Why the double standard? (re: Masoli)
I know there was already a thread about Jeremiah Masoli walking on at Ole Miss after being dismissed from Oregon. This isn't about breaking that news.
What this is about, is the aftermath. We all predicted that Ole Miss would take a hit for accepting him, even if they don't have the highest standards anyway. But that's not what I see. I was just watching College Football Live, and they all took the position that Ole Miss was doing a service to the rest of the players (if Masoli could help them win) and that it wasn't a big deal as long as they have a zero-tolerance policy (unlikely).
I'm not really sure if this reaction is widespread, but my question is: "What?" Didn't we get a ton of bad press over recruiting a guy that had possible run-ins with the law (read: no actual run-ins) and another that had academic issues? Keep in mind, these kids were recruits. What that means is, they didn't even get their chance yet. This guy has had multiple chances, was recruited despite high school expulsion, and was dismissed for 2nd degree burglary AND a later charge of marijuana possession.
Now I don't care that much about Ole Miss and I already know the SEC is a little shady to begin with. But the prediction was that they would take a big PR hit, and it turns out everyone is supporting their move, and predicting Masoli to start! Why is there this huge double standard?
I fear I already know the answer, and I assure you I've prepped my tinfoil hat.
He had a sympathetic puff piece just released by SI.
Also, why would you think that Ole Miss wouldn't have a zero tolerance policy towards him? Houston Nutt pretty much said as much in his interview.
I don't know if there is a gang of media types with access to the Ole Miss program who live to undermine the coaches. I know we do have a little of that here. The SEC doesn't have that problem for the most part.
Michigan being "down" or supposedly recruiting players with prior criminal records generates pageviews and increases listenership. I really can't wait until those slobs are drooling over us when the ship is righted. I'm so excited and so nervous for this season I think I'm going to have a stroke.
The SEC is dirty (if ya ain't cheatin', ya ain't tryin'), but we have the image of a squeaky-clean program that "does things the right way". People were surprised with our minor incidents, and nobody is surprised that Ole Miss would take a sketchy kid for a few wins.
how the media can turn any story one way or another. I think you make a pretty good point regarding the negativity we received when recruiting Dorsey and the Savior Ole Miss has now become by bringing on Masoli, but when you are the leaders and best you have a lot of haters out to get you.
This really is sickeningly simple.
Michigan is the winningest program in college football and the most storied name in the sport.
Ole Miss is terrbile and have been for a long time.
For us, having a questionable player on our team is a bad thing. We are Michigan, we should be able to win with upstanding young men that can put on the airs of being a passable student while kicking everyone's ass on the field.
For them, having a questionable player is an improvement over the talentless hacks they have, living only on their ratings as a member of a conference that they get killed in most every season.
In other words, we have traditionally high standards, they are happy licking the bottom of the barrel.
Understood about us having high standards, but I get the feeling if he had gone to a major SEC program, the story wouldn't be much different.
I would think it would depend on the program.
It would be par for the course for someone like Florida. In other schools (such as 'bama) it would give an excuse for the standard casts of haters to come out and use it as a reason to go after a particular guy.
LSU though I think it would be a big stink since they are known for a bit more integrity and don't have the rap sheet of nasty bullshit the way most of that horridly inbred conference does.
Are likely correct, and are what I had figured. It's a good thing that we are at that level, where we are expected to be the best and the clean program because it has always been that way. So I guess I will take it optimistically.
I know if we took on a guy like that, I would be really upset with our program. So maybe, again, it's a good thing we are at the level where we still try to be the cleanest and the best, despite what some rag newspapers and opposing teams' fanbases would have people believe.
Put it this way:
Is the problem maybe not that Michigan isn't getting the same treatment as Ole Miss, but that Ole Miss isn't getting the same treatment as Michigan?
If other programs were held to the same standard as Michigan college football would be a much better place.
Masoli has been in the media spotlight for his football play at Oregon, while Dorsey, to 99% of the sporting public, is some faceless recruit. It's easier to hate someone you've never met.
This ADULT has been given multiple opportunities to get his act together. Oregon gave him a second chance and did the right thing by booting this FELON off their team when he violated their trust. It's disgusting to see Ole Miss take this criminal when there's another law abiding citizen/football player out there dying for a spot on the team. Do you know what would happen if you or me tried to walk onto a top-tier football team if we had a felony on our record? The school would tell us to get screwed. It's all about ticket sales for schools that load their rosters with convicted felons.
What would happen if you or me tried to walk on the team? Houston Nutt would gladly take us. He can't oversign any more, so he will fill the holes with walk ons. Then, he will boot us off after he sees that we have no talent.
Because the "Miss" in Ole Miss stands for Mississippi.
...on the reaction to his article:
slmandel Just scrolled thru my emails from Nutt column. I am apparently a new state hero in Arkansas and a [insert expletive] in Mississippi.
Life is not fair....
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:03 AM ^
They have sucked for so long that the media try to prop them up whenever they can. When a team like Ole Miss or the Spartans makes a BCS bowl or even goes 9-3, it's a "man bites dog" story. Consequently, the media try to do everything they can to make it happen, as if writing about it has a "pygmalion effect," hoping that they have something out of the ordinary to write about at the end of the year.
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