Steve Spurrier: Oversigning is a "Helpful" and "Ticklish Situation"

The Wall Street Journal discussed the practice of oversigning with three SEC coaches—Steve Spurrier, Houston Nutt, and Bobby Petrino—and the general consensus among them was that it's not a big deal. Quite frankly, all felt the it was something that was both necessary and helpful during the recruiting process.

For those that aren't aware,"oversigning" occurs when a coach knowingly brings in more players than  allowed in order to account for the unforeseen consequences of attrition, transfers, or the inability of a player to academically qualify.

It's a practice that is largely frowned upon yet, for some reason, continues to go unchecked.

What I found interesting about the statements made by the above-mentioned coaches is how well they have managed to justify their actions.

Spurrier claims that he is forthright with all the guys who stand the chance of being let go, but somehow you get the feeling that's not always the case. Spurrier even went so far as to criticize conferences that don't utilize the option—specifically the Big Ten—said Spurrier, "I think that really hurts them a lot...they end up giving scholarships to a lot of walk-ons."

Bobby Petrino echoes the sentiment saying, "I don't see it as a bad thing unless you're being dishonest or waiting until the last minute, which eliminates their visit opportunities with other schools".

However, its hard to believe that coaches are being as clear and concise about this matter as Petrino or Spurrier would have us all believe and, after all, the victim in this process isn't the coach or the football program, it's the athlete who gets cut after being promised a scholarship.

Do any of these coaches really expect us to believe that a prospect would still offer their comittment if they knew their name could end up on the cutting-room floor? It just doesn't seem likely, particularly when many of them have the option of signing elsewhere—and, the guys who are entertaining that conversation and saying they are still willing to take that chance, lets be honest, probably aren't the ones most likely to see their walking papers.

You think Spurrier would cut Jadeveon Clowney? Not likely. The coaches can pick and choose and the player is left at a huge disadvantage. 

It's a process that needs to be cut out completely by the NCAA, but something tells me it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Read the full article here.

Related articles

• SEC Coaches Defend 'Oversigning' (online.wsj.com)

Jeremiah Masoli: No Park And Rec For Me, I'm Going To The NFL

Photo Credit: BRUCE NEWMAN, Oxford Eagle

According to Kyle Veazey, of the Clarion-Ledger, Jeremiah Masoli is exiting stage left on his career at Ole Miss in order to devote more time to training for the NFL. And, unless you live in the land of make-believe, you are hardly surprised by his decision to do so—after all, who would turn down a shot at millions just to work as a park ranger (Masoli was pursuing a masters degree in parks and rec)?

No offense to the park rangers of the world, of course, appreciate all you do.

However, his decision will seem rather curious to the many who actually believed Masoli's transfer to Ole Miss was about "starting over". I mean, Ole Miss offered the chance for him to study something that Oregon simply did not offer. He had no choice but to request a transfer waiver so that he could do what he needed to do—academically—right? The whole playing football thing was secondary to his pursuit of academics.

Yeah. 

While that's a charming story, few actually believed that story back then, and they certainly will feel resolved in not having done so in light of his decision to bail out now. 

According to Masoli's website, he still intends to complete his studies at some point, but right now his focus is on training.

Again, no one can fault Masoli for wanting to see what the NFL has to offer, but if you truly believe that he has any intention of returning to Ole Miss to complete his studies, well, I have a sunny piece of property at the North Pole I'd like to sell you.

Looking forward to seeing how this next chapter plays out for the embattled quarterback and even more curious to see what Houston Nutt will do next season.

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Eight

See week seven here.

1. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss ( 21/36 for 327 yards and 3 touchdowns. 15 carries for 98 yards) at Arkansas.

Masoli played some of his best football of the season, accounting for 425 of the 512 yards the Rebels tallied against the Hogs on Saturday.

Down early to Arkansas, the Rebels seemed headed for a rout by Mallett and his crew, but Houston Nutt's team showed a lot of heart in rallying from an 18-point deficit to make a game of it late. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Rebels only trailed by seven.

But, alas, the tough running of Knile Davis was the difference in the fourth where, minus Mallett,  Arkansas staved off the rally and won the game.

2010 season stats: 96/170 for 1,260 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 75 carries for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. 


2. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (27/43 for 353 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Georgia


Mike Hartline did all he could do to get his team back in the game on Saturday, but the 'cardiac cats' just didn't have quite enough steam to overcome another early deficit.
 

2010 season stats: 184/273 for 2,144 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

3. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (31/39 for 355 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Vanderbilt.


The Gamecocks averted another disaster at the hands of the Commodores, and they didn't even need Marcus Lattimore to get the job done.

Garcia took advantage of his team's strong rushing attack—led by a 146-yard effort from Brian Maddox—to get the ball rolling through the air, as he made mince-meat of the Commodores' secondary. 


2010 season stats: 124/172 for 1,681 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

4. Greg McElroy, Alabama (21/32 for 264 yards) at Tennessee


McElroy didn't have eye-popping totals through the air, but his steady-handed play put Mark Ingram in position to score two big touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.


2010 season stats: 137/194 for 1,781 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

5. Cam Newton, Auburn (10/16 for 86 yards. 28 carries for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns).


It would be easy to place Newton in the top spot again this week based on his rushing totals alone—they are simply other-worldly. That said, a quarterback, by definition, is supposed to spend the better part of his game passing the ball, not running it.

Spread or no spread, the lack of genuine playmakers around Newton will become a problem at some point—he can't keep doing it alone.

2010 season stats: 90/138 for 1,364 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 157 carries for 1,077 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

6. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (13/24 for 196 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Ole Miss.

Mallett's night ended early for the second straight week, this time due to a bruised shoulder, but his team managed to seal the victory on the strong running of Knile Davis in the fourth quarter.

2010 season stats: 145/215 for 2,040 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.

7. Aaron Murray, Georgia (9/12 for 113 yards) at Kentucky.

Murray wasn't spectacular on Saturday, but he didn't have to be. He kept it simple, let Ealey do the dirty work, and didn't hurt his team by throwing ill-advised passes.

The kid has been steady, focused, and smart with the football all season. It's a trend that will, hopefully, continue to be seen next week when Georgia faces Urban Meyer's Gators. 

2010 season stats: 121/193 for 1,766 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 54 carries for 165 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

8. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (13/31 for 142 yards. 15 carries for 48 yards and 1 touchdown).

Smith has never been a world-beater. He's got some skills at running the ball, but his arm is nothing to write home about on a weekly basis. Vandy made a valiant effort at upending the Gamecocks on Saturday, but it just wasn't meant to be.

2010 season stats: 85/164 for 1,005 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 66 carries for 195 yards and 3 touchdowns.   



9.  Chris Relf, Mississippi State (8/19 for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. 20 carries for 51 yards) vs UAB.

It's hard to say what's more amazing: the fact that Mississippi State manages to keep winning with Relf or the fact that they might be worse off without him.

Hats off to Dan Mullen for maximizing the potential of his junior quarterback—he's been just good enough to get the job done.


2010 season stats: 63/114 for 815 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 107 carries for 428 yards and 2 touchdowns. 


10. Matt Simms, Tennessee (12/22 for 117 yards and 1 interception) vs Alabama.


Simms is a tough kid but he's been beat up this season—badly. Clearly, it's beginning to take its toll, too, after a big hit from Marcel Dareus, the junior called it a night.


2010 season stats: 100/176 for 1,253 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.


11. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (7/14 for 46 yards and 1 interception. 16 carries for 74 yards and 1 touchdown) at Auburn. 

Jordan Jefferson is awful. He's been awful all season. He was benched in favor of the, slightly less awful Jarrett Lee, but after Lee's atrocious performance against McNeese St. last week, LSU's coach, Les Miles, was looking for a spark.


Well, in case he hasn't figured it out yet, Jefferson is not "THAT" guy—he never will be.

2010 season stats: 65/123 for 623 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 78 carries for 281 yards and 5 touchdowns.

College Football Odds (ATS): Can Northwestern Pull The Upset Over Michigan State?

The 'Lady' is getting killed against the spread (ATS) over the last couple weeks as another below average finish sets the site record at 29-36. However, it's not time to give up on this weekly pick em' yet, even though it's been heavily contemplated.

