Aside from having an awesome name for a football player in Oregon, LeGarrette Blount is a physical freak. He's 6'2" and 240 pounds and has surprising speed and athleticism (don't watch this) that allows him to be a back instead of a linebacker. Unfortunately he appears to be skipping team meetings.Oregon's deliberately vague statement says Blount "has been suspended indefinitely for 'failure to fulfill team obligations.'" So basically we're not talking anything that usually prompts discipline like drug charges, DUI, an arrest, anything of that nature. The indefinite nature of his suspension is intriguing, but probably not worrisome.
The Oregonian reports that Blount is still enrolled in school and says he has been a "no-show at various team meetings in the offseason". Unlike in the NFL, skipping team meetings will usually prompt some actual discipline in college sports, so that's probably the root of his suspension.
He won't be alone, however, as linebacker Terrance Pritchett will also be shelved with a similar suspension.
Oregon would like to have Blount around, as he notched just over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns in a special first year effort sharing time with Jeremiah Johnson who also went over 1,000 yards. Johnson's gone, meaning Blount's The Man if he can stay out of trouble. D'oh.
Amusingly, this may be the last discipline handed out by Ducks' coach Mike Bellotti, who is rumored to be set for retirement at some point in the offseason, giving way to named successor Chip Kelly the Ducks' current offensive coordinator.
UPDATE, Sept. 4: At the end of Oregon's first game of the year, a loss to Boise State, Blount punched Bronco Byron Hout in the face and had to be restrained by police and event personnel on his way off the field. He has been suspended for the season.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
thanks for letting me relive the LGB run in the holiday bowl.
there's no way bellotti is going to give his hc position now. he sees the potential this upcoming year's team possesses, and with the jc players he signed this year, he's going to stick around for at least one more year. plus, it will be good for ck to gear up for the job knowing that he's next in line.
go ducks!