Reasons to not be supportive of the Florida Gators

[Spice1]

As a Canes fan, I would like to point out that the JJ era Canes were only criminals OFF the field.

[kocurt]

Thug U is back!! ITs just called UF now. Watch this program sink into the depths of corruption over the next few seasons. I predict they will soon be on probation, have more players in prison than on the field, and a couple more championships!!

[HellYeahHokie]

Originally Posted by GatorGrad

WThat said, he obviously lost his cool in the heat of the moment in a very emotional game. He is a senior and this is the first time he's ever pulled a stunt like that..

I suspect its the first time he's ever been caught.

[GatorGrad]

NCT & BH,

So Tebow's one comment about the fact that there was some nonsense on both sides in this game changes your entire perception of his character? That is unfortunate and pretty unfair IMO. For four years now, Tebow has had things done to him under a pile...from ball twisting to eye gouging to rib punching, spitting, etc. He's been a pretty good sport about it. Never complained or retaliated in any way to any of it. Didn't complain at all about this hit from the game either:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvFbD7wIAg

I guarantee that Tebow does not agree with what Spikes did. I think he was just pointing out that this wasn't anything out of the norm of what goes on under the huddle which is true...Spikes is just the one that got caught for it and has been punished. His real punishment is not missing the Vandy game however...it is the fact that he now has to live with being viewed as a "dirty player." Like Darnell Dockett at FSU. His great four-year career is going to be tainted by this incident, fair or not. He gave up being a first round pick to come back for his senior season and in game #8, he really tarnished his legacy in the minds of most fans across the country.

[GatorGrad]

Originally Posted by NCT

But man, it looks like Spikes lost his keys in Ealey's helmet. I may be wrong, but to me, that went waaaay beyond "chippy".

There is actually an interesting story floating around some Gator message boards. Apparently someone who knows some of the players got the "scoop" and is claiming that Ealey had spit on Spikes on the prior play or earlier in the game. One story is that it was the prior play and that Spikes rubbed off Ealey's spit with his hand and then was trying to rub it back in his own face after the next play. The other story is that it happened earlier in the game and Spikes spit on his own hand and was rubbing it on Ealey to get him back. I admit that I have no idea how accurate this is and could be 100% made up. But it would explain why Ealey shows no signs of being hurt, didn't squint, didn't complain, and basically acted as if nothing had happened after Spikes' fingers had entered his facemask. If Spikes was truly trying to injure him by poking at his eyeballs, it would seem as if he had a good chance of being successful or at least Ealey would have reacted more. Obviously rubbing spit on someone's eyes is disgusting in itself so either way, he deserved to be suspended and deserves the embarrassment. But getting back at someone in a childish "spit battle" doesn't seem as bad as trying to injure a player. My guess is that if there was 100% proof that he was trying to injure Ealey, or Ealey was injured after the incident, that Spikes would have been suspended for much longer.

[Don]

Originally Posted by kocurt

Like I have been telling you guys. The MAJOR programs and LANDMARK football teams do it with class. They have classy coaches, classy players, and they hold the players accountable when they step out of line. Heck, Bob Stoops basically threw away a shot at the national title to keep his team in line. In the SEC? Not so much. Its a 'win at all costs" league that focuses on money. Corruption is rampant there and the fact that the premier upstart team (UF) does not seem to understand what happened and more importantly what SHOULD happen, just illustrates my point. They just dont get it. A BLATANT and INTENTIONALL attempt to permanently damage and maim a player deserves HUGE punishment. But this is the SEC and UF, they wont let a little thing like ethics, morality, and what is RIGHT get in the way of a few $ and a win. Meyer went from one of my favorite coaches (when he was at Utah) to one of those guys on the level of Pete Carroll or Jimmy johnson. Thug U really IS back. Its just called Florida now.

the Saints-Falcons game last night? The crew was having a good time with this story. At one point someone asks "So, what do you think is happening at the bottom of that scrum?" They all laughed and one said something like, "Gee, I don't know but someone might get a 20 minute suspension."

[Doc]

I went through this same crap in 2003 when Robert Reynolds, as some put it, tried to choke Jim Sorgi to death. Many said he should be suspended for the year, kicked off the team, etc. Tressel suspended him for a game and did some 'internal corrections' and it wasn't good enough for everybody. I didn't see what Spikes did so I really can't comment on it but I'm sure Urban Meyer is making sure he knows that type of action won't be tolerated, even if it may have been provoked. As I tell my 5th grade team all the time - you have to big bigger than that - don't stoop to their level.

[BossTalker]

Originally Posted by Jim

When did he get out? Looks like a bunch of spiders are having a meeting on his head! That coach is loving it...stank breath and all...

[Blue Hen]

Originally Posted by GatorGrad

NCT & BH,

So Tebow's one comment about the fact that there was some nonsense on both sides in this game changes your entire perception of his character? That is unfortunate and pretty unfair IMO. For four years now, Tebow has had things done to him under a pile...from ball twisting to eye gouging to rib punching, spitting, etc. He's been a pretty good sport about it. Never complained or retaliated in any way to any of it. Didn't complain at all about this hit from the game either:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDvFbD7wIAg

I guarantee that Tebow does not agree with what Spikes did. I think he was just pointing out that this wasn't anything out of the norm of what goes on under the huddle which is true...Spikes is just the one that got caught for it and has been punished. His real punishment is not missing the Vandy game however...it is the fact that he now has to live with being viewed as a "dirty player." Like Darnell Dockett at FSU. His great four-year career is going to be tainted by this incident, fair or not. He gave up being a first round pick to come back for his senior season and in game #8, he really tarnished his legacy in the minds of most fans across the country.

No , it doesn't change my entire perception and respect for Tebow...just lowers it a few notches.

[HellYeahHokie]

Originally Posted by Doc

I went through this same crap in 2003 when Robert Reynolds, as some put it, tried to choke Jim Sorgi to death. Many said he should be suspended for the year, kicked off the team, etc. Tressel suspended him for a game and did some 'internal corrections' and it wasn't good enough for everybody. I didn't see what Spikes did so I really can't comment on it but I'm sure Urban Meyer is making sure he knows that type of action won't be tolerated, even if it may have been provoked. As I tell my 5th grade team all the time - you have to big bigger than that - don't stoop to their level.

That guy should have been suspended for a year for that completely out-of-line chocking incident.

Oregon didn't hesitate to suspend one of their star players for the season for throwing a punch against a player that was almost certainly provoking him.