Professional wrestling kingpin Vince McMahon failed in his attempt to get a pro football league established. His XFL came and went in 2001, lasting one season.

Maybe it's time to try again.

Football appears to be gravitating toward McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment, muddying its waters over the weekend with WWE-type behavior.

We're not talking about Sunday games involving NFL multimillionaires. No, the eye-gouging and groin-punching took place Saturday, in a college game near you.

That is good news for McMahon should he be mulling another league in his image. A linebacker and offensive lineman auditioned right before his baby blues … and ours.

Linebacker Brandon Spikes of Florida was caught on tape trying to gouge the eyes of Georgia's Washaun Ealey in a 41-17 win. Spikes jammed his hand inside Ealey's facemask while the running back was on the ground.

Later it was brought to the attention of Florida coach Urban Meyer, who on Monday suspended Spikes for the first half of this week's game against Vanderbilt.

Video revealed Spikes violently moving his hand inside the facemask. He could have caused extensive and perhaps irreparable damage to Ealey's eyes.

So he'll sit for a half. We'll get back to that.

Also Saturday, during Illinois' 38-13 win over Michigan, Illini defensive tackle Corey Liuget recovered a fumble and then stood and celebrated over Michigan left tackle Mark Ortmann, who was on the ground. Ortmann was caught on video throwing a punch to Liuget's nether region.

Could Liuget have picked a better place to celebrate?

Absolutely.

Did he deserve a left uppercut just south of the equator?

No way.

Reportedly, Liuget complained to an official and hobbled off the field in pain, likely wondering, "What is this game coming to?"

Good question.

From the opening week, when Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount slugged a taunting/celebrating Byron Hout of Boise State, this college football season has had a testy, no holds barred tone.

Initially, Blount was suspended for the year, but later was given a set of conditions which, if met, could lead to his reinstatement. He could be back this week when No. 7 Oregon plays Stanford.

In week two, Michigan linebacker Jonas Mouton punched Notre Dame center Eric Olsen, leading to a one-game suspension from the Big Ten Conference.

More and more violence is creeping into an already violent game, leaving us to wonder, where will it end? And leaving McMahon to wonder, just how deep is the talent pool for an XFL revival?

Listen closely and you can almost hear McMahon shouting in his best ring-announcer voice: "With the first pick of the XFL2 Draft, the Detroit Demons select linebacker Brandon Spikes of Florida!"

Fortunately, McMahon is unlikely to venture into football again, no matter how tempting. Best that he stays in pro wrestling, where eye-gouging and crotch-punching are OK as long as the referee's back is turned.

They are never OK in football. Meyer says he agrees "there is no place" for eye-gouging, yet suspends Spikes only for a half. Consider it half-hearted discipline.

Spikes should have to sit at least a game, or two, or three. Ortmann should be suspended this week against Purdue.

A message needs to be sent, and not to Vince McMahon.

Randy Kindred is at rkindred@pantagraph.com. The Kindred Blog: www.pantagraph.com/blogs