SEC commissioner hints league wouldn't have permitted Everett Golson grad transfer

The SEC's annual spring meetings opened Tuesday, and commissioner Mike Slive hinted that the conference would not have permitted former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson to join the league as a graduate transfer.

Slive noted there were inquiries regarding Golson's possible eligibility, but that the conference reiterated its rule about graduate transfers.

"There were inquiries, and we reminded people what our rule was," Slive said.

Slive added that the conference took no formal action on a waiver for Golson.

Alabama, Florida, and Georgia were all rumored to be on Golson's short list, but the SEC would have required him to obtain a waiver approved by the conference commissioner. Based on the SEC criteria for the waiver, Golson would not have met the portion which states the graduate transfer was not subject to disciplinary action at his previous institution.

"Here's a guy who paid his dues, went back, finished, got a degree from a pretty decent university - Notre Dame's not bad, I guess - and did it the right way," Florida head coach Jim McElwain said, according to Jon Solomon of CBS Sports. "That being said, I wish him the best. He's a quality person. I don't want to play against him, but we're gonna."

The rule came into place after Ole Miss brought in Jeremiah Masoli as a graduate transfer in 2010 after he was dismissed from Oregon.

"I think most people know why that rule came into effect," Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. "I don't know if anybody ever requested a waiver for that particular situation, but if there are chances to get a waiver, I think if it makes sense, that's something you would do."

Golson elected to transfer to Florida State. The ACC does not have a rule similar to the SEC's regarding graduate transfers.