That said, we will dive head first into another slate of possible spread-breakers—there are plenty to choose from this week.

As usual, all lines are quoted via courtesy of VegasInsider.com.

1. Northwestern vs. Michigan State: Michigan State (-6)

People are figuring that Michigan State has to lose one eventually. After all, there is no way they are really THIS good, right? Well, the verdict is still out on that point but, one thing is for certain, the Wildcats will have their hands full trying to contain Kirk Cousins, Edwin Baker, and Le'Veon Bell.  The home field advantage will help, but, it may not be enough.

The Lady's Pick: Michigan State

2. Rutgers vs. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh (-13)

It's not that Rutgers is phenomenal on offense, but they do have a good rushing defense—despite the impression the Army game might have given you. That said, Dion Lewis hasn't been nearly as dominant this season as he was in 2009 and Greg Schiano has a way of getting his team ready for the big game.

The Lady's Pick: Rutgers

3. Iowa State vs. Texas: Texas (-21)

This seems like an awful lot of points for the Longhorns to cover, especially given the fact that they are coming off a huge upset victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers last week. Iowa State's defense is deplorable, but Texas has had some questionable play over the season too—remember Wyoming?

Keeping that in mind, it just seems unlikely that the Longhorns get it done this week.

The Lady's Pick: Iowa State

4. Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina: South Carolina (-12.5)

Vanderbilt was embarrassed last week—getting shut-out by Georgia—and South Carolina is clearly a different offense minus Marcus Lattimore.

The Lady's Pick: Vanderbilt

5. Arkansas vs. Mississippi: Arkansas (-9.5)

You can bet that Houston Nutt will be ready for whatever Bobby Petrino has for him in Fayetteville. If there is one thing that Nutt has, historically, done well, it's getting his team prepared for big games.

Jeremiah Masoli will have more room to run than he did last week and, although Ryan Mallett is ready to play (suspect given he sustained a concussion just six-days ago), this game will come down to pride for Houston Nutt. 

The Lady's Pick: Mississippi 

6. BYU vs Wyoming: BYU (-10.5)

BYU should not be favored by anything more than three points over any opponent for the rest of the year. They are deplorable this season.

The Lady's Pick: Wyoming

7. Mississippi State vs. UAB: Mississippi State (-20)

There is no denying the fact that the Bulldogs are on a roll this year, but it seems premature to start giving them this much respect against a UAB team that has shown no hesitation in going toe-to-toe with any opponent this season—including a near defeat of Tennessee at Neyland Stadium. Buyer beware.

The Lady's Pick: UAB

8. Oklahoma vs Missouri: Oklahoma (-3)

Either you like Oklahoma or you don't.

The Sooners might be ranked the No. 1 but, as usual, that ranking is premature given the fact that they've looked just a touch average over mediocre opponents this season. Missouri will have the home crowd on their side, and this seems just the spot for the Sooners to choke.

The Lady's Pick: Missouri 

9. Tennessee vs. Alabama: Alabama (-18)


There's something wrong with Alabama's run game right now. Neither Mark Ingram, nor Trent Richardson, look as dominant as they did earlier in the year. Not to mention, Julio Jones is banged up and Marcel Dareus is doing the best he can working with a bum ankle. Add all that together and you have a team that is in desperate need of a break.

Tennessee may not be very good right now but, fortunately for them, they won't need to be.

The Lady's Pick: Tennessee

10. LSU vs. Auburn: Auburn (-6)

The easy pick here is Auburn. No team has been able to slow Cam Newton in the slightest and he's been money all season long. That said, the Tiger's have been suspect against even the most moderate defense and, if not for the Razorbacks atrocious secondary, that game might not have been the blowout it became.

LSU has a ton of questions on offense but their defense has been solid.

The Lady's Pick: LSU

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Four

See week three here.

1.  Cameron Newton, Auburn (16/21 for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns. 25 carries for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns) versus South Carolina. 

Pretty soon the Auburn Tigers might take on the moniker of the "cardiac cats" as the last two weeks have both seen some dramatic come-from-behind victories by the Tigers. Once again, Cameron Newton put on his Superman cape in the fourth quarter as he led his team to another victory over a worthy opponent.

