QB Jeremiah Masoli Elgible To Play Immediately After Winning Appeal

Jeremiah Masoli Wins Appeal, Immediately Eligible To Play For Ole Miss

In a surprising twist, the NCAA Division I Subcommittee for Legislative Relief has overturned the decision that required Jeremiah Masoli to sit out this season, making the quarterback eligible to play immediately for Ole Miss.

The announcement was made by the school Friday afternoon.

Initially, the NCAA had denied a waiver request from Ole Miss to allow Masoli to play in 2010. According to the NCAA rules, "football graduate student-athletes must receive a waiver in order to compete if they enroll at a university other than where they received their undergraduate degree." 

Except more reaction at our Ole Miss blog Red Cup Rebellion.

NCAA Explains Denial Of Jeremiah Masoli Waiver

The NCAA has issued a statement regarding its denial of Jeremiah Masoli's waiver request, which will prevent him from playing football for Ole Miss in 2010 barring a reversal of fortunes:

In its decision, the staff noted the student-athlete was unable to participate at the University of Oregon based on his dismissal from the team, which is contrary to the intent of the waiver. 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.

Empirically, this does make sense, although sportswriting wags are already pointing out that this why we have the FCS. Ole Miss will appeal the decision, obviously. In the interim, we can only imagine trying to spell the words spewing from Houston Nutt's maw right now.

Jeremiah Masoli Denied Eligibility Waiver By NCAA, Ole Miss to Appeal

The NCAA has formally denied a waiver request by Ole Miss to allow transfer quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to play football in 2010. Ole Miss says it will appeal the denial, but for the moment the former Oregon Ducks qb is unable to play college football this season for the Rebels.

The implications for Ole Miss are not dire, but they ain’t good, either. Masoli was going to be the likely starter for the Rebels, leaving redshirt sophomore Nathan Stanley and JUCO passer Randall Mackey battling for the starting job left open by the NCAA’s stiffarm of a waiver for Masoli.

Houston Nutt and Ole Miss AD Pete Boone will discuss the waiver denial at a press conference at 4:00 p.m. CDT.

Jeremiah Masoli Still Not Cleared For Game Action At Ole Miss

Oregon castoff Jeremiah Masoli is earning accolades down in SEC country from his coaches for his work on the practice field, but at the moment the practice field is the only environment in which he's allowed to contribute:

[Masoli] has yet to receive an NCAA waiver of the one-year residency requirement for a transfer student. It's a request that typically is rubber-stamped if the transfer enrolls in a different graduate school program than is offered at his previous school.
[...]
"There aren't many of these type waiver requests made and we've never processed one because of the requirements that must be made for consideration," said David Wells, Ole Miss' assistant athletic director for compliance. "I anticipate that we will hear something prior to the start of the season, sooner would be better than later.

I'm told by everyone I ask that this is essentially a non-issue, but even if it takes more time than they'd like, later would actually be fine: The Rebels open with Jacksonville State, followed by Tulane and Vanderbilt. And the head coach? Why, he's not concerned in the least:

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said he has a plan for his quarterbacks, but doesn't want to reveal it until senior Jeremiah Masoli is cleared by the NCAA.
[...]
"I'm just glad we've got three and all three can play," Nutt said.

Forgive me for taking this out of context and hauling downfield with it, but: Lord deliver us, Houston Dale Nutt has A Plan. Please, oh please, say it involves rotating all three quarterbacks on the roster. Or fielding all three at once. Those early-season patsy games could do with a little levity.

Follow this story and more at SB Nation's Red Cup Rebellion.

Jeremiah Masoli Officially Joins Ole Miss As A Walk-On

Finally, it's official: Jeremiah Masoli will be an Ole Miss Rebel. Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples writes that Masoli was offered and accepted a place with the Rebels by coach Houston Nutt this weekend.

For Masoli, this is the endpoint of a long and circuitous path from his troubled time at Oregon, which included a season-long suspension and a dismissal, and the end of a convoluted courtship by Ole Miss. For the Rebels, this move adds an experienced quarterback to a roster that has none.

Masoli will be eligible to play this fall because of an NCAA rule that allows players who have finished bachelor's degrees to transfer to schools that offer graduate programs their current schools do not offer. The rub in Masoli's case? He'll be part of Ole Miss' Parks and Recreation master's program.

Jeremiah Masoli Admitted To Ole Miss Graduate School

Former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is one step closer to becoming Ole Miss' next signal caller. After sending his release papers to the school on July 26th, Masoli has been admitted to one of the school's graduate programs, according to the Sporting News.

Masoli was dismissed from Oregon following his guilty plea in March to a second-degree burglary charge for stealing laptops from a campus fraternity house, as well as being pulled over with marijuana in June. Masoli, however, is eligible to play next season after the NCAA ruled that he would not have to sit out the customary transfer year, as long as he enrolled in a graduate program not offered by Oregon. Masoli has one season of college eligibility remaining.

