The Ole Miss investigation is over. Four years of an NCAA probe drew to a close on Friday with the release of the Committee on Infractions’ final judgment. It’s draconian, over-the-top, and needlessly and imperiously self-important, as is always the case with the NCAA. Ole Miss’ bowl-less 2017 will be followed by another bowl-less 2018. Another trip around the sun.
Ole Miss football’s 2017 campaign wasn’t totally for nothing, though. In many ways it was, sure, what with the bowl ban and Shea Patterson going down with a knee injury not halfway through the season. But all told, a 6-6 finish under the thumb of reliable replacement Jordan Ta’amu is nothing to snark at, as these guys should be proud of what they did.