Oregon's Blount permitted to play

Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, who was suspended for the season after punching a Boise State player in the wake of the season opener, has been allowed to rejoin the Ducks.

The university requested Blount's reinstatement, which was approved by Pacific-10 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott on Monday. Blount will be able to play for the No. 14 Ducks on Saturday when they play host to Arizona State. He missed eight games.

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

Kelly later said that if Blount met certain conditions, he would be allowed to return.

• Wisconsin receiver Maurice Moore was indefinitely suspended by coach Bret Bielema following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving over the weekend. Bielema also said starting tailback John Clay should be back at practice today, after Clay showed signs of having a concussion during the Badgers' victory at Indiana on Saturday.

• Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly decided Tony Pike will be the Bearcats' starting quarterback when he's healthy. Backup Zach Collaros led the No. 5 Bearcats to a 47-45 victory over Connecticut on Saturday with the second-best passing performance in school history.

Outgoing Michigan athletic director Bill Martin pushed a student and grabbed the windbreaker of another during two football games, according to a department of public safety report.

Michigan student Jackie Turner said she told Martin he needed a pass to enter the regents guest area of the pressbox Sept. 12 during a game against Notre Dame. She said he pushed her shoulder and walked past her. "Honey, I am the athletic director," Turner quoted him as saying, according to a university report on the incident.

On Oct. 17, Eastern Michigan student Arif Khan said he told Martin and a female companion they needed passes to enter the regents guest area after a game against Delaware State. Khan said Martin grabbed his jacket. "I am the athletic director, I can go in," Khan quoted Martin as telling him.

Turner and Khan were interviewed Oct. 18. three days before Martin announced he would retire in September.

AROUND THE HORN

Baseball: The Boston Red Sox exercised a $7.7 million option on Victor Martinez and declined options on Jason Varitek and Alex Gonzalez. They also agreed to a $5 million, two-year deal with 43-year-old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Boston obtained Martinez from Cleveland on July 31, and he replaced Varitek as the starting catcher. The club option for Varitek was worth $5 million, but he can stay with the team if he exercises his $3 million player option. ... Philadelphia declined a $5.5 million option on third baseman Pedro Feliz, who filed for free agency. ... Tampa Bay exercised its $10 million option on All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford.

College basketball: Evan Turner started out his junior season by recording only the second triple-double in program history, getting 14 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in No. 16 Ohio State's 100-60 victory over Alcorn State. ... No. 6 North Carolina spoiled Isiah Thomas' college coaching debut by beating Florida International 88-72 in Chapel Hill, N.C. ... Jim Boeheim became the eighth Division I coach to reach 800 victories after Syracuse beat Albany 75-43. Only Mike Krzyzewski (833), Jim Calhoun (804) and Boeheim are active among the eight who have reached 800.

Figure skating: Sasha Cohen's comeback has taken another setback. The Olympic silver medalist withdrew from Skate America, saying she is still battling tendinitis in her right calf. Though Cohen said she still hopes to compete in the Vancouver Olympics, she now would seem to be a long shot to make the team.

Tennis: Marat Safin extended his career by at least one more round, saving three match points to beat qualifier Thierry Ascione 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) at the Paris Masters. The 29-year-old Russian plans to retire after this tournament. He will face U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round. "The way he is playing right now, I don't think I have a chance," Safin said.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS