We are witnessing a meltdown the likes of which we haven’t seen in a very long time. A true combination of crime, racism, beat downs, theft, domestic violence with some drunk driving sprinkled on top, all of which have taken place in the last 4 weeks.
Let’s not forget this is the same Oregon team that started off last season with a loss to Boise State followed by a brawl in which the star running back tried to take on the entire crowd. He was suspended for the season, but was naturally allowed to return. It sure looks like the team has learned their lesson.
Another astounding thing about this soap opera is that it features some of the program’s biggest stars. They’ve definitely got the off-the-field lifestyle of an NFL player down pat.
The run down is staggering. Oregon coach Chip Kelly, who stated recently he was not going to follow his kids around all weekend, needs to establish some institutional control immediately before the wheels completely fall off. The Ducks have had at least five incidents that involve the police since late January.
January 24
Kicker Mike Bowlin gets into an altercation in which he loses. He goes back to his bed, not knowing that teammate Rob Beard stepped into a brawl that was about 20 people deep.
Beard gets beat unconscious, having his head kicked repeatedly — requiring some facial reconstruction surgery.
January 25
In what was essentially the same night, just a little later, starting quarterback, Jeremy Masoli and wide receiver Garrett Embry were accused in a police report statement given by Fraternity member Max Wolfard, that they stole valuable items from the fraternity house. The items included two laptops and an expensive guitar.
“The minute I stepped on the staircase I said to myself, ‘Wow, Masoli and Embry are in our house right now,” Wolfard told The Oregonian on Sunday afternoon. “Masoli has a very distinctive face, very distinctive facial hair — not to mention I see him on TV all the time.”
According to Oregonlive.com, Wolfard said the two players then ran out the back door. After a chase, Wolfard says Embry stopped running, gave him the projector and said, “You’ve got it back, now you better get out of here.”
Also it must be noted that Wolfard referred to the football players as ‘f**king hoodrats.’
No one has been charged in the the theft.
February 1
A few days later, walk-on defensive end Matt Simms, gets the idea that he’s going to take justice into his own hands. He think he knows who beat up his friend, Rob Beard, and he intends to do something about it. Simms gets charged with assault for punching a man and beating him. He was kicked off the team.
February 16
A whopping two weeks went by without incident. Starting running back LaMichael James broke the silence by getting arrested for domestic violence. He was charged with one strangulation charge, 2 counts physical harassment and 2 counts of assault.
According to the police report, he grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the ground in a parking lot, which resulted in abrasions and pain in her neck.
February 18
LaMichael James gets out of jail. Rob Beard, the kicker who was beat down earlier, pleads not guilty to assaulting a woman during the aforementioned altercation. Ouch.
February 20
Head coach Chip Kelly holds a press conference to address the off-field transgressions. He states among other things, ”If a player doesn’t live up to the standards we have for the football program, then they’re not going to be here. But I’m also not going to follow our kids around every Friday or Saturday night so I can see what happened to them.”
February 21
Hours after the above press conference, linebacker Kiko Alonso was arrested for drunk driving. A DUI is bad enough, but he is 19. He faces a total of five charges.
It can be assumed that an announcement was made to the team the Alonso had been kicked off the team because teammate Jamere Holland took his beef to Facebook. According to his Facebook page (his public Facebook page) Alonso was kicked off the team.
Holland apparently takes exception to his coach’s decision and posts his thoughts on Facebook in an expletive ravaged post that would fit right in on our site.
Click image to enlarge
He wasn’t done.
He must have gotten some backlash from his posts because he later expresses his desire to block white people from reading his posts. L.A. Hampton agrees.
Click on image to enlarge
It must be noted that Holland’s comments are racist. In the simplest form.
Holland has been dismissed from the team.
What will tomorrow bring? This team has gone from Pac-10 champion to Soap Opera of the NCAA off-season in the blink of an eye. Chip Kelly needs to do something quick, because this team in melting down. They are very quickly becoming the Bengals of the NCAA.
Oregon University President Richard Lariviere had this to say on Sunday:
“The University of Oregon has clear expectations of how its student athletes are to behave both on and off the field of play. Lately, several of our athletes have fallen far short of these standards. This is simply unacceptable.
The University of Oregon does not tolerate inappropriate conduct from any of its students. I know Athletics Director Mike Bellotti and Head Coach Chip Kelly share my concern about recent events involving UO players and are working hard to address these incidents. I have every confidence that they will restore the UO athletic program’s long and proud tradition of sportsmanship and integrity. Our loyal fans and alumni expect no less and neither do I.
Richard Lariviere
President, University of Oregon
I am an Oregonian and OSU grad., however I support both teams and have always wished the best for both … that is until Civil War time. I have loved the last 2 footballs seasons. I have always dreamt of civil war games deciding the conference championship. Wrong team won, but there is always next year.
With this said, what is going on at Oregon? Seems like OSU of old. If Kelly can't control his team, he needs to go. He must clean house of those idiots that fail to see it is a privilege to play college sports and to demonstrate their God given talents. They represent not only themselves, but the UO and the State of Oregon. I would rather see them go winless with class, than to go undefeated with a team of classless thugs.
It seems that Oregon needs to teach their football players literacy after they teach them how to behave… "…that s**t weak buff cuh…" Really Jamere Holland? Are you that retarded that you can't get a complete sentence together and spell WHOLE words? Cuh tha shi is stupi
I'd go back to that frat house and steal some more s**t if no one's gonna press charges.
Typical behavior from a bunch of assholes that are recruited for football skills and not a lick of normal human skills.
Jamere Holland you sir are "weak ass f**k"
The writer of this article doesn't have the facts correct on the Masoli/Embry 'alleged' theft. Max Wolfard had his projector, guitar, and laptop stolen, but was able to retrieve the projector from Embry after chasing him down. His roommate Max Iantorno had his laptop stolen. A Fraternity brother of theirs, Wayne Kohnke is the person who called the local news and referred to Masoli and Embry as hoodrats. If you take the time to look up the definition, the term 'hoodrats' is not a racial slur, it is a reference to attitude and lifestyle. The definition is: 'A person (of ANY race) who partakes in scandalous activity in order to achieve a goal or bad image. Some of the activities may be classified as illegal.' Sounds like an appropriate use of this term.
how many white peole are called hoodrats? come on now. nice attempt to justify it though
In all fairness, I was once called a hoodrat for the entirety of my 7th grade year because I lived in a trailer park. I am white. I did go to an all-white country school, but all the po' kids were called hoodrats. And they were all white.
It wouldn't surprise me if the Cincinnati Bengals recruited these f**ks for their program. After all these are the people they attract isn't it?