Ole Miss appeals NCAA ruling that Jeremiah Masoli can't play this year

OXFORD — University of Oregon transfer Jeremiah Masoli cannot play for Ole Miss until the 2011 season, the NCAA has ruled.

"When I found out today, I was very shocked and disappointed," said Masoli.

Masoli, a star quarterback for the Ducks last season, enrolled at Ole Miss as a graduate student last month in hopes of playing for the Rebels this fall. The school had applied to the NCAA for relief of the rule that requires transfers to sit out one season before being eligible at their new school. School officials had expected the waiver to be granted because of a rule that allows students who have graduated from one school to play immediately at another if they enroll in a graduate program not offered at their previous school.

The NCAA gave two reasons for the denial, according to Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone.

"First was that Jeremiah would have not been eligible for the 2010 season at his previous institution (Oregon)," said Boone. "The second was the time frame discrepancy between the previous institution and Jeremiah regarding when the institution said they dismissed Jeremiah and when he decided to transfer."

Boone said the school has appealed the decision.

"We had to get it in by 1 p.m. today in order to hopefully get a ruling by Friday by the subcommittee of appeals," said Boone.

The latest the subcommittee could rule is one week.

"Our appeal is simple," said Boone. "We cannot find, nor has the NCAA staff given us any case precedence, to support these two reasons they gave us. ... There is no requirement that says the student athlete has to be in good standing with the athletic team, just the university. ... The staff attempted to determine when Jeremiah started thinking about a transfer. I think this is a difficult for anyone, even David Blaine, to try to accomplish."

Masoli, who graduated from Oregon in June, is enrolled in Ole Miss' Parks and Recreation graduate program.

Masoli led Oregon to the Rose Bowl last season but was kicked off the team in June after two run-ins with the police.

First, he was suspended from the team for the 2010 season after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary in March. Then in June he was booted from the program after being cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Masoli was expected to give the Rebels much-needed depth and experience at quarterback this season, which begins Saturday with a home game against Jacksonville State.

If he can't play, the starter will be Nathan Stanley, a third-year sophomore who has not started a game and threw 23 passes last season. Stanley's backup will be Randall Mackey, a junior who last season threw for more than 3,000 yards for East Mississippi Community College but has never played in a major college game.