Masoli Sitting a year at Ole Miss

The Associated Press is reporting that the NCAA has decided former Oregon Ducks quarterback Jeremaiah Masoli will ineligible for the 2010 football season. This news is a major hit to the hype surrounding Houston Nutt and upcoming season for the Rebels. While Ole Miss stood little challenge to Alabama for the SEC West title, the season outlook for LSU and Arkansas is suddenly on the up. On January 1 of 2010, Masoli was preparing to play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl following an unbelievably successful season for the Ducks. Following the dismal in-game and post-game showing by the Ducks versus Boise State in their season opener, Masoli and outstanding freshman running back LaMichael James lead Oregon to a 10-1 finish and a surprise Pac-10 title. Since the Rose Bowl in January, Masoli has committed felony robbery and been cited for marijuana possession, earning himself a year long suspension for his senior year. Masoli then decided to take his talents to South Beach try and find any team/coach willing to give him a change. A sad end to someone who could have made Oregon a serious contender this year. Without Masoli and starting an inexperienced quarterbak the Ducks are still ranked in the top-15 and generally considered the favorite out West. I would argue Oregon would be a top-5 team with Masoli this year. Instead, he is riding the bench for the bottom dweller in the SEC West. We are not talking about a kid here. Masoli is a grown man who threw away a very promising football season and career.


*Editorial Note:  Within 48 hours of their ruling, the NCAA overturned Masoli's eligibility ruling following an appeal by Ole Miss.  The overruling is very curious to Jock Talk given the original reasoning.  The NCAA ruled that while Masoli had entered a graduate program at Ole Miss not available at the University or Oregon, he had been suspended for the entire season with the Ducks and the rule was in place to promote higher education, not fleeing suspensions.  We are not sure which part of their ruling changed after they slept on it, but Ole Miss has moved up from guarantee lock to land at the bottom of the SEC to guarantee lock to finish in the middle of the SEC pack.  GO REBELS