In the aftermath of The Punch Heard ‘Round The World, Oregon took the steps necessary to begin repairing their image nationally by suspending LeGarrette Blount for the balance of the 2009 season.
Blount, on the other hand, has begun the process of repairing his image personally.
In an excellent piece by the Eugene Register-Guard‘s George Schroeder, head coach Chip Kelly revealed that, on Friday afternoon, Blount approached him and said that he wanted to call Boise State to apologize for his action’s Thursday night.
So on Saturday, Blount went into Kelly’s office and called the school. The running back apologized directly to both Broncos head coach Chris Petersen and to the player on the receiving end of the punch that earned him the year-long suspension, Byron Hout.
Additionally, Kelly told the Register-Guard that Blount spoke to former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, a long-time friend of Kelly’s. Gruden advised Blount on “how to move on -- and in light of his new reality, how to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of potential future employers.”
(There was no word on what was discussed between the two, but is there any doubt that the first words out of Gruden’s mouth were “What the f--k were you thinking, kid?”)
There’s no question that Blount was in the wrong in the immediate aftermath of the blue-turf havoc he created. However, he’s said and done all the right things since, and for that he should get a begrudging golf clap.
Of course, these aren’t completely altruistic actions as Blount has a few million dollars riding on the rehabilitation of his image between now and next April.