Stop whining: NCAA got it right on Cam Newton, Auburn
Cam Newton can go ahead of celebrate. The NCAA ruled that he and Auburn are in the clear.
Let me start this by declaring that I’m as cynical as the next person — OK, perhaps a little more — and I’m absolutely convinced there was a second gunman in the grassy knoll and there’s something about Area 51 that the government is not telling us.
But listen up: The NCAA got it right.
It could not suspend Cam Newton based on he whispered/he whispered.
It could not place Auburn on probation based on the fact the father of its star player admitted that he solicited money from ANOTHER school.
It could not significantly punish any athlete or institution based on what we all THINK must have happened simply because that’s what our suspicious mind tells us.
This whole saga has been one of the strangest NCAA investigations I can remember, in part because the athlete’s current school (Auburn) never was even connected to the allegations.
I know. Our head tells us: It’s Auburn. It’s the SEC. It’s big-time college football with big-time shenanigans. We’ve been exposed to so much of it in the past that we’ve come to believe that every player, coach, administrator and booster have been have been tainted. This story is even better than most because it involved a father allegedly pimping his kid . . . and he’s a minister!
At some point, you expected a Kardashian to show up on Toomers Corner.
But take a breath and, just for a moment, follow me through the levels of this thing. Then I’ll address why I don’t believe this can be compared to other recent cases, including the one at USC and A.J. Green’s suspension:
♦ Question: Did Cecil Newton, Cam’s father, solicit money from Mississippi State for his son’s services? Answer: Yes. INFRACTION.
♦ Question: Did Cam Newton know his father solicited an offer? Answer: Based on a lack of evidence, no. (If you want to assume otherwise, fine. But let’s just say I’m aware of situations where children did not know of things their parents did. Whether you consider that a longshot or not, the bottom line is that it can’t be proven.)
♦ Question: Did Cecil Newton receive money? Answer: Based on a lack of evidence, no.
♦ Question: Did Cam Newton receive money? Answer: Based on a lack of evidence, no.
♦ Question: Did Cam or Cecil Newton solicit an offer from Auburn? Answer: Based on a lack of evidence, no.
♦ Question: Did Cam or Cecil Newton receive money from Auburn. Answer: Based on a lack of evidence, no.
That’s it. There’s nothing else.
Now, should the NCAA continue to investigate this thing and discover that somebody in the Auburn athletic department or a big-bucks booster slipped a fat envelope under Cam’s door or paid for new floors and sheetrock in Cecil’s new church, then all bets are off.
But that’s not where we are right now.
Now, as for comparing Newton to other cases, I’ve been hearing from USC and Georgia fans all day and night and reading comments on line from various stunned officials, including USC athletic director Pat Haden. But this case is so not those cases. Consider:
♦ Newton vs. USC: Really? Fact: Reggie Bush’s parents received thousands of dollars in benefits from an agent. They lived in a home rent-free for one year. A USC assistant coach, Todd McNair, was tied directly to the case when the NCAA ruled he had knowledge of Bush’s dealings with agents. For whiny Trojan fans to be comparing their case to the Cam Newton case is completely nonsensical.
♦ Newton vs. A.J. Green: Really? Fact: Green sold his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000. That’s a violation, even if he sold it to you. The fact that he sold to a person that the NCAA classified as an agent increased the suspension to four games. (Best estimate: It would’ve been two games otherwise.) It has not been found that Cam and Cecil Newton received anything (or sold his Blinn Community College jersey).
♦ Newton vs. Damon Stoudamire: This is a very similar case, as laid out by SportsByBrooks, in which the father of the former Arizona basketball star was accused by the NCAA of accepting a plane ticket from an agent in 1995. Stoudamire denied knowing about his father’s alleged transaction. The father denied taking the ticket. The NCAA suspended the player for a game, then reinstated him just before the NCAA tournament. But here’s where the cases go in different directions. The agent in question, Steve Feldman, ultimately admitted he gave airplane tickets to Stoudamire’s father. The father had to reiumburse him. The NCAA believed to other penalty was warranted. Coversely, there is no paper trail or evidence of any kind in the Newton case.
