NCAA wrong on Masoli ruling
I had another blog set for this morning but the news changed everything. And that’s good. So here we go:
The NCAA is wrong on the Jeremiah Masoli ruling. Here’s why.
The NCAA has refused to grant former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli a waiver to be eligible to play at Ole Miss this season. Ole Miss has appealed the ruling but it is unlikely that the appeal will be successful. I reached out to Coach Houston Nutt this morning and I would have to say that he is not optimistic.
Here is what I see: You can make an ethical argument over whether or not Masoli, who was kicked off the Oregon team, should be allowed to play right away at Ole Miss. The fact is he got a second chance from Oregon coach Chip Kelly and he blew it. So if you want to take the position that Ole Miss should not have taken the kid in the first place, I respect that point of view.
But this is not an ethical argument. It is a legal argument. There is a system in place that allows athletes who have graduated with eligibility remaining to transfer and become eligible immediately at another school. You simply have to fulfill the requirements, which Masoli did.
Ole Miss will make the argument that the rules do not require the athlete to be in good standing with a team, but with the university where he last attended. Masoli graduated from Oregon so therefore he was in good standing with the school.
The NCAA rule says something about the transfer being for academic reasons. But the requirement states that the transferring student must enroll in a graduate program not available at his former institution. Masoli did that.
Again, you can make the argument that Ole Miss should not have a taken the kid. I’ve got no problem with that.
But I’m not comfortable with the NCAA being able to arbitrarily say that this kid has a legitimate reason to transfer and that kid does not. They should not have that kind of discretionary power.
There has to be a system and a set of rules. You either follow the rules or you don’t. If you follow the rules then the result should be predictable. If not, then you should get rid of the rule.
Your thoughts?
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503 comments Add your comment
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
12:47 pm
Rowdy
September 1st, 2010
12:34 pm
My main disagreement with those that either support Masoli or disagree with the NCAA’s decision is that they keep refering to him as a “kid”, as Tony did in his article. He is 22 years old. Period. He is old enough to suffer the consequences of his actions and as a result I have no sympthay for him.
(A) This is not about “sympathy”, it’s about consistency. Masoli graduated. A kid like Jordan Campbell (in USC’s doghouse) and a bad student to boot was bailed out by the probation levied on SC and has transferred to Louisville.
He (because of his issues) needed to be cleared to practice (he was recently and is practicing now), and now the status is whether he wil be cleared to play (which it looks like will happen).
Now..we have two students. One graduated and met the guidlines according to the letter of the rule…the other is not close and has a history of trouble as well but will be playeing most likely because of the mis steps of the previous USC regime.
Consistency. It isn’t there.
Delbert D.
September 1st, 2010
12:49 pm
The NCAA is adjudicating the decision of Oregon to dismiss Masoli. I’m not sure that is within their scope. Gilbert and Yandell were both in good standing at Georgia Tech, both graduated early, but according to Yandell, he could not gain admission to Georgia Tech’s highly selective graduate program in management. In 2008 DT Daryl Richardson did play his final year while in the graduate management program. It depends on meeting the admission requirements.
Tide Rising
September 1st, 2010
12:51 pm
In our continuing quest to be helpful to the NCAA Enforcement Staff, we have a new Maurice Clarett strategy. As you will recall, the NCAA said that it didn’t investigate Ohio State after Clarett said publicly that he had received illegal benefits and improper academic assistance while starring for the Buckeyes because – we are not making this up – Clarett did not return their phone call.
In 2006, Clarett was convicted for aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. He spent three and a half years in a Toledo prison. Still, the NCAA Enforcement Staff seemed helpless to locate him. (If they had been able to make the trek from Indianapolis to Toledo, all it would have taken was a carton of cigarettes to make Carett sing like a bird.)
After being released from prison, Clarett was widely publicized as taking classes at Ohio State and working out at the team’s training facility. Where is Ohio State? wondered the NCAA Enforcement Staff, which still seemed unable to follow up.
Now a new possibility.
Clarett’s lawyer was quoted as saying that he wants to try out for a professional football team, the Omaha Nighthawks. Clarett will have to gain clearance to travel out of state at a hearing today.