Masoli is attractive to Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt due to the Rebel's depleted quarterback depth. Last year's starter Jevan Snead made an ill-advised decision to declare for the NFL Draft, while likely backup redshirt freshman Raymond Cotton left the team a few weeks ago due to worries about his place on the depth chart. Masoli would almost certainly step right in as the starter for Ole Miss in a marriage of convenience for both sides.

Still, Ole Miss has a few more hurdles to clear. They need the NCAA to waive the one-year residency requirement for Masoli, which is likely to be approved given that the NCAA already ruled Masoli does not have to sit out a year to transfer.

For more on Masoli and Ole Miss, check out Red Cup Rebellion.

Jeremiah Masoli Headed To Ole Miss? Quarterback Sends Release Papers To School

A new school has emerged as a potential landing spot for embattled former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli: Ole Miss. Head coach Houston Nutt confirmed to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal that Masoli had sent his release papers to Ole Miss, which would be the first step in transferring to the school.

Ole Miss would be an ideal fit for Masoli because he conceivably step right around the field as the starter. Indeed, Ole Miss has a dearth of experienced quarterbacks after Jevan Snead's ill-considered decision to declare for the NFL Draft, and redshirt freshman Raymond Cotton chose to leave the school last Saturday. Nutt told reporters that he was "checking all avenues" with Masoli and that the team was in a "real bind" after Cotton left.

Masoli has also been connected with UNLV and Hawaii, after the NCAA ruled that he could play immediately next season -- without having to sit-out a year as transfers usually have to -- as long as he took a graduate course not offered by Oregon. Masoli's tenure with the Ducks ended, of course, after he plead guilty to a second-degree burglary charge after being caught stealing laptops on campus, and later getting caught with an ounce of marijuana during a traffic stop.

UNLV Is The Latest Rumored Landing Spot For Jeremiah Masoli

Today, former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli received some good news in that he is allowed to play next year since he completed the required classes at Oregon.   That explains a lot to why he has not looked into transferring to an FCS school.  So far Masoli has been linked to multiple schools as a potential landing spot, but has yet to find a home.  Today the latest rumor has the former Duck linked to UNLV and SB Nation's Mountain West Connection feels that it is a bad idea for UNLV take on Masoli:

This looks to be all rumor with no legs, because UNLV is transitioning into a more pro style run based offense and away from a spread option offense that had been run the previous five years at UNLV.  Plus, UNLV all ready has three really talented quarterbacks starting with Omar Clayton and Mike Clausen who are a similar player to Masoli, and then there is redshirt freshman Caleb Herring who the staff is high on and is more of a traditional drop back passer and is going to be the future of the Rebels in the Bobby Hauck offense.

Masoli is in a real bind since most schools start fall camp in a few weeks, so he really needs to make a decision.  Two tips for Masoli, perhaps look at a school that has a system that will benefit his play and one that does not have a starting quarterback in place.

Houston Nutt Dashes Jeremiah Masoli's Rebel Aspirations

Jeremiah Masoli won't be taking his trade to Oxford, according to the reliable Chris Low:

One of the schools that keeps getting mentioned as a possible destination for Masoli is Ole Miss, but that's not going to happen. Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt told David Brandt of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger that the Rebels were not pursuing Masoli, and two other sources I talked with at Ole Miss said the Rebels would not take Masoli, who was dismissed from the Oregon team following multiple run-ins with the law.

Jeremiah? If I might be so bold, might I suggest Jacksonville State? It worked for Ryan Perrilloux!

Jeremiah Masoli's Latest Theoretical Destination: Ole Miss?

Very lately, it seems Jeremiah Masoli has everything a ferociously talented, occasionally felonious football star could want: a court date (Sept. 3) to close the book on his latest run-in with the law, a completed transcript of undergrad courses, and with that, the ability to transfer from Oregon with a full season of eligibility remaining.

Normal NCAA transfer rules would require Masoli to sit out a season after transferring, but because he completed undergraduate studies, that doesn't apply. The only caveat is he must enroll in a graduate program that offers a course of study Oregon does not offer.

Masoli's transferrin' eye has apparently wandered most lately to Ole Miss. SBN's Red Cup Rebellion ponders the possibility:

I know he was the Ducks' quarterback for the past two seasons, but his skillset is less that of a quarterback and more that of a squatty, hard-nosed halfback who can throw and generally manage an offense. Imagine the threat a player like Masoli could be out of the wildcat. [...] Purely as an athlete and football player, Masoli's potential contribution to the Rebels could be huge.
[...]
It then goes without saying that such a move would ring negatively with the press and provide ammunition for our ignorant, double-standard wielding "friends" down in Starkville (YOU RECRUITED CAM NEWTON A FEW MONTHS AGO HAVE YOU ALREADY FORGOTTEN THIS). Some could care less about this, while others are more sensitive to such. Regardless, one cannot deny the importance of media perceptions and the negative impact Masoli could have on such regarding the Rebels.

