Thoughts on the Vicious Eye Gouger! (inject mild sarcasm here)

This is Brandon Spikes. Doer of evil. Blight on all of collegiate football. Gouger of eyes. Sinner of sinners.

At least that's what much of America would like you to believe. Spikes is an unconscionable thug, a "criminal" and deserving of "jail time" for trying to "blind a man." These are things I read today in various places on the Interwebs, apparently from actual human beings. People are passionate about college football in parts of this country to a degree that is absolutely frightening. I understand this. Yet, still, it does not merit the fire-breathing debate flaring on this one.

I almost want to punch myself for writing about it, but I feel like I'd be shirking my sports blogging duties were I not to at least quickly address it. Are you ready America? OK, here are my thoughts. Try to contain yourself and pretend that you haven't been waiting for hours upon hours - and only casually listening to the commentary from ESPN analysts, radio show hosts and bloggers ad nauseam -- solely to hear my take. Well, wait no more.

It was a dirty play. I'm not sure that's up for debate. Football is also a violent, emotional game that occasionally brings about rash, ill-tempered actions. I consider myself a fairly polite and gentle citizen, but, back in my playing days, there were things that happened on the field from time to time that were not...well, you once in awhile do things that aren't nice. Occasionally, these actions extend beyond the rules of the game and the accepted norms. This would be one of those cases. There are dozens of them that happen every game. In this case, nothing was called. Should there have been a penalty? Absolutely...and maybe even an accompanying ejection.

Now, after the fact, is there really much that can or should be done? I guess you can make the argument the answer is an unequivocal "yes." OK, so the tape shows a cheap shot. This isn't the NFL, so fines are not the easy a solution. So, you look at suspension. Urban Meyer will sit Spikes for the first half of the Vandy game. The SEC deems that appropriate, or at least such would seem the case in that they will not dole out any additional punishment.

Conclusion: the suspension itself probably merits the "crime" in this case - regardless of the ridiculous rhetoric pouring out of the mouths and onto the screens and comment sections of the Web from the fanaticals. That said, sometimes the punishment needs to be harsher than the crime. At times, the punishment needs to send a more important message that says not only will you pay the price, but now I need to use this as an example and an opportunity to show others what our program is or isn't about.

Chip Kelly did that earlier this year (keep in mind, I am NOT equating Blount's punch with Spikes's "gouge"), and I gave him high marks for so doing. And, I guess, so did Urban Meyer today. Take that for whatever it's worth.

posted at 7:38 PM