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
El Capitan
September 1st, 2010
4:41 pm
Agree wiht you Van, really good stuff. Best post I’ve read in a decade.
Will
September 1st, 2010
4:42 pm
That’s right guys, Van, as usual, makes an excellent point.
Mrs. Oxford Rebel
September 1st, 2010
4:42 pm
Van,
What consequences did he avoid exactly???
Larry
September 1st, 2010
4:43 pm
UGA is Just Fine…
Yeah, most of us have a hard time believing more than 1 person, could say the same thing, the same way. You could be Tide Rising or Delbert, I think so too.
Greg
September 1st, 2010
4:44 pm
Guys,
So true, the same guy comes on the blog daily, usually negative towards Richt. Argues with himself, usually doesn’t post at the same time, which is how we all know it’s the same guy positing to himself.
G8R GRAD
September 1st, 2010
4:44 pm
Did you mean “Laughed My F’ing ( ! ) Off?”
CFB Fan
September 1st, 2010
4:47 pm
Sorry Tony but I disagree. All Huston Nutt and Masoli are doing is abusing the system. Ole Miss has no QB and Masoli was being punished. The player should have to sit a season. If you allow this then it would be open season and create a sort of free agency for college football. Example- a senior at institution A could get his degree after his Jr year, and see his team may not be as good the next season transfer to institution B because of the masters loophole all because they have a better bowl chance. Speaking to a former Div1A player I work with he agrees with the ruling.
Van
September 1st, 2010
4:47 pm
Thanks folks. Genius might be too strong, but I’ll take it.
You see, to want to get out of a bad situation, where you’ve admitted in court you stole property, by going to another school, as to allow yourself to play right away, is a way of attempting to circumvent the circumstances.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
4:48 pm
I’ll take NCAA criminal conspiracies for $400.
Clue:
If Jeremiah Masoli hadn’t been suspended this year from the Oregon Ducks team, then subsequentially dismissed from the team, where do you people think he would be getting his Phd from?
What is the University of Oregon? Alex
(A) LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!
Erik
September 1st, 2010
4:48 pm
Van, good point man. Thanks so much for spending a few minutes with us today.
Greg
September 1st, 2010
4:49 pm
Sometimes Tide Rising sounds a lot like MoMo.
UGA is Just Fine...
September 1st, 2010
4:50 pm
So because I referenced someone else’s point that I happen to agree with means it’s the same person? So using that logic: Larry, Cruisier and Greg are all the same person. whatever think what you will, just don’t try to become a detective.
Larry
September 1st, 2010
4:51 pm
Greg, LOL, so does 1/2 the handkles on this blog….
Doug E.
September 1st, 2010
4:51 pm
I agree, -the NCAA is wrong, -though I would not want Mr Masoli on my team. If the NCAA insists on players, member institutions, and their boosters to follow the rules in the strictest fashion, then the NCAA should not hypocrically ignore the rules. If the NCAA has a problem with the spirit of a rule being compromised, they should amend the verbage of the rule to reflect it.
MightyQuinn
September 1st, 2010
4:52 pm
Cops Coming, That’s a pizzzing contest about what the tutor did and didn’t do. Carolina Haters, Inc. are claiming she wrote papers; players are denying it. NO proof. She edits grammar and punctuation…something most SEC players don’t know anything about.
The agent story is from an agent who blew a whistle because he was told to stick it. He fabricated all of it. He was getting NO love from any of the studs; was jealous of agents who they were talking to…and talking is NOT a violation…and he was looking at whiffing on all of them. So he acted out like a punk and called daddy…and the ncaa came running after seeing MA’s tweets.
Marvin’s crime was using twitter. but you see where the ncaa has taken it.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 1st, 2010
4:52 pm
I think the problem lies with Ole Miss and their Masters program in Parks and Recreation. A two month course of study and you are ready to unlock the gate and turn on the lights to the tennis courts at the park. For the Phd level classes you learn not only how to run the leaf blower but also how to start it in less than three pulls. You also have labs where you learn to change the oil and sharpen the blades in the John Deere deck mower. The Scoreboarding 500 level course teaches neat things like: how to get the crowd to yell at you for not putting the score quick enough during tee ball games, speed up game play by skipping a couple of innings on the scoreboard, and end the game early by adding outs when the crowd isn’t looking.
