Oregon suspends Blount for season
EUGENE, Ore. --
Oregon has suspended running back
LeGarrette Blount for the remainder of the season for punching Boise State linebacker Byron Hout after Thursday night's loss.
Immediately following Oregon's 19-8 loss at Boise, an ESPN replay of the incident showed Hout taunting Blount as the teams converged onto the field. As a Broncos assistant coach moved to separate Hout from Blount, the Oregon senior threw a right cross that connected with Hout's right jaw. Hout went down and popped right back up.
"Under no circumstance is fighting acceptable," the NCAA said in a statement Friday. "If it occurs before or during a game, the officials enforce the rules. If it occurs after a game, institutions and conferences decide how to address the situation. We trust our members to handle these situations appropriately. Sportsmanship is everyone's responsibility, including student-athletes, coaches, officials, institutions and fans.
In a statement prior to Blount's suspension, Oregon president Richard Lariviere calling the player'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. "The University of Oregon Athletics Department is reviewing the situation and will take appropriate action, reflecting the seriousness of the player's behavior."
Boise State spokesman Max Corbet told The Associated Press in an e-mail Friday that head coach Chris Petersen will not suspend Hout. Instead, Petersen will spend time with Hout this week to help him learn from what happened.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
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