A game–changer?

Jeremiah Masoli in action for Oregon. Masoli has said he will now attend Ole Miss.

(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Jeremiah Masoli’s enrollment at Ole Miss is going to get some scrutiny both positive and negative.

At least it seems Masoli gets it. He told SI.com reporter Andy Staples, that “they're going to get some criticism for taking me.”

He also noted that he’d be a walk-on and his hope that by paying his own way, it would take off some of the heat that will be coming to Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, who, like just about every other coach in the country, has no problem playing former jailbirds.

At this point, you’re saying but not my coach. High school, college and the pros, it doesn’t matter. In northeast Arkansas, a star high school running back was arrested for beating up his girlfriend on Thursday. Friday morning his coach bailed him out and he played that night. Ryan Mallett has been arrested for being drunk on Dickson, he’s still a Heisman Trophy candidate. Leonard Little killed someone and is still with the Rams. The list goes on and on.

The coaches are making a bet. They’re saying that as long as the player in question delivers, they aren’t going to get fired for it. Losing gets a coach fired. Taking on bad seeds and then having a bad season will get you fired, down the road.

Taking on a bad seed, winning and going to a decent bowl game will get you a contract extension.

Stewart Mandel also checked in with some hand-wringing and navel gazing at Houston Nutt.

That would be the negative reaction.

On the flip side, a Yahoo columnist called Masoli the league’s most accomplished quarterback in the SEC at the start of the season.

Based on his numbers, Masoli should be — assuming he isn’t a head case, doesn’t have any injuries and reports in shape — near the top of a weak SEC quarterback crop.

After Mallett, the league hits a sharp decline.

Masoli was a run-first, passing threat and 5-11 and 220, not built like a classic pro prospect. He should, however, be able to pick up Nutt’s relatively simple offense and wouldn’t need to sub out when Ole Miss goes to the wildcat/hog/rebel that just lets the guy who get the snap do what he wants.

Plus with Ole Miss’s cupcake schedule, Masoli should have the offense down and the Rebs at 5-0 before hitting the meat of the SEC schedule with back-to-back games at Alabama and Arkansas before heading home for a game with Auburn. With Masoli, Ole Miss is an easy 8-4, and likely better. Without him, well Ole Miss was picked to finish last in the SEC West.

Burglary and possession of marijuana were among Masoli’s problems at Eugene, but he also stayed in school and got his degree. So, maybe, he isn’t quite the thug his detractors have made him out to be.

Sports Illustrated was again on the scene and wrote as much.

While that story seems to clear Masoli of much of the problems, trouble seems to follow him around, but maybe that trouble won’t cross the Mississippi River.

To get to Oxford, Masoli is taking advantage of a rule that allows college grads with eligibility remaining to transfer to another school to get a master’s degree. It happened last year with the Duke guard — Greg Paulus — who went to Syracuse for football.

It doesn’t happen much at the high-profile schools, but the NCAA allows it, and mid-major basketball programs take advantage of it regularly.

Masoli was a legit Heisman Trophy candidate at Oregon and now takes his talents to the SEC.

Ole Miss should be better as a result. If all you care about is winning football games, this is a good thing. If you care about anything else, this should give you some pause.