Hint to the NCAA Enforcement Staff: Omaha is in Nebraska. Ask the College World Series director for directions, if you’re really serious about enforcing NCAA rules fairly.
We will continue to monitor your competence. We’re just trying to help you be consistent with your prosecution of your rules. We would hate to think that the NCAA is selective, arbitrary, and capricious in its enforcement of rules whether it be investigating Ohio State or treating Masoli the same way you would treat a Greg Paulus.
Philip
September 1st, 2010
12:53 pm
Ole Miss never gave Masoli a scholarship, so that is a non-issue. The NCAA specifically set up this transfer rule to benefit student athletes who were smart enough and motivated enough to seek out a legitimate second chance to play. Don’t let anyone fool you with the garbage academic argument. The NCAA obviously never expected a convicted criminal could be smart enough and motivated enough to play by their rules. Here are some examples: Greg Paulus from Duke to Syracuse. Eniel Polynice from Ole Miss to Seton Hall. I’m sure there are several more examples. Bryan Wright from Michigan to Bowling Green. I’m sure there are more. I’m comfortable assuming that none of these transfers was inspired by academics. Each team receiving one of these transfers had an immediate need for their services in athletics.
The Dude Abides
September 1st, 2010
12:53 pm
In the press release Nutt said “We’re in the people-helping business.” If that were true, would he not have worked a little harder to develop Raymond Cotton?
ShaunC
September 1st, 2010
12:53 pm
It’s a no brainer. This was a blatant attempt to use a rule, grounded in not penalizing a kid because his area of study is not offered, to circumvent punishment. Legally, arguments are made every day in courts regarding legislative intent. And these shenanigans are not what the NCAA was trying to facilitate by creating this exception.
S FL Chapter of the Bulldog Nation
September 1st, 2010
12:53 pm
First I’d like to say that the NCAA has really showed their incapability of handling thing with the NCAA investigations and with this ruling…they do not look very competent at this point.
Now, as for Masoli…In my opinion he should not of been admitted to Ole Miss, but that’s for Admissions. If what you have laid out for us to examine is the way the NCAA should view the transfer then he should be allowed to play. Obviously the NCAA views the transfer as solely an attempt to play and not a scholastic issue….and they feel he should have to sit out a year to play. It seems like a grey area to me. If it was cut and dry like you say then this would be a form of discrimination or profiling. But the fact remains that he was kicked off the Oregon team and as I already stated he shouldn’t of been admitted to Mississippi. That’s how they do it over there….
3 DAYS BABY!!!! LET’S GET IT ON!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!!
OneNuttWonder
September 1st, 2010
12:55 pm
Unless I have overlooked something, which is doubtful, there is no NCAA rule stating to be eligible, all a transfer has to do is enroll in a graduate program that is not available at his former institution.
That argument may have been used and/or could be used in a case, but the rule that you’re referring to – “The NCAA rule says something about the transfer being for academic reasons. But the requirement states that the transferring student must enroll in a graduate program not available at his former institution” – does not exist.
Delbert D.
September 1st, 2010
12:55 pm
Tide – Funny as heck!
HeHateMe
September 1st, 2010
12:56 pm
Love that they bounced the convict off the field, Nutt was a schmuck for opening the door to the inmate. However, NCAA will NEVER win in court because they are way too self righteous about the rules and investigations. Rules? We don’t need no stinkin rules!
Whatever the reason this one works for me.
JayD
September 1st, 2010
12:59 pm
Read the article people!!!! The gist of it is – A rule is a rule. He followed the rules – He should be allowed to play. Ethics are relative – and subject to our own personal bias. Sad – This was an easy one, and they (and most of you) still got it very wrong!
James
September 1st, 2010
12:59 pm
The NCAA said that Masoli transferred to avoid punishment at Oregon.
They are wrong.
Masoli was kicked off the team. He could never play again. Therefore, he’s just moving on.
If Masoli attempted to transfer earlier, when he was suspended for the year, then they would be correct.
Masoli graduated thereby fulfilling his obligation to the U of O and should be able to take whatever remaining eligibility he has with him.
This is just another attempt by the NCAA to control players. There should be no reason why a school gets to retain a player’s “rights” after they have graduated.
