BEN SCHORZMAN | SPORTS EDITOR
In five ugly minutes, No. 16 Oregon’s 19-8 loss to No. 14 Boise State went from a statement win for the Broncos to a blemish for Oregon.
After the final horn, as players and coaches mingled on the blue turf, junior running back LeGarrette Blount got into an altercation with a Boise State player, in which he punched Bronco defensive end Byron Hout in the mouth. Replay also shows that Blount hit one of his own players sometime during the altercation.
A video of the incident shows that Hout came up behind Blount and pushed him while he was looking the other way. Then Blount turned around, and punched Hout in the jaw with his right fist.
Then, as Bronco fans booed him and the rest of the Ducks off the field, Blount had to be restrained near the south end zone stands when a few Boise State fans got in his face.
According to Blount, one fan raised a chair at him, and he approached the fan, then another fan, according to the running back, hit him in the face. However, in video reviews, there didn’t appear to be any fan with a chair near player’s walk way. Wide receivers coach Scott Frost, an Oregon player and a police officer all had to restrain Blount from going at the fans further.
After the game, Blount talked to reporters about the incident, and he was significantly calmer.
“I apologize to everyone who was watching this. ESPN, on national TV,” Blount said. “I apologize to all of our fans, all of Boise’s fans. It’s something I shouldn’t have done. I lost my head and I shouldn’t have taken it that far.”
Head coach Chip Kelly said that the coaches and Oregon athletic director Mike Bellotti would take a look at the incident later tomorrow to determine whether or not Blount will be suspended for any significant time.
“I didn’t see the altercation,” Kelly said. “But there’s no place for that anywhere. We don’t condone any of that and we’ll take care of it.”
Fifteen minutes after the game, the video of Blount’s pregame escapade already had been on Sports Center and put up on Youtube. And although Blount’s tirade did overshadow the game, Boise State fans can relish in the fact that Oregon was solidly beat.
As for Blount, he’s not sure about his future.
“I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” he said. “I expect to play as of now, but if I don’t there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m just going to let the coaches handle it. Again, I apologize for what happened. I just have never let it get that far.”
Here’s a link to the youtube video:
http://tinyurl.com/lnbv5x
The player from Boise St should have been smarter than that. However, Blount needs to be kicked off the team immediately. We are now the laughing stocks of college football. It was bad enough that we got outplayed tonight, but even worse was his maniacal behavior. Wouldn’t be surprised if he robs a McDonalds next.
Too Bad Duckies. Whats your excuse now!! The whole country now can see that the beating you took last year was no fluke. I hope you can win out so it looks better for the Broncos. Go BLUE!!!!!!!!!
Did you not watch ESPN? They show Blount going after the fans…Nice spin, loser…
Wow this guy is a thug.
Bye bye Blount. Feel free to join Maurice Clarett and all the other thugs who wasted a free education at a fine institution.
Dateline 9/3/2009
Everymans’ couch in the United States
University of Oregon running back, Legarrette Blount, sucker punched Boise State lineman Byron Hout, after an apparent post game verbal taunt. The Oregon offensive star, Blount, who failed to run the ball successfullly(-5 yards, no touchdowns on 17 carries) in the season opener lost by Oregon 19-8, later had to be restrained from attacking some in the crowd on his trip to the visitors’ locker room. Statistically, and to the casual viewer, Oregon lost the contest both offensively and defensively.
Mr. Blount, who some say is projected as a high pick in the coming NFL draft, has had problems with attending team meetings, and has been disciplined in the past for team infractions, it is reported.
When interviewed, Everyman opined that “one who wishes to do physical violence to a man should confront that man, state your intentions, and only then, strike him in the face”. He went on to say that “sucker punches are the football equivalent of drive by shootings, quite cowardly”.
Everyman also recommended that “Mr. Hout should, in future,
refrain from taunting after a win”, and avered
“sportsmanship demands it”.
Everyman concluded that “We’ve all seen antisocial and/or criminal behavior in athletes who wish to earn a living, after the college experience. I don’t relish seeing another high earning bad boy in the NFL”. He added that “both Oregon AD, Mike Belloti, and coach Chip Kelly should immediately suspend Mr. Blount and consider open and public review of his status for the remainder of this season”.
Blount was hit first – is everyone blind. In a normal world he did the right thing…because of the money and politics of “tv” and “football” he is wrong. Is it ok for the white guy to hit him and he the black man to not hit back?? (I’m white but I actaully watched the game – he was hit first) He is a great player but desrves a penalty though also a second chance. One game max off in my opinion. And bye the way do you even remeber what was done to your quarterback last year by Boise State??
The pre-game handshake,,leave it for little league and Pop Warner. Play the game and those wishing to can meet at mid-field and hug. As a born and bred Oregonian living in Boise the past 20 years, I have had the pleasure of rooting for the Broncos, the Ducks, the Beavers, and the Blazers. It saddens me that the actions by both Blount and Hout could potentially scar what we in Boise hoped would be a great football rivalry. Please know that I do not condone the taunting done by Mr. Hout and consider it “bush” and “classless”. As fans I also hope we can see sports for what they are,,,, GAMES! The race for the golden ring brings out the ignorance in some. My plea is that for those of us that don’t see GAMES, as high on the priority ladder, can put this behind and look forward to traveling to Eugene or Boise to watch a GAME and meet new people and take the example of our Dear Leader,,, and have a beer together!!
There goes the season. It ended as quickly as it started. The team isn’t going to be able to focus over the next four weeks. There’s the incident itself — then the whole natyional debate that will be played over and over the coming days and weeks about whether the administration did the right thing — back and forth, back and forth. More than one person was knocked out. Thanks!