NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com NCAA Football FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Starting 11: Every Game Counts, Except Some Count More Than Othershttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/starting-11-every-game-counts-except-some-count-more-than-othe/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/starting-11-every-game-counts-except-some-count-more-than-othe/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/starting-11-every-game-counts-except-some-count-more-than-othe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the most frustrating cliches trotted out by college football's BCS defenders is this banal line: Every game counts. I hate this three-word cliche with the fury of a thousand blazing suns. I hate the smugness with which it's delivered, I hate the fact that no one points out the obvious -- name a sport where the games don't actually count-- but I hate the fact that it isn't even true the most.

In fact, this phrase is positively Orwellian because it leaves off the final part of the sentence. Every game counts ... except some games count more than others. How else to explain the fact that everyone can brush off Boise State's win over Oregon because it happened the first game of the season?

I understand we're dealing with a broken system, but right now Boise State is continuing to plummet as they win. I wrote about the glass ceiling that Boise had reached a couple of weeks ago, but has it really reached the point where we just ignore the first week of the season?

And if we do ignore the first week of the season, what's the point of having a broken system to determine who the champion is? Because pretty soon, if they keep winning, Oregon is going to pass undefeated Boise in the BCS rankings. Already Iowa, Cincinnati, one-loss USC, and TCU have all passed Boise since the first BCS standings were released three weeks ago. What's Boise done since that first week's release when they stood at No. 4 in the country?

Beaten two teams by a combined score of 99-16.

I'm not arguing that individual results should always govern the rankings between two teams. But I am arguing this, if the regular season means anything at all, you have to rank an undefeated team above any team that they've beaten.

Absolutely, positively, have to do that.

On to the Starting 11.

1. The fact that Tennessee was going to wear black jerseys on Halloween was one of the worst kept secrets in the history of the Internets.

Eric BerryFor months, fans, media, and everyone else who cares about what color jerseys a team wears (count myself outside of this group) have gone crazy with speculation. Tennessee's athletic director, head coach, and everyone else associated with the program shot down the possibility that the Vols would wear black for months.

Then they did.

Raising this question, is it really worth lying about the color of a jersey? Why not just say: "We don't comment on jersey colors," months ago and leave it at that?

I know that UT claims the decision wasn't made until the week of the game, and while that might be true in a legal sense, it had been under contemplation for months judging by all the smoke surrounding the issue. I truly don't care what jerseys my team wears, but was the "surprise" really worth it?

I don't think so.

2. By the way, if Oregon hadn't played Boise State in the first game of the season, where are they ranked right now?

Probably fourth, right?

One of the really sad things about the current system is that Boise can't get teams to play them home-and-home for this exact reason, play a patsy at your place and you get a guaranteed win and don't deal with any long-term injury to your reputation. Play a tough team on the road and you sabotage your season if you lose.

Boise gets ripped because they haven't scheduled well enough. Well, isn't a tremendous part of that because they need to play enough home games to make some revenue for their school and because most teams are afraid to play them in Boise?

They're already playing six road games this season. That leaves them with just six home games. Most other major college teams in America are playing 7 homes games, often 8.

This is the system we've created, good teams from major conferences won't play other good teams because they don't need to and then when they won't play a smaller school we criticize the team they won't play for not having a tough enough schedule.

Awesome.

Doesn't anyone see that logical flaw?

3. Isn't it time we penalize college football players for malicious intent rather than malicious success?

Brandon Spikes tried to eye gouge Georgia's Washaun Ealey on Saturday. Urban Meyer, who doles out good ole boy justice with the best of them despite not actually being Southern, suspended Spikes for a half.

Against Vanderbilt.

Florida could probably start me at middle linebacker for a half and still beat Vanderbilt.

That's not even a joke, I really think they could.

But one of the most interesting things about this entire situation is that we're suspending Spikes because he was unsuccessful at what he attempted to do. In other words, Spikes's own incompetence as an eye-gouger actually saved him from a more severe penalty. Shouldn't we penalize a player based on intent rather than the actual result? Especially in sports since part of the reason for the punishment is to dissuade others who see the punishment.
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4. Case Keenum, who may win the Heisman by default, threw for 559 yards against Southern Miss on Saturday.

On 54 pass attempts. He wasn't sacked.

Not once.

What's more, Keenum has attempted 398 passes so far this season and has only been sacked 10 times. Counting the sacks Keenum has dropped back to pass 408 times, probably more since he's scrambled for yardage several times, but only 10 times have defenses managed to sack him.

That means almost 98 percent of the time when he drops back to pass, the ball is leaving his hand before a defender gets to him. Can you imagine how debilitating that is to a defensive line? To know that, on average, if you rush the quarterback on 50 consecutive plays you're going to get to him once?

How mentally tiring must that be?

I've read quite a bit of praise for Keenum so far this season, but I haven't read anything about Houston's offensive line and the job they've done allowing Keenum to attempt so many passes. Kudos to them.

5. Iowa's magical season continues and soon they'll be in the clubhouse at 12-0 with two weeks of football remaining.

I haven't seen anyone write about what a tremendous advantage it is for Big Ten schools that they don't play games the final two weeks of the regular season. Iowa is now 9-0. They have two home games against Northwestern and Minnesota sandwiched around a road game at Ohio State. Assuming they win all three, the Hawkeyes get to sit and watch undefeated Texas, Alabama, Cincinnati and Florida deal with the mounting pressures of the season.

For half a month, they do nothing and can only be helped by the games that take place around them.

I know the long layoff has been mentioned before in terms of a Big Ten team's performance in bowl games, and the lack of a championship game is often trotted out as evidence of a hugely uneven playing field, but I haven't seen anything written about the tremendous advantage that comes from sitting out the final two weeks of the season.

It's worth thinking about as the pressure mounts to see who will be playing in the title game.

6. Random observation from the Jacksonville Airport: They have an entrance for a seeing eye dog at the security screening area with a sign above indicating such. It's next to the wheelchair entrance.

Multiple questions: A.) Whom is this sign for? Presumably the blind person can't see it, right? I'm no expert on canines, but I don't think they can recognize the sign either. B.) How many blind people with seeing eye dogs are traveling such that they need their own line? For instance, have you ever seen a blind person with a seeing eye dog at the airport before? C.) Wouldn't anyone with a brain naturally assume that the blind person with a dog doesn't have to walk through the regular line? In other words, who is doubting that they go through the handicapped line? D.) Where do the seeing eye dogs go on flights? Do you check them at the gate like a stroller? Are you automatically in the A boarding group at Southwest? If the dog is on the plane, where does he sit?

Anyway, this is the most unnecessary sign I've sign since the White House prohibited weapons' list featured guns, knives and nunchucks. Because, you know, who hasn't planned a trip to the White House and brought along a set of nunchucks in case of a ninja attack.

7. Why did Wake Forest let their kicker attempt a 60-yard field goal to end the game against Miami?

Setting the scene: Wake is down 28-27, there are four seconds remaining, and the Demon Deacons are at the Hurricanes' 43.

Your kicker, Jimmy Newman, has a career long field goal of 42 yards. (Sam Swank, Wake Forest's longtime strong-legged kicker, graduated after last season.)

What do you do?

Not kick, right?

Seeing as how this is 18 yards further than the kicker's career long.

Well, Wake kicks.

Predictably the kick was is wide right and short by about 15 yards. It lands in the front of the end zone. Does this really make sense? It's kind of embarrassing, actually. Wouldn't you have better odds of a Hail Mary here?

Granted, Wake Forest was playing with its backup quarterback at the time, Ryan McManus, instead of usual starter Riley Skinner, who left the game after taking a knee to his un-helmeted head on a fourth-quarter run. McManus, a senior, had two strikes against him entering the game. 1) He had more tackles in his career (two, on punt coverage in 2007) entering the game than pass completions (one). 2) The highlights of his online bio including calling a "key timeout" against Baylor and that he "loves to play." What exactly gets cut so that these factoids might make the biography? He enjoys both inhaling, exhaling and wearing socks?

At any rate, even with McManus why wouldn't you at least take a chance your quarterback could throw it 43 yards or at least try some sort of hook-and-ladder or series of laterals?

Instead you humiliate your kicker.



8. At least you aren't a Marshall fan.

In case you missed it on Sunday night, which you definitely did, Marshall had a 20-14 lead with under 30 seconds to play.

Understandably, the team took a timeout to set their defense. Then, they didn't cover the wide receiver.

At all.

Out of a timeout.

Touchdown Central Florida, game over 21-20. Here's the video if you don't believe me.

Or don't watch. Since this is what keeps fans up at night. Can you imagine being a Marshall fan and thinking to yourself, "Surely, we're not leaving that guy ... F--- me, why do I root for this team?"

I guarantee you that was the exact thought pattern of 95 percent of Marshall fans watching this game.

9. Michigan, poor Michigan.

Remember all that optimism after Michigan started 4-0?

It's gone.

Illinois, a then-1-6 team, physically dominated the mighty Wolverines on Saturday. How so? With 377 rushing yards. Michigan has now lost four of five and the only win came against Delaware State. 6-6 is looking likely. Assuming, that is, Purdue doesn't roll into Ann Arbor and knock that possibility away.

At least basketball season is 'nigh.

10. Mississippi State's Anthony Dixon ran for 252 yards on 33 carries against Kentucky.

That's the second most yards rushing by a player in an SEC game in a decade.

I was at Sneaker's sports bar in Jacksonville while the game was going on. They put it on a small television over my left shoulder. I was watching Tennessee-South Carolina on one of the huge projection screens on the wall. But as the Kentucky-Mississippi State game progressed, my friend and Kentucky alumnus Tardio just got angrier and angrier. First he cursed. Then he started to slam his hands on the table after big runs.

