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Questions for Florida's Spikes

By: Chris Vannini Posted: 11/05/09 5:55pm Comments: 2

During Florida’s 41-17 demolition of Georgia last weekend, it was discovered that, during a pileup, Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes stuck his hands into the helmet of a Georgia player and gouged at the player’s eyes.

Upon further review, Florida coach Urban Meyer decided to suspend Spikes for the first half of this weekend’s game against Vanderbilt. There was some outcry to the seemingly-lack of punishment, but the SEC accepted the punishment.

But Wednesday, Spikes announced that he would be suspending himself for the entire game.

“I really don’t want to be a distraction to the team,” Spikes said. “I want the guys to prepare without any negative things going on. I feel like if I would play, it would be a big thing. I’m just trying to stay out of the way and just motivate the guys.”

Now this seems like a player doing what he believes is right, and I’m sure he’ll get lots of praise for this, but I have some questions.

Is he only suspending himself because he got caught?

How do we know Meyer didn’t decide to punish him more but make it look good for Spikes?

If the Gators weren’t playing Vanderbilt, but instead LSU or Alabama, would any suspension be made by Meyer or Spikes?

Now we will probably never find out these answers and I may just be looking for the negative in all this, but in today’s high-pressure college sports world, the motive for any decision has to be considered.

I expect the Gators to roll over Vanderbilt while Spikes comes out of this looking like the good guy, even though he’s the one who made the dirty play.

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