Masoli's also nursing a spurning from Hawaii -- it'll be interesting to see if bigger programs display the same fortitude.

Jeremiah Masoli Exploring Transfer Options, Leaning South

Reports place him anywhere from the WAC to the SEC, but all indicators agree: Jeremiah Masoli, a Duck no more, is headed for warmer climes:

The former Oregon Ducks quarterback has visited the campus of Louisiana Tech and is planning on making a visit to Mississippi State, this according to a TV report by KNOE-TV in Monroe, Louisiana.

The Oregonian confirmed his visit to the Ruston campus but reported that the San Francisco native has not visited Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs and doesn’t have any plans to.

Either of these developments coming to fruition would be marvelous for all involved, as both the Southeastern Conference and the state of Louisiana have a history of harboring colorful series of felonious footballers. For maximum verisimilitude, however, not to mention immediate playing time, Masoli will want to follow in Police Blotter All-Star Ryan Perrilloux's illustrious cleatsteps and sign with Jacksonville State. Welcome to your own personal sun belt of freedom, kid. You'll be running your own riverboat-based counterfeiting ring in no time at all, and no one will care long as you win on Saturdays.

[UPDATE]:  Via The Oregonian, it appears Masoli is indeed considering Louisiana Tech, but not Mississippi State. Desolee, SEC.

Oregon Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli Dismissed From School Following Traffic Incident

Jeremiah Masoli has played his last game for Oregon. The star quarterback, who was suspended for the 2010 season following pleading to a misdemeanor theft charge, has been kicked off the team after a traffic incident Monday night, according to the team's official Twitter feed.

Per OregonLive.com, Masoli was pulled over Monday night after not stopping after exiting a driveway. Masoli was found to be driving with a suspended license, as well as having a small amount of marijuana in the car. His arraignment is scheduled for June 24th, though none of the charges against him carry any jail time.

Oregon promptly dismissed Masoli from the team after news of his latest legal woes surfaced, ending a tumultuous past six months for the troubled quarterback and university. Masoli, who led Oregon to the Rose Bowl in 2009, came under fire after being implicated in the theft of a computer from a campus fraternity this past January. Masoli eventually plead to a misdemeanor, and was suspended from the team for the 2010 season, though he planned to return in 2011 to use his last year of college eligibility. Masoli's legal issues, of course, came on the heels of running back LeGarrette Blount's infamous punch in the team's season-opening game against Boise State, casting an extremely negative light on the Oregon program, and creating little tolerance for any further legal problems.

Masoli finishes his Oregon career as the school's all-time leading rusher for a quarterback, after guiding the Ducks to consecutive 10-3 seasons.

Jeremiah Masoli, Suspended For 2010 Season, Will Stay At Oregon

While Oregon football looks to move on from a rather tumultuous offseason with the start of spring practices on Tuesday, there was still a bit of news that trickled out of Eugene on Monday. According to The Oregonian, Jeremiah Masoli, the quarterback who was suspended for the 2010 season after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor burglary charge, will stay at the school, and in theory, could make a return to the field in 2011.

The options are limited for Masoli. He could transfer and play this fall, but he could not go to the Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) level — he would have to drop down to Division II or Division III, and even then his eligibility would not be a certainty.

Masoli's NCAA eligibility clock runs out after the fall of 2011, so he can stay at Oregon and play in 2011 and in any subsequent bowl game.

It is unknown if Masoli will have any presence with the team this year (he could be allowed to practice with the scout team). Senior Nate Costa and sophomore Darron Thomas will compete for the starting QB job.

Jeremiah Masoli Suspended For 2010 Season; Two Other Players For A Game

Chip Kelly announced Friday that Jeremiah Masoli will not take the field for Oregon in 2010.

"I want to apologize to the fans of the University of Oregon," Kelly said. "I want to apologize to the faculty of the University of Oregon. This is not what our football program is all about."

Sadly for Oregon, that seems to be all that their football program is about right now: how to deal with players who end up in the criminal justice system. Also having their punishments announced Friday: Rob Beard and LaMichael James, who pleaded guilty to harassment and will each miss the first game of the season.

Our Oregon blog, Addicted To Quack, is as satisfied as anyone can be with something like this.

With all the speculation that has been happening over the past few weeks, I think that these punishments are fair. James and Beard made mistakes, and when presented with poor situations, made the wrong decisions.

