Saturday was to be the college football return for embattled Oregon tailback LeGarrette Blount, but a funny thing happened along the way -- the Ducks never found a need for him in an impressive 44-21 victory over Arizona State.The 44 points marked the fourth straight game Oregon's red-hot offense has scored 42 or more. Meanwhile, the cold night at Autzen Stadium seemingly prompted the Duck coaching staff to give Blount -- suspended since Sept. 4 for punching a Boise State player and refusing to leave the stadium peacefully -- the cold shoulder.
One Duck tailback after another -- four in all -- notched carries Saturday, none of them Blount. Perhaps there was a message to him in that, or perhaps it was a reflection of his backfield mates' efforts. LaMichael James went over 100 yards for the fifth straight game, gobbling up 149 yards and claiming three touchdowns. Overall the Ducks rushed for 266 yards, more than enough to put away the struggling Sun Devils.
After replacing ineffective starter Danny Sullivan last week with freshman Brock Osweiler, Arizona State saw Osweiler suffer a mysterious injury that brought sophomore Samson Szakacsy into the game. He was mostly ineffective but did stuff two touchdown drives between the bookends of mediocrity in all other possessions.
Meanwhile, television cameras repeatedly found a smiling, ready, benched Blount. Teammates surrounded him throughout the game, perhaps anticipating that moment he'd get the call. That proved elusive, as coach Chip Kelly went in a different direction. Oregon fans roared at one point, confusing back No. 5 with Blount's No. 9, clearly hoping for a made-for-TV moment.
His next opportunity to play, and perhaps redeem himself, will be against Arizona next Saturday. It is a huge conference battle, with a loss dangerous to Oregon and probably fatal to Arizona if they want to get to Pasadena as Rose Bowl participants.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The quacks are back....LOL!....go find some water and hug a tree....it'll all be alright!
Why re-instate a thug. he should have been thrown out of football. Let him sell drugs on the streeet corner.
I think that it sucks royally to re-instate Lagarrette and not play him at all. Talk about having no class, way to go coach! What Lagarrette did does not even compare to what the player for the University of Florida did....he tried to poke the guys eyes out! To me that is much worse than delivering a punch that Hout so richly deserved!!!!!