The last we'd heard from LeGarrette Blount, he was putting the finishing touches on one of the worst Heisman campaigns of all time: 1 game, 8 carries, -5 yards, 0 TDs, one safety, and one post-game Mike Tyson impression that finished off his collegiate career and utterly buried his once high draft status.
To head coach Chip Kelly's credit, though, he never gave up on Blount, even as he readily acknowledged that Blount would not be helping his team on the field for the rest of his collegiate career. Even as pundits tutted and moaned, Kelly allowed Blount to - pending several disciplinary measures - stay on the practice team and maybe, maybe salvage some hope of a pro career.
Well, it turns out that Kelly's so enamored with the progress Blount's made that, less than a month later, Kelly is prepared to address the media this evening about the possibility that Blount may yet ride again (in 3-5 weeks, according to ESPN's Joe Schad).
From the Register-Guard in Eugene:
Oregon coach Chip Kelly will address the status of suspended running back LeGarrette Blount with media following the Ducks’ walk-through Friday, UO officials said. It is believed that Kelly will introduce the possibility that Blount could play again this season.
Blount has practiced intermittently with the Ducks as a scout-team player, missing some workouts for appointments that are believed to include some form of on-campus counseling. He contacted representatives from Boise State in the days after the game to apologize.
School officials also have connected Blount with mentors, including former NBA player Kermit Washington, who was suspended from that league for punching an opposing player.
As odd as it seemed that Blount would remain on the scout team and have literally no chance of playing again, even under the strictest of disciplinary terms, we didn't see this announcement coming this soon.
Perhaps, though, we should have been tipped off earlier this morning, when the Oregon Daily Emerald printed an apology from Blount to the fans in the form of a letter to the editor:
Though the incident at Boise State happened before the start of classes, there probably are few members of our University community who are unaware of the images and media reports of my regrettable actions following the Oregon-Boise State football game. There is no justification for my behavior — not the “heat of the moment,” not the “agony of defeat,” and definitely not anything said or done by an opponent.
Being a student-athlete at the University of Oregon should be about being a good student working to positively represent the University and its football program under coach Chip Kelly, and handling both victories and defeats with sportsmanship, class, and character. That night, I used poor judgment and lost self-control. My actions reflected poorly upon my teammates, our football program, and our University. And for this, I offer my sincerest apologies and heartfelt regrets.
On a personal note, I probably will never be able to erase the memories of the post-game events of that day. Given this, I do not expect to be given a second chance to be a positive and responsible member of the football program and of this community. Going forward, what I hope for is the opportunity to show that I am able to earn a second chance as a University student. And if I am so fortunate, I believe that I also will demonstrate that I am a better man and a better human being for having lived through this unfortunate experience.
By the way, for some real Fun With Coded Racism, read through the anonymous comments on that apology. You won't be disappointed.
As the R-G's Rob Moseley correctly points out, the fact that Oregon doesn't really seem to need him is probably what's driving this eventual return. If they were struggling, any move to bring Blount back would seem to be for entirely the wrong reasons.
At the same time, just bringing him back even under strict guidelines for behavior is not an inherently safe decision by Kelly. He's still developing his own reputation as a head coach, and if Blount betrays Kelly's trust, it reflects even more negatively on the program than if this had all gone down the exact same way under Mike Bellotti. Such are the perils for a first-year head coach.
But until Blount actually does screw up again, of course, this is all just speculation and we're getting ahead of ourselves. If Kelly's going to grant him a second chance, we at least owe it to Blount to have the opportunity to make something of it before piling more dirt on.
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