Cam Newton, Terrelle Pryor rulings are completely different
Nobody asked me but:
The Cameron Newton and Terrelle Pryor rulings are completely different: Since Ohio State’s Pryor has already played (and won) the Sugar Bowl and Auburn’s Newton will (probably) play in his last college football game Monday night, I’m going to make this point one last time and call it a day.
I had more than a few people from Big Ten country write and tell me that Pryor should get to play inthe Sugar Bowl because Newton got to play in the SEC championship game and beyond. It’s the same NCAA and fair is fair.
First of all, I thought Pryor played great Tuesday night. There is no question that he still has some maturity issues to work through but he is a marvelous athlete playing the quarterback position.
But, in a nutshell, here is the difference in the two rulings:
Pryor: There was a finding of FACT that he and four other Ohio State players exchanged stuff that was given to him by the school for something of value (like money and tattoos). Money did change hands. There is a clear penalty for that in the rule book: four game suspension. The NCAA tacked on another game because it happened a year ago and the players did not report it. You may think it is a stupid rule (a lot of people do) but the rule is clear. The goofy part is that the penalty starts next season, but that’s a completely different argument.
Newton: There was a finding of fact that the father, Cecil Newton, had a conversation with a former Mississippi State player (Kenny Rogers) not affiliated with the school, about the POSSIBILITY of getting paid. There was no finding that money ever changed hands. There was no finding that those kinds of discussions took place with anybody connected to Auburn.
And here is the key component. Unlike the Ohio State case, there was NOT a specific rule in the NCAA manual to deal with the Newton case. There was a lot of speculation in the conventional media and the social media that SOMETHING was going on here. But when it came time to make the decision, the only facts the NCAA had were that Cecil Newton had a conversation with Kenny Rogers and that no such conversations had taken place with anybody connected to Auburn.
Bottom line: If the NCAA could have proven that Cecil Newton had a similar conversation with somebody who had Auburn ties, the son would not be playing today. If the NCAA could have proven that Cecil Newton had taken money from somebody with Mississippi State ties, the son would not be playing Monday night. There was a helluva lot of speculation that SOMETHING took place. And I have heard from people who believe that it simply defies logic that there wasn’t more to this story.
I understand and sympathize with that point of view. But what you BELIEVE and what you can PROVE are different things. It’s a tough case.
And here’s another point. A lot of people have written that the reason Cam Newton was not punished was that he did not know what his father was up to. In retrospect the NCAA should have not included that factor because it only clouds its ruling. The fact that Cam Newton did not know was a MITIGATING factor but not a DECIDING factor in the ruling. There is a big difference.
The NCAA could not sit Cameron Newton because it did not have a specific rule to address this specific case. That’s it. I feel confident in saying that there will be such a rule in the future.
I hope that settles it but I have a feeling this case will never be settled.
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581 comments Add your comment
MikeP
January 7th, 2011
12:47 am
Poopdawg
January 6th, 2011
10:07 pm
“Mikep, if your writings are accurate then good for Auburn. Where did you see that the Newton’s financial records have been examined and cleared? NO FINDINGS comment is just not enough detail.”
Channel 12 in Montgomery, carrying a story out of Atlanta. Cecil Newton’s lawyer appeared on TV and stated that Cecil had met twice with the team of NCAA investigators. Cecil voluntarily turned over all financial records, both family and church, for examination. Remember, he didn’t have to do that, the NCAA does not have subpoena authority.
Sure, records can be falsified if a person is skillful enough. I don’t think Cecil Newton is that sort of an accountant. More telling is that the investigators could find no sign of extra money around the family or church. A family of limited means can’t hide $200,000 for nearly a year. No new cars, no fancy clothes, no electronic gadgets or big vacations, on and on.
That team twice came into the Newton home, sat at the table, looked around and asked questions of Cecil, Cam’s mother Jackie and maybe some other family members. There is nothing there. Those guys are professional investigators. If there was anything to find, they’d have found it.
AGAIN
January 7th, 2011
1:21 am
The current NCAA president is a Washington Husky grad and was the Washingtion Husky president before taking the job at the NCAA last year.
Washington has a 7 game losing streak to Oregon. Do you think he would rather have had OR play TCU or Auburn. It’s obvious, Auburn stands a better chance at beating OR than TCU did. This stinks to high heaven.
AGAIN
January 7th, 2011
1:26 am
Auburn will not win this game. Just like USC threw the game against Texas. The powers at be have mandated that if the SEC wins another so soon, it is not good for football overall.
Don’t believe Caroll threw the game? How many times did Vince run to the right, including the winning TD and was hardly untouched. I don’t think on the last run he was touched or is so it was a pat on the A as he ran in.
AGAIN
January 7th, 2011
1:28 am
After watching Tressel try to give the game to Arkansas, I am done after I see SHAM and Auburn keep the record alive. 53 years since the last NC (and ONLY) on the plains.