2010 season total: 43/68 for 683 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 75 carries for 485 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

2. Matt Simms, Tennessee (19/34 for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. UAB

Simms sealed the Volunteers second victory of the season on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Denarius Moore to win in double overtime. The junior quarterback showed plenty of poise and leadership on the field against a feisty UAB team that seemed determined to walk out of Neyland with a win. Simms has made subtle progressions each week and, so far, has given Vol fans a reason to be hopeful for the future.

2010 season total:  67/118 for 836 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

3.  John Brantley, Florida (24/35 for 248 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Kentucky.

Brantley finally did two things for the first time this season—break 200 yards passing and throw his first interception. The latter is impressive, the former not so much. Though he was largely overshadowed by his freshman counterpart, Trey Burton, Brantley still gets credit for being steady, if not stellar, for the Gators in their win over Kentucky.

2010 season total: 73/114 yards for 700 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 1 interception.

4. Aaron Murray, Georgia (18/31 for 274 yards and 1 touchdown) at Mississippi State

Murray continues to be impressive for Georgia, in spite of the teams' overall anemia on offense, and offers plenty of reason for fans to believe he is the future at quarterback. He looks more comfortable in the pocket each week and, even minus A.J. Green, has developed solid chemistry with his other receivers. Now, if the rest of the team could play with as much passion, the Bulldogs might have something.

2010 season total: 64/105 for 879 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

5. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (8/12 for 153 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Fresno State

The Rebels left most of the dirty work to their running backs this week, but Masoli helped get the party started with a touchdown early. He's not been the spark that Houston Nutt hoped he would be, but he hasn't been downright abysmal either.

2010 season total: 48/77 for 733 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

6. Chris Relf, Mississipi State (8/13 for 135 yards and 1 touchdown. 20 carries for 109 yards) vs. Georgia.

Leading your team to victory over a cross-division rival has to count for something, right? This was, without question, one of Relf's best SEC performances so far this season.

2010 season total: 33/57 for 409 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 48 carries for 249 yards. 

7. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (15/21 for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs Auburn.

You're probably wondering why Garcia isn't ranked a bit higher, right? Well, his position here has less to do with what he did do, than what he didn't do. Garcia fumbled twice in the second half, clearing the way for 14 of the points Auburn needed to win the game and spoil the Gamecocks bid to go 4-0 on the season—2-0 in the SEC.

2010 season total: 56/81 for 743 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

8.  Greg McElroy, Alabama (18/26 for 194 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) at Arkansas.

McElroy was mediocre for the majority of the day, but money when it mattered. He made a drive saving play on fourth-and-inches and helped engineer two touchdown scoring drives in the second half.

2010 season total: 61/86 for 899 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

9. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (25/38 for 357 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions) vs. Alabama.

It was a valiant effort that nearly turned into a big win for the Razorbacks, but Mallett lost his groove after throwing his first interception—in the fourth quarter—and never recovered. Arkansas was close to being the beasts of the West...but, as we all know, close only counts in horseshoes.

2010 season total: 95/138 for 1438 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.  

10. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (21/39 for 242 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) at Florida.

Hartline couldn't continue the momentum of the Wildcats in the face of the Gators smothering defense, but he did give a valiant effort. 

2010 season total: 75/114 for 922 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.  

11. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (10/22 for 75 yards and 2 interceptions) vs West Virginia.


Jefferson has been atrocious this year. Is he the victim of bad coaching or does he really suck this bad? My goodness, it's an utter miracle that the Tigers are 4-0 —an. utter. miracle. If Jefferson continues to play his uninspired brand of football the rest of the way, it's a miracle that should end very soon.

2010 season total: 43/79 for 419 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

Georgia Bulldogs Football: AJ Green Out Four Games????....The Hell?!?

The final word came down this afternoon and—after this Lady finished setting things on fire—it became alarming clear that the NCAA is full of shhhh...wait, this is a public blog, let me be careful about this statement.

Ahem, let's start again.

After hearing about the four-game suspension of Georgia's star wide receiver, A.J. Green, it became clear that the NCAA is one big ball of hypocrisy.