DP
September 1st, 2010
1:00 pm
TideWarrior makes a very good point. If Masoli was already enrolled in a graduate program at Oregon until he was kicked off the football team, the idea that he transferred because of a graduate program that Ole Miss offered but Oregon didn’t is a complete sham.
UGA is Just Fine...
September 1st, 2010
1:00 pm
If the “spirit” of the rule was not to allow people like Masoli to circumvent it to avoid punishment then they need to rewrite the rule. You can’t fault Masoli or Ole Miss in this instance. If he followed the letter of the rule as it is written today then the NCAA should stand by it’s own rule and play fair. What’s next someone in the NCAA who has the authority to make a ruling decides that they don’t want to help a certain school or player for biased reasons?
This is the problem I have with the NCAA they have WAY too much power and no one oversees them. Throw out the moral issue of whether it’s right or wrong to give Masoli a 3rd chance or not. There are only two questions that matter:
1. Did he follow the letter of the rule as it is written TODAY?
-from all indications yes he did.
2. Based on the fact that he followed the rule as it is written TODAY should he be allowed to enroll at Ole Miss and play?
-YES.
As Tony stated it’s not a matter of what you, me or anyone else thinks or feels, the rule is the rule and it is unfair and flat out wrong to choose to enforce a rule or not enforce a rule based on feelings rather than facts. Otherwise, why have the rule in the first place?!
Colonel Reb
September 1st, 2010
1:04 pm
Speaking of following the rules, let’s see if Marcel Darius, Wesley Saunders, and the UNC players get to play this year. If they do it is a LOAD OF BULLSH*^! This is a joke. Do you think that he would’ve been granted this transfer if he would’ve been at Alabama or Florida? Yeah, me too.
ShaunC
September 1st, 2010
1:04 pm
Just Fine: It’s not a rule, it’s an exception. It applies to people who are unable to find their desired grad program at their original school. Not to allow people to find a major that isn’t offered at their school so they can transfer. What’s the point of making anyone wait a year otherwise, if all you have to do is find a major not offered? Seems pretty stupid. Go to H Ole Miss.
Delbert D.
September 1st, 2010
1:06 pm
That requirement is not addressed in the NCAA’s “Transfer 101″ Guide. But the actual rules may contain it.
Franklin
September 1st, 2010
1:09 pm
Someone mentioned a scholarship. He is not on scholarship. He agreed to be a walk on and pay for his own schooling. I agree with Tony. The precedent is there. It has been done before. Everything in the rules that says he can be elegible Masoli met. He is in good standing with his former school and the graduate program he enrolled in is not available at Oregon. It’s clear that the NCAA is making a moral judgement and throwing out the rules, and yet they want their schools to follow the rules to the letter. Hypocrites!!
Delbert D.
September 1st, 2010
1:10 pm
ShaunC -
“It applies to people who are unable to find their desired grad program at their original school. Not to allow people to find a major that isn’t offered at their school so they can transfer.”
That implies that the NCAA can determine original intent based on an action. That simply won’t fly.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 1st, 2010
1:13 pm
TideWarrior, well said.
ryan
September 1st, 2010
1:13 pm
Everyone wants to bash UGA and give Masoli a break are you kidding me .
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
1:15 pm
Uona Kaveinga…in the same boat. But his issue was that he transferred from SC about 6 months too early. Sanctions came down, and BYU appealed him sitting out this year and being able to play under teh sanctions handed down though he transferred months before they were handed down…NOPE.
The sanctions are not academically related in allowing players to leave (frosh & Sophs). It’s to give young players a clean break…..and start over. Masoli finished. Which may othe rhigh profile players have done. To transfer and play as a grad. It’s mere formality. The NCAA makes, interprets, and hands down penalties. A self governing body. They need to be investigated.
Smash
September 1st, 2010
1:20 pm
First, what was Masoli going to major in before he was kicked off Oregon’s football team. He must have been planning to attend a graduate school at Oregon before all this mess started? Second, after getting the boot from Oregon, he was shopping around for schools to take him, not for graduate programs. Third, when first approaching Ole Miss, Nutt said he would not take Masoli on his team. Then all of a sudden, Nutt’s backup QB transfers and Nutt all of a sudden feels like the old Rev Nutt and wants to save this young man.
