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LeGarrette Blount

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Template:Infobox CollegeFootballPlayer LeGarrette Montez Blount (born December 5, 1986) is an American football running back in his senior year at the University of Oregon. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons in junior college. He then committed to the Oregon Ducks football program as a junior, for the 2008 season. That year, he ran for over 1,000 yards and scored a school record 17 touchdowns, but he was suspended indefinitely after the conclusion of the season. He was reinstated for the 2009 season by incoming coach Chip Kelly. In spite of the suspension, he was regarded as one of the best running back prospects of his class,[1][2] and drew comparisons to Michael Bush.[3]

After the opening game of the 2009 season, Blount was suspended again, this time for the remainder of the 2009 season, though he was eventually reinstated after missing eight games.[4] Kelly issued this suspension after Blount punched an opponent and angrily confronted fans immediately after the nationally televised season-opening loss.[5]

Early life and high school career

Blount was born December 5, 1986 in Madison, Florida, to Gary and Barbara Blount. He has one brother and one sister.[6] He attended Taylor County High School in Perry, Florida, where he was a four-year starter and three-time 1,000-yard rusher. He accorded second-team all-state player honors as a prep senior.[6]

Considered only a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com,[7][8] Blount was not ranked among the best running back prospects in the nation in 2005. Barely recruited out of high school, he attended camp at Auburn University but was not offered an athletic scholarship. He nonetheless intended to go to Auburn but did not qualify academically, so he headed for junior college.[9]

East Mississippi Community College

While at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Mississippi, Blount rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons, accumulating 367 carries for 2,292 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.[6] Among his career highlights was a 273-yard performance with three scores in a win over Northeast Mississippi Community College during his freshman year;[6] he led the state of Mississippi in rushing yards with 1,106 as early as October 2006.[10] Blount was rated as the No. 1 junior college prospect by The Clarion-Ledger and received Junior College All-American honors.[6]

By the end of his sophomore year, Blount had become one of the highest ranked junior college prospects.[11][12][13] He was named the nation’s top junior college running back and the No. 12 overall prospect in the Rivals.com Junior College Top 100.[6] Blount was heavily recruited by several high-major schools, including Florida State, Ole Miss, and West Virginia. He committed to Oregon in December 2007. Oregon coaches said Blount reminded them of Reuben Droughns.[14]

Oregon Ducks

Blount entered his junior year at Oregon sharing the running back role with senior Jeremiah Johnson. The two backs lived together, and the talkative Johnson advised Blount in his first Pac-10 season.[15] For Blount, it was the first season in which he split time with another running back, and his reaction was mixed.[16] The two backs each contributed nearly 100 yards and three touchdowns in an early 63–14 win over the Washington State Cougars,[17] and both again performed well in a late season victory over the Oregon State Beavers.[18] But Blount brought lackluster performances to games against USC[19] and Cal.[20] Overall, Blount rushed for 17 touchdowns, setting a single-season school record,[21] and 1,002 yards.[22][23] Blount and Johnson became only the second duo in team history to both clear 1,000 rushing yards in the same season; Johnson led the team with 1,201 yards.[24]

He clashed several times during the season with veteran head coach Mike Bellotti, earning a suspension for the first quarter of a November loss to the Cal Golden Bears for "not following team rules."[25]

After the end of the season, he missed a number of workouts.[16] Bellotti suspended him indefinitely on February 10 for "failure to fulfill team obligations."[26]

Blount responded fairly well to the suspension, improving his attendance in both academic and athletic pursuits. He was reinstated by newly-appointed head coach Chip Kelly in March.[22][27] He attended some, but not all, voluntary workouts during the off-season, but was praised for an improved attitude by fellow members of the football program.[28] He arrived at training camp in better physical shape than in 2008.[29] At 243 pounds (110 kg), he was somewhat above his optimal weight, but was slimming down, and aiming for a 2,000 yard season.[28] Blount was named to the watch lists for the Walter Camp Award[30] and the Doak Walker Award[31] for the 2009 season.