AGAIN
January 7th, 2011
1:59 am
The problem with CAM is. God, another Vick, another Young, another Russell, another Campbell, another McNabb. Another black QB over hyped, and over hyped and over hyped AND overpaid but a bust in the NFL.
What a shame. If the NFL goes on strike will Vick be offered a contract before? What a farce. A QB rating around 70 his entire stint in Atlanta and now above 100. More evidence he pissed away the opportunity here.
legionaire
January 7th, 2011
6:00 am
The NCAA is a corrupt outfit as all monopolies are. It can’t be fixed. All you can do is the NASCAR way don’t get caught.
MikeP
January 7th, 2011
6:41 am
I’m actually the same guy you all saw here for years denying that the NCAA would ever touch USC over the Reggie Bush incident.
I was wrong about that one, but maybe I’ll get lucky this time. In five years, if Auburn still doesn’t hear from the NCAA, then I’m gonna come on here and have an “I Told You So” celebration.
Until then, I’m sticking to my story.
Fight On!
Thanks, Tony
January 7th, 2011
6:58 am
You’ve given thUGA’s yet another post in which to whine, whine, whine.
It was just starting to die down a bit and now heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere they go again.
Dawgies? Getting old. Grow up already.
Wow
January 7th, 2011
7:00 am
Could ANYONE here be more clueless than this *AGAIN* dude?
Amazing… lol
» SEC: LSU-Texas A&M square off in Cotton Bowl tonight John Clay’s Sidelines
January 7th, 2011
7:09 am
[...] Tony Barnhart: Newton and Pryor rulings are completely different. [...]
Huh?
January 7th, 2011
7:10 am
@Wow
Sounds like he got burned on an investment in Michael Vick’s dog-fighting enterprise!
Huh?
January 7th, 2011
7:11 am
Or… He’s Rush Limbaugh!
You're Singing The Song, But...
January 7th, 2011
7:16 am
… you still have the lyrics wrong.
Yes, it was found that Cecil Newton DID talk to Mississippi State, or a representative thereof.
It was NOT determined that Mr. Newton approached Mississippi State. More likely it was the other way around. MSU saw a family thrown on hard times with a son who was a potential money-machine and approached the family. Unethical boosters exploit this type of situation all the time.
The further investigation, if any, will be focused on MSU.
And THERE is where the other shoe will drop.
Auburn is not the program that will go down in flames.
MSU is.
bamafan
January 7th, 2011
7:51 am
Tony – are you familiar with Occam’s Razor? If not, read up on it.
Buckeye
January 7th, 2011
7:54 am
Ohio State traditionally schedules a traditional power early in the season. As you “dawgs” know, we’re looking to take down the hedges come 2020. Recent years have included home and home with USC, Texas and this year it happened to be Miami. We have Oklahoma, Cal and Tennessee in future years. Even you Georgia fools would understand it’s largley a crapshoot of what any given program will look like in 5-10 years. Ohio State just happens to be a consistant top 5 program – for the most part. So, I take no crap from anybody on our schedule. Who knows, come 2020, UGA may crack the top 25. Odds are, we will be in the top 10. GO BUCKS!
bank walker
January 7th, 2011
7:59 am
Tony, why don’t you compare AJ Green’s case to the OSU’s players. They are more alike than the Scam Newton’s case.
Rick
January 7th, 2011
8:06 am
So you are now on Auburn’s payroll.
GT51
January 7th, 2011
8:11 am
this isnt the same interpretation of the rule that everyone else had when this story first came out. according to others, if anyone closely associated with a student athlete asks for money for play then that athlete is ineligible regardless if the athlete knew about the person asking for money or not. why has the rule changed all of a sudden? probably the same reason why the ohio 5 were allowed to play in the sugar bowl.
Pony Express
January 7th, 2011
8:14 am
The mail sure is slow these days. I just now got the postcard that A.J. Green sent from South Beach. He said he had a great time.
No Richt Lover
January 7th, 2011
8:19 am
A few comments about the UGAy-UCF game:
1. It was obvious that neither the UGAy goons or coaches were ready for the game. It was obvious that UCF was.
2. The whole team sucked.
3. How much longer will dawg fans put up with this kind of crap with Richt as coach? More importantly, how long will McGarity put up with it?
4. Some of the UGAy players, and a lot of the fans were crying after the game ended. This was a heartwarming sight for decent, intelligent people to see.
5. When the cameras zoomed in on some of the UGAy fans, it was very clear why most states have laws against incest. It was also clear why beer companies are so profitable.
6. How much stuff has A.J. Green sold already? How much is his stuff discounted when UGAy loses and he plays like crap? :-)
7. How is Russ taking the loss? Oh, I see, he’s crapping all over everybody. Sorry about that, coach Richt. I’m sure those stains can be removed from your pants.