Will
September 1st, 2010
4:53 pm
Van,
What do you think the NCAA should do to curb this?
richtfan
September 1st, 2010
4:54 pm
i see both sides, but posturing the NCAA as being bound by some law is a joke. there is no right to play college athletics. it is entirely a privilege. because masoli was using the transfer for the SOLE purpose of getting out of punishment that he both caused and should endure at Oregon, he was trying to weasel out of a situation that was his own doing. He didn’t transfer to Ole Siss in order to get a degree that wasn’t offered at Oregon. He transferred under the premise that this was the case, but it isn’t the case at all.
Van
September 1st, 2010
4:56 pm
To curb this? Cut the cancer off your team. Send the guys packing who don’t respond to discipline or who do something serious, regardless of their potential value to your team.
Gregg
September 1st, 2010
4:57 pm
The NCAA is totally wrong on this. How is it wrong for Masoli to use the rule to his advantage and not wrong for Greg Paulus? Everybody knows the rule was born out of academic concerns, but in reality it has been used as a loophole for players to pick and choose their team after graduation without sitting out. Paulus had a degree from Duke. Do you really think he had to go to Syracuse for academic reasons? He obviously went there for they’re football program and just picked a graduate program that Duke didn’t have, just like everybody else who has taken advantage of this rule. The NCAA shouldn’t all of a sudden be concerned about the “intent” of the rule. They should treat Masoli like everybody else before him. It makes no difference what you or I think about Masoli from a character standpoint. He has every right to use the rule to his advantage and expect his waiver to be approved just as those before him. If the NCAA doesn’t like it then change the rule allowing the waiver. But if a guy transfers to another school and enrolls in a graduate program that is not available at his previous school, and he has properly transfered, then grant the waiver.
Erik
September 1st, 2010
4:58 pm
Thanks Van for writing us. Right on about cutting out the cancer.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
4:58 pm
Greg
September 1st, 2010
4:49 pm
Sometimes Tide Rising sounds a lot like MoMo.
(A) Nice try. I am from Los Angeles (Long Beach specifically) and a former CFB player, so I def have an interest in the Masoli issue. Plus, I went to JC (in the late 90’s) in the same conf as the one Masoli came from CCSF who annually produces a gamut of the top talent in the JC ranks. One I know who went to Bama was a kid from kentucky (signed with Kentucky, didn’t report, wentto CCSF and was the def POY two years in a row in the conf and an All American) named Miguel Merritt.
TedSands
September 1st, 2010
4:59 pm
This doesn’t make sense. I agree with Tony on this one. Like or dislike the kid and his motives….it doesn’t matter. I don’t think the NCAA should be making judgements but rather enforcing rules. Sounds like he followed the rules and the met the requirements to make him elegible. This wreaks of NCAA favoritism and shows that as a governing body they are very incapable of fairly supporting their member instituions and student athletes.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
4:59 pm
And Merrit after CCSF signed with Bama
El Capitan
September 1st, 2010
4:59 pm
Van, couldn’t agree more. You give the guy a chance if it’s a minor deal, discipline him, but if he deoesn’t respond right, get rid of him. I can’t believe Tony is pulling for Masoli here, he’s in left field on this.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 1st, 2010
5:00 pm
Mrs. Oxford Rebel,
Do you think for one minute that if Masoli had not committed and admitted to the crimes that he would voluntarily leave Oregon his senior year (Heisman contender, potential PAC 10 Champs, Rose Bowl, possible NC title shot) to go to Ole Miss for a year to get a masters in Parks and Rec? If so all hail the Nutt nation!
Greg
September 1st, 2010
5:01 pm
MoMo
I guess it’s just a coincidence that you rarely post at the same time as Tide Rising.
Larry
September 1st, 2010
5:03 pm
Greg, nice, ouch!
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:04 pm
The NCAA is totally wrong on this. How is it wrong for Masoli to use the rule to his advantage and not wrong for Greg Paulus? Everybody knows the rule was born out of academic concerns, but in reality it has been used as a loophole for players to pick and choose their team after graduation without sitting out. Paulus had a degree from Duke. Do you really think he had to go to Syracuse for academic reasons? He obviously went there for they’re football program and just picked a graduate program that Duke didn’t have, just like everybody else who has taken advantage of this rule. The NCAA shouldn’t all of a sudden be concerned about the “intent” of the rule. They should treat Masoli like everybody else before him. It makes no difference what you or I think about Masoli from a character standpoint. He has every right to use the rule to his advantage and expect his waiver to be approved just as those before him. If the NCAA doesn’t like it then change the rule allowing the waiver. But if a guy transfers to another school and enrolls in a graduate program that is not available at his previous school, and he has properly transfered, then grant the waiver.
