Oregon Football Campus Voice: Students Supporting LeGarrette Blount

As you can imagine, talk of LeGarrette Blount’s reinstatement to the Oregon Ducks football team has been all the rage around campus today. As I walked around campus this morning and afternoon I could feel the talk buzzing about from all angles.

The gossip about Blount began yesterday when a public apology was published in the University of Oregon student newspaper, The Oregon Daily Emerald. Blount stated the following in that letter:

“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.”

As I read the apology, I wondered if LeGarrette had actually written it, or if a professional apologist inside the Oregon athletic department had drafted it. Either way I am positive that Blount means every word of the letter and has recognized the significance of what happened and has been working on correcting his faults.

Many regarded this as being fairly trivial, although necessary, in that it would not have any affect upon his suspension. I believed the same and did not see Coach Kelly reinstating him under any circumstances, especially considering how well the team has been playing as of late.

Then this morning came, and with it, a whirlwind of coverage, chatter, and Facebooking.

News of LeGarrette Blount’s possible reinstatement jolted the campus community and set off a flood of differing opinions on the topic.

For the most part, I have seen positive support of the decision by Chip Kelly and the University’s decision to set up circumstances where Blount could return.

Friends and acquaintances of mine have been posting their opinions on Facebook all day. Just as on campus, the Facebookers are in support of Blount and wish to see him on the field once again.

Throughout the season, there has been a support group for Blount’s reinstatement. At football games since the altercation students can be heard chanting Blount’s name and cheering “We Want Blount!”

Students have also shown support by wearing bright yellow t-shirts that read “Free Blount.”

As of this afternoon, Coach Kelly has decided to give Blount the opportunity to be reinstated if he continues on his path of righteous behavior. If all goes well, LeGarrette will be back in uniform and plowing through defenders for the Nov. 7 game at Stanford.

In addition to all the Blount news, there is a football game, believe it or not, to be played Saturday. Washington State makes the trip to Autzen this weekend and faces the scorching hot Ducks.

Every Pac-10 fan knows that the Cougars have a few holes on both sides of the ball, to say the least. And to pile on top of that, Washington State is throwing a freshman quarterback into his first start.

Freshmen quarterbacks coming into Autzen usually do not fair well, unless your name is Kellen Moore and absolutely destroy Oregon at Autzen in your first start on the road in your college career.

If Jeff Tuel is the next Kellen Moore, then Oregon may be in trouble. But I don’t see that happening, and I certainly don’t see the Ducks blowing this one.

GO DUCKS!!!!!