Eventually he just put his hands over his eyes and sighed.

Is there anything worse than watching your team get run on consistently? It's so emasculating, you can actually feel the testosterone running out of your body with each gallop into the open field. This was made all the worse for Kentucky fans because Dan Mullen wore huge puffy gloves that made it appear he was coaching somewhere in the Arctic. I don't mind coats, but do you really need to coach in gloves? Lane Kiffin did the same thing on Saturday. It's the SEC in late October, at worst, it's around 45 degrees if there's a night game. I think your fingers will survive.

Anyway, getting run on is even worse when it's someone like Anthony Dixon who isn't shifty or particularly fast. He runs standing up, like a horse out for a trot in the Bluegrass. Watching his run is the insult equivalent of a middle-finger being slowly extended in your direction while someone does that goofy cranking motion to make the finger rise.

11. What if there was an eight team playoff based on the BCS standings?

Right now, we'd have an awesome set of teams. You'd have traditional powers like Alabama, Florida and Texas. But then you'd have upstart teams like Iowa, Cincinnati, Boise State, Oregon and TCU. Can you imagine how excited those five fanbases would be?

Can you imagine how excited we'd all be?

I'll tell you exactly what you'd feel like -- a quarterback lining up with less than 30 seconds to play in a game when you suddenly realized no one had covered your receiver.

Starting 11: Every Game Counts, Except Some Count More Than Others originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Clay TravisTue, 03 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST Florida, Alabama Atop BCS Rankingshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/bcs-rankings-2009-alabama-florida-texas-boise-state-cincinn/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/bcs-rankings-2009-alabama-florida-texas-boise-state-cincinn/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/bcs-rankings-2009-alabama-florida-texas-boise-state-cincinn/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tim TebowThe first BCS standings of the college football season are out, and as everyone expected, they're topped by SEC rivals Florida and Alabama, with Texas coming in third. But there were some surprises after that.

Boise State is the No. 4 team, meaning the Broncos haven't been hurt -- so far -- by their soft schedule. That's the highest opening position for a team from outside the six BCS conferences, and it gives the Broncos a sliver of hope that they could end up in the national championship game.

And in the big surprise of Week 8 of the college football season, Cincinnati is the No. 5 team in the BCS, with Iowa at No. 6 and USC all the way down at No. 7.

The big takeaway from all of this is that even if USC runs the table in the Pac-10, they're going to need a lot of help to get into the BCS title game. USC probably cost itself a shot at the national championship when it lost to Washington a month ago.

What do you think of the BCS standings? Tell me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

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TUSCALOOSA - OCTOBER 17: Running back Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide ran for 246 yards and a touchdown during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 17, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Crimson Tide beat the Gamecocks 20-6. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Ingram
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    In this undated photo provided by the University of Connecticut, Jasper Howard is seen. Howard, 20, of Miami, and another student were stabbed during a fight after a fire alarm was pulled during a university sponsored dance at the UConn Student Union just after 12:30 a.m., police said. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut) **NO SALES**

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    Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall speaks during a news conference about the stabbing death of playerJasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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    Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, speaks at a news conference about the stabbing death of player Jasper Howard as university president Michael J. Hogan, second from left, Major Ron Blichter of UConn Police, center, UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway, second from right, and player Desi Cullen, right, listen in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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    Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, comforts senior captain Desi Cullen, right, during a news conference about the stabbing death of teammate Jasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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    A student walks by yellow tape marking the crime scene where University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard was stabbed and killed early Sunday morning, in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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    Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, comforts senior captain Desi Cullen, right, during a news conference about the stabbing death of teammate Jasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Howard, 20, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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    Police vehicles are parked at the crime scene where University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard was stabbed and killed early Sunday morning, in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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    Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, comforts senior captain Desi Cullen, right, during a news conference about the stabbing death of teammate Jasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Howard, 20, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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    Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee (5) is tackled by Texas Tech's Bront Bird, in the second half of their NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Texas Tech beat Nebraska 31-10.(AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

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    Texas Tech's Brandon Sharpe (92) swats down a throw by Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee (5), as Nebraska's Ricky Henry (74) and Marcel Jones (78) block Texas Tech's Colby Whitlock (93), in the first half of their NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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Florida, Alabama Atop BCS Rankings originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithSun, 18 Oct 2009 17:07:00 EST BCS Standings 2009: Florida, Alabama, Texas, Then What?http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/bcs-standings-2009-florida-alabama-texas-then-what/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/bcs-standings-2009-florida-alabama-texas-then-what/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/bcs-standings-2009-florida-alabama-texas-then-what/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Update: You can check out the first BCS standings here.

The first BCS standings of 2009 will be released on Sunday afternoon, and everyone agrees that a pair of SEC teams, Florida and Alabama, will be the top two, followed by Texas at No. 3. But what comes after that?

According to the usually accurate BCS Guru, Boise State will edge out USC for the No. 4 spot, and the remainder of the Top 10 will consist of Iowa, LSU, Cincinnati, TCU and Miami.

But the BCS standings are mostly a curiosity at this time of year. There's no prize for being atop the BCS on Oct. 18; the prize comes at the end of the season. So what's likely to happen over the next seven weeks?

For starters, obviously, either Florida or Alabama will lose, because if they keep winning they'll meet in the SEC Championship Game. That means Texas just needs to keep winning, and they'll be in the BCS title game. The Longhorns' toughest remaining game is their next one, at Oklahoma State.

So if form holds, the Florida-Alabama winner will play Texas for the national title. Of course, in college football, form usually doesn't hold. But two of the top three losing wouldn't necessarily open the door for No. 4 Boise State. The Broncos' schedule is so easy the rest of the way that they really have no opportunities to impress either the poll voters or the computers. Even if the Broncos keep winning, they could easily get passed by USC, Iowa, LSU, Cincinnati or TCU.

What could put Boise State in the BCS title game conversation would be Oregon upsetting USC on Halloween. Since Boise State beat Oregon in the season opener, a Ducks victory over the Trojans would be huge both for the Broncos' strength of schedule and for their reputation among the poll voters.

Outside the Top 5, the two teams with the clearest paths to the title game are Iowa and Cincinnati, both of which are undefeated and atop BCS conferences. And after that? There are enough scenarios to make your head spin. And over the next couple months we'll all have fun sitting back and watching.
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BCS Standings 2009: Florida, Alabama, Texas, Then What? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithSun, 18 Oct 2009 10:41:00 EST Boise? Not Blown Awayhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/hurricane-knocks-boise-off-course/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/hurricane-knocks-boise-off-course/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/hurricane-knocks-boise-off-course/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tulsa, BoiseTULSA, Okla. -- As Chris Petersen left the field and walked through a portal at H.A. Chapman Stadium, a loud-mouthed Tulsa fan yelled, "You guys lucked out.'' The Boise State coach just looked up and smiled.

After all, the Broncos are counting on a lot more luck the rest of this season than anything they got Wednesday night in a 28-21 win over the Golden Hurricane.

How much the pollsters were impressed by the latest win by Boise State (6-0), fifth in the AP poll and sixth in the more important coaches' poll, will be learned Sunday. The next poll will be more important than the last ones since Sunday is the day the first BCS rankings come out.

Despite their lofty ranking, conventional wisdom is that it doesn't look good for the Broncos when it comes to playing in the national championship game. The thinking is all of the top one-loss teams from the big conferences will be able to trump the Broncos at the end of the regular season.

"It's usually never good enough,'' Petersen cracked after the game about whether his team's win was impressive enough.

You'd think college football was Olympic diving the way style points begin to count when the BCS standings have come into play. And did the Broncos get enough of them with the eyes of the nation upon them in an ESPN nationally televised weekday game?

Probably not.

The Broncos took a 28-14 lead into the fourth quarter, but the lead should have been bigger since they had to twice settle for short field goals. Then the Golden Hurricane stunned the Broncos with a 55-yard touchdown pass from G.J. Kinne to the wonderfully named Slick Shelly with 9:29 left in the game to cut the deficit to 28-21.

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The Broncos might have been sweating had Kinne not underthrown a pass to a wide open Charles Clay at the Boise State 40 on fourth-and-six with the clock ticking under 40 seconds for the game. It's no wonder there was a feeling on the Boise State side this one should have been wrapped up much earlier.

"That's a good football team and they're going to respond and not give up and keep fighting,'' said Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, who completed 22-of-32 passes for 187 yards and threw three touchdowns, two to tight end Tommy Gallarda. "But certainly something we're looking at improving on is to be able to finish those games at the end of the game and ending it right there.''

The Broncos better finish games early and often down the stretch to have any chance of playing for the national title. Their last seven games include only one against a team that currently has a winning record.

And what is that one remaining powerhouse?

Idaho.

Yep, a win over the Vandals is really going to impress the pollsters.

Petersen and most of his players shrug off questions about the polls and whether an undefeated Boise State would deserve to play for the national title if the six major conferences can't come up with two undefeated teams to battle for the crown. But that's where Karl Benson comes in.

Benson is the commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference. He banged the conference drum for Boise State in the 2006 season, when it defeated Oklahoma in that dramatic Fiesta Bowl to finish undefeated. He banged it when WAC champion Hawaii went undefeated in the 2007 regular season before getting wiped out by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Now, though, the stakes are even bigger. If the Broncos finish undefeated, they are all but certain to finish in the top 12 in the BCS Standings. That would clinch a BCS bowl bid unless Texas Christian of the Mountain West Conference also goes undefeated and passes the Broncos.

But Benson wants the Broncos to get a fair shake when it comes to possibly playing in the National Championship Game. And right now he's not too pleased to see Virginia Tech and USC, both with one loss, having moved ahead of the Broncos in the polls in recent weeks.

