No Suspension for Hout
Boise St.’s Byron Hout
According to ESPN.com, Byron Hout, the player that taunted Oregon’s LaGarrett Blount following Boise St.’s 19-8 victory, will not be suspended by Boise St. or the Western Athletic Conference.
Coach Chris Petersen of Boise St. said that Hout’s actions didn’t warrant a suspension. Instead, Petersen has opted for “handling it internally”. Likewise, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said he could not verify what Hout had said to Blount, and therefore further disciplinary action by the WAC was not justified.
This may come as a shock to some college football fans, including those from Oregon. Regardless of what Hout said to Blount, the action of speaking and taunting Blount is absolutely unacceptable (and after a win, no less).
Blount had no justification for punching Hout, no matter what Hout’s actions were. Here’s what I have a problem with: I’ve seen Blount publicly apologize, call Chris Petersen to apologize and call Hout himself to apologize. Where is Hout’s public apology for inciting Blount? Although Hout’s responsibility for the incident is certainly less than Blount’s, I have yet to see him own up to it.
The University of Oregon and the Pac-10 acted quickly in doling out punishment for Blount (although admittedly, the decision to not revoke his scholarship doesn’t seem to match his full year suspension in athletics). In doing so, they’ve shown their no-tolerance policy for such actions on the field.
Since the public hasn’t been told what Hout’s punishment will be, it leaves fans wondering whether or not the discipline will be adequate. Only by taking public disciplinary action, like suspension, in regards to Hout’s actions will the WAC and Boise St. be able to save face.
For now, their “internal discipline” leaves something to be desired.
I’d actually like to see Blount go up against Mike Tyson. That might teach him a little humility.
If Hout were a Punch Out! character, he would be Glass Joe.
Blount’s punishment should be about 6 games. That seems right.
Anyone else think that Hout was punished enough by that nasty right that he endured to the face?
Blount had no justification for punching Hout? What more justification do you need?
And if you suggest that the punch is never justified, even in the case of physical taunting, then what type of reaction _is_ justified? Can a player push back? Or is that a suspension, too?
Sounds a bit naughty.
Hout is not getting off easy has been stated by former broncos that they would rather be suspended than counceled by Coach Pete. The Coach says none of the disciplinary action will be released to the media.
With a chin like that, Hout will never make it in the UFC.
Lotta truth and..comedy here. As a former coach and now referee I have pulled back from ‘game day’ and am reviewing the options. There is alot of gray here and this thing just might not be over. We all know what its like when we go to a good old fashioned bar fight or brawl and somehow a hockey match or even a football game breaks out. OK. so Blount was obviously wrong and so was Hout, but there is certainly alot more blame to go around. First off, lets all remember that football is the closest thing to combat experience for players and Gladitorial games for spectators. Lets all remember who fought and still fight our real wars; Men and Women who learn to mix it up first in sports, those who learn to be heroes on the athletic field and then on the battlefield. So lets all grow a pair, boobs or balls and stop making like one punch is the end of the world. Yea, it was wrong but shit happens so how do we gracefully move on. The Oregon coaching staff knows that Blount has an anger management problem and they should have escorted him off the field. The university acted correctly and swiftly but in my estimation too harshly. I would like to see them revisit their decision by adding a few options. Blount should attend an anger mgt. course. He should show contrition by word and deed, to the college and his team. A mixed panel of distinguished University and Alumni members should review his case after a six game suspension and allow him to play only if he has set a new course for his behavior. This is an Oregon problem. Let Boise take care of their own. Blount’s career beyond college may be in serious jeopardy. He didn’t rape, shoot, or rob anybody, and his “REACTION” was spontaneous, not pre-meditated criminality. We are always talking about giving people a second chance. Its an American strength. I firmly believe that, on top of the stigma of national humiliation, a six game suspension is enough. Let him have his chance to build some stats and make it into the NFL draft. Conditional mercy is the benevolent thing here. So, here is some grist for the mill. Anybody wanna cut my balls off now?
Gary is right. The “everybody does it” spiel does not work in this case. As the Nike slogan says “We are all witnesses”. The Ducks went psycho and now the Ducks alone will pay. The new white uniforms are good…..white like a straight jacket.
For someone who notes so much of what happened in the video, albeit out-of-sequence, Gary managed to miss Blount walking back across the field, staring at the ground, depressed and upset at the loss. That is, until Hout comes up, yells at him and then slaps his shoulder to taunt him and rub the loss in.
That’s when Blount snapped on him.
Incited Blount?? Without a doubt.
The only reason Blount got the entire season is because it was a marquee game, nationally covered and it was Sportsmanship Day. Throw in that our Athletic Director is also on the PAC-10 rules committee AND that the PAC-10 commish was in attendance…and it’s not hard to see why the punishment was so severe. Any other game of the year and it wouldn’t have been as bad.
That Hout has escaped from the incident unscathed only reinforces a double-standard, despite the fact that Hout was the one who was hit in the end.
Blount has been made an example, for better or for worse.
Hout is part and parcel of that example. You know, chicken & egg logic.
Give me a break. Hout did nothing compared to Blount. Keep in mind that after punching Hout, Blount hit his own player, nearly went into the stands after fans and then had to be restrained and dragged off.
If you are going to say that Hout “incited” it then perhaps we should look at what “incited” Hout. Had Blount not popped off to the press about how badly he was going to kick Boise States a** and said “we owe them a severe a** whooping” then Hout may not have been incited to say, “Now you owe us two a** whoopings.” Incited Blount?? Give me a break.
Byron Hout deserves two game suspension. Taunting caused Oregon coach to step in moments before punch heard around the NCAA.
No punishment is just as controversial. Hmmmm.
This is just plain wrong! Hout is at least as culpable as Blount. You can’t strike the match, and then walk away when the fire lights. Sure, I am disgusted by the punch, but action begets reaction.
I believe Blount got the maximum punishment and needs to learn from this stupid mistake. However, his punch was a REACTION to the taunt from Hout; had Hout acted with any respect for the game and his opponent, the whole thing would never have happened. I thing the WAC and Boise State are both sending a very bad message by basically slapping Hout’s hand. He deserves a suspension of at least a couple games for starting the incident, unsportsmanlike conduct, and being a very LITTLE man for hiding behind his coach & school.