EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount’s season- long suspension for punching an opponent could be lifted if he meets certain conditions, Ducks coach Chip Kelly said.
“It’s not a football decision, it’s a human being decision. It’s about that individual,” Kelly said Friday. “And he’s got a lot of things he’s got to do.”
Blount punched Boise State’s Byron Hout in the aftermath of Oregon’s 19-8 season-opening loss to the Broncos. The suspension banned him from games, but Blount was allowed to remain on scholarship and practice with the team.
Kelly said he set down academic, behavioral and football-related “ladders” that Blount must achieve for possible reinstatement, but he did not provide specifics. Academics could not be addressed earlier because classes had not started. Blount signed an agreement outlining the requirements last week.
Should Blount meet the conditions, the earliest he could return to the team is Oregon’s Nov. 7 game at Stanford — and there is no guarantee he would be allowed back at that time, if at all.
“There’s a distinct possibility he’ll never play football here again,” Kelly said. “But the ball is in LeGarrette’s court.”
If and when Blount, a senior who rushed for 1,002 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns last season, meets the conditions, Oregon will have to appeal to the Pac-10 Conference to reduce the original discipline.
“The power to reinstate rests with the conference, and if and when the university decides to make such an appeal, the conference will take the matter under advisement and make a decision,” Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said.
BC’s Herzlich beating cancer
BOSTON — Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, who last spring was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer found in bone or soft tissue, said he is “99 percent” cancer- free and close to returning to full workouts later this fall.
“It feels like forever ago,” the 22-year-old said this week as his Eagles teammates prepared to host Florida State today.
Herzlich went through radiation and chemotherapy near his home in the Philadelphia area before returning to school to resume classes and workouts in September. He looks forward to starting full workouts in December and plans to be on the field next fall.
Hawaii QB out for season
HONOLULU — Hawaii quarterback Greg Alexander will miss the rest of the season after injuring his left knee in Wednesday night’s 27-6 loss to Louisiana Tech.
The Associated Press
