"You lie!" . . . . POW!

[We may have lost a running back. But through it all, we might have gained a new word in our language.]

Blount blownt n. an act or occasion of punching a person in the face in immediate response of a stupid comment made at a terribly inappropriate time by that person.

Blount v.t. to punch in the face for the specific purpose of immediately responding to an objectionable, inappropriate or otherwise generally turd-headed comment.

Example 1: "She blounted him after he said, 'Yes, those pants do make you look fat.' "

Example 2:

"Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) could have used a good blounting".

It's all fun and games until someone get's punched in the face.

[The Oregon Ducks and Pac-10 took a stand when they agreed on Legarrette Blout's ban from football games. They've made their feelings clear in these quotes plucked from the Register Guard]

[From Chip Kelly:]. . . . .his actions last night were unacceptable, and that we will not put up with that. That is not the University of Oregon football, that is not the University of Oregon.


Kelly said that when he reviewed film of the incident for the first time Friday morning, “my reaction was that’s not what we’re all about. That’s not what we coach, that’s not what we stand for, and it’s unacceptable.”


On Friday, the UO released a statement from President Richard Lariviere, calling Blount’s conduct “reprehensible.”


[Lariviere adds,] “We do not and will not tolerate the actions that were taken by our player,” the statement said. “Oregon’s loyal fans expect and deserve better. … UO players, coaches and fans are known for their passion and enthusiasm for athletic competition. At the University of Oregon, we are committed to demonstrating that passion in positive ways.”


“It makes the clearest possible statement about the values of the university, and the conference has a zero-tolerance policy to the type of conduct we saw (Thursday),” [Pac-10 Commissioner Larry ]Scott said.


[So I'm reading all of these and I'm thinking "Well that's a bummer . . . . .


\/


\/


\/


\/


What am I supposed to do with this?"

You remember this. A few years back the Duck beat the crap out of the Houston Cougar. Duck, by the way, was suspended for only one game -- probably because punching a pillow face with pillow hands can't be taken too seriously.

But I LOL everytime I pull this one up. And if you've read me much, you know I'll take any opportunity to show it. Yet now we have this new "no tolerance" attitude on punching people in the face. Great. Thanks a lot Blount.

I suppose it's right. This is the Obama era afterall. We can't waterboard. No more shooting people in the face. Could punching people in the face have been far behind?

So what should I do? Archive it? Delete it, never to see the light of pixels again?

I need help on this one. I'll make it our question of the week (See upper left column.). What do you think? Do you want to continue seeing this pic of the Oregon Duck punching the Houston Cougar in the face whenever possible?]

Terribly correct

Jarod Opperman/The Register-Guard
Oregon football head coach Chip Kelly and athletic director Mike Bellotti hold a press conference to announce the suspension of running back LeGarrette Blount for the rest of the season after the incident at Boise State in which Blount punched another player.

[He could've been considered one of the greatest Oregon running backs ever. He gave us many wonderful moments we won't soon forget. But all of that fades next to the events of Thursday night. This was not his first infraction. He had been suspended once before and kicked out of practice recently. He had used up his second chances.

What's the line in 'Bull Durham'? "A million dollar arm, but a 10 cent head." Blount has million dollar talent; but he has a head full of bad wiring. And guys like that will bring your team down.

We were all so looking forward to seeing him play. This complete suspension is terribly sad. But it's terribly correct. Blount left Oregon no choice.

Following is the Register Guard story.

Blount’s season ends The fateful punch thrown by the UO running back brings big consequences
By Adam Jude
The Register-Guard
Appeared in print: Saturday, Sep 5, 2009 ,

Senior running back LeGarrette Blount has been suspended for the season by University of Oregon coach Chip Kelly for punching a Boise State player after the Ducks’ nationally televised 19-8 loss in Boise on Thursday night.
The decision effectively ends Blount’s playing career for the Ducks and severely handicaps his professional aspirations.
Kelly held back tears at times as he made the announcement during a 20-minute press conference with athletic director Mike Bellotti at the Casanova Center on Friday afternoon.
Kelly said that Blount will remain part of the school’s football program and remain on scholarship throughout the remainder of the year. Blount will 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 to all team rules and regulations, Kelly said.
He will not, however, be allowed to participate in any games.
Blount also will be asked to seek counseling, though Kelly declined to specify whether that included anger management.
“LeGarrette Blount needs this football team; he needs structure,” Kelly said.
“I think he’s taken this very hard, and he understands he made a mistake. He has to pay for that mistake, but we’re not going to throw LeGarrette Blount out on the street.”

