Dr. Boyce: Black Athlete Punches White Player, Loses Career

When I saw the video of the punch out by LeGarrette Blount of The University of Oregon, I was shocked and disappointed. This knock out blow that the athlete laid on Byron Hout of Boise State certainly has no place in the game of football - at least after the clock has struck zero. The University of Oregon acted immediately, suspending Blount for the entire season, effectively ending his career with the team. This incident is also going to likely hurt his chances of having an NFL career.

Here are some reasons that Oregon State was dead wrong in their decision.

1) The the university has no right to be judge and jury on this case. Where's the union for college athletes? Oh yeah, they don't have one. This incident is a reminder and sick reflection of the fact that college student athletes should have the same labor rights as the rest of us. Instead, they are subject to the harsh decisions of universities who care more about their revenues and reputations than the athletes themselves. Before you destroy a young man's career, there should be hearings and a full investigation by a trustworthy panel of individuals who consider his well-being as part of the process. The idea that someone moved so quickly without knowing all the facts is absolutely ridiculous.

2) He is young. Since when can't one 22-year old football player punch out another one and not pay for it for the rest of his life? Does it really make sense that the university feels that this man's years of hard work are so disposable that they can simply throw them in the trash without consequence? Coaches are arrested for DWIs, commit crimes and do all kinds of egregious things, and are simply expected to go find another job. Blount, because of NCAA restrictions, can't simply join the team at another university. His career is over.

3) Football is an aggressive sport, so why such a harsh penalty for exhibiting aggression? These young guys are spending an entire hour hitting, tackling, yanking, pulling and beating each other into the ground. You then get upset because the violence spills off the field. Perhaps it's a little silly to reward someone for violence one minute and then act appalled when they take the violence too seriously.

4) Racism anyone? I always love the way we are quick to pathologize aggressive behavior of black athletes. When a player punches someone out, he is psychotic and in need of counseling. All the while, players in the National Hockey League get into fights every day before breakfast, and nobody says a word. The fact that this event occurred on national television likely played a role in the severity of the response. There is the additional elephant in the room that a black player punched a white one. I dare to argue that if both players had been black, the punishment may not have been as firm and irresponsible.

By laying a knock out punch on this young man's career, The University of Oregon has knocked out any respect for human decency. This student athlete deserves to have a second chance or at least a fair hearing before the school feels comfortable destroying all that he has worked for. The Oregon Ducks should be ashamed and perhaps this is where President Obama would be justified in saying that someone "acted stupidly." I hope the player files suit.

The video of the punch is below if you want to judge the incident for yourself. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of "What if George Bush were a Black Man?" To have Dr Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.