"I don't think anybody has come up with a system that is close to being perfect in terms of how teams are ranked,'' Benson said. "There's a human element... So now it's a situation, is a one-loss team more deserving? Right now, the system is saying yes, with a one-loss Virginia Tech team (fourth in the coaches poll) and a one-loss Southern California team (fifth) ahead [of the Broncos].

"All Boise State can do is win. Do they have to win convincingly? Is [Wednesday's game] a convincing win? You win on the road against a decent opponent, but, unfortunately the expectations are that Boise State has to win convincingly but Virginia Tech can squeak by Duke and be rewarded (winning 34-26 at Duke on Oct. 3 and then passing Boise State in the polls). One of my commissioner colleagues several years ago said, 'We don't need bowl reform. We need poll reform.'''

So what if a one-loss team is playing in the title game and an undefeated Boise State team is left out?

"We'd be disappointed, but it also would continue to create controversy that the system isn't fair,'' Benson said. "The best thing that can happen is for Boise State to play in the National Championship Game. Then everyone can say, 'The system works if an undefeated Boise State plays for the national championship.'''

Well, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson might not say that if his team, TCU (5-0), ranked eighth in the coaches' poll and 12th by AP, finishes undefeated and doesn't play for the national crown.

At least the Broncos own a 19-8 season-opening win over Oregon, which since has turned its season around with five straight wins. Other than that, it's hard to do too many handstands about their wins over Miami University, Fresno State, Bowling Green and California-Davis. And while Tulsa (4-2) is a solid team, the Golden Hurricane was crushed earlier this season 45-0 at Oklahoma.

"The bottom line is we need to worry about ourselves way more than worry about the rankings,'' said Petersen, who got a gritty 112 yards rushing from Doug Martin.

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Boise State's Austin Pettis pulls down a long pass reception as Tulsa's James Lockett defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/David Crenshaw)
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    Boise State's Shea McClellin knocks down a pass against Tulsa during a college football game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wednesday, October, 14, 2009. (Shawn Raecke/Idaho Statesman/MCT)

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    Boise State's Tyler Shoemaker runs the ball against Tulsa in the first half of a college football game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wednesday, October, 14, 2009. (Shawn Raecke/Idaho Statesman/MCT)

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    Boise State's Austin Pettis runs the ball against Tulsa during first-half action in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wednesday, October, 14, 2009. (Shawn Raecke/Idaho Statesman/MCT)

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    Boise State's Doug Martin gets tripped up against Tulsa during an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wednesday, October, 14, 2009. (Shawn Raecke/Idaho Statesman/MCT)

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    Boise State's Doug Martin gets tripped up against Tulsa during an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wednesday, October, 14, 2009. (Shawn Raecke/Idaho Statesman/MCT)

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    Boise State's Austin Pettis runs the ball against Tulsa during first-half action in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wednesday, October, 14, 2009. (Shawn Raecke/Idaho Statesman/MCT)

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    Boise State's Titus Young turns the corner past Tulsa defender Tanner Antle during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/David Crenshaw)

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    Boise State's Austin Pettis pulls down a long pass reception as Tulsa's James Lockett defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/David Crenshaw)

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    Tulsa's Jamad Williams runs between Boise State defenders Winston Venable (17) and George Iloka during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/David Crenshaw)

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    Boise State wide receiver Austin Pettis has a word with Tulsa linebacker Curnelius Arnick just after Pettis scored on a touchdown pass during an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Boise State center Thomas Byrd congratulates Pettis. (AP Photo/David Crenshaw)

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If the Broncos, who actually did trail for the first time this season when they fell behind 7-0 and 14-8 in the first quarter, can continue to win, players are confident they can match up with anybody.

Florida? Alabama? Those schools don't scare defensive end Ryan Winterswyk.

"We're competitors,'' Winterswyk said. "We think we can play with anybody. That's kind of our deal. Alabama. Florida. It would be a great opportunity to play one of those teams.''

Winterswyk, a junior, was redshirting as a freshman when the Broncos beat Oklahoma 43-42 in overtime in that legendary Jan. 1, 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

Boise State only has four seniors, and just two were with the team three years ago and played in that Fiesta Bowl. Petersen was then in his first year as the team's head coach, and he knows that game got the Broncos to be known for more than just their quirky blue field.

"It probably all helps,'' Petersen said about pollsters giving the Broncos more respect due to that game. "What Utah did last year (a non-BCS conference team going undefeated and upsetting Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to finish ranked No. 2) and what we did (by winning the Fiesta Bowl). It's all a cumulative effect to let others know that good football is played in other conferences.''

The amazing win over the Sooners featured several dramatic Boise State plays, including a fourth-down hook-and-lateral pass for a last-second game tying touchdown in regulation and a fourth-down halfback pass in overtime that was followed by a statue-of-liberty play for a two-point conversion to win the game.

That fan yelling at Petersen on Wednesday was three years late. That night against another team from Oklahoma was when Petersen used up what would seem to be enough luck for one lifetime.

Nevertheless, Petersen now could use some more.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com

Boise? Not Blown Away originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chris TomassonThu, 15 Oct 2009 02:33:00 EST Boise Survives Scare Against Tulsahttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/boise-survives-scare-against-tulsa/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/boise-survives-scare-against-tulsa/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/boise-survives-scare-against-tulsa/#commentsFiled under:

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Kellen Moore threw two short touchdown passes to Tommy Gallarda, and No. 5 Boise State survived a late scare from Tulsa to escape with a 28-21 victory Wednesday night in one of the last road tests standing between the undefeated Broncos and the BCS.

With Boise State (6-0) trailing for the first time all season, Moore was perfect on two scoring drives to put the Broncos ahead to stay.

Tulsa (4-2) got within 28-21 in the fourth quarter when G.J. Kinne and Slick Shelley connected on consecutive passes for 91 yards, including a 55-yarder for a touchdown. The Golden Hurricane had one last chance to tie it in the final 2 minutes, but Boise State forced its fourth three-and-out of the second half to ice the game.

Moore finished with 187 yards passing and three touchdown passes.

Doug Martin had 112 yards on 23 carries in his second 100-yard game since moving back to offense after the Broncos lost running back D.J. Harper to a knee injury. Jeremy Avery added 73 yards as Boise State trampled Tulsa on the ground in the third quarter and then held on for the win.

Except for the two long connections between Kinne and Shelley, Boise State's defense limited the Golden Hurricane - who led the nation in total offense each of the last two seasons - to 30 yards in the second half.

Kinne missed a wide-open Charles Clay on fourth-and-6 to end Tulsa's last possession, as he rolled out of the pocket to the left. He finished with 154 yards on 14-for-27 passing.

"Our O-line got going pretty well and it would have been nice to punch it in down there for some breathing room," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "If our O-line is doing what they need to do we can make some plays."

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Tulsa represented one of the few challenges remaining on Boise State's schedule as the Broncos move into Western Athletic Conference play. The rest of the teams on their schedule have a combined 16-21 record, and in-state rival Idaho (5-1) is the only one with a winning mark.

Petersen wouldn't look far down the schedule.

"Next week is a new challenge," he said. "We'll reload and go then."

The Golden Hurricane - playing in front of a sellout crowd of 30,000 - jumped on top early, capitalizing on a muffed punt by cornerback Kyle Wilson with some trickery on the very next play.

Kinne pitched the ball to A.J. Whitmore, the Golden Hurricane's usual wildcat quarterback, and he found speedy receiver Damaris Johnson behind the defense for a 53-yard touchdown pass.

It was the first time Boise State had trailed this season, and Moore immediately led a 68-yard scoring drive the opposite way. He hit all three of his passes for 45 yards and converted a fourth-and-1 at the 10-yard line with a sneak to set up his 8-yard scoring toss to Gallarda.

He went 6 for 6 for 62 yards on the Broncos' next drive, answering Kinne's 15-yard scoring pass to Trae Johnson with a 17-yard TD connection to Austin Pettis. It was Pettis' sixth straight game with a touchdown.

Gallarda caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Moore in the third quarter.

Boise Survives Scare Against Tulsa originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>FanHouse NewswireThu, 15 Oct 2009 00:20:00 EST Boise State Hits Glass Ceilinghttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/boise-state-hits-glass-ceiling-of-college-football/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/boise-state-hits-glass-ceiling-of-college-football/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/boise-state-hits-glass-ceiling-of-college-football/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boise StateIn 1986, the Wall Street Journal introduced the term "glass ceiling," referring to women and minorities' failure to attain highest-level jobs despite their apparent qualifications. The phrase is a term of of art that describes an invisible barrier that blocks further ascension up the corporate ladder. This year the glass ceiling has arrived in college football courtesy of Boise State. Don't believe me, how else to explain Boise's rise to No. 5 in the nation and subsequent fall in the polls over the past couple of weeks despite teams above them losing?

Put simply, poll voters have decided that a non-major team isn't worthy of prominent placement among the legitimate contenders for the BCS title. Given that two-thirds of BCS standings arrive courtesy of poll voters, that glass ceiling of perception effectively limits the advancement of non-Big Six teams. Just when these teams believe they've finally cracked the code of championship game inclusion and are poised for victory, the powers-that-be pull a Lucy and move the proverbial football.

Boise State debuted at No. 14 in the preseason AP poll and No. 16 in the coaches' poll. At this point, they were the highest rated non-Big Six conference team. On the first Thursday of the season Boise memorably beat No. 16 Oregon 19-8. The following week Boise advanced on the Top 10, to 12th in the AP and 11th in the coaches' poll. From there Boise's ascension was gradual as teams above them lost. In Week 2, the Broncos were 10th in both polls. Week 3, they were eighth in both polls. Week 4, saw Boise rise to fifth in both polls. At that point, Florida, Texas, Alabama, and LSU were the only four teams in the country ranked above them. Knowledgeable writers such as Dan Wetzel at Yahoo pointed out that Boise had finally cracked the BCS code. With four undefeated teams ranked above them, three of whom were from the SEC and would play against one another, Boise stood a very real possibility of advancing up the poll ranks. With each step up the poll rung, Boise would make history, spiting the powers-that-be of the BCS along the way.

