Josh Shirley disgraces himsely at UCLA, but gets a reset at U-Dub

A little less than two weeks ago I speculated whether or not UCLA had to officially release three of its prized football recruits (Josh Shirley, Paul Richardson and Shaquille Richardson) after barring them from enrolling in school this fall.  UCLA’s actions came after the trio were arrested on suspicion of stealing another student’s purse.

First off, I can say for certain that the purse in question did NOT belong to Nikola Dragovic, the marshmallowy soft member of the UCLA men’s basketball team.   Secondly, it turns out UCLA did end up granting the three football players their official releases.

However, I’m still of the belief that the school didn’t need to, their actions up to that point had already voided the LOI’s, thus making Shirley and the two Richardsons recruitable players again. But that’s all neither here nor there.

There’s now been official confirmation from Washington that Shirley has enrolled there and will start his Husky career this fall:

Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian announced today that Josh Shirley, an incoming freshman student-athlete from Fontana, Calif., has signed a financial aid agreement and will join the Husky football team when players report to fall camp on Aug. 8.

“We are very aware of the circumstances surrounding Josh,” said Sarkisian. “We have done our due diligence and truly feel that this is not indicative of his true character or the way that he was raised. We are excited about the opportunity Josh has to excel on the football field, in the classroom and in his personal life in our environment, around our people at the University of Washington.” (University of Washington)

I’m a pretty easy going kind of guy, I’m all for a teenager being given a second chance if he owns up to a knuckleheaded move.  But has Shirley even had the time to own up to anything?  It seems like Sarkisian had this kid’s ass enrolled only moments after Rick Neuheisel got through putting his boot to it.

How about letting the kid cool out for a year at a junior college?  If no purses come up stolen at the school, then it’s all well and good, Josh learned his lesson and it’s on to a D-I program.  But instead, Shirley’s now enrolled in his second Pac-10 school this month.  And I’m sure he’s learned his lesson.