One moment of stupidity can last a lifetime

When I was a teenager — about a hundred years ago — and started thinking I was a pretty mean kid, my older brother Kenny gave me some wise advice just in case I ever thought I was tough enough to whup him: "Don't let two seconds of courage," he often cautioned me, "screw up your whole lifetime."

It's too bad somebody couldn't have drilled that wisdom into the head of Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount on Thursday night. Maybe then, Blount would've thought twice before he drilled Boise State defensive end Byron Hout in the head — and got himself suspended for the remainder of the season — after the Broncos shot down the Ducks 19-8 on the Smurf Turf at Boise.

In Blount's case, you can substitute the words "rage" or "stupidity" for the word "courage" and you'll sum up what happened after the Ducks' defeat.

Blount, a senior who rushed for over 1,000 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns last season, had been talking trash before the game, saying Oregon owed Boise State "an — whuppin' " after losing to the Broncos last year.

So, after Boise State's defense stuffed Blount for a minus-five yards on eight carries, Hout couldn't wait to get in Blount's face for a little trash-talking of his own following Thursday's season-opener.

As Hout turned away, Blount dropped him to his knees with a swift right cross to the jaw. To make matters worse, Blount then tangled with one of his own teammates and had to be restrained by police from going after BSU fans who were heckling him on his way to the locker room.

"It was something that I shouldn't have done. I lost my head," Blount admitted afterward, according to Associated Press reports.

Yes, he knew he'd made a huge mistake. After all, hindsight is always 20-20.

"He is taking this very hard," said first-year Oregon coach Chip Kelly, who told a sobbing Blount of the team's decision to suspend him on Friday, according to an AP story. "He understands he made a mistake and he has to pay for the mistake."

Blount's one-punch punishment seems somewhat severe and too harsh — 4-5 games might've been enough — but he'd been in trouble with the team before. And Thursday's incident occurred in front of a national television audience.

However, Blount will remain on scholarship and continue to practice with the Ducks, who host Utah on Sept. 19. Still, his collegiate career is now over and his hopes of playing professionally will no doubt be negatively impacted by his fit of rage.