Some believe the NCAA has opened a giant loophole with this ruling — the thinking being that now every dad can go out and pimp his kid to universities, then just claim the kid knew nothing about it. The only problem with that theory is — again — Cecil Newton was not found to have taken anything.
If a father puts his son up for bidding and actually accepts a payment, effectively closing the deal, it really doesn’t matter whether the son knew or not. The athlete is ineligible. It’s like saying you want to rob a bank without ever doing it.
So enough with the NCAA bashing. They got it right. You can’t convict on conjecture.
♦
Recent episodes . . .
♦ Gruden to Miami would be manna for starving ACC
♦ Falcons are winning because they’re following Mike Smith
♦ Surprise! Spurrier proves South Carolina can be a player in SEC
♦ Alabama staffer fired for mocking Cam Newton with songs
♦
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1,356 comments Add your comment
Katherine
December 2nd, 2010
12:23 am
“The NCAA just gave cover to every middle man in the country,” Vaccaro said. “The kids never know. In all my years, I’ve never heard of a kid being involved in the negotiation. You think they ask? Of course not. Their mom asks. Their coach asks. Their cousin asks. This is crazy.”
Step back from the specifics of how this case involves the best player on the best team heading into the SEC championship game and likely the BCS title game (which Auburn may reach even with a loss Saturday). If you look at it globally, it’s a head-scratcher.
The NCAA just ruled that as long as the player denies he knew anything about being shopped around – even by someone as close as his own father – then there is no penalty. And let’s not give any credit to the NCAA banning Cecil Newton from associating with Mississippi State (why would he anyway?) and allowing just “limited” association with Auburn, a school they’ll leave in the tail lights one minute after his son’s final game. That’s the biggest non-penalty penalty of all time.
At this point, why wouldn’t the parent of every recruit in America ask about getting paid? What’s the harm, right? Just do it behind your son’s back – or at least pretend. You might as well see what’s out there, even if it’s just for the fun of it.
The NCAA has taken one of its better deterrents – a rule that clearly stated no one representing an athlete can even solicit extra benefits – and all but reversed it. They’ve essentially said that you’d be a fool for not soliciting.
That is from yahoo sports as well
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:23 am
Flagboy…finally something we agree on. I’m afraid, as well, that the ruling could open the door for similar cases, and the NCAA needs to clean up their bylaws.
Katherine
December 2nd, 2010
12:24 am
Wow…i’m not the only one who is questioning this….just go to espn or yahoo sports or anywhere really. I think its funny that you all just assume its sour grapes or just uga fans. It is clearly not…
Read This
December 2nd, 2010
12:24 am
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/feed/2010-11/cam-newton-probe/story/truth-of-the-matter-newton-cleared-of-wrongdoing
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:25 am
UgaDave…I have enjoyed debating this with you, but you just went back to sour grapes and showed your true colors with the Fairley comment. It is clear that you are biased.
Again, Fairley is up for post season awards as the best defense lineman in the country. Did he cheap-shot Murray? yes…how many schools have not had a player this year, including UGA, not?
Andrew
December 2nd, 2010
12:26 am
@WOW
“Do you honestly believe that Cam should be punished if he knew nothing about it?”
Yes.
To be consistent with what has been done in other cases and to penalize bad behavior by relatives (especially parents who are PASTORS and should be setting an example). Yes. His father knew it was against the rules. His father lied about breaking the rules. His father now says Cam didn’t know, but what do we know about his father? He lied about this story already.
A lot was made about the “anonymous sources” earlier. Just because a reporter does not divulge a source doesn’t mean they are some mysterious shadow figure in a trench coat. They know who the sources are and they believe them. So far, the only facts we have been given show those sources to be correct. Cecil Newton asked for money and was involved with an agent.
