Norman — Just 10 weeks ago, the future couldn’t have looked brighter for Oregon football.
Sure, the Ducks had just lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, but the team was back in Pasadena for the first time since 1995. And Oregon was going into the 2010 season as the reigning Pac-10 champions, returning versatile quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and young rushing star LaMichael James.
But since then, Oregon’s bright future has dimmed considerably as player after player has run into trouble — including Masoli and James.
Both appeared in Lane County court Friday to plead guilty in separate cases. Oregon coach Chip Kelly acted soon thereafter, suspending Masoli for the upcoming season. James, along with place-kicker Rob Beard, were suspended for the opener at home on Sept. 4 against New Mexico.
Kelly read a to-the-point statement at a brief news conference. He did not take questions.
“The actions that our players take when they’re in the community and they’re not on the football field or in the classroom, are just as important to us,” he said. “How they behave as student-athletes here, it’s not just on the field. And if they cross that line, I’ve said all along there will be a punishment that will go along with that.”
Some believed that Masoli, who had been considered a potential Heisman candidate, would be dismissed from the team. But he was allowed to stay on scholarship and may practice with the team. He has the option of using a redshirt year.
Masoli pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary in the theft of a pair of laptops and a guitar from a campus fraternity in late January. A plea deal reduced his charge from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Former Ducks receiver Garrett Embry also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of second-degree burglary in connection with the case.
Both were sentenced to 12 months of probation and 140 hours of community service. Together they must also pay $5,000 restitution.
In the same courtroom hours earlier, James pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment in connection to an altercation with a former girlfriend last month.
James was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 24 months of probation. He reported to jail on Friday afternoon but was quickly released and instead put on electronic surveillance for the duration of his sentence.
James, who set a Pac-10 freshman record with more than 1,500 yards rushing last season, originally faced five misdemeanor charges, including strangulation, harassment and assault. All but one harassment charge were dropped.
In a statement that was included in court documents related to the case, James apologized to his former girlfriend, who claimed he grabbed her neck and pushed her to the ground during an argument.
