LeGarrette Blount Punch Takes Pressure Off Rich Rodriguez and Michigan

It was possibly the worst display of sportsmanship I've ever seen in a college football game, and there have been quite a few bad incidents out there.

From watching Ohio State receivers turn and back into the end zone while taunting Michigan, to watching University of Miami and Florida International players brawling it out, emotions can easily take over a game. That's not the way you want it happen though.

Certainly, Oregon fans couldn't have expected what went down last night.

The No. 16-ranked Oregon Ducks came into town against the No. 14-ranked Boise State Broncos.

Oregon's senior running back LeGarrette Blount was last seen running wild over the Oklahoma State defense in the Holiday Bowl.

Expectations were high for him this season.

Before Blount's senior season even started, however, he was hit with an academic suspension that kept him out of spring practice. Then came the Boise State game that would open the 2009 season of NCAA football.

Throughout the game, Oregon's offense sputtered and tanked. Blount actually finished with negative rushing yards. The final score: Boise State 19, Oregon 8.

After the clock ticked zero, there was some trash-talking going on, as I'm sure happens on a regular basis after college games. You can probably guess what Boise State's Byron Hout said to Blount, but Blount's reaction wasn't very pretty.

Blount clocked Hout right in the face as Boise State's Head Coach, Chris Peterson was trying to get Hout off the field. Hout fell to the ground.

Blount was next seen being restrained by his Oregon teammates, and then a fight broke out between Blount and Garrett Embry, with Blount decking his teammate as well.

Coaches and staff all tried to restrain Blount while he still fought to be taken off the field. Eventually the police helped.

You can view the video here.

Blount will likely be suspended, possibly even for his entire senior year, which in turn could also hurt his future NFL career. All because of an instant where Blount apparently lost his mind.

It was a sad way to open the new season of college football, marred by a slew of unsportsmanlike conduct.

The college football world now turns their attention to the beleaguered Oregon Ducks.

The University of Michigan can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being as the media's focus shifts.

Michigan, of course, has a game to play on Saturday against the Broncos from Western Michigan. Emotions will be riding high for the Wolverines as they try to put the investigation happening on their campus behind them.

Coach Rich Rodriguez's bad week can end with a bright spot should Michigan go out there and get a win. Let's hope they keep it clean though.

Let's hope beyond hope that Michigan keeps their emotions in check on the football field Saturday, win or lose. The only kind of media attention Michigan wants these days is positive attention after a win.

So don't give them a reason to do otherwise.

Oregon has just provided a lesson of what not to do after a frustrating game. Michigan would be wise not to follow suit.