Boise State incident

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The Ducks opened their 2009 season with a 19–8 loss to the Boise State Broncos.[32] Shortly after the end of the game, Boise State defensive end Byron Hout taunted Blount and touched him on the shoulder. When Broncos head coach Chris Petersen attempted to intervene, Blount punched Hout in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.[33][34][35] Blount then hit teammate Garrett Embry, who was attempting to restrain him, in the helmet.[36]

As he was escorted to the locker room, Blount confronted Boise State fans who were jeering at him after seeing the video replay.[37] Blount says that one Boise State fan brandished a chair at him and another punched him.[38] Two police officers and Oregon assistant coach Scott Frost restrained Blount and escorted him into the locker room.[37] Video of the incident spread rapidly on the Internet.[32]

Blount apologized after the incident saying, "I just apologize to everybody that was watching this — ESPN, national TV — I just apologize to all of our fans, all the Boise fans. It was just something that I shouldn't have done. I lost my head, and I shouldn't have taken it that far."[39]

Suspension

Oregon coach Kelly suspended Blount for the rest of the 2009 season. According to the Associated Press, "On Friday [Kelly] told a sobbing Blount of his decision: That punch would cost Blount the season, and ultimately his career with the Ducks. 'He understands that his actions are unacceptable. We will not put up with that.' Kelly said."[40] Blount was not dismissed from the team, however, and will be permitted to attend practice and retain his scholarship.[5][34]

Chip Kelly consulted with Oregon officials in advance of Blount's suspension. Afterward, the Pac-10 expressed support for the suspension.[32] Kelly stated that he made his judgment based on the entire event and had not theorized how it would have changed had only certain parts of the incident occurred.[41]

Following the announcement of Blount's punishment, a number of sports writers and analysts questioned whether or not suspension for the entire season was excessive.[42][43][44][45] Wrote analyst Tom Dienhart: "But did Blount's punishment (banned from games the rest of the season) fit the crime? Blount should have been benched for three to five games, giving him a break for being in an emotional spot after being provoked by Hout."[46]

Blount called Hout and Petersen to apologize on September 5. Kelly participated in the calls.[47] Hout was not suspended for his taunting, though Petersen stated that he did receive disciplinary action.[48] Petersen accepted the apology as sincere, and expressed the wish that Blount would be able to go on playing football, and that many parties would learn from the experience.[49]

Blount was given the opportunity to continue practicing with the team but was not at the first practice due to unspecified obligations.[50] However, Blount was on the sidelines at practice the following day[51] and began practice with the scout team a week later.[52]

Reinstatement

On October 1, an apology letter from Blount was published in the Oregon school newspaper the Oregon Daily Emerald.[53] Later that day, the Oregon Athletic Department released a statement indicating that a plan that could reinstate Blount to the team was under consideration.[54] The next day, head coach Chip Kelly announced that if Blount meets certain guidelines, he could return for the November 7 game against the Stanford Cardinal. Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott responded that the conference alone had the power to reinstate Blount and would take Oregon's appeal under consideration if it occurred.[55][56]

Blount was not reinstated in time for the Stanford game, but two days after the Ducks' loss to Stanford, the Ducks requested, and the Pac-10 approved, Blount's reinstatement for the Ducks' November 14 game against Arizona State.[4] Blount released a statement thanking head coach Kelly for showing that he "cares enough to offer me this second chance" and that it was up to Blount to "prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise."[4] Blount suited up for Arizona State, but did not play.[57]

