High school quarterback suspended for ’inappropriately touching’ center during snap

An Oregon high school quarterback has been suspended from classes after officials claim he "inappropriately touched" another player while taking a snap during football practice.

Garrett Moore, a quarterback on West Salem High School freshman team, was handed a three-day suspension and was sent home from school with a written referral that read "Student inappropriately touched another student during football practice."

According to the Statesman Journal, Moore said that he was instructed by coaches to take a snap from a center who said "he wanted me to go way up there [with my hands] and it felt very uncomfortable."

The center was a player with whom Moore had problems, including pushing him to the ground earlier in practice.

"I was, like, moving my hands and I touched him and he started laughing," explained Moore. "I guess I tickled him. I wouldn't mean to. That's kind of weird."

He says that center moved to the defensive line after a few plays and the regular center came back. 

The group ran a play and the player who had previously played center walked toward him after the play.

"He acted like he was giving me a hug and he kneed me in my crotch," Moore said. "He said that he did that because I spat on his shoe, even though he was five feet in front of me."

Four days following the Oct. 2 incident, Moore said he was called from class to the assistant principal's office to talk about ongoing problems with other players.

While there, he told assistant principal Jim Miller about what happened before he was sent back to class.

The center was then called into the office and allegedly recounted a different version of what happened before Moore was called back into the office, this time was escorted by a security guard, and was asked if he had tickled the center while taking the snap.

"I'm like, I guess,''' Moore said. "He was laughing when I touched him. I didn't mean to say tickle. I said tickle because he laughed."

Moore said Miller then called his mother, making "it sound like I'm a complete pervert" before she came to pick him up from school, reported the Statesman Journal.

His mother, Tamara Moore, called the incident "absolutely absurd" and said that she plans to appeal the suspension to the Salem-Keizer director of high schools.

School officials would not say whether the other player was disciplined for striking Moore.

Marcus Mariota: 'I'd love to play for the Jets': Report

Marcus Mariota was on hand for the annual Maxwell Football Club awards ceremony in Atlantic City Friday, where he was given the Maxwell Award as college football's player of the year.

And with the NFL draft about six weeks down the road, the Oregon quarterback gave one team about two hours up the Jersey Turnpike some food for thought

"I'd love to play for the Jets," said Mariota, according to the Asbury Park Press.

 "Meeting with the offensive coordinator [Chan Gailey] and the quarterbacks coach [Kevin Patullo] was awesome,'' he said. "It was an opportunity for me to introduce myself, and it seems like a great organization."

The Heisman Trophy winner has been linked to the Jets, the quarterback-confused team that holds the No. 6 pick in the draft.

But there's also been some speculation that another team one hour west on the Atlantic City Turnpike is giving the quarterback some serious consideration.

Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly — once Mariota's college head coach — is reportedly willing to move up from the 20th spot to select the former Duck.

"I wouldn't doubt it," Mariota said of Kelly potentially pulling off a blockbuster trade to get him. "But coach Kelly and the Eagles are going to do what's best for that team, and we'll see what happens."

Mariota said he had an informal breakfast meeting with the Eagles' quarterbacks coach on Thursday. He also said "everybody" jokes with him about the Eagles moving up to get him.

"I'm not sure what coach Kelly wants to do, and I haven't talked to him about it," Mariota said. "He's been more of a mentor for me when I needed someone, or if I needed to talk to him about anything, he's been there for me."

Tony Washington's 'bow' helps Arizona beat Oregon (GIF)

The second-ranked Oregon Ducks lost at home last night (this morning?) to Arizona 31-24, partially due to a ridiculous taunting penalty called at a crucial moment of the game.

Oregon defensive lineman Tony Washington sacked Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon on third down, but after the fourth quarter play ended Washington bowed toward the sideline in celebration and was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.  

The controversial call took Arizona's position of having fourth-and-goal from the 17 and turned it into a first down at Oregon's eight yard line. Three straight Terris Jones-Grigsby rushes later, the Wildcats scored a touchdown for the decisive 31-24 lead.

Maybe Washington should have just told the overzealous officials he was praying.

[Deadspin]

Marcus Mariota's first INT toss in over a year is two-man beauty (VIDEO)

Marcus Mariota’s streak of 343 unintercepted passes ended pretty quickly Saturday. On the first play from scrimmage against Arizona, the Oregon Ducks quarterback threw his first interception in over a year resulting in a highlight clip for the ages.

Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright comes down with the pick with some ridiculous help from his teammate Shaquille Richardson to end Mariota's remarkable run.

Wright picked off Mariota after the ball had been deflected first by Oregon receiver Bralon Addison, then saved from hitting the turf by a diving Richardson.

That teamwork might have set the tone for the game as the Wildcats went on to rout No.5 Oregon 42-16.

Stanford players dressed as nerds after beating Oregon (PHOTO)

Chalk one up for the Jonathan Martins of the sports world.

Stanford already won the game with its physically dominating performance on both sides of the ball in the 26-20 win against the favored Oregon team. But some Stanford players gave fans a memorable reminder of what the school really represents in their postgame media presser.

When asked why the players were wearing nerd glasses, Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan responded, "It's Stanford."

Stanford players dressed as nerds at post game presser pic.twitter.com/dGzcEGhU0E
— David Lombardi (@DavidMLombardi) November 8, 2013

That impressive victory gave the Cardinal players the right to wear whatever they wanted. In the picture below David Lombardi captured Shayne Skov, A.J. Tarpley and Tyler Gaffney in their Skolnick, Lowell and Booger personas.