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
Mtn Dawg
January 6th, 2011
10:06 am
The NCAA IS a joke, but all powerful at the same time. The untouchables. There are no checks and balances built in to the NCAA power structure. And they have no credibility. Garbage in garbage out.
dap01
January 6th, 2011
10:07 am
Cam Newton is sleezy and is getting rewarded for it. Why is the media turning a blind eye to that fact?
Why can an article question:
1. How Cam was not kicked out of Florida?
2. How Cam (with his academic and arrest records) was admitted to Auburn?
3. How can Auburn be so quiet about the whole situation.?
DawginLex
January 6th, 2011
10:08 am
Tony,
Can you write an article discussing how the NCAA should consider removing the A SHE SHE from the conferences that receive an automatic BCS berth? Maybe the Mountain West should take the spot considering the A SHE SHE has won only 1 BCS bowl game and has routinely been embarrassed on the national stage.
Tell the truth
January 6th, 2011
10:08 am
Gee Mr SEC- my understanding is that there is a rule in the SEC that specifically covers what happened with Cam Newton’s father that Mr Slive conveniently skirted and ignored. It appears to me and others that both you and Slive are nothing but shills for the SEC and the NCAA. Of course all of these distasteful carryings on will be appropriately handled before next year’s season. And of course the games must go on- can’t afford to keep the patrons waiting. In the meantime please do keep beating the drums about how the SEC is the best thing since sliced bread- I think their record thus far this year in the bowl games is 3-4. Am I correct? Shills to the left of me, pimps to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle of this crapola.
anotherdawg
January 6th, 2011
10:09 am
Why wasn’t A J Green allowed to postpone his suspension til next year? Oh, I think I get it.
(a) Deny knowledge of infraction – no penalty
(b) Lie about infraction – postponed penalty
(c) Admit infraction – Full penalty
Schad Is A Scab
January 6th, 2011
10:09 am
Dawg_Central
January 6th, 2011
10:05 am
A solicitation for money, even though none changed hands is a violation, and it was Cam Newton’s father doing this
Nope wrong again. It would have to have occurred at the School he attended, Auburn, and they would also have to prove Cam’s KNOWING INVOLVEMENT! The by-laws are not clear on this, you don’t know what you are talking about…..try again.
DawginLex
January 6th, 2011
10:10 am
Tony,
Can you write an article about removing the A SHE SHE from the BCS since they routinely get drummed in their BCS game?
Schad Is A Scab
January 6th, 2011
10:10 am
4 pages of hate from jealous Dawg fans so far and counting……..
Paul in RDU
January 6th, 2011
10:12 am
anotherdawg
January 6th, 2011
10:09 am
You missed the best way to avoid getting penalized for an infraction -
Claim that you had not been adequately educated on the rules of what was an infraction (the OSU defense)
DawginLex
January 6th, 2011
10:12 am
Tony,
There really needs to be an investigation about the A SHE SHE masquerading as a BCS conference.
Can you recommend that something be done?
Jealous Dawg "Fan"
January 6th, 2011
10:12 am
“Cam Would Have Made A Good Tight End”
Macon
January 6th, 2011
10:12 am
Poor dumb Schad.
Lets review what Schad added here:
Fromt eh articel:
“Cecil Newton’s eldest son, Cecil Jr., wrote the city a letter
promising to pay $5,000 to $7,000 a month until the repairs were completed.”
“…Promising to pay…”
And yet, in fact, the church did not receive…ANY…money AT ALL
from Cecil Newton, Jr.
If Blandburg had ACTUALLY received money from Cecil Newton, Jr.,
then wouldnt Blandburg KNOW THAT ??
FACT: Cecil Newton, Jr. did not pay ANY money to the church.
And that FACT leads us back to the question NO ONE wants to answer,
at least not BEFORE Auburn and the SEC get paid…
WHERE DID THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS COME FROM ??
We will all find out in good time.
PMC
January 6th, 2011
10:16 am
Isn’t the ruling of the 5 here essentially the same ruling that AJ Green and others received this season?
I just want to know who they are firing in thier compliance department who didn’t “properly educate” the 5.
They knew EXACTLY what they were doing. They knew it was against the rules and they didn’t care. Why? Because the rule itself is stupid. Just like the rule that they can claim “they didn’t know” and get to suspend thier suspensions.
Preventing people from making money off of thier own attributes and likenesses because another group who makes vast sums of money off of those same things wants to call them “amateurs” when they are really indentured servants creates this very problem.
They didn’t find anything that Cam himself did, and they didn’t find that any money changed hands so he was eligible.
I don’t see what Cam Newton and Terrelle Pryor’s cases have in common.
