College Football Takes.

Brandon Spikes tried to gouge Washaun Ealey’s eyes during a pile up in the Florida-Georgia game. The video wound up on YouTube, and everybody and his brother is now pretending to be butthurt about it.

Gator fans are whining about not condoning the Ric Flair move, but that it was in retaliation for earlier dirty play by the Bulldogs. Bulldog fans are whining about Spikes being a thug and Gators head coach Urban Meyer being a hypocrite.

I don’t know if the Gator fans are right about the retaliation. I do know the Bulldog fans are right about Spikes being a thug and Meyer being a hypocrite. Spikes is a very good linebacker, and there has never been a good linebacker – especially a middle linebacker – who wasn’t a thug.

Dick Butkus is about to turn 67 years old, has really bad knees, and spends most of his time doing philanthropic work for his foundation. I’d put the over/under on how many times someone could poke him in his chest before it was “go time” at one half? Butkus is a middle linebacker

Tom McManus was the middle linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the early glory days. He was a journeyman who enjoyed his time in the NFL, but more importantly he respected it. He’s written a poignant book about his relationship with his dad. He started a radio show here a few years ago with former Jaguar center Dave Widell. One day they were ripping Jaguars guard Brad Meester for his poor play. Meester called the show and let the hosts know he wasn’t thrilled with their assessment. Words were exchanged and McManus challenged Meester to a fight – anytime, anywhere. McManus is a linebacker.

The only former player that’s thrown a hissy fit is Mike Golic, and I’m not buying his faux outrage. He can’t talk ad nauseum about how much fun it was to play for Buddy Ryan and with Andre Waters and then get outraged about Spikes trying – unsuccessfully – to poke someone in the eye.

If Brandon Spikes had been seen by a referee and ejected, I would have been fine with that, but I have a problem with people pretending to be surprised and outraged that a linebacker was violent. Don’t blame a compass for pointing north.