The NCAA saw through all of this. It was very obvious that this transfer rule was not being used as it was designed. It was designed so a STUDENT athlete could continue his education and still play football not still play football while picking a bogus degree program. So Tony, forget about your legal argument, this was about a young man trying to circumvent the rules for his benefit.
gss303
September 1st, 2010
1:20 pm
The NCAA got it right
DP
September 1st, 2010
1:20 pm
A question on Masoli. Where does he get the money to pay a PR firm and to pay his own way at Ole Miss? The SI story that mostly reads like his PR firm wrote it said his parents live in a modest row house in the Oakland area and his father had to crack his 401K to take the kid to Hawaii to play high school football. It’s odd that Masoli isn’t really a bad kid, just misunderstood, but his father had to pull him out of a California high school and take him to Hawaii, then he had to go to junior college because Pac 10 schools wouldn’t take him, then he got kicked off the Oregon team even though they had a shot at the national championship with him. It sounds like he’s just been the victim of a string of bad luck.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 1st, 2010
1:21 pm
Delbert D,
“Oregon does not offer the Parks and Recreation Management Masters degree. I don’t know how many schools in the Northwest, North or Northeast offer that degree”
Unless snow plowing 101 is a major requirement of that program won’t see it in Michigan.
Hoops McCann
September 1st, 2010
1:27 pm
DP, face it Bama is the most corrupt program in the country. Even when that homosexual Bryant was running your program it was crooked, Saban is just carrying on the tradition. DP, have you ever seen the campus of Alabama much less the stadium? I would bet that you are the typical Bama fan that gets all of his Bama gear from Wal-Mart. Nothing but the finest for the trailer park trash known as Bama fan.
wxwax
September 1st, 2010
1:28 pm
The NCAA reads too many press clippings.
They came down hard on USC not because the evidence was strong, but because the media coverage was blistering.
Same with Masoli. The man has generated a lot of negative publicity.
The rabbit-eared NCAA doesn’t want to be seen to be enabling a “bad” man.
It’s a political decision by an organization that’s unaccountable and really rather unlikeable.
Tide Rising
September 1st, 2010
1:29 pm
Delbert D.,
Glad you liked my 12;51 post. Its just part of my never ending quest to help my good friends at the NCAA to be more consistent. As of yet I still haven’t gotten an answer from them as to why Maurice Clarett openly said he received illegal benefits from Ohio State and why this has never been followed up on by the NCAA. The crickets are still chirping on this matter.
Billybob2010
September 1st, 2010
1:30 pm
“But this is not an ethical argument. It is a legal argument. There is a system in place that allows athletes who have graduated with eligibility remaining to transfer and become eligible immediately at another school. You simply have to fulfill the requirements, which Masoli did.”
No, Tony there is not a system in place where you simply have to fulfill the requirements. The requirements only allow you to be considered to recieve the waiver. It is not automatic and never has been.
DP
September 1st, 2010
1:33 pm
Hoops McCann, you are an imbecile. I have a degree from Alabama. Which junior college did you start at before flunking out?
Any more idiotic comments about how Saban was behind the Masoli decision by the NCAA?
Tide Rising
September 1st, 2010
1:35 pm
Hoops McCann,
Please provide your evidence of more corruption by Alabama. Most notably provide your proof that Saban has the NCAA in his back pocket. And while you’re at it please provide a reason as to why the NCAA refused Alfy Hill after initially approving his high school courses and his eligibility to enroll at Bama. I’ld like to see you try and explain that one.
Anyway, when you can provide your proof of Saban corrupting an official at the NCAA I will be happy to send you a check for $1,000. All you have to do is provide your proof. You can do that right? You know what they say money talks and boolsheet walks. I have a feeling you will be walking.
