Just when you thought the SEC offices were in the clear after issuing a serious threat to any more league participants who felt the need to criticize officials, along comes the Florida Gators Brandon Spikes trying to gouge the eyes of Georgia's Washaun Ealey, and suddenly the league and the Gators are catching grief for only issuing a half game suspension to Spikes.

Good.

The league's rubber stamping of the Gators wink-wink punishment, has brought nationwide criticism to it and to the Gators. It has been a topic of non-stop debate on sports talk radio from coast to coast as well as every tv network including ESPN. And need I tell you there is scant little defense of the suspension.

By siding with Florida, and letting a light punishment stand for such egregious behavior, the SEC is basically saying attempts to maime on the field merit a half game suspension, but if you say something about our referees, it's a full game and possible fines!

What's the logic in that?

Aside from the PR hit that the league is taking all across the country, the message it sends is just wrong and smacks of exactly what Lane Kiffin was hinting at with his criticism of officials. It appears that certain teams get favorable treatment.

Now, do I believe that's the case? No, I don't.

But conspiracy theorists are everywhere in fandom, and when the league takes no stronger action than to basically rubber stamp the half hearted slap on the wrist that Urban Meyer handed his star defender while the team sits atop the BCS poll, it only feeds their theories.

If there is any good news in this it is that Vanderbilt will need wear goggles only in the second half.