Retaliation leads to Duck being cited

This has not exactly been the best of weeks for the University of Oregon football program.

A week ago today, an on-campus brawl left kicker Rob Beard in intensive care after he was repeatedly kicked in the head by several people during the altercation.

Then, star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, along with wide receiver Garrett Embry, were accused by members of a fraternity of stealing several items from their frat house, including a couple of MacBooks and a guitar. (It should be noted that no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed.)

Now comes word that an Oregon player has been cited in retaliation for the first incident.

From the Eugene Register-Guard:

A Eugene man told police he was assaulted at a campus area party early Saturday by a University of Oregon football player who accused him of taking part in the Jan. 23 beating of Duck placekicker

When contacted Saturday evening the man, a 20-year-old student who was bloodied and bruised but not seriously injured, said he told the player he was not at the Beard incident. But he said the player punched him without warning, knocked him down and continued to punch him while he was on the ground until other people intervened.

Eugene police who were called to East 16th Avenue and Mill Street at 12:34 a.m. Saturday cited Matthew Ryan Simms, 20, on misdemeanor simple assault charges. Simms was released pending a future municipal court appearance, police spokeswoman Melinda Kletzok said. She would give no further details.