Senior Keith Lewis’ attitude has gotten him in trouble before this season.
Last season, Lewis called Husky quarterback Cody Pickett “overrated” during a radio interview, and Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti banned Lewis from further interviews.
“Keith did not listen to me last year,” Bellotti said Monday. “We had a little chat about certain things that I don’t agree with, so he will not be available to the press or the TV or anybody.”
Yes, it happened again, albeit to a different Seattle media outlet.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Ted Miller talked to Lewis before Saturday’s game at Washington, and Lewis continued his trend of giving a reporter plenty material.
Besides mentioning an expected dance on the Washington “W,” Lewis also called out Pickett, saying “Anyone can have one good season.”
Lewis added comments about Washington receivers Reggie Williams and Charles Frederick.
“He’s a good football player,” Bellotti said. “He’s a leader on defense. He can make plays and he’s very instrumental in what we do. I don’t expect that to change. It’s just the fact that he won’t get the opportunity to speak to the press.”
On the field, Lewis and Washington offensive lineman Khalif Barnes exchanged pushes in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game, drawing personal foul calls for both players. Bellotti said Monday that he turned the incident in to the league office.
“(Lewis) did not strike the guy, the other guy pushed him first,” Bellotti said. “It was a bad deal and it’s unfortunate because it doesn’t belong in the game of football.”