Belatedly on Florida's Spikes: Dirty is as dirty does
Published: 8/29/2009 9:35 PM
Last Modified: 8/29/2009 9:35 PM
I'm only going to write this once. Because I didn't get to it the first time.
A couple weeks back, Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes was asked who on his team could be called a dirty player.
"Compared to Oklahoma," Spikes said, "you won't find anyone."
I don't like to beat a dead horse. Spikes said that back on Aug. 15. It's now almost Aug. 30. The Gators and Sooners played way back on Jan. 8.
But just this past week, a couple of OU players were asked about Spikes' comments. (OK, I'm only just now getting their comments down in blog form. Sorry it took so long.)
"Brandon Spikes' comments?" left guard Brian Simmons repeated. "Can you remind me of them?"
When apprised of Spikes' words, Simmons smiled, but only briefly.
"After we played 'em? Really? Did he? Hmm," Simmons said. "Well, I don't really like to get into quarrels like that, but I mean, I would say we're probably one of the most physical teams that they played."
Another Sooner, left tackle Trent Williams (he played right tackle in that game) also needed a little 411 after he was asked about Spikes.
"What was his comment?" Williams asked.
Given the answer, Williams got wide-eyed.
"Oh, did he?" Williams said before expelling a hearty laugh. "I don’t know man."
Said Simmons, "Me personally, I don't ever recall seeing anything dirty. I mean, we played physical. Win or loss, after you played Oklahoma, you're gonna know you played Oklahoma. Maybe that's what he was saying."
Williams had to be reminded that it was Spikes who was caught on camera, giving Williams the business — er, an open hand punch to the side of Williams' helmet.
"Yeah, man! That's about as dirty as it gets," Williams said. "I guess he can say what he wants."
— John E. Hoover
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