How on earth did they justify suspending Green four games for selling his jersey...on Ebay? They say the buyer "meets the NCAA definition of an agent"? Uh-huh, did A.J. know that his buyer was a bloodsucking vulture when he made the sale?

Last I checked, the profile of the sellers and the buyers on Ebay aren't necessarily an open book.

Furthermore, isn't this the same NCAA that gave the thumbs up to Jeremiah Masoli to continue playing college football? Lest we forget, despite what Houston Nutt espoused about second chances and whatever else he says to keep a clear conscience at night, Masoli was convicted of a crime and is, by all accounts, a criminal—yet he gets to play football on Saturday?

Too harsh?...Okay, lets try another, less sinister, example.

Isn't this the same NCAA that told Alabama defensive player Marcel Dareus that he would only need to sit for two games after he (knowingly, mind you) took $2000 in benefits from an agent at a party—that he took a flight to attend?

Sooooooooo, it's okay to accept gifts from an agent, or be a criminal, but it's not okay to make a profit from selling your own damned jersey?...Give me a break!

How many No. 8 jerseys are walking around Sanford Stadium on any given Saturday? You think the school and the NCAA isn't making money off of that sale?...Ludicrous is what this situation is, and it's high time the NCAA do a little more investigating into their practices because, from this vantage point, they look suspect as hell.

Listen, there is no denying that what Green did was wrong because, at the end of the day, rules are rules, but to give him four games is a bit excessive—much like the celebration penalty last season that—in the eyes of many—cost Georgia a win over LSU.

But, no need to digress.

As for the team and how they will adjust, well, this suspension just means it's time for the Georgia Bulldogs to hunker down and do what they need to in their stars' absence.

A.J. is out so...STEP UP, Marlon! Catch the ball, Rantavious!  Git' er' done, Tavarres! The team is counting on you guys, along with Israel Troupe, Kris Durham, and Logan Gray—show us what you got.

As for the AJ Green ruling, Georgia is appealing—as well they should—and, hopefully, the NCAA will come to their senses. Although, given the time it took for them to come down with this decision, it seems doubtful that they will change their minds anytime soon.

Tough break for Georgia, with South Carolina looming on Saturday, but hopefully the dimming of one star simply means the emergence of another. Stay tuned for more commentary on this later—after the Lady calms down, that is...*mumbling*...four games, what a bunch of bullshhhhhhh....(sorry, public blog, gotta be careful)

College Football: The 20 Most Interesting Storylines To Watch This Season

College Football is a finicky sport. The fans are judgmental, the boosters are relentless, and the media is...well...the media.

That said, we haven't seen the first snap of the college football season yet, but we already can just about guess the stories we'll be implored to pay close attention to this year. Some of them have already begun to creep into our daily newsletters (can Alabama repeat), while others are just now making it into rotation (will Masoli succeed at Ole Miss).

Either way, this year promises to be something special, I can't wait.

1. How well will Lane Kiffin do at USC?

Let's face it, the guy isn't the most appealing individual in the world and most fans—outside of Southern California—would love to see him fall flat on his face. However, if he is able to parlay his way to an 11 or 12 win season, he will shut a lot of the doubters up—even though his team won't be bowl eligible until after the 2011 season. 

2. Can Florida still be dominant without Tim Tebow? 

Talk is cheap. Play the games and then tell me what a great team you are now that superman has officially left the building. The Gators are getting a lot of love, despite key losses on the defensive side of the ball. The team will lose this season—bet on that—the only question is, how will the fans take it when they do? 

3. Will Houston Nutt regret allowing Jeremiah Masoli onto his team?
 

Houston Nutt is taking a big risk with Masoli—that's obvious. However, if the risk pays off, he's a genius. He'll likely save his job and Nathan Stanley would be that much better in 2011. On the other hand, if Masoli gets in trouble or falls flat, Nutt could find himself out of a job real soon. 

4. Can Alabama repeat as national champions?

The real question needs to be, can Alabama get back to the SEC Championship game. As much love as people have for the Tide, they are a lot more human than they were last season and the target on their back isn't that much easier to carry minus the likes of Terrance Cody and Javier Arenas. If the Tide expect to repeat as SEC West Division Champs, they will need to fight through a horrendously tough schedule and overcome the fact that they will have both an inexperienced punter and kicker for the first time in four-years. 