What if those same sources are correct about other stuff they have already said? What if tapes do exist? What if the FBI really does have a money trail? What if Cam did know, like they say? What if it does involve more than one player? The questions go on and on, but so far the sources have been right. Let’s not pretend it is over just yet.
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:27 am
Katherine…I never said it was just UGA fans…obviously, there are a lot of people interested in this story. However, go back and read the 13 pages of this AJC/UGA blog. It’s evident that UGA fans WANT Cam to be guilty.
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
12:28 am
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:22 am
And for anybody who needs any further evidence that the SEC is totally on the take for Auburn just needs to go back to the Auburn-UGA game and look at Nick Fairley’s conduct! I don’t even need to go into the “late hit or hits” on Aaron Murray…..the video evidence of Fairley cutting Georgia’s QB with his facemack as he laid on the ground is all over the internet! Auburn’s defense sucks bad enough with Fairley in the game! The SEC didn’t have the guts to suspend him because they wanted to cover their ONLY National Title game hopeful!
—–
Stay on topic or we’ll have to start talking about Ben Jones. You know Ben right? Suspended for a cheap near career ending shot on Fletcher Cox of Mississippi St in our loss earlier in the year? Multiple chop blocks of which 1 was called on Fairley. Failed miserably at his job in Auburn and then started a fight with cheap punches on Fairley? Ben Jones a member of the team that left the benches and had players throw punches that were not suspended? Including our RB?
Where was Ben Jones during that fight the next game when we played GT?
I think if CMR went to the SEC complaining about Fairley he might have gotten a warning about his team such that made him back off completely and answer questions with a “no comment.”
Wanna stay on topic Dave? You’re not going to win a Nick Fairley is dirty game here.
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:28 am
Andrews…has anybody asked AJ Green’s father if he knew about the jersey incident? If he knew, what are you planning on doing to him?
flagboy?
December 2nd, 2010
12:29 am
I would imagine the NCAA will try to close this problem with their bylaws, but I just don’t see how they can fully close it now. Basically the rules state that asking for benefits is basically the same as receiving benefits. . . .
For someone like Schultz to claim there is no “loophole” with this ruling is either A) argumentative for the sake of arguing or B) short sighted to the extreme.
MikeP
December 2nd, 2010
12:30 am
I’m through here for the evening. Y’all that think this opens a can of worms or that the NCAA isn’t through with Cam and Auburn, do two things: Look at the Albert Means case (where money did change hands) and figure out why Means couldn’t play at Alabama but was OK at Memphis. Identical situation with Cam, MSU and Auburn.
Then read the NCAA’s statement declaring that Cam Newton is and has been eligible and no other conditions will apply. That means no forfeited games and so forth.
What many of y’all are doing is believing things you’ve read on internet blogs and then thinking you know more about who said what than a team of NCAA investigators that has been working on this for months knows. Is that reasonable?
G’day, Mates
Katherine
December 2nd, 2010
12:30 am
Let’s get a couple caveats out of the way. It’s worth repeating the NCAA has not offered any proof that Newton received any extra benefits from any school or that Cecil Newton asked for money from Auburn.
And please note this isn’t a defense of the NCAA structure. I’ve long complained that everyone but the guy wearing the helmet is getting paid. I’ve long pointed out the amateurism rules are little more than cover to maintain college sports’ sweetheart tax-free status.
I believe that Cam Newton is worth far more to a school than 200 grand. I believe he should be allowed professional representation since he’s essentially a walking $50-70 million commodity. I’m with Vaccaro in finding enjoyment in the NCAA’s self-inflicted wound.
I’m glad Cam Newton gets to continue playing football.
That said, if the NCAA is going to continue to pretend it cares about pay for play, how does it provide no deterrent here?
Even if it just sat Newton for one half of the SEC title game, it’d be something. There is now essentially no penalty to asking for money in the recruiting process.
