Florida's Spikes suspended after eye gouging

Florida has suspended team captain and star linebacker Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.

According to the AP, head coach Urban Meyer suspended Spikes on Monday, two days after he apparently tried to gouge the eyes of a Georgia player.

"I don't condone that," Meyer said in Monday's press conference. "I understand what goes on on the football [field], but there's no place for that. We're going to suspend Brandon for the first half of the Vanderbilt game. I spoke with him. That's not who he is. That's not who we are. He got caught up in emotion."

Meyer said that his first reaction was to simply move on after the incident, but after reviewing the tape decided to take action against his senior linebacker. Spikes has issued a statement apologizing for his actions.

"I accept responsibility for my actions and I accept the consequences of my actions," he said. "I would like to apologize to my team and the coaching staff and Washaun Ealey. Football is a very physical and emotional game, but there is no excuse for my actions."

Spikes told Meyer that he was retaliating after his helmet was ripped off and he was poked in the eye earlier in the game.