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Football fans everywhere are talking today about what happened after Boise State's 19-8 home victory over the Oregon Ducks last night. While the actual flow of the game and the statistics stand out in the line score, it was actually what happened after the game was over that turned heads across the country.Shortly after the game ended, a humiliating loss for the 16th ranked Oregon Ducks at the hands of the 14th ranked Broncos, Boise's defensive end, Byron Hout went over to Oregon's running back, LeGarrett Blount, slapped him on the shoulder pads and said something to him that probably couldn't be printed here even if we knew his exact words.

We are certain, however, that he wasn't just wishing him a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. No, I'm sure that it was something more likely that added insult to injury. As a result, Blount responded by decking the larger Hout with a right cross directly to the jaw. Everybody watching the game on ESPN available on DISH Network clearly saw the punch and the melee that followed as coaches and other players separated the combatants and tried to restore peace. Then, coaches and the police had to again restrain Blount from heckling fans and remove him from the field and into the locker room. Blount's actions detracted from what had been a celebration for most of the game for the blue and orange of Boise State on their infamous home 'blue field' as the Broncos had completely shut down Oregon's potent offense preventing them from gaining even a single first down and holding them to zero rushing yards and only 8 passing yards in the first half.

Fortunately, Oregon tried to make a comeback in the second half when they gained about 113 yards in the air and did manage to score a rushing touchdown with a 2-point conversion late in the third quarter. Unfortunately, they were not able to mount a comeback against the Broncos with only a 1 of 10 third down conversion rate while Boise State was successful 50% of the time in both third and fourth down conversions. Obviously, Blount's punch was a knee-jerk reaction and, as he said later, a mental lapse. He obviously regretted it and apologized for it to 'all of the fans, both Boise's and Oregon's', saying that 'he had lost his head and it was something he shouldn't have done'. Blount was certainly already feeling frustrated with his own performance last night; after all, he had set an Oregon rushing record last season with 17 touchdowns. In fact, Boise State's defense had derailed him all night, holding him to -5 yards rushing, including a 3rd quarter safety that gave Boise a 10-0 lead.

There is no way that anyone can condone Blount's actions, and he's likley to face repercussions from either his own school, the NCAA, or both. However, at the risk of seeming to come to the defense of the Oregon running back, somebody also ought to also find fault with Byron Hout's actions by jumping up towards Blount, screaming something, and slapping his shoulder pads. What was that all about? In fact, if the circumstances had been reversed, he, himself, would very likely have reacted in the same manner. After all, Hout was taunting Blount! I've always thought that NCAA wanted to eliminate taunting in sports. Well, let's see what the NCAA does in this case. It should be interesting to see if, after the NCAA has reviewed the tape of the end of the game, they have the courage to sanction Hout as well.As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango.

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By: Frank Bilotta