by Roy Exum
posted November 6, 2009
 Roy Exum |
During last Saturday's 41-17 win over Georgia, there was documented footage that Spikes tried his best to stab Georgia runner Washaun Ealey in the eye with his fingers after Ealey was tackled during the third quarter. There was no penalty called on the play, but, far worse, by now over a half-million viewers have seen the senseless video on the YouTube website.
When it was quickly brought to Meyer's attention, he suspended Spikes for half the game against this week's opponent, Vanderbilt (2-7). Since then, Urban has been held up to widespread ridicule across the country. Noted columnist Kevin Blackstone suggested the laughable penalty was for just a half game because Spikes was just trying to gouge one eye instead of the whole set.
Another pundit pointed hysterically at the Southeastern Conference, noting the SEC went along with the farce after suspending an entire officiating crew earlier this year for making a bad call. On and on it went, the hypocrisy an apparent smear on the game, so after Wednesday's practice, the Associated Press reported, "With all the negative attention 'weighing heavy on his heart,' Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes asked to serve a full-game suspension for apparently trying to gouge the eyes of a Georgia running back."
"I really don't want to be a distraction to the team," Spikes said after practice. "I want the guys to prepare without any negative things going on, and I feel like if I would play, it would be a big thing going on. I'm just trying to stay out of the way and just motivate the guys."
That should have settled it but, oh no, "The Gator Nation" suddenly came up with a YouTube clip of its own showing Georgia linebacker Nick Williams delivering a late hit to Florida's heralded quarterback, Tim Tebow. The reason, they claimed, was that Georgia started the unsportsmanlike play. And despite firm SEC warnings to coaches not to discuss officiating publicly, Meyer let his hurt feelings show during a telephone interview with writers.
"That should have been a penalty, in my opinion," Meyer said, noting he had submitted the tape to the SEC for review. "Obviously, it should have been. You've got to protect quarterbacks. That's the whole purpose. It's right in front of the referee. I'm not sure how they're going to handle that, but ... that was one of the plays we did send in."
So, as you wonder if Meyer would not have been better served if he simply kept his mouth shut, let's listen to another voice. Georgia freshman Washaun Ealey was asked if he - the victim - thought Spikes' penalty was enough. "That really didn't matter to me," Ealey admitted. "That's their decision. He shouldn't, I think, get suspended at all. We were just out there playing football."
Ealey, who said he quickly shut his eyes at the time and wasn't injured in any way, added, "He really didn't gouge my eyes. He really didn't get a chance to get close to my eyes."
That said, here are my Top Ten Picks for tomorrow:
SOUTH CAROLINA (6-3) at ARKANSAS (4-4), 12:20 p.m. (SEC Network) -- This is a huge game for Arkansas because the Razorbacks need six wins to become bowl eligible. UA is a 7-point pick after the way SC was whipped so badly at UT. AU's 63-27 romp over Eastern Michigan last week was worrisome in a way (the defense gave up too many points), but QB Ryan Mallett leads the SEC in total offense and newcomer Broderick Green rushed for 134 yards in his first college start. Injuries now plague SC, but some youngsters are good; WR Alshon Jeffery is now QB Stephen Garcia's leading receiver so this is a good early-day match-up. MY PICK: South Carolina, 21-18.
TENNESSEE TECH (5-3) at GEORGIA (4-4), 1:00 p.m. -- After losing three of the last four, the lights are dim in Athens, but this should be a sunny afternoon for the Bulldogs. Tech is coached by former Vandy coach Watson Brown who knows how tough Homecomings are in Athens and, quite candidly, there aren't many Golden Eagles that could fit in those silver britches. Tech will get a nice game-guarantee and the TT players will have fun in front of a big crowd. UGA's Mark Richt still needs answers before next week's Auburn game and, believe this, with Kentucky and Ga. Tech then to come this Thanksgiving may be lean. MY PICK: Georgia, 34-14.
EASTERN KY. (5-3) at KENTUCKY (4-4), 1:00 p.m. -- The last time EKU came into Lexington it resulted in a 51-10 whipping (2007) so don't expect any upset here with UK on the bowl hunt. Cat QB Morgan Newton was 11-of 18 passing against Miss. State so you can look for the best match-up to come from EKU's Jeremy Caldwell who leads the FCS with seven interceptions. Again, this is a "money game" before the Cats travel to Vandy and Georgia before the finale at home against UT. November’s results will be huge for UK because this is where "bowl strength" is decided. MY PICK: Kentucky, 41-17.
FURMAN (4-4) at AUBURN (6-3), 1:30 p.m. -- Furman QB Jordan Sorrels, who you may remember led the Paladins to a 38-20 win over Chattanooga early in the season, has really blossomed, throwing for 1,738 yards and 14 TDs already this year, but "the dew will fall off the rose" tomorrow on The Plains when fiery Auburn, clubbing Ole Miss 33-20 last week, puts an easy notch in its belt before traveling to Georgia next Saturday. The offensive duo of QB Chris Todd (13 TDs passing) and RB Ben Tate (119 ypg running) will be overwhelming for the Paladins and remember that AU has scored over 30 points in 20 of the last 26 Homecoming games. MY PICK: Auburn, 42-15.