And how couldn't they advance? After all, pollsters don't typically allow a team who is winning and undefeated to be passed by a team with more losses than they have.

Only the glass ceiling was upon us.

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Boise peaked with 1,203 points in the AP poll and 1144 in the coaches' poll. By Week 5, the drain was upon us, despite winning a game, Virginia Tech, a one-loss team who beat Duke unconvincingly, passed the Broncos in the rankings. Boise fell to sixth in both polls, losing 17 points in the AP and 11 in the coaches' poll. Come Week 6, Boise climbed back to No. 5 in the AP, but fell to sixth in the coaches' poll, passed by another one-loss team, USC.

In the Harris Poll, the one used in the BCS formula alongside the Coaches' Poll, Boise has also been passed by Virginia Tech. Standing at No. 5 in the country, USC is nipping at the Broncos' heels and will pass them with a win over Oregon. The glass ceiling precedent has been set, and if Ohio State keeps winning soon they'll pass the Broncos as well. Meanwhile, the undefeated teams above them, Florida, Alabama, and Texas would all likely pass Boise if they only lost one game. That's a big if. After all, they might not even fall below Boise to begin with.

Why?

Because our collective biases tell us that Boise can't play with the big boys. Even if, oh by the way, Oregon has not lost since the opening game of its season and Boise handled it with ease. My point, if you've ever wondered what a glass ceiling in college football would look like, Boise is your example, the highest ranked non-Big Six school to flirt with title game prominence. And it's the collective "wisdom" of the 173 human voters in those two polls that demonstrates how subjective our own biases can truly be.

The rationale is exactly the same, Boise can't be as good as the big teams because it doesn't look like the big teams. Isn't that the very foundation of an anti-egalitarian, un-American worldview? At least the one espoused in the 21st century.

Not when it comes to the pollsters.

Otherwise how can you justify a one-loss team passing an undefeated team? What's more how can you justify multiple one-loss teams passing Boise as the coaches have done? Close your eyes and recite the arguments against Boise State: they don't belong up here because they haven't been here before, the people around them aren't as good, they aren't as talented as the others are, they only got to where they have because the people they compete against are weaker; aren't those the exact same rationales that excluded women and minorities from climbing all the way to the top? Yep, it's the very definition of the glass ceiling and the poll voters are an exclusionary gatekeeping set, exercising their very own form of hazing, by voting who belongs in the fraternity and who doesn't.

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And that's the way we've elected to select a champion.

Tonight, Boise plays at Tulsa. Yep, Wednesday night football! Nothing like it! At least not until Sunday night college football which Boise will play later this year. The Broncos should have the eyes of the nation upon them. More likely, most of us don't even realize when they're playing. Tonight's game is against the Golden Hurricane, but when it comes to Boise State and the polls, the Broncos fall victim to a golden shower of a different sort.

All thanks to college football's own glass ceiling.

Boise State Hits Glass Ceiling originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Clay TravisWed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST LeGarrette Blount Formally Apologizeshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/legarrette-blount-formally-apologizes/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/legarrette-blount-formally-apologizes/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/legarrette-blount-formally-apologizes/#commentsFiled under: ,



LeGarrette Blount, the Oregon running back who became the talk of college football when he punched a Boise State player on the field after the Ducks' season-opening loss, apologized today for that punch in an open letter published by Oregon's student newspaper. Blount accepted full responsibility, and he said nothing said by Boise State's Byron Hout justified Blount punching him.

Blount wrote in the Daily Emerald:
There is no justification for my behavior - not the "heat of the moment," not the "agony of defeat," and definitely not anything said or done by an opponent.

Being a student-athlete at the University of Oregon should be about being a good student working to positively represent the University and its football program under coach Chip Kelly, and handling both victories and defeats with sportsmanship, class, and character. That night, I used poor judgment and lost self-control. My actions reflected poorly upon my teammates, our football program, and our University. And for this, I offer my sincerest apologies and heartfelt regrets.
Blount deserves credit for his apology, and especially for his refusal to blame Hout, who started the whole incident by grabbing Blount's shoulder and taunting him. He's suspended for the rest of the football season, but Blount sounds like a young man who still wants to make the most of his senior year at Oregon.

LeGarrette Blount Formally Apologizes originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutByronHoutLeGarrette BlountLegarretteBlountMichael David SmithThu, 01 Oct 2009 15:49:00 EST Sorry Boise State, Your Case Is Weak http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/22/sorry-boise-state-your-case-is-too-weak/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/22/sorry-boise-state-your-case-is-too-weak/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/22/sorry-boise-state-your-case-is-too-weak/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Kellen MooreUnless the NCAA takes the win away, Bobby Bowden just did college football a big favor. His Florida State team beat Brigham Young, knocking out a pretender to the throne.

Then Oregon beat fellow pretender Utah. Now if somebody could dump Boise State, we'll all have a merry Christmas.

That's not likely because the Broncos have already gone unbeaten in their one-game season. It's all over but the routing of San Jose State, Idaho, UC Davis, UC Chula Vista and UC Schwarzenegger.
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Then comes a holiday season of griping about how the Little Guy got shafted, followed by a Utah congressman calling for the Justice Department to jail all BCS executives.

I'd have a lot more respect for Boise State if it played a real schedule. More importantly, the BCS would have a lot more respect if the Broncos had to get up for more than one game a year.

That's what's required of BCS conference teams. Which brings us back to Bowden and BYU.

The Cougars tried to act like a BCS team this season. They scheduled two dangerous opponents and beat Oklahoma 14-13 in their opener.

But with visions of Pasadena dancing in Sen. Orrin Hatch's head, in came FSU. Out went the Cougars, 54-28.

"There's a ton of stuff we can learn from this," BYU quarterback Max Hall said.

Yeah, like stop complaining about how six conferences get automatic bids to BCS bowls and five don't. The separation is easy to justify.

Haves -- Must play more than one great game a season.

Have Nots -- Must play one great game then be able to find Utah State.

Sure, Boise State beat Oklahoma in a thrilling Fiesta Bowl and Utah thumped Alabama in last year's Sugar Bowl. Nobody's saying the best from the Mountain West and WAC can't beat the best from the SEC and Big 12.

(Though let's face it, those bowl games were everything to Boise State and Utah. They were consolation trips to Oklahoma and Alabama).

Any good team can play great once. BCS conference survivors have to play great three or four times if they want to make it the championship game.

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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Jarmon Fortson #80 of the Florida State Seminoles gets the touchdown against Andrew Rich #22 and Brian Logan #7 of the Brigham Young Cougars at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jarmon Fortson;Andrew Rich;Brian Logan
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Check out this week's Top 25. If Florida makes it to Pasadena , it will have to go through LSU, Georgia, FSU and the SEC title game.

Texas still has to play Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and the Big 12 championship opponent.

Poor LSU still has three top-five teams (Florida , Ole Miss and Alabama), as well as the SEC title opponent.

Cal's only Top-25 opponents are USC and Washington, though it plays Oregon this week. Yes, the same Oregon team Boise State beat in the season opener to essentially clinch an unbeaten season.

We all remember LeGarrette Blount being dragged off the blue turf kicking and screaming and punching away. Now it's nothing but tomato cans for the Broncos.

I like their blue turf as much as the next guy. And it would be great if Chris Petersen hoisted the trophy instead of Urban Meyer or Nick Saban.

I just want the Broncos to earn the title. All they'll earn with their schedule is snickering. The highest ranked opponent is Nevada, and you have to go all the way to College Football News' ranking and run your finger down to No. 74 to find the Wolf Pack.

All this makes for one easy bowl prediction. Boise State will be unbeaten and the BCS championship game will have at least one team with a loss. The Broncos will be media darlings and the people's champion.

We'll hear the same caterwauling as last year, when unbeaten Utah had to watch once-beaten Florida and Oklahoma play for the title.

That prompted a couple of Congressional hearings, which allowed politicians like Hatch to score big points with voters back home.

"There is an arrogance to the BCS that drives me nuts," he said.

If Hatch really wants to be driven nuts he should become LSU's offensive coordinator for the next two months.

"Championships should be decided by competition," Utah president Michael Young said. "Not by conspiracy."

To which all fans of fairness should say, "Hear, Hear!"

Let the pretenders compete on a regular basis with the contenders. We just saw what happened to BYU.

We don't know for sure that fate would befall Boise State. We do know Broncos fans are going to claim they deserve to be in the BCS championship game. They should answer a simple question.

Would you trade schedules with Alabama or Cal or Texas?

They would sure trade schedules with you.
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Sorry Boise State, Your Case Is Weak originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brigham YoungDavid WhitleyTue, 22 Sep 2009 18:45:00 EST Still No Word on What Byron Hout Said to Set LeGarrette Blount Offhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/09/still-no-word-on-what-byron-hout-said-to-set-legarrette-blount-o/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/09/still-no-word-on-what-byron-hout-said-to-set-legarrette-blount-o/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/09/still-no-word-on-what-byron-hout-said-to-set-legarrette-blount-o/#commentsFiled under: ,



LeGarrette Blount has been suspended for the remainder of Oregon's football season for punching Boise State's Byron Hout in an ugly post-game incident that has been played over and over again on ESPN and YouTube. But in all those re-playings of the incident, we still haven't learned what Hout said to Blount to provoke such an act. And there's speculation that Hout said something every bit as ugly as Blount's reaction.