[If they were to throw him out of school, his frustrations could lead him to do something dumb and jail worthy. He might be headed that direction anyway. But hopefully he can keep his head together to stay in college and graduate.]

Blount was at the Casanova Center with the team on Friday, but he did not speak with reporters and he did not return a call seeking comment.
The rest of the team was not made available to the media.
While Blount has been given the opportunity to stay with the team, Kelly was not certain whether he would accept that offer.
“I can’t force him to stay with us,” Kelly said.
Kelly said it was an emotional conversation when he informed Blount of the suspension Friday morning.
“LeGarrette’s hurt. … He cried, I cried,” Kelly said. “I told him he needs to stay with this football program and that we would do everything to support him.”
“LeGarrette Blount won’t just be a YouTube clip on this is what happened to him on Sept. 3 in Boise, Idaho. There’s a lot more to LeGarrette Blount. But he understands that his actions last night were unacceptable, and that we will not put up with that. That is not the University of Oregon football, that is not the University of Oregon.
Bellotti emphasized that the decision to suspended Blount was Kelly’s, and that it was “in concert” with the university and the Pac-10 Conference.
“I support it 100 percent,” said Bellotti, who became athletic director this summer after 14 seasons as the head coach. “I was more of a sounding board for (Kelly) and an adviser for what I perceived to be factors to be considered.”
Bellotti added that Blount was “dismayed” when informed of his suspension.
“He was not shocked,” Bellotti said. “But he didn’t agree.”
Kelly said that when he reviewed film of the incident for the first time Friday morning, “my reaction was that’s not what we’re all about. That’s not what we coach, that’s not what we stand for, and it’s unacceptable.”
The incident began moments after the final play of the game, when Boise State defensive end Byron Hout said something to Blount, smacked him on his shoulder pad and then partly turned away.
As Boise State coach Chris Petersen attempted to get Hout away, Blount hit Hout with a right-hand punch to the jaw that buckled the Boise State sophomore.
The punch was replayed repeatedly on the videoboard in Bronco Stadium, and boos quickly spread through the school-record crowd of 34,127.
Blount — who later had to be restrained from going after fans by assistant coaches Scott Frost and Gary Campbell, teammates and security personnel — apologized Thursday night for his actions, which included hitting a teammate, Garrett Embry.

[That's the thing. Had he only made the one punch and run to the locker room, he might be serving only a three game suspension. But the way he lunged after fans and fought with his teammates and the cops . . . . . . had he been a dog, somebody would have felt the need to shoot him on the spot before he spread his rabies. ]

The incident, replayed frequently on ESPN and the Internet, was the lead story on national sports talk shows on television and radio Friday, including ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” “Pardon the Interruption” and “Around the Horn.” It was also one of the most trendy topics on Twitter and among the most Googled items of the day.
It sparked national criticism of Blount and the university, with columnists, commentators and football fans calling for his dismissal from the team.
On Friday, the UO released a statement from President Richard Lariviere, calling Blount’s conduct “reprehensible.”
“We do not and will not tolerate the actions that were taken by our player,” the statement said. “Oregon’s loyal fans expect and deserve better. … UO players, coaches and fans are known for their passion and enthusiasm for athletic competition. At the University of Oregon, we are committed to demonstrating that passion in positive ways.”
Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott, who attended the game Thursday night and sat with Bellotti in a suite, said in a telephone interview Friday that he was “horrified” by Blount’s punch. But Scott added that he was comfortable with Kelly’s suspension.
“It makes the clearest possible statement about the values of the university, and the conference has a zero-tolerance policy to the type of conduct we saw (Thursday),” Scott said.
The Statesman newspaper in Boise reported that Hout probably will not lose any game time due to the incident.
After a review of the incident, Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson said in an interview with ESPN that Hout’s comments to Blount were “not offensive” in nature.
Petersen will discipline Hout internally, the Statesman reported.
“We’re not good with it,” Petersen told the Statesman. “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.”