No. 9 LSU (7-1) at No. 3 ALABAMA (7-0), 3:30 p.m. (CBS) -- So now we come to the "the real game of the year." Alabama will try to put the Dec. 5 "dance" (SEC championship game) on ice while LSU is eying the BCS rankings. LSU fans have been crowing all week that Les Miles has one more win than Nick Saban in the same time frame while wearing the LSU's head coaches' hat, but neither Les or Nick will play tomorrow. Alabama, idle since the UT fright, is an 8-point pick and the guess here is that it will be more than that. The Tide realized 'Bama was now merely mortal against UT and Saban is a master at fine-tweaking a powerful engine. UA has Miss. State and Chattanooga before Auburn (there) while LSU faces La. Tech, Ole Miss and Arkansas this month. MY PICK: Alabama 34-14.
No. 15 OHIO STATE (7-2) at No. 11 PENN STATE (8-1), 3:30 p.m. (CBS) – This is the 300th game that Penn State will play in beloved Beaver Stadium, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, but few have held the charm of what appears to be a titanic game tomorrow. Penn State, favored by 4, has already been beaten this year by the Big Ten favorite, undefeated Iowa, but the Buckeyes will host the 8th-ranked Hawkeyes next Saturday. If the Nittany Lions were to win here, and the Wolverines were to win there, what a fun triangle that would be! PSU is cocked-and-loaded, but listen to OSU QB Terrelle Pryor: ``The crowd is going to be against us, especially against me, but it really doesn't matter. I got my family with me, all 75 (teammates) that travel, and we're going to be ready to rock. I can't wait.'' What type of pep talk with 82-year-old Joe Paterno deliver here? My pick: Ohio State, 27-24.
MEMPHIS (2-6) at TENNESSEE (4-4), 7:00 p.m. -- The Vols have clobbered Memphis the last five times they've played and this could also be the "breaking straw" for former UTC coach Tommy West after nine seasons with the Tigers. His record is 49-57 and don't look for UT, playing like a Top 25 team, to leave any slack in the noose. Vol runner Montario Hardesty is turning out to be the unsung hero of the team, avg. 105 yards in eight games, and QB Jonathan Crompton, despite the turnovers, has hushed his critics. LB Rico McCoy is the "bell cow" on defense, leading the Vols in tackles for the fifth straight time this fall in the 31-13 USC smack down, but now Lane Kiffin has to substitute with care because, with next week's early TV game at Ole Miss, UT can't stand any more key injuries. MY PICK: Tennessee 42-12.
VANDERBILT (2-7) at No. 1 FLORIDA (8-0), 7:15 p.m. (ESPN2) -- Vandy freshman Warren Norman has now darted for 593 yards, the fourth highest ever for a first-year player at the school, but he's not going to have a "career high" in this one because the Gators, already assured of the eastern half of the SEC championship, will crush the flailing Commodores. The 41-17 win over Georgia last week once again proved QB Tim Tebow and his crowd are only allergic to some type of "kryptonite" and Vandy, coming in with five straight losses, ain't got anything in the satchel that can corral the Gators. UF is favored by 35, but expect Urban Meyer to "put the pedal to the metal" due to the BCS scramble. And, if you think UF will miss Brandon Spikes, the "cold answer" is they probably don't need a middle linebacker this week. MY PICK: Florida, 45-6.
NORTHERN ARIZONA (5-3) at OLE MISS (5-3), 7:30 p.m. -- If you want to know the difference in the FCS (small schools) and the FBS (big schools), look at this week's other picks where Tenn. Tech, Furman, and Eastern Ky. are providing November respite to other SEC schools this week. NAU got popped by Arizona, 34-17, in their only other FBS try this year so Ole Miss, embarrassed by last week's 33-20 loss to Auburn, will also "pay in cash" for this breather. UM runner Dexter McCluster is the focal point after rushing for an average of 231 all-purpose yards in the last two weeks. His savvy loosens things up for QB Jevan Snead, but the Rebel defense has also been superb, now ranked 14th in the country in scoring def. with a 16 ppg average. MY PICK: Ole Miss, 38-14.
No. 20 OKLAHOMA (5-3) at NEBRASKA (5-3), 8:00 p.m. -- They call this one "The Battle of the Big Reds" for the fact this one game decided the old Big Eight championship 31 times in 36 years. UO has won the last four games, but Bo Pellini, the Nebraska coach who is one of UO coach Bobby Stoopes' best friends, has Lincoln frothing like it once did when Barry Switzer and Tom Osborne would glare at one another. The Sooners are a 5-point pick, but this could be one of the best games of the day. Incidentally, Osborne will host a dinner tonight before tomorrow's game and seated at the table will be Heisman winners Steve Owens, Johnny Rodgers, Billy Sims, Mike Rozier, Eric Crouch and Jason White. That’s how big this game is. MY PICK: Oklahoma, 37-31.
ONE MORE: CHATTANOOGA (5-3) at APPALACHIAN STATE (6-2), 3:30 p.m.) -- With B.J. Coleman passing for right at 200 yards a game and Russ Huesman's staff turning yesterday's yawns into today's thrills, it is hard to think the Mocs have little chance, but APSU, a team that has whipped UTC 12 straight times, ain't gonna' get caught "just watching." If I were Appy coach Jerry Moore, I'd show films of the infamous Michigan conquest with the admonition, "That could be us!" Armanti Edwards is surely one of the best players in the game on any level: he has 4,132 yards rushing and 9,184 yards passing and - remember - he scored six (6!) TDs against Furman. MY PICK: Appalachian St., 38-21.
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