Jackson
September 1st, 2010
1:37 pm
TideWarrior like I said earlier (12:11), I wasn’t in support of him coming to OleMiss, and I can’t disagree with what you are saying. What I do have a problem with is the NCAA letting Paulus from Duke litterally shop for a football program as his first priority, and now tell Masoli that it has to be scholastically motivated. If they want to argue that they aren’t letting him play because of disciplinary reasons, they shouldn’t have let the Kenneth Cooper transfer from LaTech to UAB after being dismissed. Its the double standard I have a problem with, not the initial rule.
Baggerscott
September 1st, 2010
1:37 pm
It’s funny that Nutt got interested in the “people helping business” only after Cotton transferred.
Just because you can find a way to skirt around a rule doesn’t mean that it’s the right thing to do. The rule was put there for kids that already graduated and have a year of eligibility but want a 2nd degree and their school doesn’t offer the program. It’s very clear what it’s for and that Masoli didn’t fit the criteria.
He also doesn’t fit the general rule against transfers because of disciplinary reasons. “institution” could be interpreted as the university alone, but it certainly could also be seen as the athletic dept or the team.
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.
UGA is Just Fine...
September 1st, 2010
1:44 pm
ShaunC – Then the “exception” should be rewritten. Now what they’re doing is deciding what Masoli’s INTENT was/is.
Look, personally I don’t think he should play as it seems he’s been given multiple chances however, for the NCAA to say Reggie Nelson can leave Utah and get to play at UF for the same reason and Masoli can’t isn’t fair. The only difference in both situations is how Masoil is viewed vs how Nelson was viewed. (note: I only site R.Nelson because he’s the only example I could think of, not anti-gatorism, just to be clear). So again the NCAA is allowed to play “God” and decide we’ll let this kid go but not this one. And besides, who are we all kidding this rule has little to do with academics anyway and more to do with giving kids a shot at more exposure or winning a championship. If it’s about academics then why wouldn’t they want a troubled kid to get as much education as he could? Why would you ever hold anyone back from furthering their education? Wouldn’t more education help make him a better person? The whole thing is a sham, and yet another example of how flawed the NCAA is.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
1:45 pm
Just like Ben Mauk did a couple of years ago, when after losing his starting job at Wake Forest because of injury, he graduated, transferred to Cincinnati and started for the Bearcats.
And like Greg Paulus did last year. After four years of basketball for Duke, he graduated and transferred to play quarterback at Syracuse.
Well, Paulus might not be the best analogy. He sought a master’s in communications from Syracuse’s prestigious Newhouse School of Public Communications — and then he earned it in 11 months.
“I didn’t want to just have the extra year to play football,” said Paulus on Tuesday evening from Annapolis, Md., where he’s in his first season as an assistant basketball coach at the U.S. Naval Academy. “I wanted to compete and get the degree.”
But the big difference here, and no one is denying it, is Masoli’s off-field issues.
In a statement, the NCAA said it denied Masoli’s request because he 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.”
Well, OK — except this is an organization that routinely adheres strictly to the letter of the law, no matter how deserving a student-athlete’s case.
And now, when the law’s letter might favor a student-athlete — whatever we think of Masoli, deserving or not, he’s clearly a student — they’re discerning spirit, and intent?
Change the rule. Include a clause that requires a player to be in good disciplinary standing with his former school — or more to the point, with the football program.
@WreckBuZZ
September 1st, 2010
1:45 pm
Tony,
The reason you are wrong and the NCAA got it right is that Masoli broke team rules that led to his suspension and he is trying to circumvent the punishment by transferring. What you are suggesting is that the NCAA has no right to consider “why” Masoli is transferring when deciding on his petition to play right away.
Why is there even a petition required if all you have to do is meet the requirements? Because it allows the NCAA the chance to evaluate whether the request is within the spirit of the rules that were created to allow such a transfer without a delay in eligibility. You don’t think that Masoli took out the Oregon Master’s Course Curriculum and picked a major specifically because Oregon didn’t offer it? If you don’t you’re fooling yourself. Masoli has the right to study what he chooses, but that doesn’t mean the NCAA can’t read the writing on the wall and make the right decision. If he had not been suspended, Masoli would have studied something that Oregon offers and played this season in Eugene. And the NCAA is right to make him sit out.
UGA is Just Fine...
