Oregon Public Broadcasting

A star University of Oregon football player faces severe penalties Friday after he punched an opposing player following Thursday night’s season-opening game.

Starting running back LaGarrette Blount hit a Boise State player, and then had to be restrained.

The melee came after the Ducks’ 19-to-8 loss at Boise State.

The Pacific-10 athletics conference says the commissioner has reviewed tape of the game, and could impose a suspension as early as Friday afternoon.

Jim Muldoon is a spokesman for the conference.

Jim Muldoon: “The commissioner has fairly broad powers, in incidences like this, so suspension would be one possibility.”

Oregon athletics director Mike Bellotti said the school also could decide on a suspension because the punch occurred after the game.

Blount is a senior and was considered by some to be a possible All-American – with lucrative professional potential.

Boise Police said no criminal complaint had been filed against Blount.