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The University of Mississippi Athletics
SPOTLIGHT: A Second Chance
11/11/2010 | Football
Nov. 11, 2010
By Morgan Adams
Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations
There is a lot to take in when one observes a person for the first time. Height, weight and physical appearance are only a single piece of the information our brains assemble together when making judgments on a new acquaintance. Attitude, body posture and mere presence also play a huge role in how we perceive someone. With all the hype and controversy surrounding Ole Miss' new quarterback, many people might picture him to be a large, brash and unapproachable figure; but that is simply not that the case. Jeremiah Masoli could be one of the most approachable and humble players competing on the field. Masoli's calm and respectful demeanor can be attributed a lot to his close knit family who has never quit supporting him.
Masoli's grandparents moved to the United States in 1953 from American Samoa; his grandfather was a U.S. Marine. After retiring from the service, Masoli's grandfather moved the family to the city in which he was later born; San Francisco. His family still lives in the bay area and his grandmother still attends the church that her husband help found, the first Samoan church to be established in the city.
Masoli says that his family is a big inspiration for him, especially his father.
"My father has worked so hard his whole life to provide for his family and never asked for anything in return," said Masoli.
Even with the support and influence of his family, Masoli has faced some difficult times during his college career. But despite his setbacks, Masoli was still determined to go to graduate school and finish out his college football career.
Masoli reached out to several schools including Ole Miss. After a player transfer and with just two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, the Rebels responded and decided to give him another chance.
"I really liked the coaching staff at Ole Miss. I was weighing my options and Ole Miss just felt like the right fit," said Masoli.
After evaluating the situation for themselves the coaching staff decided that giving Masoli another chance was worth it, and so far things have worked out well on both sides.
"He has made a lot of progress and has done a lot of great things for us. He really gives us a chance. He takes the pressure off of our young offensive line," head coach Houston Nutt said. "He has excellent instinct on how to make things happen when the pocket breaks down and he feels the pressure. I am really glad that we have him. He has gotten better and continues to get better. He works hard."
In 2008, Masoli led the Oregon Ducks to a victory over Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl and was named the MVP. His 714 rushing yards that year set an Oregon record for quarterbacks. In 2009, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in August and led his team to the Rose Bowl. Masoli was also placed on the Davey O'Brien Award watch list for the 2009 college football season.
Having played in eight games for the Rebels this season, Masoli is on the verge of breaking a record on his new team. Masoli is only 113 yards away from setting a new record for the most yards rushed by a quarterback (542) which is currently held by Norris Weese.
In order to do this, Masoli says he needs the support of the Rebel fans. Not only does he need the support but so does the rest of the team.
"We need the fans to come out and be loud. We want to be the loudest stadium in the country."
Determined to move forward, Masoli has proven that he was worth giving another chance. The Ole Miss coaching staff's ability to see the good in someone despite doubters, has allowed a young man's dream to continue.
Thanks to a supportive family and people willing to take a chance, Masoli is back in the game and very thankful. This new found opportunity is something he says that he will not take for granted and will work hard every day to show his appreciation to the Ole Miss coaching staff, community, and fans.