5. Will Florida State thrive under Jimbo Fisher?

The Tallahassee faithful finally got what they wanted, they ran Bobby Bowden out of town and happily ushered in the start of the Jimbo Fisher era. Fisher, so far, has shown he's got the midas touch as he reeled in a solid recruiting class for 2010 and is already well on his way to a solid 2011 as well. Will he be the man who returns the Seminoles to their former glory?

6. Can Georgia Tech get defensive?

The Yellow Jackets didn't have much trouble running all over their competition last season. but they did have some trouble stopping it. They brought in Al Groh to fix what ails them on that side of the ball—can he work his magic? Many feel that if the Jackets can find some balance, they can be contend for a BCS title. 

7. How much longer will Joe Paterno walk the sidelines in Happy Valley?

It's a question that many have asked a lot over the last several years. He's one of the last stalwarts of a coaching era that has long since passed him by—would a sub-par season put him under the gun again?

8. Is Boise State TRULY for real?

If the Broncos beat Virginia Tech in September, there is little doubt that they will ride a magic carpet to the BCS title game and FINALLY may be worthy of the respect they've been shouting for since 2004—maybe. 

9. Can the Nebraska Cornhuskers exit the Big XII with a conference championship?
Despite what Phil Steele has to say about the Sooners being the best team in the conference this season, Nebraska has a lot of reasons to want to stick it to the conference on their way out the door. What better way to do so than to win the championship that many felt they were deserving of last season—if not for that one measly second. 

10. Will Steve Spurrier be able to take the Gamecocks to Atlanta in December?

There are some who feel that if any team in the SEC East has a shot at dethroning the Gators, it's the USC of the east. If Spurrier can get his guys clicking on all cylinders, he could have a shot to do what no other coach in the history of South Carolina football has been able to do—win an SEC Championship. 

11. Can the Ohio State Buckeyes go all the way with Pryor at the top?

The Rose Bowl, supposedly, was the coming out party for the much-maligned Terrelle Pryor. He was poised and focused on every down as he led his team to the win over the highly-favored Oregon Ducks. To some, his success in that game spelled the turning of a corner for the young man—was it really that? 2010 promises to see him playing an even bigger role in the offense as a passer as he looks to both lead the Buckeyes to the national title game and contend for the Heisman. 

12. Which team will be the BCS buster this season?

There seems to be one team every season that "comes out of nowhere" to surprise the college football world and make things very interesting for the pollsters. Last season, it was TCU and Boise. Boise was so much a surprise as a given, but, they did make the conversation interesting for a moment—particularly in light of the Longhorns poor game against Nebraska. Cincinnati was another. Who will it be this year? 

13. What player will finally break through and stake his claim as one of the premier college players in the nation?

Trent Richardson, Andrew Luck, and Dion Lewis all put up flares last season and the glare from that action was bright enough that expectations are higher for all three gentleman in 2010—especially for Luck who is already getting Heisman buzz. Who else will prove themselves indispensable parts of their respective teams? 

14. Which coach will finally wear out his welcome?

Odds are at least one or more head coaches will see their tenures end this year. Who will they be? Heavy wagers should be placed on Dan Hawkins and Ron Zook—neither of whom have seen a winning season in quite some time. 

15. What new coach will see the most success in his first season?

Charlie Strong is making noise in Louisville. Brian Kelly is going to introduce his high-powered offense to the Irish. Joker Phillips is trying to break out of the shadow of Rich Brooks at Kentucky. Derek Dooley wants to erase the bad taste that Lane Kiffin left at Tennessee. Skip Holtz wants to make South Florida great again...they all have a legitimate shot to do what they want to do, but how long will it take? Who will do the most with the least in 2010?
 
16. Will Rich Rodriguez finally get the ball rolling in Ann Arbor?

He has the team and the system in place to make this season a special one for the Wolverines. If he can't get it done this year, many feel he will be out of a job.

17. How many teams will go undefeated this year?

The fact that Boise, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, and Alabama all went undefeated last season left a bad taste in the mouths of many college football fans who would love to see a playoff coming in the near future. Will the same be said this season? Chances are there won't be as many as last year but anything more than a couple and a firestorm could crop up yet again.