The Ohio State case is EXACTLY the same as the AJ Green case, it just so happens that the OSU case occured before and expensive bowl game and the AJ Green case happened before the season.
The only real thing that happened here is that OSU finally became what they professed to hate for so long.
They are just as dirty as anyone else.
Tell the truth
January 6th, 2011
10:16 am
Schad Is A Scab Wrong!!! You flunk. The SEC rules state that because of his dather’s actions, Newton would have been ineligible to play at ANY SEC school.
Dawg_Central
January 6th, 2011
10:16 am
I didn’t say Auburn would have been guilty of anything, except ignorance…which is laughable, I stated Cam should be ineligible….and oh yea….he was for 1 day sanctioned ineligible….LOL….what a freaking joke!!
Schad The Scab
January 6th, 2011
10:16 am
Macon did you even read the correction they added on Dec 3. 2010? You are so clueless….
Correction: December 3, 2010
An article on Nov. 24 about the controversy surrounding the recruitment of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and N.C.A.A. investigators’ interest in one of his father’s churches referred incorrectly to $50,000 in repairs to the church, which the city of Newnan, Ga., closed in 2008. That was the cost for all projects, including some that had not been completed before the church closed; that amount was not the cost for just repairs that had been completed.
Tell the truth
January 6th, 2011
10:18 am
DawginLex SEC 3-4 thus far in bowl games. Yep you have so much to say these days. Pity.
Schad The Scab
January 6th, 2011
10:19 am
Nope Tell The Truth there is a loop-hole there. Once again you have no idea what the rule actually says
SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said the league’s rule isn’t applicable unless payment is actually made or agreed upon, not just solicited.
“The facts in this case, as we understand them, are that the student-athlete’s father, without knowledge of the student-athlete, solicited improper payments [which were rejected] from an institution the young man did not attend, and that the institution where the young man is enrolled was not involved,” Bloom told the AP in an e-mail.
DawginLex
January 6th, 2011
10:20 am
Tell the truth,
There really needs to be an investigation about the A SHE SHE masquerading as a BCS conference.
Schad The Scab
January 6th, 2011
10:21 am
Macon any more misinformation you wanna spread or have you crawled back under your rock?
404
January 6th, 2011
10:21 am
has there been anything more embarassing to the sec
than uga in 2010.
–fulmer cup (12 players arrested in 2010 alone)
–aj green-back
–damon evans
–mark richt’s espn interview
(no, we dont have a discipline issue here at georgia)
only cam newton and auburn have overshadowed what a big pile of
dawg squeeze uga has been in 2010
Dawg_Central
January 6th, 2011
10:21 am
I have “NEVER” in 44 years pulled against an SEC team in the national title game……but I will be a Duck fan on Jan 10th…..and I bet a huge portion of the other SEC fans, excluding AU aka”ThugLife U”, will also be pulling for the Ducks…..I do believe Auburn will win the game, but they have lost a “TON” of respect throughout the SEC and country for this disgrace….enjoy Tigers….pukeee!!! oh yea, why can’t Auburn ever win without being suspect for cheating..hmmmmmmm…can anyone call Bowden and ask him….LOL..LOL
Tell the truth
January 6th, 2011
10:23 am
It is very encouraging to me that the NCAA has issued to releases shortly after theses fiascos- DEFENDING their decisions. That means that the sports nation is watching and is more than a little tired of the same old crap that is passed down as fair and equitable treatment for ALL of the schools in the NCAA. Maybe one day this whole house of cards will come falling down. No more big bucks then. eh pal?
Buckeye
January 6th, 2011
10:24 am
Good Grief,
Curious, does “Suckeye” and “Dawg” come from the same Southern dictionary?
DawginLex,
Agree. I am sure this is so much crapola underneath the covers at all the top programs – we have no idea. I enjoyed wathcing Wall and Co. last year – quite a talent on the court. Calapari on the other hand……I read an article where he was plugging his book in a Delta Sky magazine last year and every other word was “I”.
Dawg_Central
January 6th, 2011
10:24 am
Charles Bloom is a money hungry puppet……..he wouldn’t have suspended “satan” if he were playing at Auburn this year….wow !!! Bad source…LOL
BAMA dude
January 6th, 2011
10:25 am
I don’t know why folks argue with the Newton lovers. Look, the NCAA made the right ruling based on the facts at hand. That doesn’t mean the rest of us have to buy that Cam didn’t know what was happening. Of course he did for chrissakes. When he was caught with a stolen laptop, he “didn’t know” it was stolen. When they first started investigating the PFP, Cecil “didn’t know,” it was all Kenny. Then when the heat got turned up Cecil admitted the PFP byt swore that Cam “didn’t know.” These people are dirtbags, meaning they fit in with Fairley, he of the altered transcripts, and the rest of the Lee County goons. What’s new?
