I don't see the point in draging Mike Golic into this, he was critical of Spikes so what? He said he'd done some things in the pile, so what. This is about Spikes and what he did, it was disgusting whether or not he was successful...and we can all thank god he was not...is not the point either. And bring up somebody who hit Tebow late as justification that's absurd. I'm not for late hit's, my QB was hit late in the MSU game and was injured in a way that's affected the rest of the season for him and the player wasn't flagged. I don't think it was an intent to injure him though, Spikes was intentionally trying to injure. If Urban Meyer would have done the right thing right off the bat instead of worrying whether or not his defense could beat Vandy without Spikes then none of this firestorm would be going on. I lost some respect for Urban with this incident.
Thank you for clarifying your position. Again, the fact that it was caught on video where everyone can see it makes the difference in public outcry. I am not saying that FSU didn't twist his leg. I just do not remember seeing positive video evidence that it happened. Here, we did. All kinds of things can happen in a pile. Just the fact that there is a pile can cause knees to bend the wrong way. In trying to get back up a hand can be accidently slip into a face mask. It is the strong video evidence of malicious intent that spurs the public outcry and accusations of thugish intent. I am sure you see that. It does not mean that he is a thug. It means that he, in the heat of the moment, gave the appearance thereof. To the untrained eye, I might have given the appearance of being a thug when I commanded the homeless guy to the pavement and held him at gunpoint until the police arrived. In my case, there was a witness that saw the knife to my back and vindicated my actions. That is why he is doing two years and I am a free man.
Tom, in my opinion the video of Dockett twisting our players leg, the intent was a lot clearer than this incident. And we had a real injury. Terry, a couple of reasons I brought Golic into this, first was to see if the Notre Dame fan who called Spikes a thug would think Golic was a thug, obviously not. Secondly, and probably more important, is to point out the double standard of many people. Here's a guy who admitted to doing the same type things in a pile, even bought out one incident where he tried to choke someone. Then he spends a week berating Spikes and Meyer. Plain and simple he's a hypocrite. Not surprising for a media person though. As far as losing respect for Meyer, that is your right. I've lost a good bit of respect for some people the last couple of weeks myself.
This is my last comment on this obviously hot topic: If any Tennessee player, ANY player, is shown on video maliciously trying to injure another person, I will call for that person to be severely punished... up to the point of expulsion from the team for second offenses. I believe that we, as a society, have allowed these activities to go unchecked for far too long.
Good for Spikes.... I agree Tom and it is taking us down the wrong path imho....further, I think it sends a terrible message to these kids when they hear voices attempting to somehow justify the actions, question the need for punishment, minimize the flagrant nature or somehow rationalize it because its football, sh!t happens and everybody does it.......just my opinion fellas...I'm out.
Spikes <r>Personally I think we should throw Golic and Spikes into the octagon and let em get it on MMA style! Go Mike! <E>:lol:</E></r>
I gotta call timeout on that one.... Spikes....with Little and Stallworth...? You really think Spikes belongs in the category of two players who have killed people recklessly by DUI? Good thing Bill has left the building...
Dave, Yes! The result was more devastating on more than one level. However, the intent was less on those DUI deaths than it was with Spikes malicious intent. The intent was to drink. The result was to kill. So, the intent was to get high off of alcohol. You have professed: "It is just weed, or it is just alcohol and everybody does it. So what's the big deal?" Remember those debates Dave? Remember me talking about scraping people up off the highway due to drinking? I threw those names out there to show that it is not because he is a Gator that I am inflamed. It matters not whether he wore Tennessee colors or Gator colors or any other colors for that matter. If they do something that is known to cause harm, I have no desire to be associated with them. Heck, Peyton Manning served voluntary community service for a mooning incident. The only harm that did was the psyche of the female that saw him and couldn't have him. OK, he was doing the community service anyway but it sounded good! :wink:
Like Bill says....who are we to know his exact intent....or degree of maliciousness. Spikes had his own eyes poked and needed sideline attention to it and maybe that's all he was doing.....how can you tell from a video what his true intent was? If someone poked my eye and I thought they did it with intent I would be very pissed.....especially after they had already been giving me crap anyway and had purposely yanked off my helmet earlier in addition to the eye thing. In any event my guess is Spikes had no intent to truly harm the guy maliciously.....just cause discomfort probably and he shouldn't have been doing it....and now sits a game because of it. Hardly the stuff of a fatal DUI though.
Dave, I am just trying to get you to see the active vs. passive role. Someone that is involved in a DUI accident does not with every sip think: "Who can I kill tonight." That is the farthest thing from their mind. I am in no way excusing it. Everyone knows here that I am so against drinking and driving. What if I forget to take my insulin and drive. A person with extremely high or low blood sugar can be impaired exactly like a drunk and can be charged with driving impaired. The results are the same... a dead victim. Neither one of these situations started out as a person intentionally wanting to harm someone. Spikes on the other hand had no other intent other than to harm. He wasn't trying to kiss him. He wasn't trying to ... more in a minute... breaking news on the back room...
Dave, Do you see the angle I am putting on this? It doesn't matter if he was trying to cause discomfort or he was trying to blind... He was trying is the only three words that matter. Now, where is the "alcohol and weed are no big thing" guy we all know? For anyone that has not heard, there is an issue at Ft Hood where many are dead and more are wounded. More on the back room.
I would never diminish the severity and tragedy of a fatal DUI Tom. I have never condoned drunk driving.
I give up. You're hopeless. I ask a question and you twist it to dodge the answer. I ask if you can distinguish between an intentional act and a tragedy that happens when the person is not trying to harm anyone. Yes, a drunk driver is guilty as sin... but they are guilty of putting themselves into a situation where they cannot control their own actions and as a result, they hurt or kill someone. that is manslaughter... not premeditated murder. Your guy did a premeditated act with intent to harm. If you can't tell the difference, try taking your gator glasses off and see if you can see it then. The Tennessee receiver was guilty when he pushed your beloved gator DB. Your DB hit him because of the push and you were all over our guy for pushing him and causing him to get the penalty for striking back. Nobody can be guilty of anything while they wear gator colors... isn't that right Dave? The gators are always victims... isn't that right Dave? poor widdle gators.
How many times do I have to say he shouldn't have done it and he deserves suspension. I just have a problem with transparent attitudes about it as I stated before. And that goes for the media too although they are motivated differently. I think because you didn't see the game you only believe what you did see on the video so you don't get the whole picture or refuse to see it.
I'm sure Lane won't be far behind him. Cindy say that he had publicly said something and wondered if he would be the first to get fined.
So the new directive from the SEC office has a little bite to it. I think LK will bite through his lip real soon.... 8)