Oregon Reinstates LeGarrette Blount

Posted Nov 09, 2009 1:14PM By Ray Holloman (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Oregon

'The Punch' wasn't a knockout after all.

Oregon reinstated running back LeGarrette Blount Monday afternoon, just more than two months after he was suspended for punching Boise State defensive end Byron Hout following the Ducks' Week 1 loss to the Broncos in Idaho.

"I'm grateful to Coach Kelly that he cares enough to offer me this second chance," Blount said in a statement released by the school. "Now it is up to me to prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise."

Blount's suspension was originally announced to be for the season, but on Oct. 2, roughly a month after the Sept. 3 incident, Oregon head coach Chip Kelly said that the running back might returning, pending the senior meeting several conditions.

The Pac-10 also signed off on Blount's suspension. Commissioner Larry Scott said he believed Blount learned a lesson during his punishment.

"After a thorough review of the situation, I am convinced LeGarrette Blount paid a significant and appropriate price for the mistakes he made on the field, and that he has learned important life-long lessons," Scott said.

Blount will be available for the Ducks' Saturday contest against Arizona State. The following week, Oregon travels to Arizona in a showdown that could determine the conference championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl.

Blount, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound transfer from East Mississippi Community College, rushed for 1,002 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns last season. He rushed for minus-five yards in his lone game this season.

Yet without him, the Ducks have thrived.

In his absence, Oregon has won seven straight games, including a 47-20 victory over USC on Halloween, before falling to Stanford Saturday. But little of the blame for the loss to the Cardinal fell on the offense, which still generated 560 total yards.

After rushing for just 31 yards against Boise State, Oregon has since become the nation's ninth-ranked rushing teams, primarily on the legs of LaMichael James.

Blount continued to practice with the team during his absence.

The suspension was Blount's second in his two years at Oregon. In February, he was suspended by former coach Mike Bellotti for "failure to fulfill team obligations," but was re-instated before spring practice.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-09-2009 @ 6:40PM

joemc868 said...

This is similar to Coach Osbourne of Nebraska
when he allowed Lawrence Phillips to play after
assaulting his girlfriend for the sake OF WINNING.
anything for the sake of winning............
hopefully this thug will mend his ways....but
I seriously doubt it, for the long run.

11-10-2009 @ 9:47AM

MB said...

I agree. It sounds like the PAC 10 realized that Oregon will be the best shot for the Rose Bowl and if they play like they did against Stanford they might not be able to beat up on a Big 10 team this year. This stinks of "win at all cost".

11-10-2009 @ 12:15PM

mid225 said...

Blount will no doubt be playing on Sundays. Thugs seem to be a popular characteristic for the NFL. He should do well getting such good experience while still in college.

11-10-2009 @ 11:36PM

yappy007 said...

he did what he was told to do, showed up to practice, everything the coaches ask! at least he got more than a 1 game suspension like the idiot got from florida.

11-11-2009 @ 11:47AM

tworgood said...

Blount got suspended several games for sucker punching another player, fighting his own team and threatening fans and security.
Spikes got a 1 game suspension (upped from half a game) for intentionally trying to gouge another players eye.
Bryant got an entire season, not because he actually broke any NCAA rules, but told a simple lie because he thought he had maybe broken a rule. ABSURD! makes the NCAA look stupid and foolish.