2009-11-18T14:11:21-05:00 <p> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="560" height="340" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a12mSXjLN5s&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="340" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a12mSXjLN5s&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed> </object> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Just in case you thought eye-gouging was limited to the SEC, here's a clip of last week's Florida State-Clemson game. That's Clemson defensive end Andre Branch (No. 40) with his hand grinding inside the facemask of FSU offensive guard David Spurlock (No. 79) while everyone else chases a loose ball. (HT: <a href="http://www.tomahawknation.com" target="_blank">Tomahawk Nation</a>)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Clemson DE is second gouger 2009-11-10T15:48:28-05:00 111 2009-11-10T15:48:28-05:00 1 12 10 2009-11-18T14:11:21-05:00 1 SC Weezer69 Greenville 920736 111 I've looked at this clip many times and I have yet to see a finger inside his helmet. Where are you guys seeing the attempted eye gouge? Show me one frame that shows his fingers inside his helmet. one. I clearly see Branch's grey gloves outside his helmet the whole time.Even an official that has seen the clip said he would not have flagged Branch. This is not even close to what Spikes attempted. Branch was definitely rough with the guy. At most this should have been a facemask. Stop making something out of nothing. Try thinking for yourselves rather than letting everyone think for you. 7697299 2009-11-18T11:34:41-05:00 1 VA rrudnic Newport News 483814 110 Anyone who believe this is eye gouging is either an idiot or blind. Pause the video at 5 and 6 seconds you can clearly see his whole hands the whole time. Is he jerking the guys head back? Absolutely. Are his hands in the helmet eye gouging? Absolutely not. 7694486 2009-11-15T21:51:25-05:00 3 SC gabericks Columbia 918625 109 and this is why I normally go to ESPN for my news 7664985 2009-11-15T21:50:16-05:00 3 SC gabericks Columbia 918625 108 don't you have to touch someone's eyes to gouge their eyes. At most he gave him a noogie on the SIDE of his helmet. 7665042 2009-11-15T21:47:49-05:00 3 SC gabericks Columbia 918625 107 don't you have touch someone's eyes to be considered gouging someones eyes. Look again. If anything he is giving him a noogie on the side of the head. 7665024 2009-11-15T18:58:09-05:00 501 MS beachgator Lucedale 174427 106 Why actually sportswrite? Faux-outrage makes for so many more readers. 7663657 2009-11-15T10:49:21-05:00 1 XX burdman2 No City 918389 105 It's funny how SI never comment's on the winning, how good the Tiger's are playing or any of the good things Clemson has done. But let them make a mistake, and granted it was a big one and Andre Branch should be punished or even tossed out for the rest of the season, and SI has a field day with them. No matter how good the Tigers are, you guys, Sports Illustrated, hardly ever mention them. Just gos to show how you guys, Sports Illustrated, act towards Clemson. And by the way, to all the TV sportscasters, There is no Z in Clemson 7661820 2009-11-14T09:08:11-05:00 9 VA Robbie2 Mc Lean 137983 104 Branch is a complete dirt bag! He attacks from behind where his opponent can't see him pulls on his face mask bending/forcing his neck beyond its normal range of backward motion and trying to gouge eyes. A one game susupension isn't enough. He should be gone for the rest of the season and probationary status for the balance of his football eligibility. Any further incidents and his scholarship gets cancelled. 7656033 2009-11-13T20:35:34-05:00 1 XX Nittany25 No City 916873 102 If anyone really looks at the video without bias you will see that the Clemson player goes for the loose ball and gets a helmet instead. Yes he doesn't let go right away but he doesn't twist his head off either. In addition, the blown up picture shows three of his knuckles clearly outside of the facemask. If he is gouging anyone's eyes he has to have extremely long finger nails because his fingers couldn't possibly reach. See if you can poke something while you can still see three knuckles while looking at the back of your hand. 7653273 2009-11-14T00:18:40-05:00 122 CO D-Gator Denver 810275 If anyone really looks at the video without bias you will see that the Clemson player goes for the loose ball and gets a helmet instead. Yes he doesn't let go right away but he doesn't twist his head off either. In addition, the blown up picture shows three of his knuckles clearly outside of the facemask. If he is gouging anyone's eyes he has to have extremely long finger nails because his fingers couldn't possibly reach. See if you can poke something while you can still see three knuckles while looking at the back of your hand. 103 Not to mention, his fingernails would have to be sticking through the gloves. But does anybody posting here get the bigger picture? Is it right for fans on a message board, egged on by folks like Staples, to be applying pressure on conferences to suspend players. 7654793 2009-11-13T20:35:34-05:00 1 XX Nittany25 No City 916873 102 If anyone really looks at the video without bias you will see that the Clemson player goes for the loose ball and gets a helmet instead. Yes he doesn't let go right away but he doesn't twist his head off either. In addition, the blown up picture shows three of his knuckles clearly outside of the facemask. If he is gouging anyone's eyes he has to have extremely long finger nails because his fingers couldn't possibly reach. See if you can poke something while you can still see three knuckles while looking at the back of your hand. 7653273 111 <p> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="560" height="340" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a12mSXjLN5s&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="340" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a12mSXjLN5s&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed> </object> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Just in case you thought eye-gouging was limited to the SEC, here's a clip of last week's Florida State-Clemson game. That's Clemson defensive end Andre Branch (No. 40) with his hand grinding inside the facemask of FSU offensive guard David Spurlock (No. 79) while everyone else chases a loose ball. (HT: <a href="http://www.tomahawknation.com" target="_blank">Tomahawk Nation</a>)</p> <p>This won't get the attention the Brandon Spikes gouge got because Branch isn't one of the best five defensive players in the country - and because, let's face it, New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert set a new standard for away-from-the-play violence last week - but Branch deserves punishment just as much as Spikes did. I know Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn't teach this garbage, and Swinney needs to act swiftly to eradicate such behavior from his program. He should suspend Branch for a game before Branch has the chance to completely copy Spikes and suspends himself.</p> 85721 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/245/899/thumb/staples_andy2.jpg 34 Andy Staples 246219