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
jarvis
December 2nd, 2010
10:24 am
So I’m tailgating last weekend before the Tech game, and this bum keeps walking around the tailgate looking for booze.
The a-hole at the tailgate next to us started yealling at him and pushed him down in the street.
10 minutes later, the same a-hole got his large tailgate all together and had everyone bow their heads for a prayer prior to eating. He blessed the food, Mark Richt, and Mike Bobo. Then he finished the prayer with an Amen and went straight into chanting “What’s that coming down the track”.
Sometimes I love my school a little less than I do at other times.
LuvIt
December 2nd, 2010
10:24 am
I’ve started a pool entitled “Pick the Date when UGA Fans Stop Whining”
Anyone else want in?
I’m sorry, but all dates in 2013 are already taken and I have just a few open dates available in 2012. However, all dates in 2011 are still wide open.
Takers?
Pick the date!
(The prize is a case of wine with cheese of your choice)
Everybody Knows
December 2nd, 2010
10:24 am
Ga fans just knew that the NCAA was going to do for them off the field what they could not do on the field.
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:25 am
POAD
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 2nd, 2010
10:18 am
UGA tore up the Tech turf last year.
***************************
That’s just puppies doing what dawgs do – dig up lawns. Next time, try the water cannons. It worked in ‘86.
49-31
Everybody Knows
December 2nd, 2010
10:25 am
Uga from winners on the field to whiners on the blogs.
SECWasteManagement
December 2nd, 2010
10:26 am
Awesome story Jarvis haha. Wish I could have seen it.
Seriously . . . .
December 2nd, 2010
10:26 am
Yes, and the AD was fired, and I remember AU hosing UGA fans with water, and I remember UGA backing out of an SEC tournament because an internal investigation revealed cheating. And I remember when Miami hired a coach to clean up its program, and I remember classy guys leading teams and fathers who supported their sons rather than pimping them. Other schools deal with things in house, with the exception of USC and Reggie Bush. Guess that’s the road AU chose
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:27 am
AU Fan: Seriously:
Rememeber the last 4 years… I know its a little cloudy as kids have relatively short term memories…
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:27 am
“Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank . . . really AU fan, is that necessary.”
You HAVE to be a middle-aged woman. NO MAN would ever write that.
“you should check your facts on richt’s record vs. Auburn.”
Not sure what that has to do with our 12-0 record.
“Auburn is an embarassment to SEC football”
FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!!!!!!!!!!!!! USE SPELL CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, the only EMBARRASSMENT is the fact that the SEC East is TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“in a short time they will be vacated!”
I have a song for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycbgHM1mI0k
LuvIt
December 2nd, 2010
10:28 am
StatesBurr:
I’ve a coworker who is a Vol alum. He has nothing but respect for Auburn and Auburn’s football program and was pulling for the Tigers to beat Bama, even though Auburn crushed Tennessee the last time that game was played.
I also have relatives who live in Kentucky and attend games. No laughing or ridicule there either.
I’m guessing you pulled that *laughing* claim out of your tushie.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:28 am
“Anyone else want in?’
My money is on never.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 2nd, 2010
10:28 am
SECWasteManagement
Please. I got you removed for talking about Urbam Meyer’s Daughter Nicki. You called her some very foul things. You have no business saying the things you said about a very nice young lady that had nothing to do with football or the argument we were having on the blog.
You are not clean when it comes to putting classless stuff on th blogs.
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:29 am
AU Fan: and you are an English Major to boot…. Wow.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:29 am
“and I remember AU hosing UGA fans with water”
THAT WAS AUSOME!!!!!!!!!!
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:29 am
“and you are an English Major to boot”
No, I just use spell check.
LuvIt
December 2nd, 2010
10:30 am
AUFan?
Go tell a treestump in the yard to use spellcheck.
You’ll get a more intelligent response than you will from a UGA fan.
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:30 am
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:23 am
You have to admit its funny when Kentucky, Miss State, Tenn, etc,,, are laughing at you. It must be tough to be 11-0 and can’t enjoy it because you are so dang tied up defending SCAM. It would bother me too.
*********************
Laughter? I don’t hear any laughter. The only thing I hear is a bunch of whining from you leg humpers. Check your facts – it’s 12-0…twelve and oh. We don’t have to defend CAM – the NCAA already did. Clear.