The speculation started almost immediately after Thursday night's incident, with Bob Rickert of The Oregonian writing this:
The most circulated and not denied by those inside the Boise State program is that Hout asked Blount how his dead family member was doing. The one he buried just a few weeks ago. Asking how someone's recently dead family member is. Very classy Boise State. Well done. The second rumor not denied by Boise State's program is that Hout dropped the N bomb.
Those are awfully serious allegations about Hout, and they've been made elsewhere, including at the San Francisco Chronicle, where a blog post by Zennie Abraham was hedlined, "Was Oregon's LeGarrette Blount called the N-word by Boise State's Byron Hout?"

That reaction came last week, but even after a long weekend, it hasn't died down. The Big Lead and the Chicago Sun-Times both have pieces up this morning calling on Hout and Boise State to come forward and explain what, exactly, Hout said.

I want to give Hout the benefit of the doubt and believe he wouldn't say what he's been accused of saying, but I also agree with those who say it's time for Hout to explain himself. Boise State coach Chris Petersen runs a good program and has acted responsibly through all of this, quickly jumping in to restrain Hout at the time and acknowledging immediately after the game that his own player was partially responsible for the incident. Now it's time for Petersen to tell Hout to fully explain himself.

And after that, let's hope Blount and Hout can both put the incident behind them.

UPDATE: The Oregonian has now removed the post that started all this speculation.

Still No Word on What Byron Hout Said to Set LeGarrette Blount Off originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutByronHoutChris PetersenChrisPetersenLeGarrette BlountLegarretteBlountMichael David SmithWed, 09 Sep 2009 11:35:00 EST College Football Twitter Mailbag: LeGarrette Blount Punch Reactionhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/college-football-twitter-mailbag-legarrette-blount-punch-reacti/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/college-football-twitter-mailbag-legarrette-blount-punch-reacti/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/college-football-twitter-mailbag-legarrette-blount-punch-reacti/#commentsFiled under: ,

College football fans had plenty to say about Thursday night's Boise State-Oregon game, which turned ugly afterward when Oregon's LeGarrette Blount responded to a taunt from Boise State's Byron Hout by leveling him with a vicious punch.

Blount is now suspended for the rest of the season, and that led to a lot of interesting questions and comments for my college football Twitter mailbag, which is below.

pudge44: Hout taunted him, but it doesn't matter. Blount's career is probably over.
You tweeted this Friday morning, and Friday afternoon Oregon coach Chip Kelly proved you right. Blount's college football career has come to an end, and he now has to hope some NFL team will pay more attention to his talent than to his troubling behavior.

JasonArmistead: Hout provoked him and should remember if he is going to talk trash to leave his helmet on. Blunt should get KO of night.
You're right, Hout provoked Blount. And I had a high school coach who said players should leave their helmets on in those situations. Players are hot and sweaty after a game and want to get their helmets off, but it's never a bad idea to leave them on until they're off the field.

Most of the feedback I got was from people who think Oregon did the right thing by suspending Blount for the rest of the year:

DamonMartin: Blount got what he deserved. That was a scumbag cheap shot.
bassinlady: I agree with the coach's decision-that's not what it's all about
padrickbrewer: The season-long suspension is a perfect punishment. Doesn't mean that punch wasn't awesome though.
SHUICHIMO: If you're a player and cannot control your anger, you should not play, those things come with the territory
KeithRedd: Absolutely should be banned. A pattern of trouble is a pattern of trouble. He had his chances.
dustinjames: As a hardcore Ducks fan, I have to agree with the punishment. Mainly due to his actions after the punch.
It was totally reprehensible for Blount to punch Hout, but I have mixed feelings about whether or not he really deserved a season-long suspension. Blount is far from the first football player to throw a punch, and I don't recall many others who have been suspended for a full season for one punch.

On the other hand, I see a few differences between the Blount case and other instances of players punching opponents:
1. Blount's punch was on national TV and played on an endless loop on ESPN the next day.
2. Blount didn't just punch Hout; he also shoved a teammate and had to be restrained from going after a Boise State fan.
3. Blount had already been warned during the off-season that he was on thin ice and needed to meet all of his obligations as an Oregon player.

That combination of factors is what led to Blount's banishment. And I heard from some readers who didn't think a one-year suspension went far enough:

mmahotstuff: Totally agree with him getting banned. Frankly he should be arrested for assault.
ArkCowboy: Blount should be prosecuted and not just suspended
This is an interesting issue that several readers raised. In any other work place, if you punch someone from a rival company, you're facing criminal charges. Why is it that in sports, the legal system doesn't get involved?

Finally, let's not forget Hout's role in all this:

yankeesgod2622: Byron Hout had it coming.You don't grab someone and start talking s**t after you just beat them.
I wouldn't go quite so far as to say he had it coming, but he certainly provoked the incident by taunting Blount. I was a little surprised that Boise State didn't suspend Hout for a game to send its own strong message, but I do admire Boise State coach Chris Petersen for acknowledging that Hout was partially to blame.

WatchKalibRun: I think the real culprit is the blue field+blue uniforms. It completely ruins your depth perception!
As Norman Chad would say, Pay the man, Shirley.
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College Football Twitter Mailbag: LeGarrette Blount Punch Reaction originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutByronHoutcollege football twittercollege football twitter mailbagCollegeFootballTwitterCollegeFootballTwitterMailbagLeGarrette BlountLegarretteBlounttwitter mailbagTwitterMailbagMichael David SmithSat, 05 Sep 2009 08:10:00 EST What About Hout? Broncos Fumble Teachable Momenthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/what-about-hout-sportsmanship-goes-both-ways/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/what-about-hout-sportsmanship-goes-both-ways/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/what-about-hout-sportsmanship-goes-both-ways/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's funny how the level of sportsmanship can be viewed depending on which side of the field you stand.

Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount was completely wrong for his actions following Boise State's 19-8 victory over the Ducks on Thursday.

No one can question that Blount's knockdown punch on the Broncos' Byron Hout and his follow-up act that caused him to be dragged off the field deserved punishment. And, Oregon's season-long suspension of Blount may be stern but not out of line.

But people should also question Boise State's decision to not suspend Hout and to only discipline him internally.

Doesn't sportsmanship go both ways?

The incident began when Hout deliberately walked up to Blount and taunted him after the game. It would have been one thing if Hout only taunted Blount, but the Boise State player made sure that he drove his point home with a cocky left-hand push at the same time.

Once Hout touched Blount, he crossed the line of sportsmanship and it proved to not be a wise move when the Oregon senior responded with a right-hand punch to Hout's jaw.

Anyone who has played a competitive team sport has probably been involved or witnessed some type of fight before, during or after a game. I know that I have.

It happened when I played quarterback for Asbury Park High School in New Jersey and again when I was a wide receiver playing for the University of Southern California.

My high school team's roster was filled with African-American players and we often played against all-white teams. Many of our games were filled with racial tension, but Asbury Park's head coach, George Conti Jr., made sure that we kept our poise and played with sportsmanship.

That was until my final game of my senior year. In a state championship final (a game Asbury lost), some of my teammates finally gave in to the pressure and fought back. After years of enduring unprovoked racial comments and three seasons of having touchdowns called back due to phantom penalties, a teammate punched down an opponent after being taunted but not touched.

As a team, we felt good that someone had lost his cool but what I remember most is the disappointing look coach Conti had on his face. Conti had always told his team not to fight back unless someone had physically done something to us. And that night, my teammate was wrong and we all knew it.

Fast-forward five years. I am now a fifth-year senior playing for USC against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins are winning by more than a touchdown and it's late in the second half when I catch a pass from quarterback Rodney Peete near the UCLA sideline.

As I was tackled and knocked into a crowd of UCLA players, I was kicked and punched a couple of times before I could get back on my feet. Every blow was a cheap shot. Peete, along with a couple of USC teammates, came to my aide and the next thing I knew, a small brawl had began on the UCLA sideline.

The fight did not last long and game officials gave matching misconduct penalties to both teams. But I will never forget the assault and how it caught me by surprise.

After the game, my USC coach, Ted Tollner, never said a word to me. Never asked what started the ruckus or even if I was OK. Tollner talked about sportsmanship all the time but when it came time to defend his belief, he was silent.

That brings me back to Blount and Hout.

When watching Blount walk off the field following the Ducks' dismal effort against Boise State, it was clear that he had his head down and was not looking for trouble.

Although Blount had helped spark tension leading up to the game when he told Sports Illustrated that "we owe that team a [butt] whoopin" as payback for the Broncos' victory over the Ducks in 2008, he was not doing any trash talking once the game ended.

If Hout had followed true sportsmanship, Blount would not have socked him. Plain and simple.But Hout had a different agenda. Once he made contact with Blount, Hout moved into the gray area of sportsmanship and Boise State coach Chris Petersen seemed to realize that by the way he grabbed his player before Blount's knockdown blow.

If Hout had followed true sportsmanship, Blount would not have socked him. Plain and simple.

That's why Petersen's decision to not suspend Hout (for at least a game) does not make any sense to me.

Not any more than the AFCA's decision to get both teams to take part in a sportsmanship handshake before kickoff. Football is a violent collision sport that requires a certain state of mind to play. Having players go through a half-hearted goodwill handshake minutes before going into battle was a recipe for a disaster and it turned into one on Thursday.

Hopefully, we all learned something from this.

Sportsmanship is for everyone. It's not just for the people who talk about it the most or for people who land the hardest punch.

Instead of having organizations like the AFCA install hollow pregame gestures, football needs more coaches like George Conti Jr. who make players responsible and less like Petersen and Tollner, who do a good job of sending mixed messages about the meaning of sportsmanship all of the time.

