Hurd By The Bay

Just ran across one of those news items that makes those of us who are old-fashioned wonder if everything we were taught about sports and discipline and how it molds what’s right and wrong occurred on some far off planet our parents must’ve made us visit when we were kids.

Or, to put it another way, a whole half-game suspension for Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes??!!

Wow, that’ll teach him.

You may have seen the highlights of Spikes trying to gouge out the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey on Saturday. This is one of those things on the football field, apparently, that is as much a breach of conduct as a major-league hitter laughing at a pitcher after a home run.

Anyway, coach Urban Meyer, after initially wanting to “just move on,” suspended Spikes after watching a replay of the play. Now here’s my question for Meyer? What do you expect Spikes to learn from this? More important, what do you expect Spikes’ teammates to learn.

Here’s what I’m guessing Spikes will learn: Keep your hands outside the face mask at all times. Oh, and I’m a star, so even if I mess up, I’ll get leniency, because of who I am.

Here’s what his teammates will learn: Coach’s punishments are light. We can get away with ...

Once upon a time, star athletes would occasionally have to pay a severe punishment as an example to others as to what not to do.

Missing half of a college football game doesn’t qualify. And if gouging out a guys eyes is “as bad as it gets” as I heard some talking head say today, what trangression would warrant losing an entire game.

Thanks Urban Meyer for reinforcing what we already know. Punishment, when a star is involved, often is in words only.