OldWiseandUgly
December 2nd, 2010
10:31 am
No frigging loophole here? There’s one big enough for a 6 foot 5 , 250 pound man to walk through. Yeah, given Cam’s past history of buying stolen property and cheating on exams, we’re to believe Cam know nothing abut his dad shopping him around? Even an Auburn graduate should be smarter than this.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:31 am
“You’ll get a more intelligent response than you will from a UGA fan.”
The tree stump is smart enough to know not to put it’s foot in it’s mouth. (That was a joke, UGA fans)
AUfanatic
December 2nd, 2010
10:31 am
“Auburn is an embarassment to SEC football”
I hope our position in the rankings keeps you up late at night, huddled in a dark corner, kneading your teddy bear. I really do.
“Enjoy the wins . . . in a short time they will be vacated!”
No they won’t. But, please, keep telling yourself that. Nothing funnier than a hater in self-denial.
Seriously . . . .
December 2nd, 2010
10:32 am
Richt’s record AU Fan, against Auburn, is relevant, because you denied it in an earlier rant . . .
You remind me of Bill Clinton’s politics, the ends justify the means I suppose. I prefer class, and sportmanship, and dignity. And the sad thing is, Newton is such an incredible athlete. This could have been, past tense emphasized, a wonderful story, for AU and the SEC. Now, its a pay for play scam gone bad that will open the doors for fathers everywhere to exercize a loophole as long as the kid is willing to lie about it. Live with the lie AU Fan . . . Live with the Lie
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:32 am
OldWiseandUgly
What’s your favorite cheese?
ALMA
December 2nd, 2010
10:33 am
Dave Curtis of the Sporting News gives a different version of the Cam Scam. You only mentioned the writer of the viewpoint you favored. Let’s be fair, now. Auburn fans respond favorably for CN on these blogs, and ALL the other SEC schools respond unfavorably for CN. Does anyone in their right mind honestly believe Cam Newton was not somewhat aware of what was going on? Is he that stupid??? I just can’t believe it’s OK for a parent to solicit money for their son to play football. Didn’t Cam question why he was all of a sudden going to Auburn, not MSU? This whole story reeks, and I am amazed you AJC writers buy it. ESPN doesn’t buy it.
sccatfan1
December 2nd, 2010
10:33 am
Jeff Schultz is 100% correct in his analysis. Cam Newton MAY have known about the scheme, but it’s got to be proven. Obviously, the NCAA hasn’t been able to come up with said proof.
Also, it’s not unrealistic to postulate that Cam did indeed know nothing about his father’s actions: Follow this scenario:
–Cecil gets a bright idea to pimp out Cam with MSU. He already knows his son is leaning towards the school because of Mullen.
–Cecil hides it from his son because he’s embarrassed and/or doesn’t know if it’ll work, and/or he wants to protect him from involvement.
–Cecil gets shot down by MSU and thinks to himself…”this isn’t as easy as I thought.”
–He gets cold feet and then decides to pass on further negotiations with another school (i.e. AU).
Based on the available evidence, it makes no sense to penalize Cam, AU, and importantly, other innocent AU players because of the actions of one Cecil Newton (which netted him nada BTW).
DAWG fans need to get over the A.J. Green comparisons…he clearly broke an NCAA rule. His 4 game suspension wasn’t the main reason for your mediocrity.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:33 am
“I prefer class, and sportmanship, and dignity.”
You have none of the above.
Everybody Knows
December 2nd, 2010
10:34 am
Really, why would anyone expect anything different from dog fans? They always minimize their players’ rule infractions, while demanding JUSTICE when they think someone else has violated a rule, even when the player has been cleared to play by the NCAA.
Embarassed Tiger
December 2nd, 2010
10:34 am
I am embarassed by AU, Cam Newton, Ceceil Newton, and the whole AU Athletic Department. I’m even more embarassed by blogers like AUFan and AUFanatic defending this mess. I wish AU were not in the title game, if we would punish ourselves we’d be a better instititution in the long run.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:35 am
“ESPN doesn’t buy it.”
ESPN is irrelevant.
Rob
December 2nd, 2010
10:35 am
If you make preparations to rob a bank and the plot is foiled, for any reason, before it is consummated, then you are guilty of attempted robbery. Cecil and Cam are guilty of attempted solicitation of improper benefits. It violates the clear language of SEC Bylaws and NCAA Chapter 14 regarding eligibility.
