Blount Suspended for Season! Overreaction?

Yesterday Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount responded to taunting from an opposing player by punching the guy. Today, the school suspended him the rest of the season. Blount was considered one of the top running backs coming out of college next year. Now, he will fortunate to be drafted at all.

I don't condone Blount's actions. He sucker punched an opponent and completely lost control. However, I do think the punishment on face value seems excessive. He may very well have had other in house infractions and this was just final straw. I don't know. It appears that the offense was magnified by the fact that it happened in a national game to kick off the college football season. If this happened on a Saturday afternoon in October when a hundred other games were being covered by ESPN I have to think he would have faced a much lighter punishment. Timing is important.

Regardless of whether it is an appropriate punishment, it definitely serves as a cautionary tale for all young athletes. Actions have consequences. Maintain control.