Facebook post costs Oregon WR Jamere Holland spot on team

Published on February 21, 2010 by     

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon coach Chip Kelly announced Sunday he had dismissed Jamere Holland from the team, hinting it was because of the wide receiver’s expletive-filled post on the player’s Facebook page.

Kelly said in a statement released by the school that Holland was dismissed for violating team rules, but didn’t elaborate. Asked by The Oregonian if the violation was related to Holland’s Facebook post on Saturday, the coach said: “I won’t get into the specifics, but you’re smart enough to figure it out.”

Holland updated his Facebook status after linebacker Kristian Kiko Alonso was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants. Alonso is the fourth Oregon player to be arrested in the past month.

In his post, Holland mistakenly concluded Alonso had been kicked off the team and blasted the move as unfair and damaging to the Ducks.

Holland wrote in a later post: “I wish I could block whites as friends and only have blacks LOL, cause apparently I’m misunderstood.”

School spokesman Dave Williford said Alonso remains on the team, “contrary to Internet reports, rumors and Jamere Holland.”

Athletic director Mike Bellotti, who was the football coach when Holland transferred to Oregon from Southern California after the 2006 season, told The Oregonian for a story posted on the newspaper’s Web site Sunday that he was frustrated with Holland.

“We’ve given this guy so many chances,” Bellotti said while attending Oregon’s stunts and gymnastics meet. “We’ve had many sit-down, very serious talks.”

Holland had 17 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns in two years with Oregon, which went 10-3 last season and lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Alonso was the Ducks’ primary backup at middle linebacker and one of the top special teams performers last season.

The Associated Press sent an e-mail seeking comment to Alonso, who was stopped less than a day after Kelly held a news conference to talk about other off-field problems by his players.

Star running back LaMichael James, 20, was arrested last week after his girlfriend told police he choked her and threw her to the ground during an argument. James pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of fourth-degree assault, physical harassment and strangulation.

Eugene police said last week that kicker Rob Beard had been cited with investigation of misdemeanor assault in a Jan. 24 street fight that left him seriously injured. Police also cited defensive end Matt Simms for investigation of misdemeanor assault in that brawl. Simms was dismissed from the team, while another kicker allegedly involved in the incident, Mike Bowlin, left the team last week. Simms and Beard have pleaded not guilty.

Tags: Associated Press, Athletic Director, Chip Kelly, Director Mike, Driving Under The Influence, E Mail, Expletive, Facebook, football coach, Internet Reports, Intoxicants, Jamere Holland, Middle Linebacker, Mike Bellotti, Oregon Coach, Oregonian, Post Holland, Rose Bowl, Wide Receiver, Williford