Starting middle linebacker Brandon Spikes has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's Vanderbilt game, Florida coach Urban Meyer announced Monday.
The move came two days after Spikes appeared to eye-gouge Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in a pile during the Gators' 41-17 win.
No penalty was called during the game, but Spikes was caught putting his finger in Ealey's face mask on CBS cameras, and the video was quickly posted all over the Internet.
"I don't condone that, and I understand what goes on in football, but there's no place for that," Meyer said. "That's not who he is. That's not who we are. He got caught up in emotion. I love Brandon Spikes, and our team does (too). We're going to move on, but he has our full support."
Saturday's game was filled with chippy behavior between Florida and Georgia players. Five personal fouls were called during the game - three on the Bulldogs and two on the Gators.
"I don't think that we did anything in that game that they didn't do," quarterback Tim Tebow said. "If you go back and look at it and study it, you can see on the film, too."
Meyer did not see film of Spikes' play in the pile until Monday morning. His wife mentioned it to him Sunday night, and defensive coordinator Charlie Strong brought it up the following morning.
He didn't think it was a big deal until he finally saw it. Meyer spoke to Spikes about the incident and suspension Monday morning before announcing it.
"The thing he needs to know is we all understand the game of football," Meyer said. "Some of us have played it. 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."
The Southeastern Conference released a statement Monday afternoon standing by the suspension. Meyer said he spoke to SEC commissioner Mike Slive regarding the incident.
"The Southeastern Conference has reviewed and accepted the disciplinary actions taken by the University of Florida regarding football student-athlete Brandon Spikes," the statement read. "The university suspended Spikes for the first half of its next game (vs. Vanderbilt, Nov. 7) for an unsportsmanlike act during the Gators' last game (vs. Georgia, Oct. 31)."
Spikes led Florida with 10 tackles against Georgia. Redshirt senior linebacker Ryan Stamper will move inside against the Commodores, and senior Dustin Doe will likely see his second start of the season. Doe got the nod against Mississippi State when Spikes did not play due to a groin injury.
"I accept responsibility for my actions, and I accept the consequences of my actions," Spikes said in a statement. "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."
While this incident may not be the best example, Tebow said Spikes' passionate personality is key to his ability as a player and a leader.
"He's very intense and very emotional and very passionate," Tebow said. "I think that's what makes him part of the great player that he is. He brings that fire and people look at him. The defense wants to play for him, and the offense - they want to score so it makes it easier on him. He brings fire, and he brings juice to everybody.
"Without that, he would not be as great of a player as he is, and he would not be even close to the leader that he is."
