It appears the dust is about to settle in what has become a highly publicized pursuit by Ole Miss for the services of former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.
The process took a huge step forward Friday, when Masoli took an official visit to the Oxford campus. Masoli spent Friday with both academic and athletic personnel, the Tupelo Daily Journal reported on its website Saturday.
Masoli, who was booted out of the Oregon program in June after two run-ins with police in a six-month period, acknowledged the visit on his personal website (www.jeremiahmasoli.net) in what was his first public comment on the situation.
"I've been invited to visit the Ole Miss campus this weekend and flew into Oxford Friday morning," said Masoli on his website.
"I'm excited to explore the opportunity to enroll in a graduate studies program and play football this fall."
Masoli has applied to enter the Parks and Recreation management master's program at the university but has not yet been accepted because all paperwork hasn't yet been completed, according to a report by the Clarion Ledger.
Masoli has been arrested for theft, marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license - all since the start of 2010. After his first arrest for theft earlier this year (he pleaded guilty to a second-degree burglary charge), Oregon head coach Chip Kelly suspended him for the 2010-11 season.
Masoli was kicked out of the program on June 9 after being arrested following a traffic stop. He was charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana and driving with a suspended license.
He was also arrested and held in juvenile detention as a high school student in San Mateo, Calif.
Ole Miss' interest in the troubled signal caller was peaked Saturday when backup Raymond Cotton decided to transfer less than two weeks before the start of practice. Cotton's departure left the Rebels with just two quarterbacks on scholarship.
In two seasons as the starter at Oregon, Masoli threw for 28 touchdowns, rushed for 23 and was the school's all-time rushing leader at quarterback with 1,386 yards. He threw for 2,147 yards in 2009.
Ole Miss camp begins next Sunday.
• MSU: It looks like Mississippi State fans will be packing out Davis Wade Stadium again this fall.
The school announced Friday afternoon that it had broken the record for football season tickets sold set last year.
As of the announcement, 40,942 had been bought; that total includes an anticipated 11,000 student season tickets, the total sold last year.
The record set last year was 40,901.
Mississippi State shattered its season attendance mark in 2009, with 376,544 fans over seven home games.
Individual game tickets go on sale to the general public Monday. Bulldog Club members can already purchase them.
• Contact Bill Burrus at bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