“I don’t want to hear about another player suspended again,” Vaccaro said. “They just took the legs out of all of their rulings. Do they have any idea what they just did?”
That is part of the yahoo article too.
That is what i’m worried about….it might just get out of control now. It is an embarrassment to the sec, and all of college football
flagboy?
December 2nd, 2010
12:30 am
Wow, that’s the second time you’ve asked the AJ Green and his dad thing and the argument just doesn’t even match up. . . you’re not honestly trying to compare the two are you?
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:30 am
UGA2002…good post…there was another UGA player that chop-blocked Montori Hughes of UT. If I remember correctly, Hughes has to leave the game because he was injured on the play.
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
12:31 am
Andrew… do you know what Cecil Newton told the SEC and NCAA as well as when he told them?
BECAUSE IF YOU DO, I’d love to see it all. We’d all like to see it. Got a feeling you won’t be able to quote it tonight… WITH A LEGIT SOURCE. And there is the problem, you don’t know but you type it anyways.
AUBURN- SMARTEST IN THE SEC!
December 2nd, 2010
12:31 am
Most of the posters will not and evidently cannot accept reality. To beleive your assumptions that Cam is and still should be guilty assumes that the NCAA is comprised of total whores. OK, Auburn is on Cam’s side and can’t be trusted and Cam’s statement that he did nothing wrong cannot be trusted and I guess the 12 member SEC office is also comprised of whores because they want an SEC team in the BCS. But now you people include the NCAA enforcement staff itself on on looking the other way and ignoring the guilt? Amazing. But let’s go with the crazy theory that the NCAA ignored all the rules to help Auburn and Cam. Then I’ve got to hand to to Auburn for doing what USC, UGA, Bama and all the others could not get done with the NCAA. Auburn is clearly at the head of the class. UGA and Bama are in kindergarten evidently when it comes to dealing with the NCAA. Some Cow College. How ’bout Harvard of the South?
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:32 am
Flagboy…I’ve asked it twice…and UGA fans have brought it up dozens of times.
Of course they are different…that was kinda my point. Ssshhh don’t steal my thunder. : )
Jeff G
December 2nd, 2010
12:33 am
Anybody on this blog or any other web site — and I mean ANYBODY, Jeff Schultz included — who does NOT think that the Newton family got SOMETHING from SOMEBODY in this whole situation… well, you are a complete moron and can obviously be fooled by the simplist of things….
The fact is that Cecil Newton apparently had financial problems with his church before Cam was being recruited. Now, apparently, he doesn’t. And anyone who thinks that a guy shops his kid around to JUST ONE SCHOOL and not any others is fooling himself.
The smoking gun may not be found right now… heck, it may not be found for a while… but trust me, where there is this much smoke, there’s fire.
Too many people know too much about this whole recruiting process. Auburn has been convicted of recruiting violations before. College football, particularly in the SEC, is big-money business. Cam was the golden goose that has/will deliver tens of millions of dollars, possibly hundreds of millions to the NCAA, to the BCS, to television networks, to Auburn, to the athletic staff at Auburn, and to his dad. So there’s too much there for me to just take Jeff Schultz’s simpleton approach and say “Well, no paper trail here, things must be okay! Yesssirrrreee bob, no violations here, just a squeaky-clean family!” It’s like you all are the cop on South Park… “Move along, nothing to see here!”
OJ Simpson was guilty and did it… you know it and I know it. Time will prove that to be true. And most likely, Cam Newton’s family — whether he knew every detail or not — shopped this kid around like a whore, and most likely got some cash from it.
The whole situation sickens me, and people are going to make millions from this whole dishonest situation. Say what you want, Schultz, but I use the smell test and the duck test. If it smells, it’s probably rotten, and if it looks & walks & quacks like a duck… well, you know the rest.
People, I’m afraid you’ve all been ducked over.
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:33 am
Wow…..sour grapes? Sorry if the facts offend you! I could have just as easily brought up his illegal horse collar on Ryan Mallet but that was early in the season and Auburn’s potential at the time was unknown! The SEC suspended a player from Miss St this year for a hit in which he wasn’t even flagged for! Sour grapes? His conduct warranted a suspension….not even up for debate!!!! Sports columists/writers/announcers all over the SEC and country talked about his cheap shots in that game? U care to venture why he wasn’t suspended? They were ALL legal hits? SEC coaches from around the league were screaming about his play….even Vern L. from CBS mentioned that he and Auburn had been already warned yet even after that game….the SEC stated that they were going to let the “member institution” handle it! Cheap shots are cheap shots whether is against my team’s QB or yours!!!!!!!
Andrew
December 2nd, 2010
12:34 am
@Wow.
You are smarter than the question you asked. Green’s dad knowing about Green selling the jersey has nothing to do with whether Cam knew or didn’t know his dad was breaking the rules. Soliciting is asking. It doesn’t mean receiving. Just asking. Did Cecil ask? YES. Is that a rule infraction? YES. Does that open a hypothetical gate for family members to grift off of schools? YES.
Is it fair to him? Debatable but it needs to be consistent.
flagboy?
December 2nd, 2010
12:36 am
I don’t see the point you were trying to make with it.
UGA2002, you know the investigation is still open, right?
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:36 am
GA2002…..sorry but unfortunately for your argument….that post was on topic! Perhaps you should read it again…….something about how the SEC has already been covering for Auburn? Then and with this decision, now?
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:39 am
Andrew…my point is this…
IF, according the the now infamous bylaw that Katherine and others have so graciously offered up is true…and black and white..then, AJ Green should be playing for UGA..”or any other SEC school” according to Katherine. It was PROVEN that AJ accepted illegal benefits. However, wasn’t he on the field last week against GT? The NCAA has its own bylaws, and also the ability to hear fair agurements. Nothing has been proven. Ceceil didn’t accept anything…nor has it been proven that he was offered.
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:40 am
UGA2002 it is okay to be an apologist for Auburn just try to keep it somewhat above board! Lest me think that u are just another Auburn troll posing as another SEC school…..relax! They are all over the ESPN chats
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:41 am
UgaDave…we are all trying to have a fun debate. Your cheese has slid off your cracker bud.
The SEC and the NCAA and others are all out to cover Auburn at UGA’s expense. Got it.
Andrew
December 2nd, 2010
12:41 am
@UGA2002.
Why do I have to know what Cecil Newton said to the NCAA? Did they not deny the whole thing in the beginning? Was what they said at first true?
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
12:42 am
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:36 am
GA2002…..sorry but unfortunately for your argument….that post was on topic! Perhaps you should read it again…….something about how the SEC has already been covering for Auburn? Then and with this decision, now?
—-
Damn, you don’t pay attention do you?
CMR would’ve gotten his *** handed to him complaining about Fairley in comparison to the play of his team and his Ben Jones, repeat offender from an out of control team mind you.
Now do you get it?
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
12:45 am
UGAdave, don’t get upset when you get put in your place. I’ve been here for a while, not drinking the koolaid, calling for CMR to be fired and bashing clueless UGA fans that never even stepped foot on campus unless it was game day.
Still not drinking the koolaid, you may, I won’t. I’m also pro SEC and pro being right. You could learn a lot.
flagboy?
December 2nd, 2010
12:45 am
Wow, i have to disagree with you (shock)
I think it has been proven Cecil Newton broke laws. . . “the fact that Newton’s father, Cecil, tried to sell his commitment to Mississippi State for a six-figure sum during his recruitment from junior college.”
That’s from ESPN. He has to keep some distance from Auburn functions or some crap. . so something was indeed proven.
