One Final Thought On LeGarrette Blount

I've been travelling all day, so I haven't had a chance to comment yet on the news of Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount's season long suspension.

The suspension effectively ends his career, as he was a senior.

It's an ignomious conclusion to his career. The stat line is absolutely horrific.

Eight carries for negative five yards.

And one sucker punch to an opponent after the game.

As I wrote here, what Blount did was reprehensible and unconscionable. You simply cannot do that.

But as ESPN's Ted Miller wrote, let's hope that Blount can learn from this.

There's no question in my mind that this incident will cost Blount. He went from a possible day one draft pick to potentially being an undrafted free agent.

I doubt that he has lost the opportunity for an NFL career because of this punch.

The road to making it to the league has become much harder for him, though. The only film for the scouts to look at is the entirety of the 2008 season and this one sad night in 2009.

Yet if you have talent, someone will take a chance on you.

This will not be the last time we hear about LeGarrette Blount.

Let's hope that in the future, we are only hearing about his positive on the field exploits.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like LeGarrette Blount?

It was a decent game on the Smurf Turf in Boise State, although it was quite a sloppy victory for the Broncos.

But the real action took place after the game, as Oregon Ducks star running back LeGarrette Blount punched Boise State defender Byron Hout.

Now, Hout did push Blount in the shoulder and shouted something in his face.

But I'm sorry. Unless he trashed your momma or another close female relative, you don't punch a player in the face.

Hell, even if he did trash talk a female relative, you just simply cannot do that.

Things also began to escalate further as Blount had to be restrained by Boise Stadium event staff and local police as he started to charge at some of the fans sitting near the players tunnel.

I think that new head coach Chip Kelly has to have a long, long conversation with Blount. Considering that Blount was kicked out of practice earlier this year, I think Blount might be sitting out some more.

Because the behavior that Blount exhibited Thursday night was immature and unconscionable.

2009 Preseason Picks

As loyal readers should now by now, the Pigskin Pundit is not a big fan of preseason polls or rankings.

I am a fan of making predictions, however.

Except when I forget to include them in my opening column. Fortunately, that's why I also have the blog.

(Although now that the blog feeds into Bleacher Report, I think I have to watch my language.)

Anyway, here are my stabs at who I think will win the various Division I FBS conferences:

ACC Atlantic: Florida State
ACC Coastal: Virginia Tech
ACC Champion: Virginia Tech

Big 12 North: Kansas
Big 12 South: Texas
Big 12 Champion: Texas

Big East: Rutgers

Big Ten: Ohio State

Conference USA East: Memphis
Conference USA West: Houston
Conference USA Champion: Houston

MAC East: Bowling Green
MAC West: Central Michigan
MAC Champion: Central Michigan

Mountain West: TCU

PAC-10: USC

SEC East: Florida
SEC West: Ole Miss
SEC Champion: Florida

Sun Belt: Troy

WAC: Boise State

Mizzou Cuts Ties With Promising Frosh QB

Having spent a good deal of time drinking in Columbia, MO (much of it underage), I consider myself fortunate to have had the common sense to not get caught.

Then again, I wasn't a freshman vying for the backup QB spot.

After Blaine Dalton's second arrest on Friday morning, head coach Gary Pinkel swiftly dropped the hammer, booting Dalton from the team.

Again, Dalton was suspended after the first incident in April, where he managed to avoid being charged with drug possession because of 10 Hydrocodone pills that were found in his car.

Dalton was forced to surrender his driver's license as part of his sentence for the minor in possession he was charged with.

So, you're a freshman QB. You've had your license suspended and been suspended from the team for a minor in possession and traffic violations.

Why would you think that it's a good idea to get behind the wheel (after having had a few drinks) and think you can drive home?

Especially when you don't have a license!

It's simply inconceivable.

Michigan Revelations Speak To Larger Issue

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg has a good point with this blog post regarding the allegations coming out of the University of Michigan football program.

Part of the issue regarding the remuneration of college football players centers around the fact that being a football player is a full time job.

Yes, the NCAA mandates that players can only spend four hours a day and 20 hours per week on football related activities.

And if you believe that all programs strictly adhere to this limit, I have a lovely old bridge in New York that I'd love to sell to you.

Especially to succeed at the highest level in the sport.

However, I think that the bigger issue is that this has all been made so public.

I remember when former offensive lineman Justin Boren left Michigan and transferred to Ohio State. He made the point of saying that the program had lost it's family values and atmosphere.

While there is attrition in every program when a new coaching staff takes over, it does seem as if Rich Rodriguez has been cursed for whatever reason:

• The messy divorce from West Virginia
• The very public defections before last season
• The train-wreck of a season on the field
• Now these allegations

Of course, we all know that if this team comes out and goes 9-3 this season and beats Ohio State, and demonstrates a lot of positive momentum and progress, that some of the chatter will die down.

If this season is a clunker as well, then expect the already warm seat to get blazing hot.