[When I watch that video of Byron Hout after he sinks to his knees, he later gets to his feet and is listening to his coach yelling at him while he watches Blount walk away. At that very moment I'm thinking, "Hey kid, with that one punch you just got a whole lot smarter and wiser, didn't you."
I hope it knocked some sense into him to think about potential repercussions of his stupid actions next time before he acts stupid.]

Hout physically is OK, Petersen said. The Broncos don’t have any intention of filing a criminal complaint, Petersen said — the action required for the Boise police to pursue the matter, according to spokeswoman Lynn Hightower.
Blount, 22, a native of Perry, Fla., spent two years at a Mississippi junior college before transferring to Oregon. He set a UO record with 17 touchdowns last season but had a tumultuous offseason that included a winter suspension by Bellotti for his “failure to fulfill team obligations.”
Blount later admitted he missed a team conditioning workout, which led to that first suspension.
Still, he entered this season with some mention as a Heisman Trophy candidate and some talk as potential first-round NFL draft pick next year. But NFL scouts told several Web sites that Blount was “undraftable” after his punch Thursday.

[That's a stupid comment. Undraftable, huh? Explain to me, then, what I was seeing when ESPN stopped showing Blount's punch again and again just long enough to show Michael Vick dancing in the endzone for Philadelphia, and then go back to showing that "disgusting" punch 20 more times.

Undraftable . . . . as in he won't be selected in the draft? Perhaps. But he will be in an NFL uniform the moment some team decides their lust for his talent outweighs their disgust for his tyranny.]

Blount has not used a redshirt season but Kelly said that was “a moot point” after Blount’s appearance in the UO opener Thursday.

Smashmouth Football?

[NOTE: If this video becomes no longer available because of "ESPN copyright", just hit the YouTube icon in the lower corner and type in 'LaGarrette Blount', there will be about five more until ESPN shuts them down.]

[I have a transcript of what the BS player said.

"Hey Mr. Blount, great game. I was wondering if you could autograph my copy of S.I. It's in my locker, I'll go get it."

POW

"Oh on second thought I think I'll just lie down right here . . . . . "

OK it's not funny. Well, it kind of is in slo mo . . . . NO IT'S NOT. The loss was humiliating enough. But to act like a four year-old afterward makes it worse.

You can forget about a loss by the following week. But this image of Blount getting all Mike Tyson on national TV is already viral and will stay in people's minds for years.

What images come to mind when I say Florida State, Miami, Florida International, Ron Artest, Kermit Washington, (I already mentioned Tyson)? Those are all ancient history.

Five or even ten years from now, I'll be standing in the checkout line on any given day at Safeway wearing my Duck shirt, shoes and feather wig like I often do -- you know, comfy clothes. And someone behind me will harsh my mellow and feel the need to say, "I hate the Ducks. They play dirty."

"Why do you say that?" I'll ask, pretending to care.

"Ah that Blount fellow assaulting that defenseless Boise State kid blah blah blah . . . "

"That was years ago," I'll say. But it doesn't matter, because those kind of things stick in people's minds. And I'll be forced to set down my Cheetos and tropical punch soda and smack the guy in the face for talking ill of my team. Because that's what we Ducks do.

So here we are, not talking about the game. It'll take awhile to pull apart this train wreck anyway. The coaches, the play calling, the execution -- there was no single factor.

One thing is for sure, Boise State (I'll stop calling them BS. They earned it.) can feel good winning what they called their biggest game ever on the blue turf. The good news is this win was their first at home against a ranked BCS eligible opponent. The bad news -- it could be their last. If you are the athletic director for Nebraska, Florida, USC, Ohio State, Texas, etc., do you want to take a call from Boise? Would you want to travel to a small stadium of a second league team for a cheap payout and a real risk of a loss? What is the upside to play at Boise State? Schools all across the country watched this game and said, "We will NEVER play there."

