Pac 10 rivalries jeopardized by expansion

Now that the Pac 10 has the 12-team — not 16 — membership it has wanted all year, the conference has to face the reality that expansion isn’t as easy as it sounds. Pac 10 Commissioner Larry Scott expects to meet with conference athletic directors in July to have preliminary discussions on how to split the teams into the two six-team divisions the NCAA requires for a conference to host a championship game. Looking at the list of teams, no matter how you let it shake out, someone is going to be furious. You can either keep all the California teams together, with the Arizona teams, which would leave the Pacific Northwest, and new members Utah and Colorado. Or you can split the California teams and take it from there. Either way, it’s going to be ugly, the kind of ugly that happens when money kills longstanding rivalries. – Contra Costa Times

Blount may be reinstated today

When the Oregon Ducks resume practice Monday, after a rare 25-hour opportunity to enjoy their victory, they might learn about the return of a player who has yet to participate in an Oregon win this season. Pacific-10 Conference commissioner Larry Scott met Sunday with running back LeGarrette Blount, university president Richard Lariviere, university counsel, coach Chip Kelly and athletic director Mike Bellotti to discuss the possible return of Blount. Athletic director Mike Bellotti said he expects an announcement Monday on Blount’s status. – The Oregonian