The university requested Blount's reinstatement, which was approved by Pacific Ten Conference commissioner Larry Scott yesterday.

Blount will be able to play for the No. 14 Ducks (7-2, 5-1 Pac-10) on Saturday when they host Arizona State. He missed eight games.

Blount issued a statement saying he was grateful to Oregon coach Chip Kelly for giving him a second chance.

"Now it is up to me to prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise," he said.

Blount punched Byron Hout after the nationally televised opener, bringing the Broncos' defensive end to his knees. The next day he was suspended for the season by Kelly, but he was allowed to keep his scholarship and practice with the team.

Job openings. Western Kentucky coach David Elson and Memphis coach Tommy West were fired yesterday, although both will be allowed to guide their teams through the end of the season.

Western Kentucky is 0-9 this season and the Hilltoppers have lost 17 straight games, the longest active losing streak in Division I-A.

The 55-year-old West is 49-58 in his ninth season as head coach at Memphis (2-7, 1-4 Conference USA).

Badgers receiver suspended. Wisconsin wide receiver Maurice Moore has been indefinitely suspended by coach Bret Bielema after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. The fourth-year junior was in an accident early Sunday and taken to a Madison hospital for minor injuries.

Whitney honored. Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney was named the Colonial Athletic Association's offensive co-player of the week after leading the Wildcats to a 21-20 upset of top-ranked Richmond on Saturday.

The Wildcats moved up a spot to No. 3 in the Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) poll.

Whitney completed 21 of 34 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns against the Spiders.

He's sorry. Retiring Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said he apologized to two student security workers who reported he assaulted them during football games.

The school said it has closed an investigation of Martin's actions.

Michigan student Jackie Turner said Martin pushed her Sept. 12 when she requested his ID as he entered the regents guest area of the press box during Michigan's game against Notre Dame.

Eastern Michigan student Arif Khan said Martin grabbed him when he asked for his ID in the same area Oct. 17 after a game against Delaware State.

The students were not hurt, and neither pressed charges.