AS for the AJ green thing, the NCAA has that sliding scale on the amount of benefits. I still don’t see the point about should green’s father be punished though.
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:45 am
Wow….so let me get this straight? Because a UGA player chopped block someone then it is okay for another team/player to try and destroy UGA’s QB? Okayyyy….didn’t know that. Thought the SEC was supposed to handle issues of that sort.
flagboy?
December 2nd, 2010
12:48 am
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
12:42 am
CMR would’ve gotten his *** handed to him complaining about Fairley in comparison to the play of his team and his Ben Jones, repeat offender from an out of control team mind you.
________________________________________
Where is your PROOF Richt would have gotten his *** handed to him? Or, are you simply guessing this is what would have happened?
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:48 am
UGA2002….lol “put in your place”? LMAO….pretty high on yourself huh? Geez…I will think of you fondly and your pathetic attempts to defend Auburn when the other shoe drops!
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
12:50 am
Andrew, just post what Cecil Newton’s dad told the NCAA and the SEC and when he said it. That’s all, simple task since you already know it. If you want to use quotes from articles go ahead but I will caution you, you have no idea what was said to the NCAA and that’s what matters. Because whatever it was, they cleared Newton to play.
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:50 am
Flagboy…you don’t see the point because I fear you don’t want to. Whoever commits the crime should do the time bud. Cecil did wrong. It hasn’t been proven that Cam did. If you want to crucify Cam, because an NCAA bylaw says so, then AJ shouldn’t be playing either. At least, in his case, it has been proven that actual benefits changed hands.
UGA fans can’t argue the rules on the one hand, and dismiss them on the other. If the rule is that black and white, then AJ shouldn’t be playing. However, the NCAA saw fit (and rightfully so in my opinion) to only punish AJ for 4 games. If it can do that, then it surely can decide not to punish another player before anything has been proven.
Andrew
December 2nd, 2010
12:50 am
@Wow
I agree, for the most part. However, you cannot say that Cecil didn’t accept anything, since you don’t know that. Green did sell his jersey, which is s violation. Should his career have been over for that? No, but he did, at least, suffer a penalty of some type. Someone mentioned the Albert Means case earlier. True, some money (not the alleged amount) changed hands. However, it was a high school coach asking a Vandy alumnus for money to get the kid to play for Alabama. Means was never proven to have known any of that, no money is alleged to have gone to Means or his family. Yet, he was declared ineligible at the school, wins were vacated, etc. Means went home and played at Memphis. He did go to another school but a penalty was inflicted on him and his teammates even though he knew nothing of the deal and neither did they.
The Memphis basketball player was declared eligible before that status was changed after further investigation. All I am saying is let’s not kid ourselves that any of this is over. What if some of the other allegations are true as well? The FBI is still involved. The NCAA has not closed the case.
I don’t think it is good for the SEC or for the college game we all appear to love to cheer for sanctions here, but we can’t bury our heads either.
Not meaning to sound like I am arguing with you at every turn, but I do like to use your points to inject a few of my own.
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:52 am
UgaDave…I did too…but the SEC didn’t in eithe case (UGA or Auburn).
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
12:53 am
flagboy, what did I and you in turn write? Would have.
That’s subjective based on the fact of what transpired during the game, what Ben did at the end of the game and that Fairley still played the next game and all CMR said was no comment when asked on 680. Hence, if he filed a complaint about Fairley he WOULD HAVE heard a lot about his own team.
The team that is completely and utterly out of his control as evidenced by the team running on to the field during a fight while Auburn’s stayed on the sideline.
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
12:54 am
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:48 am
UGA2002….lol “put in your place”? LMAO….pretty high on yourself huh? Geez…I will think of you fondly and your pathetic attempts to defend Auburn when the other shoe drops!
—-
Sure, I’ll be here, will you?
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
12:55 am
Andrew…good points. Good post.
