General

What Does It Take For Chip Kelly To Actually Boot A Starter?

Mar 29, 2010, 9:00 PM UTC

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â†µNot to pile on a currentlyâ†µleaderless athletic department with delusions of grandeur about itsâ†µbasketball coaching search, but... man, how is Jeremiah Masoli (pictured) still onâ†µOregon’s football team? He’s flagged down a year-long suspension afterâ†µthose Oregon frat boys who reported a theft turned out to be less racistâ†µthan accurate. â†µ

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â†µâ†µThe reason the story shifted radically to “Masoli framed by guysâ†µin white caps that should be hoods” was Masoli coming out with aâ†µtotally ficticious alibi that he lied to Chip Kelly about to the coach’s face.â†µThe investigation that ensued saw police announce that neitherâ†µMasoli or the dismissed Garrett Embry wereâ†µeven suspects. Kelly took the opportunity to admonish the media toâ†µ“let all the facts come out before you start makingâ†µaccusations.”â†µ

â†µâ†µBzzt:â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥â†µâ‡¥Masoli pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary in the theft of aâ†µâ‡¥pair of laptops and a guitar from a campus fraternity in late January. Aâ†µâ‡¥plea deal reduced his charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. ...â†µâ‡¥
â†µâ‡¥â†µâ‡¥Both were sentenced to 12 months of probation and 140 hours ofâ†µâ‡¥community service. Together they must also pay $5,000 restitution.â†µâ‡¥

â†µâ†µâ†µThe Eugene police department has now releasedâ†µan extensive document detailing their investigation and Masoli’sâ†µfruitless attempts to escape it by lying expansively. This is troubleâ†µworth of serious repercussions. How serious? â†µ

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â†µThere's a recent precedent of interest: Michigan State players Orenâ†µWilson and Myles White lied to Mark Dantonio about their involvement inâ†µthe Spartans' 15-player posse roundup and engineer beatdown and playedâ†µin the Alamo Bowl that 13 guys were suspended from. Both had minimalâ†µroles in the beatdown. Neitherâ†µgot jail time, unlike most of the dismissed players and one guy who'sâ†µhanging on by the skin of his teeth. Both are now lookingâ†µto transfer, which you should read as "are kicked off theâ†µteam."â†µ

â†µâ†µWhite wasn’t much when it came to the two-deep and had been inâ†µtrouble before, but Wilson was a two-year starter at nose tackle with noâ†µprior issues returning for his senior season. His situation is directlyâ†µanalogous to Masoli except Wilson didn’t have to rely on a generousâ†µprosecutor to reduce his crime from a felony to a misdemeanor. Wilson’sâ†µgone. Masoli mightâ†µparticipate in spring practice.â†µ

â†µâ†µIt’s not news that this is something of a trend, with LeGarretteâ†µ“Falcon Punch” Blount’s season-long suspension, eventualâ†µreinstatement, and sporadic touchdowns morphing into a feel good storyâ†µas the Ducks picked themselves up from their dismal season-openingâ†µdefeat against Boise State and drove to their first Rose Bowl inâ†µforever. That generosity appears to be something current Duck playersâ†µare takingâ†µadvantage of. Mark Dantonio did all he could in the hopes of sendingâ†µhis players a message; it appears Kelly did all he had to and now hopesâ†µOregon players don’t get the message.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(H/T to Doctorâ†µSaturday)â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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