Masoli situation bad for SEC image

Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt and his administration embarrassed themselves and the conference in their successful, shameful pursuit of former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Slive didn't need to call a news conference or issue a statement. He should have called Ole Miss chancellor Dr. Daniel Jones and said: "Let it go." What reflects worse on college football's most high-profile conference, Meyer criticizing the officials or the Rebels' frantic search for a graduate-level curriculum to accommodate a three-star offender who will be eligible this fall. The counterpoint to Masoli's criminal activity is popular reading these days. There's an extensive account on SI.com, which focuses on the extenuating circumstances surrounding each of Masoli's three incidents. He spent three months in a juvenile facility for his role in a robbery five years ago. He pleaded guilty this March to burglarizing an Oregon frat house. He was cited two months ago for driving with marijuana in his car. The last two incidents resulted in Masoli being kicked off the Oregon team, which was expected to contend for a national championship. Ole Miss wouldn't win a championship this season with a young Archie Manning at quarterback. It's picked sixth in the West. Suppose Masoli boosts it all the way to fifth. Is that worth the damage it will do to the program's image? The SEC's image has already taken enough hits this summer.