Oregon’s Griffin Likely to Redshirt

Oregon wide receiver Damon Griffin will almost certainly sit out the season as a redshirt but inside linebacker Ryan Klaasen could be back for the Oct. 18 game against Utah.

Griffin tore ligaments in his right thumb during fall practice and has been limited to practicing with a splint on the injury. Coach Mike Bellotti has said in recent weeks that he was leaning toward redshirting Griffin, and in his weekly conference call this week said he has made up his mind to do so.

Klaasen, meanwhile, has not played since suffering concussions in games against Nevada and Fresno State and will sit out Saturday’s game against UCLA.

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Stanford’s athletic director has apologized to local Catholic school officials angered by last weekend’s football pregame and halftime shows by the university’s band.

Ted Leland issued a written apology to more than 30 administrators who signed a letter condemning the band’s shows, performed during Saturday’s Stanford-Notre Dame game.

The shows featured a parody of the Irish potato famine, a mock debate between a Catholic cardinal and the devil, and referred to the Irish as “stinking drunks.”