Mike Slive: So, What You're Saying Is No More Masoli's In The SEC?

Bob Donnan/US Progressive

This whole roster-management nonsense has my head a little spinny (is that a word, "spinny"? No? Well it is one today), that's right, "spinny".

After filtering through all the seemingly silly changes in the saga of over-signing players—seriously, what good is a reduction in the signing numbers if SEC coaches can still adjust the way they count players each season—the only real change worth nothing is the grad-exception rule.

In short, the situation that took place last season with Jeremiah Masoli—and this season with former Georgia player, Logan Gray—will no longer be allowed to take place. The reason for this change, said SEC President, Mike Slive, is because "We're not interested in athletes coming for the purpose of one year and then moving on"...Yeah, okay.

What he should have done was amended his statement to say "We're not interested in our football athletes coming in for the purpose of one year and then moving on". Trust me, if some of them could, they would, but Slive realizes that isn't an option in college football. That said, most of this statement is just rhetoric—rhetoric that has already been called out upon by several news outlets. 

That said, I have no intention of belaboring that point again here as my only real question is why the grad-exception rule mattered at all?

I mean, honestly, I had no problem seeing Logan Gray transfer once he graduated. He spent the better part of his career as a second option at Georgia and he deserved a shot at more playing time. If not in Athens, then wherever he was needed. So, good luck to him!

However, the Masoli transfer did irk me a bit because he was, for lack of a better word, a criminal. I'm not altogether certain he deserverd the privilege of playing anywhere in Division I football after his numerous missteps with the law—but that's just me.

So, if Slive were looking to make a statement, perhaps it should have been wrapped in something with more moral fortitude. Say, for instance, any athlete who has been charged and convicted of a serious criminal offense (i.e. robbery, drug possession, or assault), and decides to transfer under the grad-exception rule, is given a nine month probation period at his school of choice.

During that probationary period, he is not allowed to play in any games or participate in any activities that represent the university or their athletics program. If he can stay clear of any offenses during that n time frame, then he is to be granted his full eligibility and allowed to play the following season.

That would make sense—to me.

However, this holier-than-thou declaration of the SEC not being interested in the one-and-done athlete just comes off as hypocritical and asinine. Of course, by now, I am used to such idiocy by college football's "leaders".

The new rule doesn't take effect until October, so Auburn would still be able to sign Russell Wilson if that want him. However, after that point, there are no more freebies for the athlete who is looking for a fresh start, more playing time, or a better way to increase his national spotlight and I'm not altogether sure if the message Slive sends here is really one worth disseminating—whatever that message is truly supposed to be. 

Related articles

• JA Castillo = copacetic: SEC's graduate-exception ban overshadows oversigning cap victory - Andy Staples - SI.com (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
• Mike Slive and the SEC Twelve play their newest hit, "Oversigning Blues". (blutarsky.wordpress.com)
• SEC limits football signees to 25 per year (sfgate.com)

Friday Links: Could Russell Wilson Land At South Carolina?

Russell Wilson has become a hot name on message boards across the land as college football fans from the southeast to the mid-west try to figure out where this former N.C. State quarterback will land next season.

Wilson did big things for the Wolfpack in 2010, nearly leading them to an ACC Championship before falling short in the final week, but his need to be a two-sport man has tired head coach Tom O'Brien and forced him to go in a different direction for the betterment of his team—not sure how you get much better than Russell Wilson (308/526 for 3,546 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. 144 carries for 422 yards and 9 touchdowns*) but whatevs—so Wilson is saddled with the decision of where he will play next year.

Since he has already completed his coursework at N.C. State, he is free to transfer—according to NCAA transfer rules—to any school he pleases so long as he enrolls as their graduate program offers studies in something N.C. State does not (see Jeremiah Masoli).

So, now, every SEC team in need of a veteran quarterback, with the skill-set of Wilson, is chomping at the bit to see if they can be the chosen one. Auburn has been a hot name in the fray, as has Ole Miss, but Olin Buchanan (senior writer for Rivals.com) seems to feel that South Carolina is the best fit for Wilson given "proximity and opportunity". 

It does make sense to place Wilson as a Gamecock given how much talent they return and Spurrier's current quarterback troubles, but if South Carolina is where he wants to be (keep in mind Wilson is from Virginia), then he could just as easily land in Clemson. Better still, doesn't Penn State need a quarterback?

At this point no one knows where Wilson will land but it certainly is interesting to see a guy who no one gave two-cents about four-years ago, suddenly become one of the hottest commodities in college football—oh and did I mention he was a 2* prospect out of high school?

It just goes to show you, it's all about coaching and development. 

2. A deaf college football fan is suing the University of Kentucky for not offering closed-captioning on their scoreboard.

3. Brad Nessler used his noggin and left E$PN for a network that actually knows something about football.

4. Russell Wilson to the Pac-10?

5. Gus Malzahn explains why Cam Newton will be a success at the pro level—that sure would make Gus look like a genius if he did, wouldn't it?

6. Big Ten Commisioner, Jim Delany, isn't worried about Nebraska fitting into the conference come July 1.

7. I guess Boise State isn't used to cheating.

8. Some intellectuals at the University of Massachusetts are a bit peeved about a plan to move football into Division I FCS—one called the move a "profoundly stupid" idea.

9. New Florida coach, Will Muschamp, is making big money to make big things happen in Gainesville.

10. Knowshon Moreno could see a lot more touches this season.

Related articles

• Stunner: Russell Wilson given release by N.C. State (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Russell Wilson's potential dance partners (blutarsky.wordpress.com)
• '95-percent' certainty Russell Wilson plays in '11 (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)

*Stats offered courtesy of cfbstats.com.

Tuesday Afternoon Tea: Just a Few Links For Your Drink

Now that Clemson's starting quarterback might decide to bolt for an MLB paycheck—people are suddenly interested in what Tajh Boyd will do in his stead. Here's a good guess, in a year or so, people may forget who Kyle Parker was in the first place because, honestly, most of Clemson is already saying "bye, bye" to his services. Boyd is going to be very good for Clemson.

It's funny to me that Notre Dame is still being given this much credit. Here's the thing, people, Notre Dame can get paid big dollars without extending a branch to any other conference—why would they want to save the hides of any one?

Yawn...The Gators are still making the rest of SEC sports play second-fiddle; it'll be nice when that streak ends. 

If the Pac-10 does actually expand, somebody send the State of Texas a memo to remind them that: Baylor Sux...just a suggestion.


Bill King sheds a little light on Georgia's recent run of "bad publicity".

Clemson won't be the only ACC team looking for another quarterback this coming season. N.C. State may be saying "so long" to Russell Wilson as he, potentially, also will join the Colorado Rockies roster.

And, staying with MLB for a touch longer, the Texas Rangers nabbed Georgia Diamond Dawg pitcher, Justin Grimm, in the fifth-round.

Paul Finebaum has turned his venomous attention towards the Cock's and Hogs of South Carolina and Arkansas, respectively.