Dear Pac-10 Commish Larry Scott: Step Up And Suspend Blount

Dear Mr. Scott-

Mr. Scott, we haven’t had much of a chance to get to know each other up to this point.  That’s probably a good thing, but it would appear that your first real chance to make your presence known has arrived.  It has to do with ol’ Punchy McCrowdfighter, and his season long suspension that Oregon is conveniently turning into less than half a season ban. 

You could show the entire country that the Pac-10 doesn’t fuck around by overriding this joke of a decision and suspending him for the remainder of Pac-10 play yourself. 

Remember at the start of the season when you were strutting around with your spurs jingling and jangling?  Remember these quotes?

There’s a reason I’m here — the conference is looking for a new way of thinking,

You need to have balance and be thoughtful, and consult in the appropriate way, but it’s important to be decisive and clear, and understand that the statement is going to send a message what you’re values are.

That’s all fine and dandy when you know the right steps are going to be taken.  A few weeks (and a few convenient, Blount-less wins) have taken the spotlight off of things.  Boosters are surely leaning to see that offense get back to full swing.  Also interesting to see what coach Chip Kelly’s press release had to say:

After speaking with a number of nationally renowned professionals in the field, which included Dr. Harry Edwards and Tony Dungy, I came to the conclusion that leaving the door open for LeGarrette’s potential return as an active player was the best solution.

Sounds like you weren’t even asked, but Tony Dungy was.  Do ESPN analysts get to decide what’s best for the league?  If they think reinstatement is ideal for someone who punched another player and then attacked his teammates and opposing fans, then they’re not even fit for ESPN consumption.  Reinstating Blount reopens the wounds of the incident and makes the entire conference open for speculation and ridicule.   I don’t want the Pac-10 to be a nationwide joke.  The conference is stronger from top to near bottom (sorry, Cougs) as it’s been in many years, and the race for the title is wide open.  There are real stories, positive stories, that can and should be focused on this season.  Instead, we’re looking at the Blount show week after week.  It doesn’t have to be that way.

Blount can and should continue to persue his football career. He has potential to play professionally, be it in the NFL or another league.  Positive reinforcement after such an ugly incident is likely in his best interest.  He should try and find that, but it shouldn’t be allowed to be handed to him on an NCAA playing field.  Let him practice with the team, and train on his own.  His actions in Boise determined his fate for the remainder of this season, and the decision originally made by the Oregon athletic department were based on that.  The incident.  A 3-game winning streak is great for the team, but it doesn’t change what happened that evening.  Time shouldn’t be allowed to warp that vision or amend a decision that was announced and supported.  Allowing Oregon to go back on their prior determination is a black eye on that school, that football team, that coach, and our conference as a whole.

Step up and do the right thing.  Avoid the opportunity for a dangerous precedent.  Deny Blount a chance to overshadow the rest of our conference play.  Suspend him yourself.