Stevie Wonder
January 6th, 2011
10:27 am
We all can see that the Newtons tried to make money change hands, just couldn’t pull it off. If I go to rob a bank and run out with no money, am I innocent?
Of course Scam didn’t know what his father was up to, Scam was just riding in the car with him.
DC
January 6th, 2011
10:27 am
Bama on probation.
DawginLex
January 6th, 2011
10:28 am
buckeye,
you know, I didn’t know what to think about UK hiring Cal when he came. But I can tell you, he is good at motivating kids. He genuinely cares about the players and he makes them better people. Demarcus Cousins last year came in as the big fat dumb kid and left a lot better person even though he still needs to grow up.
This current UK team is so much fun to watch because they are not expected to do all that great. The big center Harrelson is a great kid who has worked extra hard to lose weight and make himself fit to play.
the other thing about UK is Sandy Bell their compliance director is very good at her job and the AD has tons of integrity. Hopefully, they can keep Cal under control
Dirtbags??
January 6th, 2011
10:28 am
THIRD FORMER PLAYER ARREST IN TWO DAYS
Coffee is the third former Alabama player to be arrested in two days.
Former Alabama football star DJ Hall and walk-on Darwin Salaam were arrested Wednesday on drug charges in Tuscaloosa.
The two were arrested at a hotel after police responded to complaints that guests were smoking marijuana in a room. Each was charged with possession of marijuana and another controlled substance, and were released on bonds of $30,000 each.
Hall was a star receiver for the Crimson Tide from 2004 through 2007. He holds several school records and is the only Alabama receiver ever to have two 1,000-yard seasons.
Salaam was a walk-on receiver who played at Stillman College before transferring to Alabama.
Dirtbags??
January 6th, 2011
10:29 am
Police Chief Steven Anderson said Friday officers were unaware until later that a man picked up on marijuana charges was DJ Hall, who leads all Crimson Tide receivers in career yardage with 2,923 yards. He played from 2004-07. A former walk-on player, Darwin Salaam, was also arrested.
Both men are free on bonds of $30,000, and court records don’t show whether either has an attorney.
Anderson said managers at an extended-stay hotel called police Wednesday to complain about a marijuana smell. The chief said officers found the ex-players in a room with three ounces of marijuana, prescription medication and a 9 mm pistol.
BAMA dude
January 6th, 2011
10:30 am
Awe, little brother is getting all paranoid again. Poor little fella.
Dirtbags??
January 6th, 2011
10:31 am
Alabama player, girlfriend arrested in Tuscaloosa
PUBLISHED Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 at 7:33 pm EDT
Associated Press SN Icon Sporting News
�
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) ? Alabama linebacker Courtney�Upshaw and a female student identified as his girlfriend were free on bond Thursday after being arrested on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence and third-degree harassment.
�
University police charged Upshaw and Kendall Lynn Gryzb, both 19, after an altercation at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the campus recreation center, according to documents filed at Tuscaloosa County district court.
�
Upshaw practiced Thursday afternoon. The 6-foot-2, 249-pound sophomore is battling with Eryk Anders for a starting job at jack linebacker, a hybrid end/outside linebacker position, after playing in the final 13 games last season and recording 22 tackles.
�
Arresting officer Rusty Romine said he spotted Upshaw following Gryzb in the parking lot. He said she appeared to be shouting at Upshaw after he caught up with her.
�
“At this time Upshaw grabbed Gryzb by the back of the neck and hair” and appeared to try to push her down, Romine wrote in a deposition and charge sheet.
Another Bama Crook
January 6th, 2011
10:32 am
MOBILE, Alabama — Former Alabama and NFL linebacker Keith McCants has been arrested in Florida and charged with cocaine possession.
Police say McCants was arrested early Wednesday morning as he left a St. Petersburg strip club.
Police who stopped the 42-year former first round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers say they saw a crack pipe in the center console of his Chevrolet Tahoe.
Police also found one piece of crack in the purse of McCants’ female passenger.
4 ARRESTS IN ONE YEAR BAMA DUDE!!
January 6th, 2011
10:34 am
MOBILE, Ala. — Former professional football player Keith McCants was arrested at midday today on a charge of use and possession of drug paraphernalia, Mobile police said.
It is at least the fourth arrest in less than a year for the former defensive player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of Alabama and Murphy High School, according to Press-Register archives.
McCants was released about 2 hours after he was booked at Mobile County Metro Jail, according to jail records.
Police spokesman Officer Christopher Levy said narcotics officers spotted McCants in the 1300 block of Hercules Street about noon and found an item considered drug paraphernalia. Levy would not specify what the item was.