Jeremiah Masoli’s crime was much more premeditated, and he reportedly broke Chip Kelly’s number one rule: he lied to the coach. I’m honestly surprised he wasn’t entirely kicked off the team, though I support the University standing by the student-athletes and helping them compete their education.

One can fairly wonder how long fans will remain so patient.

Masoli's Fate Uncertain. His Sentence Is Not.

Chip Kelly’s announcement regarding Masoli’s status with the team remains unknown, and will be addressed in a press conference sometime Friday afternoon.

Report: Jeremiah Masoli's Locker Cleaned Out

This is very early and very sketchy and should be taken with about a deer lick of salt, especially seeing as how Chip Kelly's already said his decision won't be announced before tomorrow. But: An ESPN Radio guy out of Portland is saying, and Yahoo's Dan Wetzel is repeating, that Jeremiah Masoli's locker in the Ducks' complex has been emptied. That same radio source is also reporting that LaMichael James will not receive a suspension. We'll be updating this story the rest of the night, so stay tuned here and at SBN's Oregon blog, Addicted to Quack, for all the latest.

Oregon Coach Kelly Will Decide 'Disciplinary Action' On Friday

Friday will be a busy day for Oregon football. Unfortunately, they will be occupied not on the field, but rather in the court room.

On the same day that running back LaMichael James will appear in court for a change of plea hearing and sentencing, another pair of Ducks will face arraignment for a completely separate incident. QB Jeremiah Masoli and receiver Garrett Embry were both charged with burglary on Wednesday. While the crime occurred in the same time period as when they were accused to have stolen from a fraternity, "the district attorney's office would not confirm or deny that the charges stem from that incident."

Both players are facing one count each of burglary in the second degree, which is a Class C felony.

Wednesday night, via the team's official Twitter account, head coach Chip Kelly issued the following statement:

"I am carefully considering the latest news concerning Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James and will make a decision regarding disciplinary action on Friday, March 12."

Embry was dismissed from the team on Jan. 8.

Friday's court arraignment is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.

For all things Oregon, follow our Ducks blog, Addicted to Quack.

Oregon's Masoli And Embry Charged With Burglary Stemming From January Theft

Chip Kelly’s nightmare of an off-season just got worse. Star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and receiver Garrett Embry have been charged with burglary dating back to a January theft of laptops at the Oregon Sigma Alpha Epsilon house.

This from the Oregonian’s John Canzano:

Masoli and Embry both charged with burglary… Arraignment friday

No word yet from the university on possible sanctions.

Report: Oregon Players Not Considered Suspects

According to KMTR in Eugene, Oregon, police have said that Jeremiah Masoli and Garrett Embry are not considered suspects in a case that they allegedly stole laptops from a college dorm. They are mentioned in the police report about the theft, but they "are not considered suspects at this time." 

Oregon Student Says QB Jeremiah Masoli, WR Garrett Embry Stole Laptops

It hasn't exactly been a good year for Oregon football when it comes to player behavior. And it might be getting worse. According to a report from OregonLive.com, quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and wide receiver Garrett Embry have been identified as the suspects by the Oregon student who filed a police report over an alleged robbery. Eugene police have only confirmed that they are in the process of investigating an alleged theft.

Max Wolfard, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, alleges that Masoli and Embry stole two MacBook Pro laptops, worth $2,000 and $1,500 respectively, as well as a $900 guitar, from his fraternity house early on Sunday. Wolfard told The Oregonian that he was sure of the suspects' identities:

The minute I stepped on the staircase I said to myself, 'Wow, Masoli and Embry are in our house right now. Masoli has a very distinctive face, very distinctive facial hair -- not to mention I see him on TV all the time.

Then, Wolfard described his alleged confrontation with the two Oregon football players:

Wolfard said he didn't think anything of Masoli and Embry's presence at first given that he'd seen them at the house before. But when they started to act "suspicious" -- and appeared to be hiding something -- he demanded to know what they were doing. It was then that Wolfard noticed Embry was carrying what appeared to be Wolfard's projector screen, valued at $560.

Wolfard said the two players then ran out the back door. Wolfard said Masoli fled north and Embry went east up Agate Street as Wolford chased him. Blocks later, Wolfard says, Embry stopped running, gave him back his projector screen and said, "You've got it back, now you better get out of here."

Wolfard, who said there was no evidence of forced entry at the fraternity house, returned to his room to find his guitar and computer missing and then called police.

Masoli and Embry have so far declined to comment on the alleged incident. And to be fair, at this point, no one else has corroborated Wolfard's account of seeing Masoli and Embry in the fraternity house. Still, if these charges are true, it's worth remembering what happened to former UConn point guard Marcus Williams, who was suspended for a semester for stealing laptops back in 2005.

For more on this story as it develops, be sure to check out SB Nation's Addicted To Quack.