Brandon Spikes Receives Joke Suspension from Florida

Brandon Spikes Eye-Gouging Video Leads to Paltry Suspension from Florida

Ryan Christopher DeVault
Ryan Christopher DeVault, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Nov 2, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
The Brandon Spikes eye-gouging video has led to a suspension, but the problem is that the Spikes eye-gouging should have been taken more seriously by Florida. The Brandon Spikes suspension will be for only the first half of the next game that the Florida Gators play. It will be a one half suspension against a very over-matched Vanderbilt team that is 0-5 in the SEC and 2-7 overall. The Brandon Spikes suspension is a flat out joke, and it is showing that Florida really does condone the actions that Brandon Spikes took when he intentionally tried to injure another college football player on Saturday.

The Brandon Spikes eye-gouging incident took place during the Saturday match-up between Florida and Georgia, when Georgia running back Washaun Ealey was running the ball and got tackled by a group of Florida Gators players. Coming on to the play late, Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes put his hand into the face mask of Ealey, and tried to gouge at his eyes in order to disable him from continuing to play in the game. It was an extremely cowardly move that could seriously hurt a person for the rest of their lives, and it was obviously an intended move on the part of Brandon Spikes. It was flat out ridiculous, and he should consider himself lucky the refs missed it during the game.

The Brandon Spikes eye-gouging video came out later, because it was quite obvious to anyone watching the game coverage that what had taken place was an unconscionable move by a player lacking morals. It's hard to think about what might have been going through Brandon Spikes mind at the time of the injury, but either he felt that he wasn't a good enough player to continue stopping Ealey for the remainder of the game, or he is just a common thug that really has no place on any college campus. Brandon Spikes should be arrested for this infraction, and an indefinite suspension needs to come along with what he did. Would anyone be proud of what he just did? Any fan that would condone any football player doing something like this needs to seriously question their decency as a human being.

This incident with Brandon Spikes should not end with a one half game suspension against a weak team that Florida wouldn't even need him to play in. THis should be a full season expulsion from the team, and Florida should actually show that they are a program trying to create positive role models rather than a breeding ground for criminals. Right now, the actions of Brandon Spikes are who this team is, and every person on that team should be ashamed of what Brandon Spikes did. What if Ealey had been seriously injured? What if Spikes does this again? Act now NCAA, and avert something like this happening again.

Sources:

Article on Paltry Suspension Announcement

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Published by Ryan Christopher DeVault - Featured Contributor in Sports

Born in Seattle, Washington, I am a 31 year old college graduate working in the field of Education and Research. I am also a professional freelance writer and news content provider. I can be reached at...   View profile

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The Florida Gators have really failed to act on an infraction simply because they are giving a player super-star treatment.

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  • Character Matters 11/5/2009

    Spikes and Meyers are a disgrace to UF and their behavior is not erased by winning a kid's game. At one time in an America a long time ago, character mattered. Sports used to purport to train youth in sportsmanship and character. The behavior demonstrated by Spikes and the inept leadership by the entire coaching staff for the Gators shows that they have no character. Thugs like Spikes end up becoming thugs like Vick. Talented people but no character, no morals, no integrity, no virtue. Just punks and thugs with no class. UF will likely win many more games but with the weak leadership and thugs allowed on the team, the Gators will always be losers in character and life. There is more to life than the wins, it's the substance and character that matters and the Gators obviously have NONE.

  • Stephen Regec 11/3/2009

    Not only should his punishment be harsher, but let us discuss the comments of Tim Tebow who aid that the other team committed fouls. Is it not great to condone bad behavior because of other bad behavior? I am not sure that he would be a good role model to win the Heisman.

  • Danny Lovern 11/3/2009

    He is majoring in Social and Behavioral Sience. It appears he has flunked his major

  • terry doty 11/3/2009

    he dosent even show up for classes,im a student in a class spikes is "suppose" to be in. have never seen him

  • terry doty 11/3/2009

    ask urban about spikes academics, he can only read at a 10th grade level. its the truth

  • Melissa Jones 11/3/2009

    Just can not believe that anything goes, in College Football. Where is the integrity of the coaches and SEC?

  • Karen Gros 11/3/2009

    I was just sick when I read the punishment. Also, my respect for Urban Meyer went down -- way down! This isn't the way to act like champions Urbie!

  • Karen Gros 11/3/2009

    I was just sick when I read the punishment. Also, my respect for Urban Meyer went down -- way down! This isn't the way to act like champions Urbie!

  • Jose' 11/3/2009

    What a typical, CLASSY way Florida handled this. Ok, so lets hear about Spikes "tough, deprived" childhood. His brother is in prison...is it his bro? I mean, they have different last names! Yet another example of an IDIOT THUG on his way to being rich playing a kids game!
    Florida, the ball's in your court. Show everyone you've got class and suspend this fool for the remainder of his eligibility...then, you will truly show you're serious about being a TOP PROGRAM that plays the game how it's MEANT to be played!

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