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dennis.turner@wreg.com
(University, MS 7/28/2010) Ole Miss clears the way for a football player with a police record to come to campus to play for Mississippi.
Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli has been mentioned as a possible Heisman trophy candidate
Masoli led Oregon to its first Rose Bowl appearance in fifteen years, but then derailed his college career with not one, but two police arrests.
Now we've learned the University of Missisippi, the same school that wants to clean up it's past with a new mascot, and a ban of just about anything to do with the old south, wants to take on a player with a history of trouble.
Oregon football coach Chip Kelly dismissed Jerimiah Masoli, the All Pac Ten quarterback last month, after his arrest for driving with a suspended license, and having marijuana in the car.
Earlier he'd pled guilty to burglary of an Oregon fraternity house.
Late Tuesday, Ole Miss cleared the way for him to play rebel football, and students like Cassidy Hedges aren't happy about it. "I wouldn't feel safe walking around campus at night if he was walking on campus."
But experts say in today's competitive college football environment, Ole miss would be stupid NOT to consider Masoli.
"Let's not be naive. This is a big multi million dollar business and he's here to win football games and I think Houston's got a pretty good track record of helping players that have some trouble in the past." said 'Hotty Toddy Radio' host Jeremy Kennedy.
After all, he points out, since Masoli already graduated, he'd have to enroll in a graduate program and would only hang around three or four months, until the end of football season.
An Ole Miss spokesman cited NCAA regulations in saying the school could not comment about Jeremiah Masoli or any other recruit. He said they couldn't even speak in general terms about bringing a player with a police record to the football team.
Even interested observers admit it's a risk not only for Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, but for the school itself.
"If it works out, Houston Nutt's a genius. If it doesn't work out then there are more questions that will come up a little bit." said Kennedy.
But those who don't live and breathe football, wonder why the school would want to take such a big risk.
"I don't think it's worth winning a football game if somebody ends up getting hurt off the field for it." Hedges explained.
As far as we know, there's no official word on what Masoli will do, but the experts say he just about has his pick of any school he wants, and Ole Miss seems to be very high on that list.
- Jeramiah Masoli dropped from Oregon's team after two arrests
- Ole Miss opens the door for Masoli's transfer
- Some students uneasy about having Masoli on campus.
dennis.turner@wreg.com
(University, MS 7/28/2010) Ole Miss clears the way for a football player with a police record to come to campus to play for Mississippi.
Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli has been mentioned as a possible Heisman trophy candidate
Masoli led Oregon to its first Rose Bowl appearance in fifteen years, but then derailed his college career with not one, but two police arrests.
Now we've learned the University of Missisippi, the same school that wants to clean up it's past with a new mascot, and a ban of just about anything to do with the old south, wants to take on a player with a history of trouble.
Oregon football coach Chip Kelly dismissed Jerimiah Masoli, the All Pac Ten quarterback last month, after his arrest for driving with a suspended license, and having marijuana in the car.
Earlier he'd pled guilty to burglary of an Oregon fraternity house.
Late Tuesday, Ole Miss cleared the way for him to play rebel football, and students like Cassidy Hedges aren't happy about it. "I wouldn't feel safe walking around campus at night if he was walking on campus."
But experts say in today's competitive college football environment, Ole miss would be stupid NOT to consider Masoli.
"Let's not be naive. This is a big multi million dollar business and he's here to win football games and I think Houston's got a pretty good track record of helping players that have some trouble in the past." said 'Hotty Toddy Radio' host Jeremy Kennedy.
After all, he points out, since Masoli already graduated, he'd have to enroll in a graduate program and would only hang around three or four months, until the end of football season.
An Ole Miss spokesman cited NCAA regulations in saying the school could not comment about Jeremiah Masoli or any other recruit. He said they couldn't even speak in general terms about bringing a player with a police record to the football team.
Even interested observers admit it's a risk not only for Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, but for the school itself.
"If it works out, Houston Nutt's a genius. If it doesn't work out then there are more questions that will come up a little bit." said Kennedy.
But those who don't live and breathe football, wonder why the school would want to take such a big risk.
"I don't think it's worth winning a football game if somebody ends up getting hurt off the field for it." Hedges explained.
As far as we know, there's no official word on what Masoli will do, but the experts say he just about has his pick of any school he wants, and Ole Miss seems to be very high on that list.
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