost it on ESPN ! I thought they were going to have to go to a commercial.
With the advancement of technology, particularly u-tube,
slime like this act by Spikes is now out in the open for EVERYONE to see. The SEC could have made a statement with this crap but looked the other way.Way to go Slive, who are you really representing ?
11/03/2009 at 11:50 AM
Spikes is just another in a long line of dirty gator players. I expect this from them….living here in Jax stinks. All of the talk radio and local gators are having a field day with this game. They are the WORST fans ever.
11/03/2009 at 10:03 AM
Spikes should be charged with assault. And I’m serious! How is this malicious act a part of football, at all? Had he carried a knife on the field would we consider it part of the game? There is a line between playing tough football and criminal activity. This was criminal assault and the Jacksonville, FL DA should charge Spikes based on the evidence.
11/03/2009 at 8:56 AM
In some way I am sure Slive is “down” with Spikes. Should make that SEC Championship game ratings gold.
I bet LSU has 12 more penalties called against them than Alabama. More if the game is really close.
11/03/2009 at 8:33 AM
Corch Cryer is one of the biggest disgraces in all of college football.
A responsible man doesn’t play Tebow in that LSU game.
A man with integrity suspends Spikes for at least a full game, if not more.
Corch Cryer only cares about himself.
I would rather have Willie Martinez as my head coach than Urban Meyer.
11/03/2009 at 2:49 AM
I’m not shocked that Spikes did this. I’m shocked that so many people are responding that this is “part of football”. How can this be? Did I miss some big meeting where it was decided to try and maim other players? Just when I thought the SEC offices could not look more ridiculous Mr. Slive puts on his jackass outfit and proclaims he accepts uf’s punishment of 1/2 game suspension. Well spank my ass and call me uncle charlie! The world I grew up in has officially disappeared.
11/03/2009 at 1:48 AM