Ducks keep making headlines for wrong reasons

EUGENE, Ore. - It started with a punch.

September's nationally-televised clobbering of a Boise State player by running back LeGarrette Blount was just the beginning of months of Duck Football headlines for their actions on and off the field.

"It's not good," says University of Oregon student Micaela Sicroff. "I'm from California and people at home are like, 'Oh we see your school in the news but not always for positive things.'"

Dec. 1, defensive lineman Terrance Montgomery was arrested and then later cleared for suspicion of assault.

In January, a student reportedly accused quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and wide receiver Garrett Embry of stealing from his fraternity house. The pair have not been named as suspects nor charged with a crime.

That same night, kickers Mike Bowlin and Rob Beard were involved in a street fight. Beard landed in the hospital and has been charged assaulting on a 19-year-old female.

A week later, defensive-end Matt Simms was arrested for allegedly assaulting someone he thought was involved in the previous fight.

Bringing the events full-circle, LaMichael James, the freshman running back chosen to replace Blount after that "punch seen 'round the world" is now facing his own troubles.

James has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

Students on the University of Oregon campus have a mixed reaction about all this attention the Ducks have been getting recently. Some feel the athletes are giving the University a bad rap while others say the public is being unfair.

"I'm really worried about trashing these guy's reputations without knowing anything," says student Jacob Shilling.

"I think they're in the public eye so they need to be careful about their actions," says Ariel Gilbert.

"Some of these allegations might be true, some of them may be not," says student Jack Neilson. "But you know, we've got to stand by the Ducks for now and we'll figure it out from there."

None of these players have been convicted of any crime.

Montgomery, Embry, Bowlin, and Simms are no longer with the University's football program.