Worth the Wait... Welcome Back College Football

The college football season premiered on ESPN with a boring game between the USC Gamecocks and the NC State Wolfpack.  However, it was just getting started.  Thank you to Oregon and Boise State.

The Boise State Broncos went to work on opening night embarrassing the Oregon Ducks 19-8.  The Ducks were held to 152 yards.  They gained only 6 1st downs and 121 yards through the air.  They were massacred by the clock.  Ducks' time of possession was 17 minutes and 28 seconds, while the bucking Broncos managed the time wisely during 42 minutes and 32 seconds of handling the ball.  The Ducks were surely outplayed but not outpunched.

The courteous handshake at the beginning of the game meant nothing, nada, zilch, if the players did not already embody good sportsmanship. 

The fiasco started when Boise State's Bryan Hout apparently said something to the Duck's LeGarrette Blount.  Immediately following said words, Blount delivered the only Ducks dominant hit of the night by punching the win(d) right out of Hout. 

The hit was without a doubt classless, but it was also hilarious.  Who saw the hit coming?  Did you?  I sure as heck didn't see it coming on opening night of college football.  Pat on the shoulder, look the other way, the punch lands.  Then, Blount is on ESPN doing a Tim Tebow speech. "You'll never catch me at my weakest.  You'll never catch me with a real emotion."  And, blah, blah, blah.  You can't write a script better than reality.

Anyhow, many believed that the hit deserved swift action.  Haha, what it deserved is a 1 to 2 game suspension.  It doesn't warrant a meeting of all of the bigwigs of Oregon or of the PAC-10.  But who cares, it is just a matter of formality.

Blount should undoubtedly be suspended.  Hout should get a talking to from his coach, because I'm sure this was a cause and effect situation.  They both showcased unsportsmanlike conduct. 

As I digress, the Broncos and the Ducks made the wait worthwhile.  I couldn't be any happier for the way the college football season started.  I was expecting an ACC win over the SEC but the sun isn't always shining on my desires.  I'll turn to the Clemson Tigers game to be consoled.  Go Football!

RomiezzoLegend

85 days ago

Score 0

Go football! I think I'm slowly but surely becoming a Boise State fan...

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Bravesgirl85Waterboy

85 days ago

Score 1

Boise State = BCS Busters! I just love their field.

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Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

83 days ago

Score 0

Good article even if I don't know most of the particulars. But I have to respctfully disagree Bravesgirl, that blue field does my head in. But then again I think all synthetic surfaces should be banned.

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CheezerAll-Star

84 days ago

Score 2

Punching the opposing player may have only warranted a two game suspension. However, after punching the Broncos’ Byron Hout, Blount then hit a teammate, tried to fight some Boise St. fans and had to be restrained by teammates and security officers.

Hit a teammate.

Had to be restrained by security officials when he tried to fight the fans.

Unfortunately , I believe we simply have a case of emotional frustration and an inability to deal with it. Too much macho pride and not enough humility. He simply could have turned the other cheek and walked away, but his pride wouldn't let him.

Hout deserves some down and backs for his trash talking and instigating the altercation and Blout deserves what he got. You cannot go after the fans.

Too many of our young men confuse macho with manly.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

84 days ago

Score 2

I definitely think he(Blount) deserved to be suspended I just didn't think it ws going to be for an entire season. I agree that Hout deserves some type of reprimand. Sadly, I am a fan and we have become no more like the erratic player in Blount and Hout. We don't know where to draw the line from being an active fan to thinking that if an opposing player is already riled up we're going to attack the player some more.

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CheezerAll-Star

84 days ago

Score 1

A very good point Anon. One thing I failed to consider is how out of line the fans were in provoking Blount. It doesn't excuse his actions but it does provide some context.

You should sign up.

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RomiezzoLegend

84 days ago

Score 1

I honestly believe that Hout should've been suspended, at most one game. Think about it: if a player talked trash to an opponent and/or just tapped a guy on his shoulder to rub in a victory, it's unsportsmanlike (no doubt). However, Blount totally crossed the line. Even if Hout was a jackass to him. This is not Ron Artest's situation with the fans... this is truly an issue that I haven't seen, and an issue that should've been handled a lot like [almost] every game's situation. When someone talks trash to you, before, during, or after a game, you control your temper and not do anything. What did Blount do? He threw what could be considered a sucker punch at Hout (who didn't expect it, from the angle I looked at). Blount fought with his own teammates beforehand, and then was escorted with security after the punch delivered to Hout, and he still went and attacked a fan. There is no doubt in my mind that, even in his senior year, he should be ejected for the rest of the season. AND, like one of the commentators said, the game (both teams' first games of the season) started off with a symbolic handshake, basically signifying that they promise that none of this crap will happen. I do believe that Hout should be suspended for one game because of the provoking, but that's it. Blount? For the season... no question.

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RomiezzoLegend

84 days ago

Score 0

Oh, and Blount was kicked out of the first practice due to behavioral issues. So, this may have not been a surprise to be heated up.

And the thing that annoys me the most about Blount is the fact that he was talking smack about Boise State, about how he was going to beat them. Not only was his prediction wrong, but he ran for -5 YARDS! -5!!!

Good job, Blount... good job.

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