It's not exactly rock bottom—see USC athletics—but the University of Oregon's football program is having a rough time this off-season. Hard to believe, I know. The Ducks stormed to the Pac-10 conference championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl. But now, several off-the-field incidents have the program on its heels.
A wide receiver was kicked off the team this past weekend for violating team rules, the Associated Press reports. Jamere Holland's expletive-laced Facebook tirade probably had something to do with it. Holland posted his Facebook status update in response to news that teammate Kristian "Kiko" Alonso had been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants, mistakenly thinking Alonso had been kicked off the team. It wasn't true: Alonso is still on the team. But Holland isn't anymore.
"I won't get into the specifics, but you're smart enough to figure it out," Oregon Coach Chip Kelly tells the Oregonian in response to a question about why Holland was dismissed.
But Holland and Alonso are just the two latest Oregon football players to make the news. Running back LaMichael James is in some hot water after his girlfriend told police that he choked her and slammed her to the ground, the AP reports. Three other players were involved in a street fight, two of whom are headed to court while the third has left the team. Needless to say, there are some long nights in Eugene, Ore.
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Reader Comments Read all comments (2)
conspiracyzach of OR 9:22PM February 27, 2010
Jumbo of NV 8:23PM February 23, 2010