On May 4, McCants was arrested on a charge of attempting to purchase drugs, and on Dec. 19, McCants was picked up on a paraphernalia charge as well as a charge of loitering for the purpose of drug activity, according to Press-Register files.
Last Oct. 20, McCants was arrested on outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court to answer two misdemeanor drug charges, according to the files.
Buckeye
January 6th, 2011
10:36 am
DawginLex,
Perhaps UK and #2 Ohio State will meet up at some point this year! I’ll check out the Wildcats but it always takes a while to get in to college basketball after football season.
Good luck.
The Justice League
January 6th, 2011
10:37 am
Tony,
You are correct sir on every thing you wrote. As of TODAY. You and I have spoke more than once on this subject face to face. You and I know what is coming down the road. I know as a responsible journalist and reporter that you will not comment on these future proceedings.
I know in the future you will hopefully write the entire story and it may take a couple weeks series do get it all in there, but you will do it. I guess we will all have to wait until the Criminal Proceedings that are coming up in Alabama will be our scheduler from this point moving forward.
MR
January 6th, 2011
10:37 am
Nothing like a sad barner trying to hijack a thread.
I guess it’s typical though.
Best team in years and it’s still ALL about Bama.
You Shut Your Mouth yet Gomer?
January 6th, 2011
10:38 am
Just google “Bama Players arrested and you get over 2.2 million results!
Happy Face
January 6th, 2011
10:39 am
Do you realize when Keith McCants played at Alabama? mid and late 80’s.
You Shut Your Mouth yet Gomer?
January 6th, 2011
10:39 am
No MR I’m sick and tired of idiots like you questioning our character and integrity when you have no ground to stand on AT ALL? What are you the moral police now? STFU!!!!
Macon
January 6th, 2011
10:40 am
And yet, Schad still has NO answer:
WHERE—–DID—–THE—-MONEY—–COME—–FROM ??
BAMA dude
January 6th, 2011
10:40 am
Blah, blah, blah. You can’t control what these kids do once they leave scool. Ever heard of Anthony Mix, arrested on statutory rape charges? Marquies Gunn, drug charges? There are plenty more, I just ain’t gonna blow up the blog with nonsense like some choose to do. There will be no further acknowledgement of you from me.
GTBob
January 6th, 2011
10:42 am
The reason Cam isn’t declared ineligible: He is the best player in college football, his team was in the running for a National Championship, and he generates TV revenue all by himself.
The reason the OSU players weren’t suspended for the Sugar Bowl: Because the game would have been rendered meaningless, Sugar Bowl executives would have been upset, and TV viewership would have been very low.
The NCAA will not rule a player ineligible if it significantly alters the amount of money generated by the sport. Its one of the most corrupt organizations in existence and has no real guidelines for any of the decisions they make or penalties they deliver. Cam and the OSU 5 should not have been eligible and everybody knows it.
Tweets that mention Cam Newton, Terrelle Pryor rulings are completely different | Mr. College Football -- Topsy.com
January 6th, 2011
10:42 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by College Football. College Football said: Cam Newton, Terrelle Pryor rulings are completely different http://bit.ly/eO346o (via @MrCFB) [...]
Happy Face
January 6th, 2011
10:43 am
If you even went with Jimmy Johnson it would have been more relevant, he was at least a Shula recruit. You will not see many if any reports of Saban’s recruits. Move on with comments about what Mr. Barnhardt is writing about today.
BAMA dude
January 6th, 2011
10:44 am
Macon
January 6th, 2011
10:40 am
And yet, Schad still has NO answer:
WHERE—–DID—–THE—-MONEY—–COME—–FROM ??
No offense, but you’re acting a little dooshy. None of us know where the money came from and it doesn’t matter. The Barners have chosen to hang on Cam’s jock for the chance to win their first National title since 1957. When Cam, Fairley, Bynes, and the whole OL are gone next year, they’ll be back in their rightful mediocre place.
wardenerd
January 6th, 2011
10:44 am
I cannot remember a case where the NCAA proved someone took money from an agent or school without an admission by the player or the payer. Someone told on Reggie Bush and his agents and he were forced to tell the truth not by the NCAA but under threat of line to investigators from the government who investigated it. The NCAA had already been rebuffed in the BUSH affair and had proved nothing. In every other case it became a he said she said with supporting evidence but no “PROOF”. Did Cam Newton take money? Only he or his dad or the payer knows for sure and with no tapes or videos there is no proof.
Happy Face
January 6th, 2011
10:44 am
meant Jimmy Johns….see how relevant these folks are
BAMA dude
January 6th, 2011
10:45 am
GTBob, that’s nonsense. Both decisions follow the bylaws that are in place to the letter.