Because this incident was shown on camera and got a lot of play, it should (hopefully) have more impact on player behavior that preaching about sportsmanship and shaking hands before the game (new NCAA recommendation, which I think was followed at this game.)
On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 9:08 PM, Woody <[email protected]> wrote: > He was suspended for the remainder of the year... the guy he hit is gettin > his hand slapped too for taunting or whatnot.. > > > On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 7:58 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> You need to see the video - he was trying to fight everyone - the other >> team, his own teammates, the fans, the cops, .... >> >> http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4446898 >> >> Punch at Boise ends Blount's season >> >> >> EUGENE, Ore. -- A day after Oregon's college football season opened, it >> ended for running back LeGarrette >> Blount<http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=378483> >> . >> Blount was suspended for all remaining games on Friday for punching Boise >> State defensive end Byron Hout in the jaw following the 16th-ranked Ducks' >> 19-8 loss to the 14th-ranked Broncos the night before. >> >> Because he is a senior, Blount's playing days in Eugene are over. >> McShay: Blount Blows Chance At NFL >> >> His sucker punch at the end of Thursday's loss at Boise State will sink >> out-of-shape Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount's chances of an NFL >> career, Todd McShay writes. >> *Blog<http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4445041&name=nfl_draft> >> *[image: Insider] >> >> >> >> Oregon's first-year coach, Chip Kelly, told a sobbing Blount about his >> decision after reviewing tape of the altercation. >> >> Celebrating the victory on the Broncos' trademark blue turf, Hout yelled >> in Blount's face and tapped him on the shoulder pad. Before Boise State >> coach Chris Petersen could pull Hout away, Blount landed a right to Hout's >> jaw, knocking him to his knees. >> >> Blount also had to be restrained by police from fans heckling him on the >> way to the locker room. >> >> Later he apologized saying, "It was just something that I shouldn't have >> done. I lost my head." >> >> Still, Kelly was taken aback when he saw the punch on tape. >> >> "That's not what we're all about. That's not what we coach. That's not >> what we stand for and it's unacceptable," he said. >> >> Blount's suspension includes bowl games. He will remain on scholarship, >> however, and will continue to practice with the team. >> >> "He is taking this very hard," Kelly said, choking up. "He understands he >> made a mistake and he has to pay for the mistake. But we're not going to >> throw LeGarrette Blount out on the street." >> >> Kelly said he hoped Blount's ultimate legacy "won't be a YouTube clip of >> what happened to him on September 3rd in Boise, Idaho." >> >> Hout won't be suspended for taunting Blount. Boise State spokesman Max >> Corbet told The Associated Press in an e-mail that Petersen planned to spend >> time with Hout this week to help him learn from what happened. >> >> Mike Bellotti, who stepped aside as head coach to become Oregon's athletic >> director this summer, said the Pac-10 was consulted about the punishment and >> supported Oregon's decision. >> >> Bellotti was with Kelly when Blount was told of the suspension and >> described the running back's reaction as dismay. >> "It was a very difficult decision and one I don't think he was expecting, >> but he was aware there was a certain amount of gravity to the situation," >> Bellotti said. >> >> Oregon president Richard Lariviere called Blount's behavior >> "reprehensible." >> >> "We do not and will not tolerate the actions that were taken by our >> player. Oregon's loyal fans expect and deserve better," Lariviere said in a >> statement. >> >> Blount, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound transfer from East Mississippi CC, rushed >> for 1,002 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns last season. >> >> On Thursday night, he had eight carries for a loss of five yards. >> >> In February, Blount was suspended indefinitely from the team for "failure >> to fulfill team obligations." Bellotti did not share details, but Blount >> reportedly missed offseason team meetings. >> >> He was reinstated before spring practice. >> >> Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott was at the game and saw the punch. >> >> "We commend the University of Oregon and its leadership for taking swift >> and decisive action in response to this incident," Scott said in a >> statement. "The Pac-10 strongly emphasizes sportsmanship and fair play in >> all its athletic competitions and expects high standards of sportsmanship >> from all participants, including student-athletes. In this case, those >> standards were not met and the university has taken appropriate disciplinary >> actions." >> The NCAA also weighed in. >> >> "Under no circumstance is fighting acceptable. ... Sportsmanship is >> everyone's responsibility, including student-athletes, coaches, officials, >> institutions and fans," NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said in a >> statement. >> >> Players from both sides, Blount included, met at midfield for a pregame >> handshake Thursday, the result of a sportsmanship initiative developed for >> this weekend's games by the American Football Coaches Association and the >> NCAA. Grant Teaff, the AFCA's executive director, said Friday the incident >> would not dampen the weekend. >> >> >> "This case points out that we still need to have a commitment to >> sportsmanship and respect," Teaff told ESPN's Joe Schad. "It was sad as I >> watched [the events in Boise], but the good news is nobody joined in. That >> would have been a brawl back in the day. This was one player who was >> frustrated and infuriated and lost control." >> >> >> >> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
