By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Florida's tough-guy linebacker Brandon Spikes demonstrated a sensitive side Wednesday night when he announced he'll sit out the entire Vanderbilt game Saturday, according to published reports.
YOUR THOUGHTS: Does Spikes' Decision Make Meyer Look Bad?
Coach Urban Meyer's decision Monday to suspend Spikes for only the first half of the No. 1 Gators' next game caused quite the backlash in College Football Nation, and after the criticism heated up over the last 48 hours, Spikes decided enough was enough.
"I feel like things were blowing up," Spikes said in a statement cited by ESPN's Joe Schad. "I feel if I would have played it would be a big thing. I'm just trying to stay out of the way. I'm pretty sure (fellow linebacker Ryan) Stamper's got my back and my teammates support me."
Spikes was seen on video replay sticking his fingers inside the facemask of a Georgia player during Saturday's beatdown of the Bulldogs.
GatorSports.com reported that Meyer supports Spikes' decision to sit out against Vanderbilt, whose 93rd-ranked offense has scored just 19 touchdowns in nine games this year.
With or without Spikes playing for the nation's No. 2 defense, the 2-7 Commodores don't seem a likely candidate to pull off the upset in Gainesville.