Tuesday, August 3, 2010

If you want a second chance, better be a big time college athlete.

We all want second chances in life, and everyone should get a second chance. However, at some point, if one does not make the most of that second chance, then that person doesn't deserve a third one because they have not truly learned the lessons of their mistake.

Let's take, for instance, former Oregon Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli. He is suspended by Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly for possessing Marijuana and then a few months later, breaks into a fraternity house and steals a laptop. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of Misdemeanor Burglary. What's the difference. He still broke the law a second time and Kelly rightly dismissed him from the team. This was the "Senior Leader" of the Oregon Football team. Masoli's behavior was not the leadership the Ducks needed.

OK, Masoli breaks the law twice. For the rest of us average Joes, there would be no third chance. We'd be in the slammer for a few years or at least we would have killed our chances of ever getting a good job and making a good living. However, for Masoli, since he's a big-time college athlete, he gets a third chance.

Masoli will enroll at Ole Miss and took Head Coach Huston Nutt's offer to come on the team as a Walk On. He has one year of eligibility left and will enroll in OLE Miss Graduate School in their Parks and Recreation Management Program. It's fine that he is continuing his education, but how many more transgressions will it take before someone says "no more." He's extremely lucky and I'm sure he knows it.

However, I question whether or not he has truly learned from his mistakes. A person who has learned the lessons of their errors does not repeat those errors. He is a Walk On, but may have a chance to play and can certainly help the Rebels. I don't think it is sending the right message though. I'm rooting for him. All he needs to do is keep his nose clean. That really isn't that hard to do. One thing is for sure, he needs to thank God every day that God gave him the talent to play major college football and excel at it because he wouldn't be getting this third opportunity otherwise.