The Duck Pond is a Mess

The Oregon Ducks have been one of our favorite teams over the last few years.  They've shown us great team speed, they've displayed the most imaginative array of uniforms and combinations of uniforms, they've played really exciting football and they've been a profitable pick for us, many times.  Now, as OU sits at the forefront of the power rankings for the PAC 10, things have gotten out of hand in Eugene. 

The turning point, more appropriately the point at which the problems began to be public, started with running back LeGarrette Blount.  That very public embarassment, it turns out, was merely the tip of the iceberg.  Boise State had beaten the Ducks (you may recall seeing the video of the post game)  when a Boise State player taunted the defeated Ducks as the two teams crossed paths.LeGarrette Blount responds by smashing his right fist into the face of the Boise kid, dropping him like a bad habit, then rages on until he's shepherded off the field.  Blount was suspended for the regular season and reinstated at the end of the year, in time for bowl season.

In January, quarterback Jermiah Masoli and receiver Garrett Embry were accused of stealing laptops and some other stuff from a frat house.  They weren't charged, but Embry has been dismissed from the team.

Later in January, two more players got hooked up in a big bar fight. Mike Bowlin and Rob Beard, both kickers, were the combatants.  Beard is being charged with assault.  Another Duck, a kid named Matt Simms, apparently went to even the score with the person he thought was responsible for beating up Beard and apparently is facing charges.  Sims and Boland have both left the football team.

This past weekend, sophomore linebacker Kiko Alonso got popped for DUI and no insurance. He was suspended for the upcoming season. 

Next came LaMichael James, who smacked around his girlfriend, assault charge.  LaMichael was the replacement for LaGarette when LaGarette was Laserving his Lasuspension.  La-la-la...

Next up, receiver Jamere Holland, who decided to tweet his unhappiness with the way the coach was handling things and his disenchantment with white folks.  Really not too bright, using the hottest public forum to share the love.  Chalk up another directed departure from the team.

Finally, thanks to the ever vigilant Dr. Saturday, comes the news that one of the high school seniors who committed to the Ducks this year has been found to be ineligible--not for college, but for last year's high school season!   Turns out this kid went to high school for a year back in Ohio, then did four years at St.Bonaventure in California.  His high school team had 11 wins last year and a championship.  The high school has now forfeited all that.  As for the kid, looks like he'll fit right in with the rest of the high character cast of characters on the University of Oregon football team.

The Duck pond is a mess.