More later after I punch a wall.] --kb

Riding Coach

[For both Oregon and BS, everything rests on the ability of their respective coaches to prepare them for this game. While BS's Chris Petersen is looking for a second consecutive win over the Ducks, Chip Kelly will be approaching his revenge match against BS as head coach instead of offensive coordinator.
This past week, reporters had a chance to talk to both of them. Below are excerpts of each conversation from the Register Guard. ]

Where the action is Chip Kelly is ready for his first game on the sidelines as a head coach Thursday night at Bronco Stadium
By Ron Bellamy
The Register-Guard
Appeared in print: Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 ,

[Excerpt from article]
. . . . . On the Broncos: Offensively, Boise State is led by sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore, whom Kelly considers one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, with “explosive” wide receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young. “They’re a huge motion-and-shift team and really create a lot of confusing situations just before the ball is snapped …,” Kelly said.
“The No. 1 thing we need to focus on is where our eyes are on the defensive side of the ball and making sure we get lined up properly. If you don’t get lined up properly, their shifts and motions will outnumber you on one side or another and try to take advantage of it.
“It’s a system they run all the time. We’re fortunate that we’ve had a little more time to prepare for it this time because it is the opening game of the year. But it will really be a key, us being able to get aligned and be in the right spots before the ball is snapped.”
Kelly said it should help the Ducks to be able to study themselves on video after playing against Boise State last year.
[Last year's game against BS came on the heels of a tough OT win at Purdue, and a week before Pac-10 play. Members of Oregon's coaching staff admitted that there just wasn't enough time to prepare for a team so complex as BS. ]
Kelly said defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, the former UO player from Junction City, “has done a tremendous job” with Boise State, which this season will field a defense that features an experienced secondary, including standout cornerback Kyle Wilson.
On special teams, the Broncos are “a gadget operation,” Kelly said. “Not that they’re not fundamentally sound, but they give you a different look every week, and you have to be prepared.”
On last year’s game, won by Boise State, 37-32, as the Ducks were without their season-opening starting quarterback Justin Roper, and went through three quarterbacks, with starter Jeremiah Masoli knocked out with an injury:
“You’ll never hear that out of us, that we didn’t have this guy in this game so it wasn’t fair,” Kelly said. “Everybody has bumps and bruises, people play hurt and people miss games. …
“We don’t look back to last year’s game and complain about (being hamstrung). They came in and they beat us, and my hat’s off to them. They did a great job on both sides of the ball and on special teams.
“And that’s what it’s all about. It’s not about making excuses.”
. . . . . . . . On the field — blue turf, no less — is where the Chip Kelly era will begin Thursday night.
“I’ve always felt, and I felt from afar before I got here, that Oregon was one of the elite football programs in the country,” Kelly said. “And how hard it is, and how difficult it is, to sustain that is kind of the challenge that we have.
“I believe that Oregon is a have, not a have-not, and we will always strive to be in the top part of the college football landscape. …
“Year in and year out, I want people to talk consistently about Oregon with the top football programs in the country.”

[And here is the take from Chris Petersen, or as the R-G called him, "Bronco Honcho". I'm sure he's got to love that. In fact I believe Bronco Honcho is the name of the DJ at the Dixie Chicks Cowgirl Bar in Portland. ]

Bronco honcho sweats UO tweaks
By Ron Bellamy
The Register-Guard
Appeared in print: Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 ,

So how will a Chip Kelly-coached Oregon football team resemble a Mike Bellotti-coached Oregon team, and how will it be different?
Boise State coach Chris Petersen, the former UO receivers coach whose Broncos defeated the Ducks 37-32 last season, is wondering about that.
“I’m sure they’ll have some wrinkles in all three phases,” Petersen said, speaking offense, defense and special teams. “That’s a little bit of a hard thing about playing a first game. Not only do you have a good team and great coaching, and players to go with it, but you know they’ll have some things you haven’t seen.
“Those are always difficult things to deal with.”
Petersen had a teleconference with reporters Saturday to discuss Thursday night’s season-opening game between the No. 16 Ducks and No. 14 Broncos in Boise. Petersen said Boise State fans “are excited and passionate about football. They love to see good teams.
“We haven’t had a team like Oregon in here in a long time, if ever.”
And so, yes, the game is a big deal in Boise.
“I know the fans and the city are extremely excited,” Petersen said. “And we are, too. But we’re really just trying to take this thing and worry about ourselves. We know the type of opponent we’re playing, and (we’re trying to) not get caught up in all this hype. … If we do that, we won’t play to the best of our ability.
“I think it’s important that we try to keep this thing in perspective.”
Petersen said the Broncos are “trying to take one game at a time. Oregon’s the first game, so we’re all about it. But 24 hours after that game, it’s over and done with, win, lose or draw. That’s the mind-set we have to have all season long.”
Petersen said the Broncos “have been practicing hard, and I think they’re excited to play. I think they’re excited the season is finally here. Our mind-set better be right when you open with a team like Oregon; there’s very, very little room for error.”
— Ron Bellamy
[Petersen has the team with the advantage. They've beaten Oregon once. They're at home. They're favored by 4-1/2. He has no cause to have his team be loud or boisterous. He's got good cards in his hand. No need to wave them around. Just stay poker-faced and prepare for the game.