Statistics

2008 season statistics[58]
Date Opponent Att Yds TD Avg Rec Yds TD Avg Yds TD
Aug. 30 Washington 4 21 0 5.3 0 0 0 0.0 21 0
Sep. 6 Utah State 18 132 2 7.3 0 0 0 0.0 132 2
Sep. 13 Purdue 11 131 2 11.9 0 0 0 0.0 131 2
Sep. 20 Boise State 18 99 1 5.5 0 0 0 0.0 99 1
Sep. 27 Washington State 15 98 3 6.5 0 0 0 0.0 98 3
Oct. 4 USC 9 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Oct. 11 UCLA 7 111 2 15.9 1 0 0 0.0 111 2
Oct. 25 Arizona State 8 58 2 7.3 1 2 0 2.0 60 2
Nov. 1 California 4 1 0 0.3 0 0 0 0.0 1 0
Nov. 8 Stanford 10 90 2 9.0 0 0 0 0.0 90 2
Nov. 15 Arizona 9 75 1 8.3 0 0 0 0.0 75 1
Nov. 29 Oregon State 17 112 1 6.6 0 0 0 0.0 112 1
Dec. 30 Oklahoma State 7 74 1 10.6 0 0 0 0.0 74 1
TOTALS 137 1002 17 7.3 2 2 0 1.0 1004 17
2009 season statistics[23]
Date Opponent Att Yds TD Avg Rec Yds TD Avg Yds TD
Sept. 3 Boise State 8 -5 0 -0.6 2 13 0 0.0 13 0
suspended until November 14
Nov. 14 Arizona State 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
TOTALS 8 -5 0 -0.6 2 13 0 0.0 13 0

References

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  2. ^ "Preseason running back power rankings". Rivals.com. August 19, 2009. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
  3. ^ "NFL Draft: LeGarrette Blount", CBSSports.com, retrieved September 28, 2009
  4. ^ a b c "LeGarrette Blount reinstated, will be available to play for Ducks vs. Arizona State". The Oregonian. November 9, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  5. ^ a b John Hunt (2009-09-04). "Oregon's LaGarrette Blount suspended for season". The Oregonian. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "#9 LeGarrette Blount". GoDucks.com. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
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  14. ^ "Oregon Ducks recruiting". Portland Tribune. February 15, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
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  16. ^ a b Vondersmith, Jason (July 30, 2009). "Blount wants to make amends". Portland Tribune. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
  17. ^ Geranios, Nicholas K. (September 28, 2008). "Oregon pounds Wazzou". The Bulletin.
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  31. ^ "Football: Rodgers, Blount on - Doak Walker Award". The Oregonian. August 5, 2009.
  32. ^ a b c Dufresne, Chris (September 4, 2009). "Oregon Acts Quickly, Suspending Blount for Remainder of Season". Los Angeles Times.
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  41. ^ Hunt, John (2009-09-05). "LeGarrette Blount will never play again at Oregon, but Chip Kelly refuses to throw him 'on the street'". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
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  44. ^ Painter, Jill (September 6, 2009). "PAINTER: Oregon officials took easy way out with Blount suspension". dailynews.com. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
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  48. ^ Booth, Tim (September 7, 2009). "Boise State trying to move on from punch". rivals.com. Associated Press. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
  49. ^ "Boise State's Petersen wants Blount's punch to be a lesson for others". USA Today. September 9, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
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  51. ^ Moseley, Rob (September 9, 2009). "Ducks think smaller with Blount sidelined". The Register Guard. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
  52. ^ Moseley, Rob (September 16, 2009). "Blount debuts with scout team". The Register Guard. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
  53. ^ Blount, LeGarrette (October 1, 2009). "Blount: Sorry for Boise State". Oregon Daily Emerald. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  54. ^ Hunt, John (October 1, 2009). "Oregon considers reinstating LeGarrette Blount". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  55. ^ Hunt, John (October 2, 2009). "Oregon's LeGarrette Blount could return for Stanford game". OregonLive.com. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  56. ^ Miller, Ted (October 2, 2009). "Blount banned through at least Nov. 7". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  57. ^ Moseley, Rob (November 15, 2009). "Blount stays on sidelines for Ducks". The Register-Guard. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  58. ^ "LeGarrette Blount RB #9". SportsIllustrated.com. Retrieved September 6, 2009.

External links

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