and it is indefensible…that being said – he was prodded by an oppossing team’s member that touched his person while taunting him. Even Petersen was trying to get the Boise St player before the punch was thrown. Classless – Yes, Avoidable – Yes, Embarrassing to self and school – Yes, deserving of harsh punishment – Yes.

What takes it to the next level of punishment IMO however (possible ban for year) was the total Clubber Lang like lack of restraint following the punch. The scene he created by the stands, with coaching staff, teammates and uniformed officers attempting to restrain him was beyond embarassing. There is no way Oregon can keep a kid on the roster following a scene like that.

Not to say the kid cant come back Artest style and try and redeem himself in the future but….it shouldn’t be with the Ducks.

But the other guy is supposed to at least be ready for it.

Sometime I get paranoid and think that the Pac-10 is overrated to make $c* look better.

The Oregon guy said a bunch of stuff before the game. HIs and his team’s performance during the game did not come close to measuring up to the pre-game comments. Without the trash-talking, there would have been no post-game confrontation.

I think the decline in sportsmanship began with Marc Gastineau, who I believe invented the sack dance, and with Homer Jones, who is credited with the the first touchdown spike. That conduct is clearly a display of contempt for one’s opponent. It is the exact opposite of the conduct demonstrated by Aron Afflalo after the game against Gonzaga. Now, after every incomplete pass, the defensive back shakes his head or waves his finger. After every sack the defensive player goes on at great length about what a great play he made. The guy who scores the touchdown, of course, goes into throes of ecstasy. All of this conduct is taunting.

Oh, but that takes the fun and individuality out of the game. Then let’s do away with the unsportsmanlike conduct rule. I made a copy of that rule and it’s attached to the bottom of this post. To me, the key words are “engage in such acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning to an opponent.” That’s what the Gastineau sack, the big muscle flex, the head-shaking, and all that business is, in my opinion. I don’t recall Jim Brown or Gale Sayers doing that.

What do you suppose Coach Wooden would have done with this guy? We have no way to know for sure, because no one on one of Coach’s teams ever acted this way. I think it is highly likely that Coach would have treated punching an opponent after a game at least as severely as not having a haircut. I would like to see Coach Neuheisel make it clear to our team that we expect to score touchdowns and we expect to make tackles, and none of that deserves any special dance or anything of the sort. It only seems to happen in sports. I very rarely spiked my briefcase after winning a motion, and I can’t remember ever shaking my finger in my adversary’s face after defeating something he or she was trying to do. I think this entire scenario needs to be fixed.

Section 2. Noncontact Fouls
Unsportsmanlike Acts

ARTICLE 1. There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct or any act that interferes with orderly game administration on the part of players, substitutes, coaches, authorized attendants or any other persons subject to the rules, before the game, during the game or between periods.

a. Specifically prohibited acts and conduct include:

1. No player, substitute, coach or other person subject to the rules shall use abusive, threatening or obscene language or gestures, or engage in such acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning to an opponent, to game officials or to the image of the game, including but not limited to:

(a) Pointing the finger(s), hand(s), arm(s) or ball at an opponent, or imitating the slashing of the throat.
(b) Taunting, baiting or ridiculing an opponent verbally.
© Inciting an opponent or spectators in any other way, such as simulating the firing of a weapon or placing a hand by the ear to request recognition.
(d) Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves).
(e) Obviously altering stride as an unopposed runner approaches the opponent’s goal line, or diving into the end zone when unopposed.
(f) Removal of a player’s helmet before he is in the team area (Exceptions: Team, media or injury timeouts; equipment adjustment; through play; between periods; and during a measurement for a first down).
(g) Punching one’s own chest or crossing one’s arms in front of the chest while standing over a prone player.
(h) Going into the stands to interact with spectators, or bowing at the waist after a good play. If committed while the ball is alive, these fouls are treated as dead-ball fouls.

2. After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot.

This prohibits:

(a) Kicking, throwing, spinning or carrying (including off of the field) the ball any distance that requires an official to retrieve it.
(b) Spiking the ball to the ground [Exception: A forward pass to conserve time (Rule 7-3-2-d)].

© Throwing the ball high into the air.

(d) Any other unsportsmanlike act or actions that delay the game.

PENALTY—Dead-ball foul or live-ball foul treated as dead-ball foul. 15 yards [S7 and S27] from the succeeding spot. Flagrant offenders, if players or substitutes, shall be disqualified
[S47]. If a player or an identified squad member in uniform commits two unsportsmanlike fouls in the same game, he shall be disqualified.