Kelly has allowed a little leash to let his team express how badly they want this win. HE wants this win. But what is giving them the best chance for victory is not emotion, it's preparation. The stories about how Kelly prepares his team have been amazing. Again and again, we've heard about his attention to details, his organization. And his comments ooze a confidence in his own system and style.

When he says he's glad they have a little more time and some video to look at from last year, I believe that's a huge advantage over last year, and Kelly is treating it as such.

What will happen Thursday night? I'm giving BS their 4-1/2 points. Make it 5. But then give Oregon 7 points for a veteran Jeremiah Masoli who plays the entire game. Give them another 7 points for a very different LeGarrette Blount from last year. Add 3 points for LaMichael James -- Oregon's 5-9, 180 lb redshirt freshman running back that BS did not see last year. If he is everything people say he is, and he's a completely different type of back from Blount, James could be a huge 'X' factor. Finally, add another 1 point for a better defensive effort than last year.

Add that up . . . . . . . "6 . . . 14 . . . carry the 1" . . . . I say Oregon leaps over the BS by 13.

BULLETIN: BREAKING NEWS: THIS JUST IN:
Oregon has made a decision on it's uniform combination for the game. Look for ALL WHITE -- the same uniform worn at Michigan. But more than that, it's really the best choice when you're playing on a blue field. From the air they'll look like white stars, spangling a blue banner, and puked on with orange jello. ] --kb

What Idaho's and 'jo's are reading . . .

[What are the Ducks saying about BS? What do the Bronco's say back? This has been the main theme in the papers leading up to this game. It's funner to talk about than actual X's and O's. And besides, Coach Kelly has closed most of Oregon's practices, so they can't discuss actual strategy anyway. Below are two articles from the "Idaho Statesman".]



Murphy: Trash talking between Ducks and Broncos has only just begun
By Brian Murphy - bmurphy@idahostatesman.com
Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman
Published: 09/01/09



You think the Oregon-Boise State trash talking has died down with kickoff fast approaching. Well, you ain't heard nothing yet.
You think it's only Oregon - and those sore-loser Ducks fans - that keeps talking about last year's 37-32 Broncos victory and the late hits contained within. Not so fast.
You think Ellis Powers' status as Public Enemy No. 1 in Eugene is safe. Well, Jeron Johnson, who ranks No. 2 on that list, has something to say about it.
Actually he has a lot to say. And he plans on talking and talking and talking throughout Thursday night's bitter rematch with the Ducks at Bronco Stadium.
ESPN better have its 8-second delay button ready if it plans on using those giant field-level microphones that pick up the sounds of the game.
Earmuffs.
"Parental advisory, definitely. There's going to be some very foul language going on on both ends," said Johnson, smiling broadly at the very thought of it.
The hard-hitting safety and linchpin of the Broncos' pass defense was a second-team All-WAC pick last year. He is a first-team All-World trash talker, a skill he is just as proud of as his tackling abilities.
"That's part of my game. I'm gonna talk trash. I know exactly how to even it up," Johnson said. "If you're a guy who doesn't necessarily talk trash and you get to talkin' trash and you mess up, that's going to take you out of your whole game plan. Now you're worried about talking trash to this guy. You just want to do your job and play your role. That's me. I've been doing it forever."
Seems like the Ducks have been doing it for months, too. They haven't forgotten - how could they? - the late hits by Powers (on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli) and Johnson (on tight end Ed Dickson) in last year's game in Eugene. Johnson was ejected for his hit.

"We owe that team and ass-whuppin."

