Blount Punches Hout: What's Next for NCAA?

We're firmly entrenched in an era where sports stars are the idols of our children. As if Michael Vick's recent fouls weren't bad enough, now we're seeing violence in the NCAA. After a particularly ugly game between #16 Oregon and #14 Boise State, Oregon tailback LaGarrette Blount took it upon himself to try to even the score with Boise State defensive back Byron Hout. Blount landed the punch square on Hout's jaw and dropped him into a crowd of his teammates. That's right, while everyone else was shaking hands, LaGarrette Blount was scrapping with the opposing team.

It's time that the NCAA start making examples of their bad eggs instead of sweeping the indiscretions under the rug in an attempt to keep a good player on the field. It shouldn't matter how good he is on the field, how fast he runs, how well he tackles - if a player openly engages in such unsportsmanlike conduct, he should be punished. Others should see what happens when players go beyond the game and into more personal territory.
And what is football but a game anyway? I'm a die-hard football fan. I will stand in the bleachers and scream for my team until my voice goes away completely. I'll stand by my team through the best and worst of times (like when WVU lost to Pitt a couple years ago and threw a chance at the national championship - I was there). But it's hard to support a team that doesn't punish behavior like that of LaGarrette. It's hard to RESPECT a team that doesn't punish those actions.

All over the internet, you'll find the video of the LaGarrette punch; ESPN has played it nearly nonstop since the incident occurred. You'll find plenty of speculation about what the NCAA will do. You'll find quotes straight from the NCAA rulebook regarding fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct. But how long until we find an answer? The Pac-10 is reviewing the tape (What's to review? LaGarrette socked Hout in the face. Simple, it seems.) and will decide on punishment after what will likely be days of discussion and sorting of details. Hout is safe from suspension, but LaGarrette is another story. He has a lot of fans fighting mad and we can only hope the conference will deal with him firmly and quickly. It's the only way to keep their credibility and respectability as coaches, players, and overall football teams.