Blount's gone without a Hout

The first big Saturday of college football is on tap, and wouldn't you know it, the year's first autumn-like breezes blew through the hills of Southwest Germany on Friday night. Actually burned the first fire of the season in the Grill Room.
Football...American style...Ahhh, you can taste it in the air.

And speaking of taste, as we scurry about this morning readying the place for our first big Saturday of the season, here's what's on tap for our customers:

Today's featured entree:
Roast Duck

Well, that didn't take long. University of Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount has been sacked for the year by the school thanks to his starring role in Thursday night's melee (and now feature film) which followed his team's 19-8 loss to Boise State.

Had Blount simply moved on quietly after unloading on the Broncos' defensive end Byron Hout, a partial suspension might have been in order. It was his ugly tantrum that followed, which earned him a year in the classroom, away from the dangerous distractions of the football field.

Our bouncers at the Grill Room have a zero-tolerance policy where fisticuffs are concerned, but as the manager of this joint I'll say this: The whole thing doesn't start if Hout doesn't tap Blount on the shoulder and whisper sweet somethings in his ear.

I guess Hout never anticipated he'd be dropped like a sack of dirt by Blount, which puts him in that long, lumbering line of big and stupid. It's a tough world out there, son. Hopefully, your swollen eyes have been opened.

Word out of Boise is that Hout will not be suspended for his part in the melee. This seems mighty weak, but he will get to live the rest of his life knowing that his ill-played part in this sad documentary received massive viewing from audiences all over the world.

I suppose there is some justice in that.

Some recommended side dishes hot off the grill this morning to accompany our featured entree:

• CNN's George Schroeder thinks Blount got what he deserved, but his school will pay.
• The Oregonian's John Hunt tells us Ducks' coach Chip Kelly might have thrown Blount off the team, but not on the street.
• NPR's Frank James believes that while Hout was also wrong, two wrongs don't make a right.
• The Orange County Register's Jeff Miller says there's plenty of blame to go around.

If you can't stop by the Grill Room, here's the college football fare that's cooking on the tube today:
(For our U.S. military viewers and their families overseas the games American Forces Network will be showing are in bold.)

Navy at Ohio State, Noon, ESPN
Minnesota at Syracuse, Noon, ESPN2
Akron at Penn State, Noon, Big Ten Network
Liberty at West Virginia, Noon, Big East Network
Kentucky at Miami of Ohio, Noon, ESPNU
Montana State at Michigan State, Noon, Big Ten Network
Toledo at Purdue, Noon, Big Ten Network
Towson at Northwestern, Noon, Big Ten Network
Northern Iowa at Iowa, 12:05 p.m., Big Ten Network
Western Kentucky at Tennessee, 12:21 p.m., SEC Network
Baylor at Wake Forest, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Georgia at Oklahoma State, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Nevada at Notre Dame, 3:30 NBC
San Jose State at USC, 3:30 p.m., FSN
Western Michigan at Michigan, 3:30 p.m. ABC
Jackson State at Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Illinois vs. Missouri at St. Louis, 3:40, ESPN
BYU vs. Oklahoma at Arlington, Texas, 7 p.m., ESPN
Charleston Southern at Florida, 7 p.m., FSN
Louisiana Tech at Auburn, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Northern Illinois at Wisconsin, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network
Alabama vs. Virginia Tech at Atlanta, 8 p.m., ABC
Buffalo at UTEP, 8 p.m., CBS CSN
Maryland at California, 10 p.m., ESPN2
LSU at Washington, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

(All times EST)

Enjoy!