--LeGarrette Blount

Funny how Ducks fans never mention the blatant spearing of a Boise State defensive back when discussing those dirty Broncos or the game's outcome.
Dickson told The (Portland) Oregonian that Boise State is "one of those teams that really doesn't rub right with me."
Johnson isn't surprised. One gets the sense that he respects the Ducks more for their willingness to mix it up verbally.
"We came out with the upset. If somebody beats you up, the next time you see them and you fight them, you're going to want to (pause) you know," Johnson said.
Johnson didn't finish the statement. He didn't need to. The Ducks did it for him.
"We owe that team an ass-whuppin'." star tailback LeGarrette Blount told Sports Illustrated after seeing the late hits again.
"Those emotions come out when you see that stuff," Blount later told The (Eugene) Register-Guard.
The emotions will be flowing again Thursday night. The atmosphere at Bronco Stadium will be electric. The trash talk - from Johnson and others - will be non-stop.
But it comes with a balance. Balancing that emotion with football smarts and discipline could well be the difference in this meaningful matchup of top-16 teams.
Among the jewels bestowed on the winners: the right to talk all the trash they want.



[So that quote has been flying around the state of Idaho for a couple of weeks now. And this Thursday night, BS fans get to see this, . . . . this "Ass-whuppin" fella up close. What are they to make of him? Both he and Masoli were fresh-out-of-the-egg new to the Ducks (I can't believe I just wrote that.) last year when BS came to Autzen. Did BS fans watch the Civil War since then? The Holiday Bowl? Are they assuming he'll only carry 18 times for 99 yards like he did last year against them? I don't think so either. This article suggests BS'ers already know why the blue turf is beginning to tremble.]

Oregon running back punishes opponents with size, agility


BY CHADD CRIPE - ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman

Published: 09/01/09


The Boise State football team discovered all of the freakish talents of Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount on one jaw-dropping run last year at Autzen Stadium.


Blount hurdled two bodies at the line of scrimmage - jumping at least a couple feet into the air while moving to his right. He landed in a balanced position and quickly made a jump cut to his left, shaking the diving tackle attempt of safety Jeron Johnson. Then he rumbled right through safety George Iloka on his way to a 16-yard score.
Boise State defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, who hopped out of his seat Monday to re-enact that wicked jump cut, remains astonished as he prepares for Thursday's rematch at Bronco Stadium.

"Big time, NFL (talent)," Wilcox said. "Not a lot of people who are his size can move like that." [I certainly never knew a Wilcox who could move like that.]

Blount is 6-foot-2, 240 pounds. He can run the 40-yard dash in less than 4.6 seconds. And he has all the tools of a great back - vision, balance, agility.

He was labeled a "freak" as early as his high school days in Florida - a label he first considered an insult.

"I was like, 'You're a freak, too,' " he said. "Then it was like, 'You're a freak on the field. Nobody can stop you.'

"I guess the term now is 'beast.' I've been seeing that around."

Freak. Beast.

Either way, the Ducks are about to unleash Blount. He shared the backfield with senior starter Jeremiah Johnson last year.

This year, Blount is the senior starter - and he is almost certain to get more than last year's 10.5 carries per game. He averaged 7.3 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns last year.

[LeGarrette Blount playing at UCLA last season.

Don't call him a freak. Hurts his feelings.]

"He's one of those guys who has the innate ability to get stronger as the game goes on," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. "It's like a body blow in boxing. It just kind of wears you down. He had a tremendous offseason for us. He's in great physical condition right now. We're ready to strap it up and ride him."

Blount planned to commit to Auburn out of high school. However, his test scores weren't high enough and he landed at East Mississippi Community College, where he rushed for 2,292 yards in two seasons.

He then chose Oregon over Florida State.
He credits his father, a small school linebacker, for his physical running style.

"I've heard stories of him denting in people's helmets and cracking people's helmets," Blount said.

It's not difficult to imagine Blount doing the same.

The Broncos say they must be careful not to go for the big shot at Blount. Instead, they'll grab what they can and wait for the cavalry to arrive.

"Very rarely have I seen one guy make a play on him - form him up and get him on the ground," Wilcox said. "It just doesn't happen."

And oftentimes, Blount just makes would-be tacklers look silly.

In the Holiday Bowl, he hurdled an Oklahoma State defender who went for his legs.

"People underestimate his athletic ability," Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli said. "His hurdles are so quick É and he's still running full speed afterward. He doesn't look like he can do that."

Other times, Blount just plows right through defenders. His first scrimmage play this fall immediately hit YouTube because he stiff-armed a teammate into the turf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktOyVo6WT_E

[I think LeGarrette Blount's middle initials should be JNF. I don't know how many times he's hurdled tacklers, outrun them, bulled over them or just plain made them look like children and I've said that's "Just Not Fair".]
"I haven't seen him hurdle anybody in practice," Oregon safety T.J. Ward said, "but he has run a couple people over."

