What To Make Of Oregon's Troubling Present And Its Immediate Future

To say it's been a tumultuous offseason for Oregon is like saying the passengers of the Titanic were a little less than satisfied with their voyage.

Here are the highlights lowlights:

• QB and possible Heisman contender Jeremiah Masoli pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary for lifting two laptops and a guitar from a fraternity house. He has been suspended for the 2010 season, but will stay on scholarship and can continue to practice with the team. He also has the option of taking a redshirt year.

RB and possible Heisman contender LaMichael James was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 24 months of probation after he pled guilty to harassment charges. He originally faced five misdemeanor charges, including strangulation, harassment and assault. James was suspended for the Sept. 4 opener.

Inside linebacker Kiko Alonso, who played in 12 games last season, was suspended for the season after being arrested under the suspicion of driving under the influence. He pled not guilty.

Defensive end Matt Simms was dismissed from the program after he was hit with assault charges.

What's alarming isn't that all this stuff happened; anyone who believes that a program doesn't have its share of off-field problems probably still goes to the mall to sit on Santa Claus' lap and recite their wish list. What's alarming is the vast difference in punishments. How is it that all James gets is suspended for one game, while Simms was dismissed simply for facing charges?

Kudos to Chip Kelly for taking action, but allowing Masoli to remain within the program and giving him the option of a redshirt year doesn't ultimately hurt the program. James will only be a sophomore, meaning he has to come back next season and if Masoli were to do the same, they'd have the duo back with another year in the offense under their belts. This feels more like presenting the public with the air of justice, but instead ensuring the future of his program.

In a move that reeks of a man who's had enough, Mike Bellotti, the former coach-turned-athletic director, has left the school and will take a job as an analyst with ESPN. He says the move has nothing to do with the current troubles, telling ESPN "I want everyone to know I'm not running from anything at all." But would he be leaving if the program weren't in such a bad way in the public eye?

As for the Pac-10, those interested in football betting are likely at a loss trying to pinpoint the conference favorite at this point. Oregon will still be potent with James leading an offense that now returns 10 starters and still has a capable QB in senior Nate Costa, but it's no longer the same team.

So who does that leave as the favorite? Is it USC, which will have Matt Barkley back, the favorite? Is it Oregon State with the Rodgers Bros.? Cal? Arizona? Stanford? Or a darkhorse like UCLA? If you thought last year was a headache for the world of sports betting, it could pale in comparison to a season where there may no longer be a clear-cut best team.

About the only thing certain is that Kelly messed up another set of troubles. After mishandling the LeGarrette Blount situation last year in allowing him to come back after punching a Boise State player in the opener, he's done it again. Yes, he put his team in serious trouble this season by holding out Masoli, but the message that a star can have the rules bent for him still rings true in Eugene and that makes Kelly the biggest loser in all this mess.