Oregon Public Broadcasting

A University of Oregon football player suspended for the season was given a shot at redemption Friday.

LaGarette Blount was banned from the Ducks’ remaining games on September 4th -- following a post-game outburst that included punching an opposing player and going after Boise State fans.

Ethan Lindsey reports.

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly says Blount could return to the team as early as the November 7th game against Stanford.

Chip Kelly: “And there is a distinct possibility that he will never be back, so I am not reinstating him and I am making sure everybody understands that point.”

Kelly says after talking with sports sociologists and other football coaches, he rethought the season-long suspension.

Critics in the media and online are already saying reconsidering the suspension is a mistake.

Kelly says he's not giving Blount this second chance because he’s a talented running back.

Chip Kelly: And it's not a football decision, it’s a human being decision. It's about that individual.”

In order for Blount to be reinstated, the school says he needs to meet “academic and behavioral” benchmarks. Kelly would not elaborate as to what those were.