Kelly calls Blount his "Mariano Rivera" - a reference to the New York Yankees closer. Blount often scored touchdowns late in games last year to finish off weary opponents.


"He's our closer," Kelly said. "He seems to fly when you get into the fourth quarter."

[If you are with a pack of dogs, you let the bigger dogs do your barking, right? I'm not a big fan of pre-game trash talking, but if your pack needs to send a message, let your biggest baddest dog say it.


So Blount blurts out the "ass whuppin" comment and later explains it without apology. Who of the Broncos is saying, "Oh ya, well he's gonna have to get through me." "He better hope he can back that up." "I'll show him what a 'whuppin' feels like." . . . .

Blount gets a pass on this trash talk because no one dares stand to object. BS is doing right to quietly prepare for the game without jabbing a stick in Blount's cage.]

I'll never do that again.

Thinking back to my college days, I remember one time when I was a freshman and some of my dormmates were talking about "jello shots".  I never heard of 'em.
"What are those," I asked.
"It's finger jello mixed with hard alcohol like Everclear," said some girl from the big city.
"Oh . . . . What's finger jello?"
"It's jello you can eat with your fingers, DUHHHHHH."
"Oh . . . . What's Everclear?"


Anyway, I'm eating this orange jello with my fingers and it's really good. It tastes just like orange jello and nothing more. I didn't have any dinner that night so I ate a lot of orange jello.
Then I saw that girl from the big city. The music was loud and the lights were low. I talked to her. She smiled and talked back. We talked for hours. We laughed and smiled.
Funny thing though as I look back, those hours were actually only about a minute. She had her back to me the whole time; and my face was stuck between the cushions of an old dirty couch. That whole conversation happened in my head.


I went upstairs to my room and lay down. An hour later I awoke to someone trying to set my bed on fire. But when I yelled at him he disappeared through a wall so I knew he wasn't real. That was a relief.
I got an urge and speed-walked to the bathroom and . . . shall we say . . . orally purged myself of all the orange jello. Mind you the seat was down and I can't say my aim was very good.  I felt bad. The bathroom was for the whole floor and I just made it disgusting.


Then under the toilet tank I noticed a good sized bottle of that aqua-blue toilet cleaner. You know, it's that stuff you put in the tank and it turns your water blue for 5000 flushes and smells really clean.  I didn't put it in the tank though. I just poured it all directly into the bowl. Mind you the seat was down and I can't say my aim was very good.


Anyway I went back to bed. And when I woke up at noon the next day, I went to the bathroom and looked in that stall.


It looked something like this. . . . .


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Funny thing though as I look back, I don't remember eating that onion ring . . .

--kb 

Starting the season with a bunch of BS

[ Wonderful. Nothing starts off the season better than a good ol' S.I. cover curse. Notice the new uni's? Gone are the diamond plates. I had to trade in my two year-old pickup with the diamond plate stickers and mud flaps and start over with wings.

Below is an article from the Oregonian. Comments by me are between brackets and in green like this.

Oh and by the way, Boise State -- Oregon's first opponent -- got my highest respect before last season when they came to Eugene. That was when one of their goons lowered his head, took two steps into Masoli's chin and knock him out of the game. Henceforth, I will refer to that team as B.S.]

UO football: Small crowd watches secretive Ducks scrimmage
Posted by John Hunt, The Oregonian August 25, 2009 22:10PM
Categories: Football

EUGENE -- Nine days before their season opener at Boise State, the Oregon Ducks played their final scrimmage Tuesday night before a crowd of about six at Autzen Stadium.
In attendance were Nike co-founder Phil Knight and a few friends. They saw the Ducks' "March to Victory," a parade from the Duck Shop at the Moshofsky Center into the stadium. There, the Ducks held a scrimmage that featured an improved Jeremiah Masoli and another long touchdown run by LaMichael James. [LaMichael James is a small, squirty Quiz Rogers type of RB who's supposed to make us forget all about LaGarrette Blount . . . until the next down when Masoli hands off to LaGarrette Blount.]
Masoli, who struggled in Oregon's other scrimmage, was 9 of 19 for 111 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The UO official keeping the stats in the secretive scrimmage said four of those passes were dropped.
"I feel like we're ready to play tomorrow," said Masoli, whose first pass went for a 49-yard touchdown to Jeff Maehl.
D.J. Davis led the receivers with six catches for 60 yards. Tyrece Gaines had three for 23, including a nine-yard touchdown catch. Kelly said he will probably operate with a rotation of five receivers at Boise State: Maehl, Davis, Lavasier Tuinei, Jamere Holland and Garrett Embry.
Because of injuries and inexperience, the receiver position was clouded heading into this week, but that's about the only area of great uncertainty. Things have changed a bit in the defensive backfield, though.
Talmadge Jackson, who moved from cornerback to rover this summer and fall, has been moved back to corner. So he and Willie Glasper will split time at the corner opposite Walter Thurmond. T.J. Ward will start at free safety, and Marvin Johnson and Javes Lewis will split time at rover.
Morgan Flint is the kicker, although he missed a 27-yard try Tuesday night. Freshman Mike Bowlin was 2 of 2, from 35 and 27 yards. Rob Beard hit a 28-yarder and had a 26-yard attempt blocked.
Freshman Jackson Rice may have won the punting job, outkicking Tim Taylor. Rice had punts of 45, 49 and 55 yards.
On defense, linebacker Bryson Littlejohn made a case for more playing time, with four tackles, a sack and a one-handed interception. Defensive lineman Zac Clark did, too, with five tackles, including three for loss.
James was the leading rusher of the scrimmage, with seven carries for 58 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown. LeGarrette Blount's day was a short one, with four quick carries for 21 yards. Kenjon Barner rushed eight times for 52 yards and -- as in the previous scrimmage -- the running back/defensive back did not play any defense.
Nate Costa, who shined in the last scrimmage, was 16 of 35 for 141 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions and three drops. He also had two touchdown passes nullified by penalty.
The Ducks seemed to come out of the scrimmage fairly unscathed, although backup offensive lineman Charlie Carmichael left on a cart with an injury to his left leg.
Defensive tackle Simi Toeaina is back after missing time with a broken left thumb. Toeaina got his cast off and stitches out Monday and will play with a brace. Coach Chip Kelly said defensive end Terrell Turner had a "great, great camp."
Kelly, after leading the postgame procession of players into the locker room, said he was pleased with what he saw. Asked what was still needed before the Sept. 3 game on the blue turf in Boise, Kelly said, "We need about eight days."
The Ducks will participate in their team-building day known as the "O Games" today. The Ducks will take Friday off before prepping in earnest on Saturday.
"We don't have to focus on the Oregon offense anymore," linebacker Casey Matthews said. "Now we focus on Boise, which is great."
John Hunt: 503-294-7643; johnhunt@news.oregonian.com

[ So how is Coach Kelly doing? Is he reaching his players? Is he a good communicator? I saw an amateur film once of one of Bellotti's practices several years ago. What struck me was the extreme organization and attention to detail in the five or six drills his assistants were simultaneously executing all over the field. Not one second was wasted. Does Kelly work in that same way? The following excerpt from Eugene's Register Guard may answer that question. . . .]

Tight-end Ed Dickson comments on Kelly's practice style. R-G photo.

From the R-G, Tuesday, August 25th.

The Ducks concluded camp one practice under the limit set by the NCAA. Some schedules had the team working out twice Monday, but Kelly said he determined from the start that he wanted to practice his pregame routine.
He wasn’t concerned with leaving a day of practice unused.
“I want fresh legs (for the scrimmage),” Kelly said. “Guys are competing for jobs; are you seeing them to the best of their abilities when you’re making your final decisions?
“We charted every day, our number of reps. Our reps are up big-time (from years past). We’ve gotten enough reps even though we’re one practice short, because of the pace and tempo we play at.” [That being the 'no-huddle' pace that wears down other opponents.]
Fifth-year senior tight end Ed Dickson judged this training camp a success in part due to that pace.
“Guys are out there working hard,” Dickson said. “It’s the mentality of the coaches keeping everybody focused. We do situations every day, game situations, real situations where we’ve got to fight. Coach Kelly is very good at getting us focused on what we’re going to see in a game.”

[If any of this impresses you, GREAT! Unfortunately none of this impresses BS. They practice and play focused like a team looking for a championship. More on them later. --kb]