Lonnie White is a five-time national award-winning sportswriter who worked for the Los Angeles Times for 21 years and is the author of the book, "UCLA vs. USC: 75 Years of the Greatest Rivalry in Sports".
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What About Hout? Broncos Fumble Teachable Moment originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutLeGarrette BlountLonnie WhiteFri, 04 Sep 2009 21:00:00 EST Blount Suspended for Season, Likely Ruining NFL Chanceshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/oregon-suspends-blount-for-season/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/oregon-suspends-blount-for-season/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/oregon-suspends-blount-for-season/#commentsFiled under: ,


The University of Oregon has suspended running back LeGarrette Blount for the 2009 season as a result of the post-game punch he delivered to Boise State's Byron Hout following the Broncos' 19-8 victory Thursday night in Idaho.

After reviewing Blount's actions, the Ducks suspended the senior running back for the remainder of the season, including any bowl games. Oregon officials made the decision Friday following talks with Pacific-10 commissioner Larry Scott, who attended the game.

Oregon first-year coach Chip Kelly said Blount will continue to play a role in the school's football program and remain on scholarship throughout the remainder of the year.
White: Boise State Fumbles Teachable Moment

Blount will also continue to have access to all of the university's support services provided to all student-athletes, will be allowed to take part in all team activities, including practice with the team, and will be held accountable to all team rules and regulations.

However, he will not be allowed to participate in any games, including a possible bowl game.

In a statement , school president Richard Lariviere called Blount's behavior "reprehensible".

"We do not and will not tolerate the actions that were taken by our player. Oregon's loyal fans expect and deserve better," Lariviere said.

Blount's punch came following a game that featured a good sportsmanship gesture before kickoff, thanks to the American Football Coaches Association's initiative that called for both teams shaking hands at midfield.

Once the game ended, Blount and Houk hooked up in a bad way when the teams walked onto the field.

Hout initiated the incident when he said something to Blount and taunted him with a push to the chest. Boise State coach Chris Petersen immediately grabbed Hout, but it only gave Blount an opening as he landed a right-hand punch to Hout's jaw, dropping him..

Earlier Friday, Petersen said Hout will be disciplined internally for his actions but will not miss any game time.

"We're not good with it," Petersen said about Hout's taunting of Blount. "It always takes two to tangle. Those are things we preach about every day around here. We just need to keep our mouths closed ... and let our play speak for itself.

"I'm sure [Blount] would give his right arm to take that whole thing back, how it looks. Byron's mistake wasn't as extreme as LeGarrette's, but he was still wrong."

What further hurt Blount's case were his actions after he connected with his punch on Hout. He had a brief scuffle with teammate Garrett Embry and then got into a shouting match with several Boise State fans standing near the field exit tunnel.

Blount then had to be forced off the field by coaches and security in order to keep him from going into the stands.

In Oregon's locker room after the game, Blount apologized.

"I just apologize to everyone that was watching this," Blount told reporters. "I just apologize to all of our fans, all of Boise's fans. I lost my head. ... A few guys wished me a good game, a few guys pushed me and I just kind of lost my temper."

Larry Scott, in his first year as Pac-10 commissioner, agreed with Oregon's decision.

"We commend the University of Oregon and its leadership for taking swift and decisive action in response to this incident," Scott said in a statement. "The Pac-10 strongly emphasizes sportsmanship and fair play in all its athletic competitions and expects high standards of sportsmanship from all participants, including student-athletes. In this case, those standards were not met and the university has taken appropriate disciplinary actions."

Blount rushed for 1,002 yards and established a school record with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2008. According to ESPN's Todd McShay, Blount's pro football stock took a major hit.

"In the matter of five minutes, Blount just went from second- or third-rounder to completely undraftable." McShay said. "Yes, he was egged on a bit by Hout, but big-name players deal with that kind of trash talk all the time without throwing punches in return.

"In an NFL climate in which Commissioner Roger Goodell has placed a huge emphasis on behavior and accountability, teams are simply not willing to invest money in players who behave like this, unless you're talking about a Michael Vick or some other player with similarly freakish talents. Blount does not have that kind of skill set and has effectively cost himself a serious shot at the NFL."

" ... He entered the season as our second-ranked senior running back behind Clemson's C.J. Spiller but has done absolutely nothing to help himself. He had a great opportunity to get to the next level, but has now totally blown it."

Blount Suspended for Season, Likely Ruining NFL Chances originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutLeGarrette BlountLonnie WhiteFri, 04 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST Oregon Suspends LeGarrette Blount for Punching Boise State's Byron Houthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/oregon-bans-legarrette-blount-for-punching-boise-states-byron-h/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/oregon-bans-legarrette-blount-for-punching-boise-states-byron-h/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/oregon-bans-legarrette-blount-for-punching-boise-states-byron-h/#commentsFiled under: ,



Oregon has announced that running back LeGarrette Blount will be suspended for the remainder of the 2009 season for punching Boise State player Byron Hout.

"That's not what we're all about," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said in a brief statement, as reported by local TV station KVAL.

Blount is a senior, so the disciplinary action effectively ends his college football career. He will remain on scholarship and will still be permitted to practice with the team and have access to all services available to football players, Kelly said. But Blount won't be allowed to play in any more games, including any bowl game Oregon plays in.

A talented but troubled running back who was also suspended by the team during spring practice, Blount is regarded as good enough on the field to be a high NFL Draft pick, but his inability to stay out of trouble could prevent him from being drafted at all in 2010.

Hout instigated the confrontation by grabbing Blount and yelling something at him as Blount walked off the field after Boise State's season-opening victory Thursday night, but while Boise State coach Chris Petersen acknowledged that Hout was out of line, he said Hout would not be suspended.

UPDATE: Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott released a statement saying, "We commend the University of Oregon and its leadership for taking swift and decisive action in response to this incident. The Pac-10 strongly emphasizes sportsmanship and fair play in all its athletic competitions and expects high standards of sportsmanship from all participants, including student-athletes. In this case, those standards were not met and the university has taken appropriate disciplinary actions."

Do you agree with the suspension? Tell me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.
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Oregon Suspends LeGarrette Blount for Punching Boise State's Byron Hout originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutChip KellyChris PetersenLeGarrette BlountMichael David SmithFri, 04 Sep 2009 16:51:00 EST LeGarrette Blount, Byron Hout Both to Blame, Boise State Coach Sayshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-byron-hout-both-to-blame-boise-state-coach-s/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-byron-hout-both-to-blame-boise-state-coach-s/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-byron-hout-both-to-blame-boise-state-coach-s/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boise State football coach Chris Petersen acknowledged Friday that his own player, Byron Hout, was partially to blame for the ugly incident in which Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount punched Hout in the jaw.

Hout appeared to grab Blount and yell something at him before Blount punched him. Petersen said he didn't hear what Hout said to Blount, but he was quick to acknowledge that his own player was a part of the problem.

"It always takes two to tango," Petersen said. "There's no question about that. That's the best lesson in this. There's no reason to say anything. Game over, move on, and let everything speak for itself. ... There's no need to say a word. Move on. Let your play speak for itself."

Petersen said he was disappointed to be talking this morning about a post-game scuffle, rather than what might have been the biggest home win in the history of the Boise State football program.

"It's just unfortunate," Petersen said. "It really is. The kids played hard, it was a hard-fought game, with a lot of emotions all through the year it had been building to the first game of the season, a bowl game-type atmosphere. It wasn't the cleanest game, but we played hard and it's too bad something like that had to come down."

This isn't Blount's first infraction, and Oregon is widely expected to suspend Blount, or possibly kick him off the team. Petersen did not say whether he will discipline Hout.

LeGarrette Blount, Byron Hout Both to Blame, Boise State Coach Says originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutChris PetersenLeGarrette BlountMichael David SmithFri, 04 Sep 2009 11:44:00 EST Byron Hout Provoked LeGarrette Blount Punch After Boise State-Oregonhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/byron-hout-provoked-legarrette-blount-punch-after-boise-state-or/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/byron-hout-provoked-legarrette-blount-punch-after-boise-state-or/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/byron-hout-provoked-legarrette-blount-punch-after-boise-state-or/#commentsFiled under: ,



Oregon football player LeGarrette Blount punched Boise State football player Byron Hout after Thursday night's game, and Blount is, rightly, getting a lot of criticism in the sports media this morning. But Hout deserves a share of criticism, too: He's the one who provoked the incident.

Watch the video closely, and you'll see that Blount, dejected after his team just lost, was walking off the field with his head down. Hout then grabbed Blount and shouted something. We don't know what Hout said, but whatever it was, it prompted Boise State coach Chris Petersen to run up to Hout, restrain him, and yell at him. Suffice to say, if Hout had just said, "good game," Petersen wouldn't have reacted that way.

Only after all that did Blount level Hout with a vicious straight right to the chin. Blount's punch was worse than Hout grabbing him, and it was worse than just about anything Hout could have said. But if Hout hadn't provoked Blount, the punch wouldn't have happened.

Petersen, to his credit, not only restrained Hout but said afterward, "It was just emotions getting the best of players" -- suggesting that he knew it was players on both teams, not just Blount, who overreacted in the heat of the moment. And it's also to Petersen's credit that after Blount punched Hout, none of the other Boise State players retaliated by punching Blount, which would have made an ugly scene even uglier.

Still, while everyone is calling this morning for Oregon to suspend Blount, Petersen should send a powerful message by disciplining Hout as well. Hout wasn't an innocent victim.

