The confrontation distracted from one of the hallmark victories in Boise State’s history. The No. 14 Broncos defeated the No. 16 Ducks, 19-8, a victory that is likely to place them in the top 10 next week and make the team a serious contender for a Bowl Championship Series game. The Ducks, meanwhile, face difficult games against Purdue and Utah the next two weeks. Blount struggled against Boise State, finishing with minus-5 yards on eight carries. Boise State’s Billy Winn had the night’s defensive highlight when he slammed Blount into the ground for a safety in the second quarter.
After the game, Winn called Blount’s punch a “cheap shot,” adding: “Their actions speak for their team. Something like that shows you what they’re being coached. If they were coached better than that, he wouldn’t have thrown that punch.”
William Friday, a longtime critic of the commercialization of college sports and the founding co-chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, said the altercation showed something else. “What you’re seeing here is an example of the pressure and the stress that comes in when you get this kind of tinder box,” he said. “It’s the pressure of winning at almost any price.”
At least the Oregon coach took it seriously. The provocation by the Boise State player got nothing but a discussion with his coach. And to quote: “Something like that shows you what they’re being coached.” Given the varied responses, I’d take the Oregon coach over the Boise State coach every time!