18. Will the Georgia Bulldogs get back on track in the east and mount a challenge to the Florida Gators?
 
Many are saying that Mark Richt is on the "hot seat". That's not nearly as true as most would have you believe but a return to the SEC Championship game this season would cool a lot of the madness that has surrounded the team over the last 8-months.

19. Can Jim Harbaugh lead Stanford to a Pac-10 title without Gerhart?
 

A lot of pressure is being placed on the shoulders of Andrew Luck and there is plenty of optimism at Stanford after last seasons performance. However, this is a new year and the Cardinals have plenty of questions to answer on both sides of the ball. Can Harbaugh lead his team to the conference title game and, if he does, will he be called upon for something bigger not long after?

20. What potential Top 10 team will be out of the running early due to an unexpected loss?

 
It's happened time and again. A team goes in with high hopes and high expectations but is met with a nasty dose of on-field reality. Who will that team be this year?

Hopefully, Jeremiah Masoli Won't Be Just Another Jamar Hornsby For Ole Miss

According to ESPN's Joe Schad, the University of Mississippi has decided to allow Jeremiah Masoli to enroll in one of their graduate programs this fall. Masoli would not be granted a scholarship to the Ole Miss football team, but he would be granted access as a walk-on.

That said, there is the possibility that Masoli, who is a good student, could receive financial aid in the form of reduced tuition or grant money to assist in covering the cost of out-of-state tuition at Ole Miss. If Masoli does enroll, it would be the second time in as many seasons that coach Houston Nutt has taken a chance on a player with a history of legal troubles.

In 2009, Nutt decided to take a chance on former Florida Gator, Jamar Hornsby. Hornsby was dismissed from the Gators after the 2007 season when it was discovered he used the credit card of a deceased student—a young lady who died in a motorcycle accident—to charge items amounting to more than $3000. The student turned out to be the girlfriend of his teammate, Joe Haden.

Horsnby never played a down in Oxford. He was charged with assault and, subsequentially, released by Nutt before the start of the season.

Masoli will be Nutt's second attempt at trying on a troubled player. If it works out for him, he will be lauded for having the foresight to give a guy another chance to make good on his skills. However, if the plan backfires, Nutt could see his seat in Oxford become a lot less comfortable.

Nothing is set in stone yet, so this deal could falter and fail, but if it doesn't, the only issue Nutt will hope to face is how to fit Masoli into his pro-style offense. Masoli worked out of a spread-option system at Oregon and, at 5'11" isn't exactly the ideal height for a pro-style QB.

Either way, Nutt appears to be rolling the dice on this one. Hopefully, second times the charm.

Will Houston Nutt Take A Chance On Former Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli?

The latest saga in the Houston Nutt Trilogy is who will replace Raymond Cotton?

Cotton, the disgruntled and disgusted No. 2 quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels, decided that his playing future was better served elsewhere—leaving the Rebels and Houston Nutt wondering "what now?"

If reports are to be believed, former Oregon quarterback, Jeremiah Masoli is getting some major consideration, despite his checkered past. The first question that many will ask is why would Ole Miss or Houston Nutt want a guy like Masoli?

Seriously, do you really have to ask? Despite the fact that he Masoli was a complete idiot off the field in 2009, he was a star on it for the Oregon Ducks last season. Barring any significant injury, had he played for the team in 2010, he was a lock for garnering some Heisman consideration after putting up some impressive numbers in 2009 (2147 yards passing, 668 yards rushing, and 28 total touchdowns).

His presence on an Ole Miss team that not only lost Jevan Snead, but also Dexter McCluster, and Shay Hodge, would be a definite improvement over the relative inexperience of Nathan Stanley. That said, it is tough to discount the baggage that Masoli would bring.

His multiple arrests and all-around ill-advised behavior off the field would offer a huge red flag to the Ole Miss admissions committee and they might not be willing to overlook his past transgressions in favor of their institutions desire for some quality depth at quarterback.

