Should LeGarret Blount be reinstated by Oregon?

[Eja117]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4527376

I just keep coming to the same conclusion...absolutely yes.

The entire MLB did illegal PEDs for a decade and they made millions

Kobe and Burger had heinous accusations and they're still making millions.

Spree can choke his coach and miss half a season

But a college kid punches a guy that harrasses and touches him after winning a game and has a confrontation with fans that were obviously verbally assaulting him and he has to miss a whole season? And nothing happens to anyone at Boise St?  If I were other college coaches and ADs I'd refuse to play Boise St if at all possible.

[jambr380]

I definitely hate to see somebody's 'career' ruined because of one stupid action, so I am leaning towards, 'yes', but I do believe community service of some kind should be invloved. I know the situations you gave are pretty serious, but the Kobe and Roethlisberger situations are very questionable (since there is really no proof of anything legal) and all of them are already professional athletes in the limelight.

They just don't want to promote this type of behavior in college sports, which is understandable. But, if he had NFL talent before this, then I don't find this serious enough to take that away from him.

[Eja117]

I was just reading on wikipedia (so I'm not sure how true it is, but I think it is).  The Boise St player has still not apologized and was not punished in any way whatsoever (that we know of).

So speaking of promoting bad behavior, essentially you can provoke and major incident you want, never apologize, and as long as the other guy is worse it's completely fine.

Blount is my new hero and Hout is gets new Loser-of-the-decade honorable mention.  Which brings me to a new post soon

[Roy Hobbs]

But a college kid punches a guy that harrasses and touches him after winning a game and has a confrontation with fans that were obviously verbally assaulting him and he has to miss a whole season? And nothing happens to anyone at Boise St?  If I were other college coaches and ADs I'd refuse to play Boise St if at all possible.

I think if you took every team off your schedule when one of their players trash-talked, pretty soon there wouldn't be many schools left.

Guys talk trash.  Guys taunt.  What most guys don't do is haul off and throw a cheapshot (followed by them punching a teammate, and going after fans, before being escorted away by police.)

[Roy Hobbs]

While I'm generally in favor of second chances, I wonder how many chances this really is for Blount.  It's at least his second suspension at Oregon.

He seems like an unintelligent, undisciplined player.  I'm not sure that his behavior should be rewarded, as punitive as it may seem.

[Eja117]

The only player whose behavior was rewarded was Hout's.  Taunt a player. Get him suspended. Interesting new tactic.

Blount has actually had a few chances. He got in trouble last year as well, so some of this is between him and Oregon.

Wait wait wait.   Blount punched a teammate? I didn't see that.


Guys trash talk and taunt, but not usually while touching another guy 6 inches from their face after beating them.  I played for 4 years in high school and a few other sports and I never saw a guy on any team in any sport do that.

[Roy Hobbs]

Wait wait wait.   Blount punched a teammate? I didn't see that.

Blount punched Boise State’s Byron Hout in the face on the field after the game. Then, Blount put a fist to the helmet of Ducks’ teammate Garrett Embry, who was trying to play peacemaker. And what we have here is a low moment that can not be greeted with tolerance.

Blount left the field struggling with two police officers and two stadium security guards, and with Ducks assistant Scott Frost being towed along. There was a hostile brush with a Boise State fan, too. In the end, there was chaos and volatility all around this team, courtesy of Blount.

The Ducks running back should be arrested and charged with assault today for slugging Hout, who wasn’t even looking. Also, Blount should be served up by first-year head coach Chip Kelly as a reminder of everything the program should never become.

It was cheap. It was embarrassing. It was disgusting.

Link

[Eja117]

Wait wait wait.   Blount punched a teammate? I didn't see that.

Blount punched Boise State’s Byron Hout in the face on the field after the game. Then, Blount put a fist to the helmet of Ducks’ teammate Garrett Embry, who was trying to play peacemaker. And what we have here is a low moment that can not be greeted with tolerance.

Blount left the field struggling with two police officers and two stadium security guards, and with Ducks assistant Scott Frost being towed along. There was a hostile brush with a Boise State fan, too. In the end, there was chaos and volatility all around this team, courtesy of Blount.

The Ducks running back should be arrested and charged with assault today for slugging Hout, who wasn’t even looking. Also, Blount should be served up by first-year head coach Chip Kelly as a reminder of everything the program should never become.

It was cheap. It was embarrassing. It was disgusting.

Link

My only issue with any of that in general is that maybe Hout should have been looking.

[crownsy]

I don't really care, as long as he misses a significant portion of time. I think another 3-4 weeks and I'd be happy with it.

[Cman]

I'm leaning towards yes, for the reasons articulated by the OP.
As an aside, you gotta love Pac-10 football.  Always underrated, never uninteresting.
(oh, and here's hoping Cal upsets USC later today).

[Rondo_is_better]

He certainly should. Tensions ran high. He got punished. Its not like he did the worst thing in the world. What if he had punched some guy at a club? Would he be gone the whole season? Doubtful.

[Rondo2287]

Ya, I think we saw a 22 year old man at his absolute worst.  I think he should be given a second chance as long as the school determines he earned it.

[Fafnir]

I'm okay with it either way. He didn't hurt anyone badly, but easily could have.

They've let players get away with a lot worse, so I won't get worked up over it.