The second line of your post sums it up for me. “However, you cannot say that Cecil didn’t accept anything, since you don’t know that.” You are right…I don’t. Nobody knows if he did or didn’t. I think that’s one of the main reasons why Cam is eligible.
Questions remain following NCAA’s ruling on Cam Newton – USA Today | SportsZrr
December 2nd, 2010
12:55 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:56 am
Andrew…..Not sure about whether the Booster in question was a Vandy alumnus or not but one thing for sure….he was a HUGE Alabama Supporter! Big money to the School.
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:58 am
UGA2002…..why would I? Watching you trying to spin and defend your previous position supporting this glaring and stupid decision? Nah….I don’t like to kick a person when they are obiviously down
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
12:59 am
UGA2002 “Touche” my friend
flagboy?
December 2nd, 2010
12:59 am
Uga2002, i’m just asking for evidence to support what you said. You seem to have knowledge of what the SEC would tell Mark Richt. Just want to know where you got your info.
still@the bar
December 2nd, 2010
1:01 am
Badges? Badges? We don’t need no Stinking Badges we are the NCAA & SEC. We decide when, how, and to what extent the rules will be enforced.
Paul in RDU
December 2nd, 2010
1:02 am
13 pages of postings and no one has asked what would have happened if the NCAA had done what many bloggers want and not restored Cam Newton’s eligibility – with no evidence that he knew anything about his father shopping him to MSU, no evidence that he had benefited, no evidence that Auburn knew anything.
IF the NCAA had kept Newton ineligible it would have been an extravaganza for lawyers. The case would be in the courts, injunctions would be filed to declare Newton eligible to play. The NCAA and the SEC would have lost complete control of the situation before you could say $1000/hr lawyer. Don’t believe it? that’s what happened to GT when they and the NCAA tried to keep a player off the team for committing crimes a few years ago.
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
1:02 am
Agree Flagboy! If I remember correctly…the SEC’s response was the same as the Fairley case. Let the “member institution” handle it. CMR suspended the player in question….alot more that can be said then how Auburn “handled” it.
Wow
December 2nd, 2010
1:03 am
Well…goodnight all.
Here’s hoping that Cam and Auburn are innocent. It will be the best for the SEC and all the schools in the SEC.
Would it be embarrasing for the conference if all of this turns out to be true? Yes. Would it give the SEC a black eys? Of course.
However, how much more of a black eye would it be if Cam turns out to be innocent? Additionally, how stupid do us “Southern” boys and girls look for convicting someone without the facts.
Anyway…good luck to all in your postseason efforts.
UgaDave
December 2nd, 2010
1:04 am
Nite Wow
UGA2002
December 2nd, 2010
1:05 am
Andrew, there is more to the Means story than that. It even involved us. I know Means testified he never took tests and either his broker or Alabama had people take it for him.
Anyways, Alabama was nailed for more than Means and almost got the death penalty for repeat violations. Does everyone have a clear grasp now on what the death penalty is? Love it being paraded around here.
Here is some of what Alabama was busted for:
A recruit, identified in news reports as Kenny Smith, and his parents were given $20,000 in cash, lodging and entertainment by two Crimson Tide boosters beginning in 1995. The first payment of $10,000 was made in $100 bills delivered in a grocery bag. Smith signed with Alabama but couldn’t meet academic requirements.
An Alabama booster previously identified as Logan Young of Memphis, Tenn., gave cash to a high school coach who was seeking $100,000 cash and two sport-utility vehicles in exchange for directing star recruit Albert Means to Alabama.
An assistant coach, former recruiting coordinator Ronnie Cottrell, received two loans totaling $56,600 from Young in violation of NCAA rules. The loan was not repaid until the case became known.
Two boosters involved in repeated rules violations were known to the Alabama staff, coaches and fans and often were seen at the team hotel during road games.
A recruit, identified previously as Travis Carroll, was given the use of a car in 1999 for agreeing to attend Alabama. The car was repossessed when Carroll transferred to Florida.