1. During the game, coaches, substitutes and authorized attendants in the team area shall not be on the field of play or outside the 25-yard lines without permission from the referee unless legally entering or leaving the field (Exceptions: Rules 1-2-4-g and 3-3-8-c).
2. Team area personnel who are outside the team area and who have involvement or impact on live-ball play are subject to penalty under Rule 9-1-5-a.
3. No disqualified person shall enter the field of play or end zones.
4. No person or mascot subject to the rules, except players, officials and eligible substitutes, shall be on the field of play or end zones during any period without permission from the referee. If a player is injured, attendants may come inbounds to attend him, but they must obtain
recognition from an official.
5. No substitute(s) may enter the field of play or end zones for purposes
other than replacing a player(s) or to fill a player vacancy(ies). This
includes demonstrations after any play (A.R. 9-2-1-I).
6. Persons subject to the rules, including bands, shall not create any
noise that prohibits a team from hearing its signals (Rule 1-1-6).

… nothing like picking your battles. Cue the eye roll.

At a minimum, I think Oregon should suspend Blount for 2 games — 1 for the punch, 1 for going back and confronting someone in the stands. Stupid and inexcusable. Total jack*ss move.

That being said, I think Hout (the BSU player) has to be suspended, for one game. As said above, he laid a hand on another player while taunting. Even if it wasn’t a punch, he should know better than to initiate physical contact with a team after a game when tensions were somewhat high based on last year and the Masoli hit. He may have gotten punked on TV, but who wouldn’t try that again if it meant you can get the other guy suspended or thrown off a team? Small price to pay for the BSU player if he himself is not suspended for picking a fight.

Don’t start none, won’t be none.

M

is it didn’t look to me like Chip Kelly has any control of that team. Blount’s actions were bad, but the team didn’t play hard, didn’t execute and simply looked lost out there.

There was a Dorrellian feel to that game last night.

Kelly had better step up and take decisive action, because if he doesn’t, he will lose this team. It appears to me he is already close to losing them after only one game.

Blount is a little boy who has neither the self control nor the talent to back up his words. If Blount had not talked trash in the Sport’s Illustrated article, “We owe that team(Boise State) an ass whupping” after last year’s defeat in Oregon, or if he even had an average night running the ball we would not be debating what is an appropriate punishment. But he got stuffed all night long for minus yardage. He gave Boise State" Class A " bulletin board material. As for the Boise State player who got in his face, perhaps he shouldn’t have tapped Blount to get his attention. He did get his punishment. He was dropped like a ton of bricks, albeit from a very cheap shot on national television. Now for Mr. Blount. He needs to be shown the door and quickly. His conduct last night was reprehensible. In span of two minutes he cheap shots an opposing player, he strikes out at a teammate, and then goes after the fans. All of these actions bringing shame to a PAC-10 university. He compounds these actions by lying in a post game news conference saying a fan brandished a chair. I’ve looked at the video numerous times, I don’t see a chair in anyone’s hands. This man clearly has anger management issues. The Ducks should cut him from the team, however, they should honor his scholarship only if Blount agrees to seek formal counseling for the remainder of the year. There are numerous young men who would be grateful for a chance to play for a major university. Give their dream a chance.

Heard that from a few people – I love that. Hout like slaps him on the shoulder; obviously not a friendly pat, and I’m sure there were some choice words, but Hout hardly ‘pushed’ him.

Regardless, Blount’s backpedal after the sucker punch was his longest run of the day, so at least he’s got that going for him.

I remember seeing Woody Hayes punch a Clemson player. Woody was fired and that act tarnished his legacy. Unlike Blount, Woody did not backpedal after the punch nor did he incite the crowd upon leaving the stadium. Oregon was embarrassed on National TV. They need to come clean and remove Blount from the team. The kid has had prior attitude problems at Oregon.

Anyone see the Boise State fans practically coming over the railing and getting in his face? One of them was REAL quick to hide behind his friend when Blount came their way. Just thought that was funny.

According to Coach Pete Carroll, U$C’s LeGarrette Blount will be suspended for the first quarter of the Sept. 12 game against Ohio State, unless, of course, any Trojan running back gets injured, or if U$C really, really needs a first down. Said Carroll: “We felt that LeGarrette’s actions merited the most severe penalty we have ever given out.”

Blount was also reportedly seen taking one extra lap at practice, and briefly showed reporters a slight reddening in the vicinity of his wrist.

Punch at Boise ends Blount’s season

Good to see Oregon step up and do the right thing. I think if it had just been the single punch (as bad as that is) he would have only been gone a few games. But punching his own teamate and getting into it with the crowd sealed his fate.

As a Boise based Bruin fan I was a little disappointed to see that Coach Petersen isn’t suspending Hout. I thought he deserved a single game suspension for instigating everything.

Didn’t think Oregon had the stones. I’d have been satisfied with 2-4 games, but WOW.

I really think the BSU player should’ve gotten a game, too, for picking a fight. I’d be disappointed if Petersen turns into Cheatey-Petey Lite and just lets him off with a lecture.

M