Swine Flu, New Job and LaGarrette Blount

Trafton B.

October 2, 2009 - 12:12 PM

It's definitely been an interesting first week, to say the least. For your reading enjoyment and clarity I titled this entry by the highlights of the week in chronological order - at least the highlights in my mind.

First, remember when I explained how I rode my bike over to Mount Pisgah on Tuesday morning? Well, I haven't quite been the same (health wise) since then. Wednesday afternoon a simple couch and sore throat turned into body aches and chills until I finally got the energy to get to Safeway to buy some Nyquil. After passing out at 9pm, I woke up Thursday feeling no better than before, which was especially disheartening because it sidelined me from riding back to Mount Pisgah for a tour. Instead I headed to the University Health Center fearing for the worst. First off, the Health Center is awesome. The staff is incredibly nice. The doctor I met with gave me his email address in case I had any more questions. And the nurse actually seemed like she genuinely cared for my health... as she kindly asked me to put on a mask as a "courtesy to the others." I guess my cough was pretty bad. Anywho, there was good news and bad news from the doctors. The good news is that I don't have the H1N1. Bad news is that I have the most idiotically named virus on the face of the earth. The coxsackie virus. I'll let you figure out the pronounciation. It's basically a really intense form of the common cold. All in all, it could be worse.

Next order of business, new job! This morning I went in for orientation at Facility Services, where I've just been hired as a Student Research Assistant in the energy sector. It was mostly paper work, but I did make friends with the receptionist while in the waiting room. She said, "Congratulations, students jobs are tough to come by over here." I coughed back a thank you in reply, and she offered some hand sanitizer - a great first impression, I'm sure. After that though, I got a run down of the facility. Where I'll be working. Meeting the staff. It was definitely a whole lot to take in, but I'm really excited. I think it's going to be a great work experience that will fit right into my major field and maybe even open up some career opportunities after I graduate.

Lastly, LaGarrette Blount. For those of you that aren't up to date with your Ducks' football this season let me refresh your memory. The Ducks opened the 2009 season at Boise State on the Smurf Turf in an utterly forgettable faceoff. Both teams were looked rusty and uncomfortable as the #16 Ducks played only slightly sloppier than the #14 Broncos. The game ended with the Broncos surviving 18-9, but the fireworks had only begun at that point. Both sides took off their helmets, head coach Chip Kelly shook hands with the Boise State coaches, and our prized running back LaGarette Blount sucker punched Byron Hout, Boise State DE. It was a bad showing on Blount's part, true, but I'm sure Hout got what he deserved for his smack talk. But the hit the fan when Blount went after Boise State fans and his own Duck teammates on his way into the locker room.

Not even 24 hours after the incident, the University and Chip Kelly agreed to suspend Blount for the remainder of the season. In the past few days, however, the breaking news is that we might reinstate LaGarrette sometime in the middle of the season. He wrote an official apology to the university, which appeared in the Daily Emerald yesterday. This morning I woke up and turned on Sportscenter only to see the exact same article being showcased. How cool is that, the Oregon Daily Emerald made an appearance on ESPN. Talk about recognition. So, there is a buzz around campus right now, wondering if we're going to see LaGarrette Blount back in Autzen Stadium. We have a game tomorrow against Washington State. Obviously, he's not going to be back that soon, and let's face it, we don't need any extra help against WSU. I expect that he comes back against when we play USC on October 31st. It's a night game, the entire student section is going to be in costume and he'll be in a safe haven at home where he will be showered with cheers. If we keep on winning, you can count on the Gameday bus rolling into Eugene on Halloween night for this heavyweight Pac-10 showdown. If you couldn't tell, I'm pretty excited.

Alright, I have to get a little more reading done before my Chinese Lit class at 2. So until then, take care. I've left you with a photo from our game last Saturday against Cal. I'm the one on the left in the big straw hat. Don't laugh, I'm red headed and it was very sunny. At least I didn't get raccoon eyes like my roommate.