September 1st, 2010
1:46 pm
Also want to add, Reggie Nelson was NOT in trouble, I only meant that he and Masoli wanted to transfer to continue their collegiate careers.
Tide Rising
September 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
Baggerscott,
Masoli fit the criteria. That is not in dispute. Masoli left Oregon in good standing. The problem here isn’t Masoli. The problem is that the NCAA is once again ignoring its own rules and standards. Also there are numerous examples from other posters on here of various players from other programs, some of whom were disciplinary problems, who used the rule to transfer to another program. And then we have Greg Paulus who was openly shopping for a football program. If what you are saying is true and that the NCAA really does have a legitimate reason for denying Masoli then how do you explain all the other examples of players, especially players booted due to discipline problems, who were granted eligbility. The NCAA is yet again simply not being consistent in its own rules. That is the big issue I have with this.
juvenal
September 1st, 2010
1:49 pm
is the ncaa part of the federal guvmint?
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
1:49 pm
Reggie Nelson played for Urban Meye at Florida AFTER playing for Urban at Utah when they won the Fiesta bowl. Reggie graduated and was admitted to a UF grad program, and PLAYED for Urban the next year and a significant role as a 5th DB, and nickel back.
Coincedence? Suddenly the “intent” is being interpreted? You rerally think Reggie Nelson HAPPENED to follow his coach from Salt Lake to Gainsville…FOR AN EDUCATION? Intent? Get real.
The NCAA needs to be regulated.
Tim
September 1st, 2010
1:51 pm
How many players get kicked off of a division 1 program for breaking team rules just to go to a division 2 program to play the next year!?….I don’t hear the NCAA making them sit out a season. In my opinion, it’s the same situation. He did everything he was supposed to do to be eligible. I feel that the NCAA should grant him eligibility.
UGA is Just Fine...
September 1st, 2010
1:51 pm
Tide Rising
September 1st, 2010
1:48 pm
Couldn’t have said it any better!
Tony Scott
September 1st, 2010
1:53 pm
The NCAA is one of the most corrupt organizations on this planet, they should not be passing moral judgments. They hold the same lofty moral position as a sty-full of pigs.
Tide Rising
September 1st, 2010
1:54 pm
MoMo,
Good point on Reggie Nelson as well as a number of other examples on here- Paulus, the USC linebacker, the guy that got booted from La. Tech and transferred to UAB. Lots of examples of other players who used this rule to transfer.
Seems to me that a lot of people are letting their feelings about Masoli getting in the way, ignoring the NCAA’s well documented record of letting players in the same situation transfer, and coming up with all sorts of technical reasons to say why the NCAA got it right with Masoli.
KLS
September 1st, 2010
1:55 pm
Bama Fan #2 said:
Tony you should be talking about Mark Ingram injury and want it could did to Alabama’s chances of
going 14-0 instead of this criminal story about him trying to play for Ole Miss!! RTR
… Seriously, Bama Fan #2 – “…want it could did…” Have you had any English classes since 3rd grade?
how2fish
September 1st, 2010
1:55 pm
Hoops the moron please I’m a UGA fan and I take exception to you spewing that bile…Bama has paid for the issues they needed to and those issues are in the past..Saban rubs a lot of folks the wrong way mostly due to pure envy but there is no evidence that he has cheated at anything..so STFU…and may you develop painful and numerous boils on the tender parts of your anatomy for all time for the Bear Bryant crack.
Rusty Elfalunt
September 1st, 2010
1:58 pm
There is nothing moral about the NCAA, they selectively stomp on the smaller schools while kissing the bottoms of the big boys. Mazoli should be allowed to play just as any other player’s have been allowed to. If is does not his family should own the Nasty NCAA lock stock and barrel.
DP
September 1st, 2010
1:58 pm
Tide Rising, how does getting kicked off the football team equate with leaving the university in good standing? He was in good standing academically but was kicked off the football team and I suspect out of the university as well. Kids get kicked out of universities for criminal behavior on a regular basis.
Stop It You Tool !!
September 1st, 2010
1:59 pm
you, dude with the “stupid mutts” handle.
dont you know that “stupid mutts” is redundant ??
Just saying “mutts” will be sufficent.
Everyone knows the rest.
Thanks