This decision is to wipe the stain off the 2010 SEC Title Game, Heisman Trophy and likely the BCS National Championship – even though the NCAA does not directly affiliate itself with the trophy or title game.
That is the bottom line.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
Embarassed Tiger = Seriously . . . .
I know this because you have misspelled EMBARRASSED all morning.
Bamamy
December 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
For the record AU Fan – this Bama fan thought the hits Fairley had on Aaron Murray were cheap and dirty. So not only GA fans thought that.
Also disrespectful – a first year quarterback stomping on Alabama’s field after a win.
Act like you’ve been there before – oh that’s right you haven’t…
jarvis
December 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
AUFan just likes to tweek folks, and he’s really good at it.
AUFanatic on the other hand, isn’t very clever.
SECWasteManagement
December 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
6′6 250 by Larry Lank Lank and S.W.A.T Team Productions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX9jRLahvv4&feature=player_embedded
McDawg
December 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
i just make annoying phone calls to Indianapolis instead
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:37 am
“I’m even more embarassed by blogers like AUFan and AUFanatic defending this mess. ”
You should be even more EMBARRASSED about the fact that you can’t spell embarrassed. You should also be EMBARRASSED because you have been caught pretending to be an Auburn fan.
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:38 am
Seriously . . . .
December 2nd, 2010
10:32 am
Richt’s record AU Fan, against Auburn, is relevant, because you denied it in an earlier rant . . .
***************************
Remind us again. It’s relevant how? Tell ya what. Next time the Puppies are 12-0, we’ll talk about relevance.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:38 am
“this Bama fan thought the hits Fairley had on Aaron Murray were cheap and dirty.”
This Auburn fan doesn’t give a crap about what you think.
Embarassed Tiger
December 2nd, 2010
10:38 am
We have class at AU, really . . . we do . . . . . our ministers don’t ALWAYS pimp out our players . . . . just this year . . . and Cam is so good, it is such a sad sad shame
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
“Act like you’ve been there before – oh that’s right you haven’t…”
Says the gal who’s team finished 4th in the SEC West.
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
LuvLT: Sure you do…. Go back to sleep.
Schadenfreude
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
700 W. Washington Street
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222
Phone: 317/917-6222
Fax: 317/917-6888
sccatfan1
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
Rob, I suppose you have PROOF that Cam plotted to rob the bank? Call the NCAA…they obviously need your help.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
Embarassed Tiger
You are one dumb human being.
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:40 am
Embarassed Tiger
December 2nd, 2010
10:34 am
I am embarassed by AU, Cam Newton, Ceceil Newton, and the whole AU Athletic Department
*************************
Any TRUE AU fan knows it’s spelled Cecil – not Ceceil. Add that to your list of misspelled words:
1. embarrassed
2. Cecil
3.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:40 am
Bamamy
This is for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXmZCd_059I
Seriously . . .
December 2nd, 2010
10:41 am
12-0 with cheap shots and a paid for player and a dirty coach. Be proud War Eagles, be proud!
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:41 am
Nova Roars
Tiger is really seriously………. She ain’t none too bright.
OldWiseandUgly
December 2nd, 2010
10:42 am
If you haven’t won a clear, all out National Championship ever, ‘cept for the tie with Ohio State way, way, way back in 1957, I guess you’ll ride the back of some criminal to be your only hope. I wasn’t surprised when they arrested Cam in Florida for buying a stolen laptop, but I was surprised to learn that he could use one! Take the money and run boy…………..all the way to Oakland, they need a new quarterback.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:42 am
“paid for player and a dirty coach.”
Chizik is having a better season that CMR has EVER had coaching at UGAY.
Have fun at the Liberty Bowl, loser.
Megan
December 2nd, 2010
10:42 am
Three simple questions: To Auburn… Did you pay ANY money or ANY benefits to Cam Newton or anyone representing him? Yes? or No? To Cam Newton… Did you receive ANY money or ANY benefits from any SEC institution? Yes? or No? To Rev. Cecil Newton… Did you or ANY person or organization to which you have affiliation receive ANY money or benefits from any SEC institution? Yes? or No? For goodness sake, even OJ, when asked if he killed his wife, emphatically said “NO!”