What do you think of the Hout-Blount incident? Tell me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Byron Hout Provoked LeGarrette Blount Punch After Boise State-Oregon originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutByronHoutChris PetersenChrisPetersenLeGarrette BlountLegarretteBlountMichael David SmithFri, 04 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EST Pac-10 Blues Grow in Boisehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/pac-10-blues-grow-in-boise/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/pac-10-blues-grow-in-boise/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/pac-10-blues-grow-in-boise/#commentsFiled under: , ,

And this is why the Pac-10 doesn't get any national love.

Throughout the summer, Oregon -- regarded as a legitimate contender for the Pac-10 title this season -- talked plenty of trash about getting payback against Boise State after being upset by the WAC champions in 2008.

But when the Ducks, ranked 16th in the preseason AP poll, had a chance to back up their words, they came up empty as 14th-ranked Boise State dominated from start to finish in a sloppy 19-8 victory in the season opener Thursday night in Boise, Idaho.

Just another blow to the Pac-10's shaky image.

Not only did the Ducks lose a key non-conference game, but as one of the top teams in the Pac-10, they were embarrassed by a non-BCS power for the second consecutive year.

Even Rodney Dangerfield would agree that the Pac-10 doesn't deserve any respect after this one.

"They came out talking a little bit thinking they owed us something," Boise State running back D.J. Harper said after the Broncos outgained Oregon, 361 to 152, and finished with 22 first downs compared to the Ducks' six.

"And we just came out and played our game."

Just imagine if Oregon had faced one of the better teams in the SEC on the road to open the season? It would have been ugly to say the least.

Probably the most discouraging thing for Pac-10 supporters is not that the Ducks lost, but how they lost. Boise State certainly did not play like a powerhouse, yet the Broncos made Oregon look like an unprepared, undisciplined team that lacked focus.

Quality programs with as many returning starters as the Ducks (five on offense, five on defense) do not get hammered by teams like Boise State before a national television audience. It just does not happen.

In many ways, Oregon's first-year Coach Chip Kelly seemed over-his-head matched up against his Boise State counterpart Chris Petersen.

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Although the Broncos made more than their share of mistakes and kept the score close due to sloppy play, Petersen's team never lost composure and played brimming with confidence.

Before a sellout crowd of 34,127 -- which broke the Bronco Stadium attendance record because of the 1,500 bleacher seats added for the game -- sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore passed for 197 yards and a touchdown and Boise State pounded Oregon's defense with 164 yards rushing.

But the story of the night was how the Broncos' defense put a beatdown on Kelly's lifeless offense.

In the buildup leading up to the game, Kelly was billed as the Pac-10's newest offensive guru after the Ducks led the conference in scoring a year ago, averaging nearly 42 points per game behind versatile quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.

However, something must have changed in Kelly's transition from offensive coordinator to head coach, replacing current Oregon Athletic Director Mike Bellotti.

Kelly seemed to call plays as if he was operating a Playstation 3 video game against a teenager online.

Masoli and the Ducks' offense struggled most of the night and Oregon was held without a first down for nearly three quarters and finished with only 31 yards rushing.

"It is frustrating when you don't get a first down," Kelly said after the game. "It's frustrating. I don't know if you want to gauge it on a scale from one to 10. We were frustrated when we came in at halftime. But it's not a situation where you scrap what you do or you throw a fit and yell and scream and all those other things. A lot of it is they're a good football team."

Yes, Boise State does have a good football team, but not a great one.

The Broncos turned the ball over three times, missed two field goal attempts, botched on another and committed ill-advised mistakes aplenty ... and still dominated.

Even Boise State Coach Chris Petersen had to admit that the Broncos were far from their best.

"Typical first game," Petersen about Boise State, which improved to 65-2 at home since 1999. "A lot of sloppy football, but I thought our defense rose to the occasion and played great."

Adding to Oregon's woes was the "out-of-line" sucker punch delivered by running back LeGarrette Blount after the game.

Before kickoff, the American Football Coaches Association was able to get Boise State and Oregon to agree to team handshakes.

Everything went well as both teams cordially greeted each other before the game began, but by the time Boise State claimed victory, sportsmanship was the furthest thing Blount was thinking about.

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Oregons LeGarrette Blount (9) scores a point after conversion against the defense of Boise States Jeron Johnson (23) during the second half of the NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. BSU went on to win 19-8. Blount was involved in a post game fight where he threw a punch at a Boise State player. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)
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    Oregons LeGarrette Blount (9) scores a point after conversion against the defense of Boise States Jeron Johnson (23) during the second half of the NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. BSU went on to win 19-8. Blount was involved in a post game fight where he threw a punch at a Boise State player. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)

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    BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: Boise State fans watch the video board as LaGarrette Blount #9 of the Oregon Ducks is shown punching a Boise State Broncos player after the game causing quite a commotion and talk of him being arrested on September 3, 2009 at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Boise State defeated Oregon 19-8.(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LaGarrette Blount

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    BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: Jeremiah Masoli #8 of the Oregon Ducks watches the clock as it winds downs and the Boise State Broncos defeat Oregon 19-8 on September 3, 2009 at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LaGarrette Blount

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    BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: LaGarrette Blount #9 of the Oregon Ducks watches the clock as it winds downs and the Boise State defeat Oregon 19-8 on September 3, 2009 at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Blount punched a Boise State Broncos player after the game causing quite a commotion and talk of him being arrested. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LaGarrette Blount

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    BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: A Boise State Bronco coach instructs players Dan Paul #47 and Daron Mackey #45 to get back after LaGarrette Blount #9 (not in photo) of the Oregon Ducks punched a Boise State Broncos player after the Boise State defeated Oregon 19-8 on September 3, 2009 at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dan Paul;Daron Mackey

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    BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: LaGarrette Blount #9 of the Oregon Ducks is escorted off the field by head coach Chip Kelly after Blount punched a Boise State Broncos player on September 3, 2009 at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Boise State defeated Oregon 19-8. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LaGarrette Blount;Chip Kelly

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    Utah State running back Robert Turbin (6) breaks a tackle by Utah defensive end Nai Fotu (42) during the second half of their NCAA college football game Sept. 3, 2009 in Salt Lake City. Utah beat Utah State 35-17. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)

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    Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel (12) works to break loose from Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester, left, as Utah's Derrick Shelby, right, closes in during second half action of their NCAA college football game Sept. 3, 2009 in Salt Lake City. Utah beat Utah State 35-17. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)

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    BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: Jeremiah Masoli #8 of the Oregon Ducks throws a pass in the first quarter of a game against the Boise State Broncos ton September 3, 2009 at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeremiah Masoli

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    BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: Kellen Moore #11 of Boise State throws a pass against the Oregon Ducks in first quarter of the game on September 3, 2009 at Broncos Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kellen Moore

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Blount (who said before the game that "we owe that team a [butt] whoopin" as payback for the Broncos' 2008 victory over the Ducks) punched Boise State's Byron Hout in the jaw and dropped the smiling defensive end.

Hout had initiated the assault when he walked up to Blount and taunted him after the game ended. Petersen immediately grabbed Hout but it only gave Blount an opening as he landed a right-hand punch.

After a brief scuffle with teammates, Blount then had to be dragged off the field by coaches and security in order to keep him from attacking Boise State fans standing near the field.

"I just apologize to everyone that was watching this, ESPN, national TV, I just apologize to all of our fans, all of Boise's fans. It was just something that I shouldn't have done. I lost my head,'' Blount told reporters after the game. "I don't know what kind of disciplinary action coach Kelly has in store for me, but whatever it is, I'm ready to take it full force.

"A few guys wished me a good game, a few guys pushed me and I just kind of lost my temper.

"I couldn't have envisioned anything worse than this right here. I tell you what, that will never happen again. I will never lose my head again. I should have handled that situation a lot better than I did.''

Blount, who was tackled for a safety in the first half, did not have a good game as he finished with minus 5-yards rushing in eight carries.

He had a bad night. The Pac-10 might've had a worse one.

Pac-10 Blues Grow in Boise originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>chip kellylegarrette blountLonnie WhiteFri, 04 Sep 2009 05:18:00 EST LeGarrette Blount Delivers Blow to Sportsmanship With Sucker Punchhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-delivers-blow-to-sportsmanship-with-sucker-pun/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-delivers-blow-to-sportsmanship-with-sucker-pun/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-delivers-blow-to-sportsmanship-with-sucker-pun/#commentsFiled under: ,

LeGarrette BlountLet's just say that the American Football Coaches Association certainly did not pick the best game to start its sportsmanship initiative.

To help encourage good will on the field, the AFCA was able to get Boise State and Oregon to agree to team handshakes before they faced each other Thursday night in Boise, Idaho.

The gesture worked well, at least before kickoff.

That's because moments after Boise State defeated Oregon, 19-8, the Ducks' LeGarrette Blount delivered a knockdown blow to Boise State defensive end Byron Hout that certainly gave the AFCA's sportsmanship initiative a black eye.

Video after the jump.
More: Boise Coach Says Blame Both | Hout Deserves Criticism Too
LeGarrette Blount Suspended Earlier This Year

Boise State Coach Chris Petersen tried to put the incident in perspective when he told ESPN, "You know, just emotions get the best of players," Petersen said. "It was a hard fought game...."

The punch came while the two teams walked onto the field after the game's final play.

Hout initiated the assault when he said something to the Oregon running back and taunted him with a push to the chest. Petersen immediately grabbed Hout, but it only gave Blount an opening as he landed a right-hand punch to Hout's jaw, dropping him to the ground.

After connecting with his punch, Blount had a brief scuffle with teammate Garrett Embry and then got into a shouting match with several Boise State fans standing near the field exit tunnel.

Nicknamed "Blount Force Trauma" because of his bruising running style, Blount then took it to a new level when he had to be dragged off the field by coaches and security in order to keep him from going into the stands.

Oregon Coach Chip Kelly said he was not clear on what led to Blount to throw the punch.