(A) Exactly right. The CORE of the spirit of this rule is what?
Graduation. Emplore a benefit for players who graduate (instead of doing nothing for 4 years, yet Masoli graduated in 3) with a reward of not having to sit out the year in residence.
How about Kevin Kruger a few years ago graduating and leaving to play for his DAD? Academically mostivated? They approved his waiver:
Kruger to play for father at UNLV — without penalty
Kevin Kruger became the first college basketball player to use a new rule that allows players to transfer without sitting out a year as long as they graduated and have one year of eligibility remaining.
Kruger, the top returning scorer for Arizona State, graduated this week after the first summer session. Once he had his degree, he informed Sun Devils coach Herb Sendek that he was off to play for his father, Lon Kruger, at UNLV next season. Kruger redshirted his first season at ASU.
Kruger is using widely scrutinized Rule 2005-54, which states: “To permit a student-athlete who is enrolled in a specific graduate degree program of an institution other than the institution from which he or she previously received a baccalaureate degree to participate in intercollegiate athletics regardless of any previous transfer.”
The rule’s intent is to allow students who have graduated in four years (and have one year of eligibility remaining) to transfer to attend graduate school.
Clearly, Kruger’s intention is to play for his father for one season, a unique situation. But ASU isn’t expected to challenge Kruger, despite losing his 15 points and 40 percent 3-point shooting.
Larry
September 1st, 2010
5:05 pm
Momo/Tide Rising/BullDawg/Patrick Sulley (might they all be the same dude?)
Please, limit your posts to 50 words or less.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:05 pm
This guy made it CLEAR that it sthe only reason for transferring to UNLV. To play for his dad. He stated it and was quaoted as such. The “spirit” of the rule NCAA? Really????
Guys use it to play where they want. Kruger used to it play hoops and Masoli is denied…please.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:06 pm
Larry
September 1st, 2010
5:05 pm
Momo/Tide Rising/BullDawg/Patrick Sulley (might they all be the same dude?)
Please, limit your posts to 50 words or less.
(A) OMG…Sulley? The Sulley troll from the ESPN message boards????????? He is HERE too???? Wow. Now, HE is a troll.
Paul in RDU
September 1st, 2010
5:07 pm
MightyQuinn
The issue concerning the tutor at Chapel Hill is being investigated by the school. If you have seen any comments in public/on the record from the players denying anything or the school claiming anything then you are seeing more than I am. In Davis presser yesterday he specifically made no comments about the tutor (or AgentGate for that matter).
If (big IF) there are academic fraud problems in CH, the NCAA is going to be the least of Butch’s problems. There is a “due cause” clause in his contract and Baddour and Thorpe will invoke it.
AMSTERDAM SAM
September 1st, 2010
5:08 pm
Anyone having never been given another chance at any time in their life has the right to say someone or anyone else doesn’t deserve another chance. The rest of you self righttous individuals should just shut up! Silence is golden and, in this case, deafenning.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:09 pm
Sulley once claimed to live in San Clemente (an exclusive beach city in Orange County) and yet trolled the USC boards…and argued with a guy about it being 20 minutes from San Clemente to Long Beach. The guy is out to lunch.
RomeDawg
September 1st, 2010
5:09 pm
I don’t think someone like him belongs in college football….PERIOD!!! Send a message to the other thug felons that playing football in college is a luxury.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:10 pm
Greg
September 1st, 2010
5:01 pm
MoMo
I guess it’s just a coincidence that you rarely post at the same time as Tide Rising.
(A) Umm..it has to be. Check my pic on the ESPN MB’s. “LMO32″ Lets not go there anymore.
Mrs. Oxford Rebel
September 1st, 2010
5:11 pm
No gdawginkalamazoo I do not! However, he made his choices and were dealt his cards. At least he did not quit school all together and earned a degree (unlike most “thugs”). And yes, we needed him at QB. BUT he needed us too! Ole Miss offers a staff of Christian men who are excellent role models to these young men! Masoli was headed in the wrong direction, and found Ole Miss to be a place to turn it all around! Futhermore as Tony stated, he was within the NCAA guidelines whether you like him or not or the idea of us having an outstanding QB or not! As stated on this site, it has been done before in this exact same case and the only injustice of any importance is to Jeremiah Masoli!
