A whole half?

Against Vanderbilt?

Against a 2-7 team that has lost five consecutive games, was out-scored 104-51 in its last three and ranks last in the Southeastern Conference in scoring, passing, time of possession, red zone offense and red zone defense?

That’s the penalty imposed by Florida football coach Urban Meyer after watching his All-America linebacker viciously attempt to gouge the eyes of a Georgia running back during Saturday’s game in Jacksonville?

That’s the punishment Brandon Spikes faces for his thuggish assault, which was unquestionably intended to injure, perhaps permanently, a defenseless opponent who was pinned under a pile of tacklers?

That’s it?

Spikes is suspended for the first half against Vandy?

So much for Meyer, no matter how many championships he wins, being a better man than his coaching peers.

So much for Florida, despite its successes on the field, serving as a model for the way all big-time college football programs should be run.

So much for class.

And character.

And courage.

Because what Spikes did to Georgia’s Washaun Ealey — a video clip from the CBS telecast is getting thousands of hits on YouTube — was as cowardly as it was deliberate.

But what Meyer did Monday was worse.

Rather than send a clear message that such depraved conduct will never be tolerated at his proud academic institution, Meyer embarrassed himself, his program and his employer by offering a feeble excuse and essentially telling everyone it was no big deal.

“I don’t condone that ... There’s no place for that,” Meyer said in announcing Spikes’ slap-on-the-wrist suspension. “I spoke with him. That’s not who he is. That’s not who we are. He got caught up in emotion.”

Yeah, well, so did Oregon’s top running back, LaGarrette Blount, when he reacted angrily to be taunted after the Ducks’ season-opening loss at Boise State and flattened a Bronco player with a jarring punch to the jaw.

But Blount was suspended by Oregon coach Chip Kelly for the rest of season.

“That’s not what we’re all about,” Kelly said. “That’s not what we coach. That’s not what we stand for. And it’s unacceptable.”

Oregon president Richard Lariviere also got involved, calling Blount’s behavior “reprehensible” and issuing a statement that said: “We do not and will not tolerate the actions that were taken by our player. Oregon’s loyal fans expect and deserve better.”

What about Florida’s loyal fans?

Don’t they expect and deserve better than to see their beloved Gators shamed by Spikes’ despicable action and Meyer’s gutless reaction?

Shouldn’t the Gators, too, put honor and sportsmanship above winning and demand Spikes take the same, no-nonsense hit as Blount?

Certainly, Spikes’ eye-gouging was every bit as repulsive as Blount’s punch, and maybe worse. Spikes wasn’t provoked. Blount was.

Not that there’s any acceptable excuse for either of their actions.

But at least Kelly and Oregon handled it the right way. They possessed the moral fortitude to make the tough call. They put integrity ahead of football.

Meyer, instead, chose to go with the spineless, it’s-not-that-bad approach: Sure, Spikes was wrong to reach inside Ealey’s facemask and gouge his eyes. But, hey, these things sometimes happen during a football game. Get over it.

So Spikes sits out the first half Saturday against Vandy, an SEC bottom-dweller the top-ranked Gators could beat with their backups. But he’ll be back for South Carolina and Florida State and the conference championship game. He’ll play in Pasadena if Florida gets to the title bout. He’ll be there for the games he’s needed.

And if Spikes tries to gouge someone else’s eyes? Look for Meyer, who doesn’t condone that kind of behavior, to come down hard.

He won’t play at all against FIU.