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LeGarrette Blount reinstated by Oregon coach Chip Kelly
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LeGarrette Blount scores a touchdown against Boise St.
Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount will soon be able to carry the football again. Today Blount was finally reinstated to play for the Oregon Ducks by head coach Chip Kelly. Blount will eligible to play in their next game against Arizona State.
Blount was suspended after the first game of the season when he decked Boise State player Byron Hout. Hout went out of his way to taunt Blount after the game was over. Blount got angry and floored Hout.
Interesting enough Hout was never sanctioned for helping to create the atmosphere that made it conducive for the altercation to manifest.
Even though it took Kelly nine games to do the right thing Blount is happy have a second chance. He said, “I’m grateful to Coach Kelly that he cares enough to offer me this second chance,” Blount said. “Now it is up to me to prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise. I just want to help my teammates who have been supportive of me.”
Two things stick out about this matter. One, the penalty was too severe to begin with. There was a rush to judgement to unfairly penalize this young man for punching Hout.
Initially Blount was suspended for the entire season. But after Kelly met with Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden he decided to amend his decision. He made Blount’s playing status contingent upon him demonstrating he’s clearly learned from his mistake.
Next, it wasn’t fair for only one person to be sanctioned. Hout was the instigator. Blount and Hout had been taunting each other at various times during the game. It takes two to tango.
Hypothetically speaking, if Hout had punched Blount I believe both players would have been suspended from the jump. I also venture to say Hout wouldn’t have been suspended for the entire like Blount was initially.
Why?
I think you know the answer to that one.
Anyway, none of the latter matters now because Blount will get a chance at redemption. It proves time does heal most wounds. Just too bad it took Chip Kelly nine games to finally do the right thing.
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