Oregon football running back LaMichael James smiles in an interview during media day in Eugene on Monday.

EUGENE — Oregon running back LaMichael James said he has learned the responsibility that comes with playing football.

James spoke Monday as the Ducks opened fall camp with high expectations tempered by offseason trouble. The rusher, who set a Pac-10 freshman record last season, pleaded guilty in February to misdemeanor harassment stemming from an altercation with a former girlfriend.

James, who admits his mistake, said he cannot measure the lessons he took from the experience.

“You have to fly straight and narrow — that’s just what you have to do,” he said.

Oregon went 10-3 last season, knocking Southern California from its seven-year-perch as Pac-10 champion and advancing to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995.

But the Ducks’ offseason was marred with misdeeds by several players. Most notable among them were James and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who was dismissed from the team and is now a walk-on at Ole Miss.

James was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 24 months of probation. His ex-girlfriend claims he grabbed her neck and pushed her to the ground during an argument.

James apologized to the woman in writing and accepted responsibility for his actions. Coach Chip Kelly suspended him for the season opener against New Mexico on Sept. 4.

James rushed for 1,546 yards last season, the ninth-highest total in the nation.

James said that ultimately he didn’t fully understand the responsibility of his position.

“You’re in a fishbowl. Either you’re at the top and everybody’s waiting for you to fall, or you’re at the bottom and everybody’s waiting for you to screw up,” he said.

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.

Kelly suspended him from the team for the season, then kicked him off when Masoli was stopped for a traffic violation with marijuana in his car.

Place-kicker Rob Beard was also suspended for the opener after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge for his role in a Jan. 24 street fight that left him seriously injured.

Kelly dismissed defensive end Matt Simms for his alleged involvement in an assault and receiver Jamere Holland for posting vulgar comments on the Facebook social networking site.

Yet the Ducks remain the team to beat in the Pac-10. Oregon was picked by the media to finish atop the league, and was ranked No. 11 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll.

Ole Miss’ Masoli meets with reporters

New Mississippi quarterback Jeremiah Masoli knows this is his last chance.

Masoli met with reporters Monday for the first time since joining the Rebels late last week and made clear he understands the remainder of his college career hangs on his ability to stay out of trouble.

“I was just happy to have that opportunity and to get this chance, and thankful to Ole Miss, the athletics director and the chancellor for giving me my last chance,” Masoli told reporters during media day. “I understand that and I’m determined to do everything with it.”

The former Oregon player was once thought to be a Heisman Trophy candidate, but he fumbled that away after two brushes with the law led to his dismissal. Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt brought Masoli in under a zero-tolerance contract after the departure of backup Raymond Cotton on the eve of preseason practice left the Rebels with just two scholarship quarterbacks.

Masoli said he had inquiries from about six Football Bowl Subdivision schools, but that Nutt sold him on Ole Miss.

“Coach Nutt is the main reason I came here, first and foremost,” Masoli said. “Just him as a person, that’s what really caught my attention. I could hear the genuineness in his voice. There’s just something about him that made me feel comfortable.”

— The Associated Press