"I didn't see it," Kelly told ESPN. "I saw that their offensive line coach from Boise did a great job of separating everybody. I grabbed LeGarrette and got him to one of our coaches. I then I was really looking for [Petersen] just to congratulate him after the game ....

"We will review the thing and will take appropriate action. But like I told our players in the locker room, we have to learn how to play with emotion and not let emotion play with us. That is not the University of Oregon and that is not how we play football. We don't condone anything like that."

According to KTVB.com, Boise State players said the atmosphere during the game was charged.

"They came out and were talking a little bit," Broncos running back D.J. Harper said.

When Boise State safety George Iloka was asked if he was surprised by Blount's punch, he responded with, "Kind of not," Iloka said. "I guess they were just mad, frustrated. They felt like they should have won. I guess it was bound to escalate."

Kelly said that before any discipline is handed down, he plans to talk with Blount about the incident on the Ducks' trip back to Eugene.

"I'll get a chance to visit with him on the ride home," Kelly said. " ....I will talk with him and find out all the information.."

Ironically, it was Blount who helped spark up tension leading up to the game when he told a reporter that "we owe that team a [butt] whoopin" as payback for the Broncos' victory over the Ducks last season.

But before the game, Blount was one of the Oregon players who took part in the team sportsmanship handshake with the Broncos.

Unfortunately for Blount and the AFCA, the feeling didn't last.

LeGarrette Blount Delivers Blow to Sportsmanship With Sucker Punch originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>byron houtlegarrette blountLonnie WhiteFri, 04 Sep 2009 02:57:00 EST LeGarrette Blount Just Sucker Punched His Way Out of College Footballhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-just-sucker-punched-his-way-out-of-college-foo/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-just-sucker-punched-his-way-out-of-college-foo/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-just-sucker-punched-his-way-out-of-college-foo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's no other way to put this: Oregon tailback LeGarrette Blount straight lost his mind Thursday night, sucker punching a Boise State player and requiring physical restraint to leave the stadium after the Ducks' embarrassing 19-8 loss. Boise State's Byron Hout appeared to tap Blount on the shoulder during postgame interactions, before turning away, only to take a Blount sucker punch to his jaw that floored him. Broncos coach Chris Petersen rushed in to separate him from further incident.

Blount then hopped away, only to get into another altercation with several Boise State fans seated near the field. At that point several people had to restrain him and forcibly drag him down the tunnel into an unknown but probably dark future. It's not unreasonable to speculate that his college career is over. Blount was particularly atrocious in Thursday's game, netting negative five yards on eight carries including being on the wrong end of a safety.

(Video after the jump.)

LeGarrette Blunt sucker punch incidentHout is not immune from criticism in his role in the affair, but Blount crossed a line in punching a player who had turned away from him. His inexplicable escalation after arguing with some Boise State fans while leaving the stadium only further condemns him to a severe fate.

Boise State coach Chris Petersen, who was witness to the sucker punch, was more diplomatic, telling ESPN's Heather Cox that emotions had gotten the better of some players while turning attention to his team.

It's too bad, because, despite his bad game, Blount is a marvelous talent who would have done great things for Oregon this year. At this point he's just as likely to face a lengthy suspension or outright booting from the Oregon football program as he is to play again this year.

Of no small irony -- the American Football Coaches' Association had recommended full-team pregame handshakes to build sportsmanship in the game during opening weekend.

LeGarrette Blount Just Sucker Punched His Way Out of College Football originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Byron HoutChris PetersenLeGarrette BlountBrian GrummellFri, 04 Sep 2009 01:57:00 EST Thursday Night FanHouse College Football Chat and Experts' Twitter Feedhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/thursday-night-fanhouse-college-football-chat-and-twitter-feed/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/thursday-night-fanhouse-college-football-chat-and-twitter-feed/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/thursday-night-fanhouse-college-football-chat-and-twitter-feed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

College football is B - A - C - K so grab a seat, pop on ESPN or some other network if you're watching one of the undercard games (Coastal Carolina at Kent State, perhaps?), and lets talk college football's opening night starting at 7 PM Eastern.

A team of FanHouse writers will be your hosts and we'll have updated Twitter feeds from various sources related to the involved teams updating within the chat software. See it all ... after the jump!
Live Scoreboard | South Carolina Grinds Out Win
David Whitley: Erin Andrews Watch


Thursday Night FanHouse College Football Chat and Experts' Twitter Feed originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brian GrummellThu, 03 Sep 2009 18:47:00 EST Prepare the Visor Toss, South Carolina Might Not Survive Septemberhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/prepare-the-visor-toss-south-carolina-might-not-survive-septemb/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/prepare-the-visor-toss-south-carolina-might-not-survive-septemb/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/prepare-the-visor-toss-south-carolina-might-not-survive-septemb/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Steve SpurrierDid the air smell crisper to you last night? This morning did you beat your chest and bellow as loud as you could while staring at the heavens? I did. College football is back. Thank the Lord. But for some of us, such as South Carolina fans, the season is not getting off to a nice, easy start. Nope, they're traveling north and taking on N.C. State in a game that they're expected to lose. That's despite the 34-0 walloping they put on N.C. State on a Thursday night to start last season. In fact, of the four teams playing tonight on ESPN, South Carolina has more at stake than any of them. Yep, more than Boise State, Oregon, or the Woflpack.

Why?

Because South Carolina has to survive September or their season is going to implode in a hurry. Let's dive in to the college football bonanza and I'll tell you why Gamecock fans are covering their eyes with their visor lids. And it has nothing to do with the debut of the Wild Cock formation. Seriously, am I the only person who can't wait to here Verne Lundquist/Benjamin Franklin talk about the Wild Cock?
I love South Carolina fans and the football experience in Columbia. I like the oysters in the pregame, the dangerous medley that arrives when the South Carolina state fair coincides with a football game, the middle school enthusiasm that their male fan base has to scream out "Cocks" as loudly as they can in the midst of the Gamecocks cheer. I like the Cockabooses and the mildly creepy, yet at the same time awesome, way the camera guy zooms in on really hot coeds during the Carolina Girl song. I like Charleston and Hilton Head and Pat Conroy and the South Carolina state flag and the way that no matter how many hall-of-fame coaches whose career they run into the ground, South Carolina fans keep believing in their team.

Having said that, I don't like South Carolina's opening schedule.

Not at all.

In three of their first four games, including tonight at N.C. State, the Gamecocks will be the underdog. They'll be expected to lose at Georgia -- in a game that will doubtless end with a score of 12-10 and not be decided until the final play -- and at home on Thursday night against Ole Miss. Blessedly, in the third game of their schedule, they have a home win against Florida Atlantic penciled in. But right now, there's a strong likelihood that South Carolina comes out of September sitting at 1-3.

This is ominous, even aside from the disappointment of a 1-3 record.

South Carolina only has one game on their schedule after September that is a guaranteed win -- South Carolina State. Tremendous odds will be on the Gamecocks losing to Florida and at Alabama. If you finish September with three losses, you can chalk up five guaranteed losses with those two teams. Toss in games at Arkansas and at Tennessee, where they'll likely be underdogs, and games like Vanderbilt (who have beaten the Gamecocks twice in a row), Clemson, who the Gamecocks have only beaten three times since 1996 and Kentucky, and you're talking about a team that will struggle to get bowl eligible if they start poorly.

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So if you're wondering which school has the most at stake in tonight's games, South Carolina is the answer. Because if they end September 1-3, as they're predicted to do, they aren't going to a bowl game and Steve Spurrier will be finished at the school.

Book it.

Yep, if South Carolina doesn't come out of September sitting at 2-2 at the worst, the season goes off the Cockaboose rails in a hurry. And N.C. State is an easier opponent than either Ole Miss or Georgia. So for the Gamecocks more so than any other team, they must win tonight. Their season depends on it. Hell, their coaches fate might depend on it.

I hope the oysters are in season.

Happy college football season, y'all.



Here are my first week picks against the spread. Starting next week, and this is the complete truth, I'm going to be picking against my family's French exchange student, Audrey. She knows nothing about college football. Which means she'll probably beat me for the season. But for now, it's just me against the world.

South Carolina at N.C. State -5.

I think the Gamecocks will lose. But I think it will be an agonizingly close loss. Say by three points on an N.C. State touchdown with less than two minutes to play.

Oregon at Boise State -3

How many times will blue turf be mentioned in tonight's game? Blue turf, blue turf, blue turf. How many times will it start a sentence? Better question, how many Oregon students will think they took the wrong mushrooms when this game opens?

Georgia at Oklahoma State -4.5

Mark Richt is 30-4 in road games with the Bulldogs. Of course, conveniently, that doesn't count neutral games at Florida. Suggestion for Oklahoma State fans: Gator Chomp all night long.

La. Tech at Auburn -12.5

True story, Auburn's Tri-Delts replaced Chris Todd at quarterback with a girl name Laci Reynolds because Chris Todd's arm wasn't strong enough. Todd responded by winning the starting quarterback job at Auburn.

Alabama -6.5 vs. Virginia Tech

Alabama fans are talking trash about how much of the Georgia Dome will be wearing crimson. Seriously, Virginia Tech, y'all can't travel down the road 7 hours for a game this big? For shame, Hokies, for shame.

LSU -17.5 at Washington

True story, Les Miles spent all offseason thinking Washington was in Washington, D.C. He's going to be shocked when the plane lands and he can't see the Washington Monument from his hotel room.
...
Clay Travis is the author of three books. His latest, On Rocky Top: A Front Row Seat to The End of an Era chronicles the 2008 Tennessee football season, is on sale now.

Prepare the Visor Toss, South Carolina Might Not Survive September originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Clay TravisThu, 03 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST