NCAA Gets Jeremiah Masoli Ruling Right
I love Jeremiah Masoli the football player. One of my favorite Ducks of all time. Half of "I Love My Ducks" is dedicated to him, and on the field, he truly is sicker than e-coli.
The only problem, as we've found out, is that he's not such a great guy off it.
Which, as an Oregon fan, makes it difficult to form an opinion on the NCAA's denial of his request for eligibility.
On one hand, I love watching him play. He's a Heisman-caliber talent, and him leading a mediocre Ole Miss team in the rugged SEC would be one of the top story lines in college football.
I'll never forget watching his two years at Oregon. Fifth string back-up in fall camp to best player in the conference in less than a full season? Amazing. The Civil Wars, the Holiday Bowl, USC on Halloween, double overtime in Arizona.
But then stuff happened. He blew his second chance, and months later his third. His rope with Chip Kelly ran out. So what'd he do? He fled town, looking for anywhere to keep his football dream alive.
Everything was going swimmingly for Masoli until yesterday. When the NCAA stepped in, and for once, made the right move.
If Masoli isn’t eligible at Oregon this year, why should he be eligible anywhere else?
He messed up. Twice, badly. He pleaded a felony charge down to a misdemeanor.
I'm glad the NCAA took a stand and set this precedent.
No football player should be able to finagle his way out of a suspension by getting a joke 45-credit sociology degree and transferring to another institution for "graduate school" because it offers a different program than Oregon. Parks and Recreation? Really?
I don't know why we're all of a sudden so shocked by the NCAA's decision. It's right there in it's bylaws:
"NCAA Bylaw 14.5.1.3 Disciplinary Suspension. A student who transfers to any NCAA institution from a collegiate institution while the student is disqualified or suspended from the previous institution for disciplinary reasons (as opposed to academic reasons) must complete one calendar year of residence at the certifying institution. (Revised: 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97)"
Here's a direct quote from Rich McGlynn in the prior precedent setting case:
"What are you going say, 'hey, I got arrested at another school, so can I come play here?'"
Sorry Masoli, I love watching you play, but it just wouldn't be right.