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:12 pm
I dont even like the SEC to be honest. I take an interest in the Masoli diatribe, nothing else. So let it be what it is….I will tell you how Utah did beat on Bama in their own backyard in a heartbeat though.
sec chumps
September 1st, 2010
5:14 pm
everybody else has to sit out a year, why does he not have to? Gee, I cannot imagine why the NCAA would not consult with you…if the kid transferred somewhere besides the SEC, you wouldn’t even care
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:16 pm
sec chumps
September 1st, 2010
5:14 pm
everybody else has to sit out a year, why does he not have to? Gee, I cannot imagine why the NCAA would not consult with you…if the kid transferred somewhere besides the SEC, you wouldn’t even care
(A) Dude you obviously don’t know the rules and the bylaw being used. NO, they do not. That is the point here. Others through graduating (wait)……I have been trolled.
Why am I wasting my time on this? Read and then make up a better screenname
Paul in RDU
September 1st, 2010
5:16 pm
The comments on Greg Paulus crack me up.
He was told by Cutcliffe that he wouldn’t play (Lewis was the starter). He had a try out with the Green Bay Packers after his SR year at Duke. He went to a number of schools to see how he would fit in their offense and eventually went to Syracuse. Now the “mind readers” on this blog seem to have read his intent to be governed academics rather than football, but the try out with the Pck kind of gives it away.
BTW – WHen it comes to Paulus, I hated him as a Duke b’ball player but love his smarts, toughness and work ethic. He’s going to be a good coach
Larry
September 1st, 2010
5:17 pm
Guys, he tries to hijack other people’s handles or blog names, then he thinks we’ll all think he’s cool. Sure we will Tide Rising/BullDawg/Sulley/MoMo.
Have a great day bloggin to yourself all day long, like you do here everyday. Hope you have a great conversation. Got to go.
Paul in RDU
September 1st, 2010
5:21 pm
WRAL early news just announced that Marvin Austin has been suspended indefinitely. The reason is that he has been dogging it in practice and has been skipping classes, presumably because he knew he was not going to be playing any time soon.
We’ll find out who else is sitting out (possibly 7 starters according to the N&O) on Friday or Saturday.
The bad news for UNC fans continue – TJ Yates is not implicated in AgentGate or the tutor scandal.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:22 pm
Larry
September 1st, 2010
5:17 pm
Guys, he tries to hijack other people’s handles or blog names, then he thinks we’ll all think he’s cool. Sure we will Tide Rising/BullDawg/Sulley/MoMo.
Have a great day bloggin to yourself all day long, like you do here everyday. Hope you have a great conversation. Got to go.
(A) – No. I am not affiliated with any of these. Larry.Gary (and whoever else) suddely distract and hijack the conversation but do not answer the salient points in regard to Kevin Kruger transferring from ASU to UNLV (hoops), or Paulus transferring to Syracuse after trying to work out for the NFL.
Don’t listen to this garbage. Answer the points and do better investigative work. Here is my bio on the ESPN MB (BTW)-
http://sportsnation.espn.go.com/fans/LMO32
Not A UGA Fan
September 1st, 2010
5:23 pm
The NCAA, like unions, has outlived it’s usefullness……time to re-organize.
Guy
September 1st, 2010
5:26 pm
Hey MoMo-
name all your brothers and sisters fast, and your Mom’s middle name.
By the way, if you’re stealing someone’s identity, you’ll be permanently banned from all AJC blogs.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:28 pm
Hey MoMo-
name all your brothers and sisters fast, and your Mom’s middle name.
By the way, if you’re stealing someone’s identity, you’ll be permanently banned from all AJC blogs.
(A) No, LOL…I am not. The picture HELPS to prove my identity. In fact…you would do some research on the photo….you would know that I played at a DII school after leaving JC and played 6 years in the NFL. Care to take a stab? I even played in Toronto one year. Take a guess? Not hard.
Guy
September 1st, 2010
5:28 pm
MoMo
Didn’t think you would, somebody should report this guy to the AJ and ban him.
MoMo
September 1st, 2010
5:29 pm
No worries about stealing ANYTHING. The guys here I am certain can detect IP addresses, email similarities, etc…and plus…they have my REAL name in the email field. Go figure, right?
Like I said before dude, do better investigative work. Your shoddy work has seriously hijacked the ENTIRE thread! Relax.