8. Aaron Murray demonstrated how devastating it was to lose Zach.
9. Good news for the seniors playing their last game for UGAy – you’ll never have to spend another night in the Athens jail. The lawyers and bail bondsmen of Athens salute you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Doug
January 7th, 2011
9:19 am
Check the SEC rules. There ARE specific rules dealing with the Newton situation, and they have been violated.
big 10 fans are pansies
January 7th, 2011
9:31 am
“It’s not fair we have to play bowl games in treacherous 61 degree temperatures!!!!”
football junkie
January 7th, 2011
9:39 am
You said that Newton’s dad nor this Rogers guy had had anything to do with the University, but neither did the people that bought THE OHIO STATE players memoribilia!
MikeP
January 7th, 2011
10:06 am
I see the age 14 and under set is on here this morning, posting under someone else’s user name. Thankfully, the bell will ring at middle school very soon.
GT51, just because you think a rule should say such and such doesn’t mean that’s what it actually says.
Nothing of value changed hands in the Cam Newton case. There’s the difference, and that’s why it’s now over and the NCAA has closed the files and boxed them up.
Sports Illustrated writer Lars Anderson on December 2nd. “Sources inside the NCAA say the Cam Newton issue is over. It’s done, dead. That case is closed and people need to move along.”
Hey, Doug?
January 7th, 2011
10:24 am
Exactly which SEC rules would those be?
Huh?
January 7th, 2011
11:51 am
That would be the one that states that neither a student athlete, nor an agent for said athlete, may seek benefits not allowed under SEC bylaws in exchange for accepting a scholarship with an SEC institution. Should an athlete, or their agent, seek such benefits, then that athlete is not eligible to participate in athletics at any SEC Institution.
The rule has been posted verbatim on this blog many times. It was inconvenient for the SEC to follow this particular bylaw in the Cam Newton case, and so they chose not to. This is blatantly obvious and no amount of lipstick will ever make this pig look like anything but a pig.
Buckeyefan
January 7th, 2011
9:22 pm
Who honestly outside of SEC homers and Big 10 haters would have wanted to watch OSU vs Arkansas if Pryor (the starting QB), Herron (the #1 tailback), Posey (#1 receiver) and Adams (Starting LT) didn’t play??? It would have been an easy win for the Hogs. I admit it. OSU’s second string QB has taken ZERO meaningful snaps all season. The back-up TBs are average, the receiver corps is not as deep as OSU would like…Arkansas would have run dominated on defense and OSU’s offense would have been severely crippled. Seriously…both teams came out with their actual team. Arkansas lost. Sorry SEC fans but they LOST to OHIO STATE..the actual team. You ask any Arkansas fan if they would have preferred Pryor and the other play. If the shoe was on the other foot so to speak I would not have felt good in a win playing Arkansas without Mallet, Davis and their starting LT and best receiver. No one would have been able to tell who was the best team, No we know. DEAL WITH IT! The fact is the NCAA (in all their infinite wisdom) ruled them eligible. In this case going into a game like this…ANY coach would have played their 4 BEST players. PERIOD. END OF STORY. Why cheat everyone (fans, players, coaches etc) of knowing TRULY who was the best team?
Crimson Crush
January 8th, 2011
3:59 am
For those who THINKS that everything with $Cam and the University of Auburn is “case closed” … the next couple of years should be reallllllll fun . The U.S. Attorney isn’t through handing out indictments … Bobby Lowder and crew have larger trouble than $Cam Knewton but the funny fact is … wiretaps don’t discriminate and they were up and running BEFORE $Cams dumbazz came to town .
Anyone who thinks the FBI was just questioning parties involved in $Cam’s buyin…. errr … “recruitment” to be “helpful” to the NCAA doesn’t have a clue what is coming
SEC Fan
January 8th, 2011
9:06 am
Buckeyefan,
You’re right. Arky fans wanted to play the real OSU — same with Bama fans vs. Cam Newton U.
That’s all well and good, but the fact remains that until 2010, most (but never all – there’s always been enforcement bias) teams would have simply had to suffer the punishment for violating NCAA rules. Auburn and OSU got a pass this year and it was ALL about the money. You’ve got a bowl win over the SEC now, but you also have an asterisk beside it in the record books. You can never erase the taint.
yayaya
January 9th, 2011
10:13 am
ya this article better have a follow up after the national championship when the NCAA reveals everything they actually knew about the newton case. AND Auburn and Cam get their trophies reclaimed but the NCAA still makes all the money off them HAHAHAHAHA
Week in review: Jan. 3-7 - The Blog of the NCAA
January 11th, 2011
10:18 am
[...] Cam Newton, Terrelle Pryor rulings are completely different (Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) [...]