NCAA being hypocritical when it comes to Jeremiah Masoli

Dec 29, 2009; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli at press conference for the 2010 Rose Bowl at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown. Photo via Newscom

I don’t feel bad for Jeremiah Masoli that the NCAA has denied a waiver that would have allowed him to play at Ole’ Miss this season without having to sit out a year like most transfers.

The kid has had his chances and he has blown every single on of them. But that doesn’t mean that the NCAA wasn’t hypocritical in its ruling.

In a press release following the announcement, the NCAA said: “The waiver exists to provide relief to student-athletes who transfer for academic reasons to pursue graduate studies, not to avoid disciplinary measures at the previous university.”

On the surface, I agree with the statement. Masoli didn’t transfer to Ole’ Miss to further his education – he transferred so he could play one more year of college football in hopes of getting drafted into the NFL.

Don’t forget that after he plead guilty in January on a felony burglary charge, Oregon suspended him for the entire 2010 season. So essentially, the waiver allowed him to leapfrog the suspension at Oregon and play at Ole’ Miss without facing any discipline.

But while I agree with the rule in principle, how is Masoli any different than Darius Barksdale or Ryan Perriloux?

Barksdale never suited up for the Rebels, but was charged with DUI and driving without a license in August of last year, then, when enrolled at Ole Miss for the spring semester, Houston Nutt suspended him for an undisclosed violation. Finally, just before practice began this year, Barksdale was kicked off the team entirely.

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Jeremiah Masoli and the NFL supplemental draft

If I were a NFL GM (and God willing someday I will be, thanks to my extensive sports blogging experience) there isn’t enough booze in an Irish pub to get me drunk enough to select former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in July’s supplemental draft.

Despite having one year of eligibility remaining, The Oregonian reported earlier this week that Masoli is expected to enter the supplemental draft. This news comes three weeks after the University of Oregon football program booted him off the team following his second legal incident in six months.

In March, Masoli and fellow genius Garrett Embry pled guilty to second-degree burglary after they robbed a campus frat house for two laptop computers and a guitar in late January. Oregon suspended Masoli for the entire 2010 season, although stated that if stayed out of trouble, he could return to the football team for his final year of eligibility in 2011.

But in early June, Masoli was charged with possession of marijuana, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop at a driveway or a sidewalk. Head coach Chip Kelly had no choice but to kick him off the team entirely following that incident, which brings us to our current situation.

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History repeats itself when it comes to Jeremiah Masoli

At the risk of sounding like a cynic, it wasn’t hard to see all of this coming.

The downfall of Jeremiah Masoli, that is.

The Oregon quarterback was kicked off the team on Wednesday after police cited him earlier in the week for possession of marijuana, driving with a suspended license, and failure to stop at a driveway or sidewalk.

Of course, this citation comes just three months after Masoli pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of second-degree burglary for stealing two laptops and a guitar from a university frat house in late January with teammate Garrett Embry. Ducks head coach Chip Kelly had only suspended him for the 2010 season at that point, but now Masoli’s football career, at least at the University of Oregon, is now over.

Should anyone be surprised that this was the outcome of his Oregon career? Even before he arrived in Eugene, Masoli was expelled from Serra High in San Mateo, California in 2005 for muscling people for money outside of malls and at bus stops. He spent a stint in a juvenile detention center after pleading guilty to robbery, yet still had the opportunity to play college football.

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Masoli suspended for 2010 season after pleading guilty to burglary charge

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of second-degree burglary on Friday and has been suspended for the entire 2010 college football season.

“He does have a red shirt year available if he chooses to do that,” Kelly said. “He will also have a plan put in place if he can follow, strictly follow that plan then he will be able to come back and play in 2011. But he will not be eligible in 2010.”

Along with fellow Duck Garrett Embry, Masoli stole two laptops and a guitar from a university frat house in late January. Kelly kicked Embry off the team before this trial for violating team rules.

Masoli was going to be a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate this season and now because of an incredibly stupid decision, he won’t play at all. He had his entire future ahead of him but because he thought it would be funny to steal a couple of laptops and a guitar from a frat house, now his football career is in question. Not too smart.

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