However, if they were to open the door and allow the troubled, former-star to enter the hallowed halls of their program, there would only be one hiccup to consider. According to NCAA transfer rules:

If a student-athlete wants to transfer and immediately compete as a graduate student, the college or university they are transferring to would need to seek a waiver, because in most cases they would have to sit out a year before competing under NCAA transfer rules and would not have any remaining eligibility. One of the factors our members have determined is appropriate for a graduate student waiver is if the transfer is academically motivated.

By "academically motivated", the NCAA means that the student-athlete would need to choose his/her school based on an inability to complete his graduate studies at the institution that formerly held his eligibility. In other words, Ole Miss would have to offer a graduate program that the University of Oregon does not. 

Assuming Masoli is able to apply and be admitted to Ole Miss, under those guidelines, he would be eligible to play immediately.

It's all speculation for now as Masoli is also looking at other Division I programs—including Ole Miss rival, Mississippi State, but one thing is for certain, someone may be willing to take a chance on Masoli in 2010.

Ole Miss To Finish Last in The SEC West, Is Mississippi State Really That Good?

To the surprise of absolutely no one, both Alabama and Florida were picked to win their respective divisions and meet up in Atlanta for the SEC Championship—again. That said, what was more surprising was those who would finish behind them in their quest for the same goal.

Here is the predicted order of finish as dictated by the media in attendance at SEC Media Days in Hoover, AL:

Eastern Division (First Place Votes)
1. Florida (153) 1030
2. Georgia (15) 791
3. South Carolina (8) 790
4. Kentucky 462
5. Tennessee 450
6. Vanderbilt (1) 194

Western Division (First Place Votes)
1. Alabama (157) 1034
2. Arkansas (6) 726
3. Auburn (10) 691
4. LSU (1) 653
5. Mississippi State 320
6. Ole Miss (3) 293

Two things jump out when looking at this list, 1) Mississippi State has been picked to finish ahead of Ole Miss, and 2) Someone actually gave Vanderbilt a first place vote—the hell?

That first point is both a hat tip to what Dan Mullen has been able to accomplish in Starkville over the last three-years and a kick in the stomach to where some people believe Houston Nutt is heading with  his program over in Oxford.

The pick is only mildly surprising given the momentum the Bulldogs have coming into this season. They are deep sleepers in the SEC West this season and though no one is looking for them to challenge for the title, they are expected to steal a win or two more than last season—earning a bowl bid in the process.

Even still, they will face the Rebels in Oxford this year and the Bulldogs haven't won a contest there there since 1996 (College Football Warehouse). Can Dan Mullen live up to the expectations of being picked to finish above his teams fiercest rival?

It's a tall task given the holes he needs to fill on both sides of the ball—moat glaringly at the running back position. Anthony Dixon is gone and there are legitimate questions about just how capable his replacement will be this season. Throw in some hefty questions about the consistency of quarterback Chris Reif and it's just as easy to see Mississippi State having another down year in 2010.

As for Houston Nutt, he lost Jevan Snead (if you consider that a big deal given his poor performance in big games last season) but he did have two talented, yet, inexperienced quarterbacks battling it out at the start of spring. However, now he may face a quandry of his own as Raymond Cotton could be seeking a transfer.

If does happen, Nutt would be left with a whole lot of Nutt-hin' as I don't know that many are sold on Nathan Stanley.

Add to that, what players will be able to replace the production of both Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge on offense? Stanley may be better than Cotton but is he that much better—really? Especially if he has no one to hand it off to in the backfield or pass it out to down the sidelines?

There is certainly just as much room to worry if you are an Ole Miss fan but I don't know that those finely dressed students who congregate in The Grove need to be worried enough to consider hiding from what Mississippi State will have to offer.

Dan Mullen may be a fine coach but the players have to play the game and his team is definitely not without its weaknesses—I'd call the two even at worst.

Now, about that lone first place vote for Vanderbilt. My guess is the one media representative who did so was really giving his opinion on interim coach, Robbie Caldwell. He (Caldwell) certainly was the most refreshingly entertaining coach to appear at the event this year—I give him an A++ for the "turkey insemination" story alone.

That said, if that lone media vote was actually serious, well...honestly...I just don't know what to say.

A full transcript of Houston Nutt's Media Day session can be found here.
A full transcript of Dan Mullen's Media Day session can be found here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• SEC Media Days: Low expectations for the Rebels (commercialappeal.com)