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
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:43 am
Nova Roars: As said before, haven’t heard you the last 4 years. The one year you do well and SCAM ruins it..
Man that hurts…
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:43 am
OldWiseandUgly
1980 was a looooooooooooooooooooooong time ago as well.
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:43 am
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.
*********************
Actually everyone at the NCAA should be fired for being unqualified and incapable. Bama and Puppy fans know the REAL facts.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:44 am
“The one year you do well and SCAM ruins it..”
How is 12-0 bad?
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:45 am
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:43 am
Man that hurts…
*********************************
Next time, try bending over a little more. It’ll somewhat ease the pain….49-31.
Seriously . . .
December 2nd, 2010
10:45 am
I did mispell something, Cam, should have been SCAM.
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:45 am
Megan: They are like the little kids on the playground…
” I don’t know anything, I swear”
Delusional Dogs
December 2nd, 2010
10:46 am
1980, Hershel’s brand new black trans am.
Bamamy
December 2nd, 2010
10:46 am
AUFan – one number for you…13…yes, we are 4th THIS year…but we HAVE been there before…13 times.
The reason I mentioned that a Bama fan thought the hits on Aaron Murray were cheap and dirty was in reference to your earlier post that only UGA fans cared. Not because I thought you give a crap – you are too close-minded for that.
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:46 am
AU Fan
Seriously? You think?
sccatfan1
December 2nd, 2010
10:47 am
Enter your comments heActually everyone at the NCAA should be fired for being unqualified and incapable. Bama and Puppy fans know the REAL facts.
Wrong. All you have is supposition. It doesn’t matter what you think, only matters what you can PROVE.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:47 am
“one number for you…13″
Your school is on probation right now.
“you are too close-minded for that.”
Whatever you say, Keith Olbermann.
Hey Barners
December 2nd, 2010
10:47 am
Denial is not a river in Egypt.
OldWiseandUgly
December 2nd, 2010
10:47 am
AUFan, I am a Bama fan and last year wasn’t that long ago. Why don’t you show the blog how serious you are and start typing in all caps, that way you’ll really scare us. lol…you wus
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:48 am
Bamamy
December 2nd, 2010
10:46 am
AUFan – one number for you…13…yes, we are 4th THIS year…but we HAVE been there before…13 times.
*****************************
But haven’t you heard? “What have you done for me lately?”
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:48 am
“but we HAVE been there before…13 times.”
No, some of those mythical titles were “claimed” and not played.
Alabama has been in an actual title game 8 times.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:49 am
“Denial is not a river in Egypt.”
Did they teach you that at UGA?
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:49 am
NoVa Roars: Now you are getting upset and personal… having a tough day or have you waited till the last possible moment before class and have to get you tired butt off your moms couch?
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:49 am
“Why don’t you show the blog how serious you are and start typing in all caps, that way you’ll really scare us”
You have the IQ of a carrot.
Bamamy
December 2nd, 2010
10:49 am
AU Fan – Alabama is not on probation this year. Get your facts straight.
We were there last year – or did you forget?
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:50 am
Hey Barners
December 2nd, 2010
10:47 am
Denial is not a river in Egypt.
********************
Last time I checked, it’s not a river anywhere.
collegeballfan
December 2nd, 2010
10:50 am
“At some point, you expected a Kardashian to show up on Toomers Corner.”
What’s a Kardashian?
Bamamy
December 2nd, 2010
10:51 am
And eight is still more than none by my count.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:51 am
“Alabama is not on probation this year.”
The football program, which will not lose future scholarships, and the other 15 teams have been put on three years’ probation — the third probation penalty for university athletics in the past decade. Alabama also was ordered to pay a $43,900 fine.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Alabama would appeal the probation, which would last until June 2012.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4250596
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
10:51 am
“And eight is still more than none by my count.”
But then again, you can’t count.
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:52 am
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:49 am
NoVa Roars: Now you are getting upset and personal… having a tough day or have you waited till the last possible moment before class and have to get you tired butt off your moms couch?
*********************
Okay, I’ll throw you a bone since you’re desperate to get my attention. Jump! Catch! Good girl.
Dawg1
December 2nd, 2010
10:53 am
To be clear; I’m glad Cam is playing. If they have no evidence that the kid was aware; then he shouldn’t be penalized.
With this said, the NCAA just created a nice little loop hole where a player can claim that his parents did this and he knew nothing. This will prove to be a major league problem.
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:53 am
AU Fan: As I said..You are a tuff guy this year..where were you the last four. Oh Man , next year, I am afraid will be extremely difficult for you, but maybe SCAM will blow you a special kiss and return..NOT!
Cheating is cheating
December 2nd, 2010
10:53 am
I’m a UGA fan, and AU kicked our ass, with the better team this year. AU, and, for the record, five other teams. Congrats to the AU team for the effort they’ve put forth. The AU coach, the QB, and the Athletic Department at AU should be punished severely however for allowing the effort of the entire rest of the team to be put at risk by allowing a player to play with these kind of accusations surrounding him. Why did AU not declare Newton ineligible before the Bama game? Why did they wait until after the Bama game? I can only assume because they have a win at all costs mentality, or, share the ignorance of the AU bloggers on here, particularly, AU Fan, and, AU Fanatic, whose sensless, childish, and abrasive behavior have no place in a public forum. Yes, I have heard of freedom of speech but this is freedom of ignorance. Now I know how Obama got elected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This year’s Auburn team is an embarasment to college football, to the sec, and to Auburn University. End of story. Don’t bother replying AU Fan or Fanatic, I’m not hanging around to engage in your delusions!
OldWiseandUgly
December 2nd, 2010
10:54 am
AUfan, are you really a football fan or is this a Mandingo thing you got going on?
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:55 am
Cheating is cheating
December 2nd, 2010
10:53 am
This year’s Auburn team is an embarasment to college football
**********************
What is it about the word “embarrassment”? Did they rewrite the spelling dictionary at thUGA?
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:56 am
OldWiseandUgly
December 2nd, 2010
10:54 am
AUfan, are you really a football fan or is this a Mandingo thing you got going on?
************************
Mandingo? Why are you bringing your man-crush into this? Keep it in the closet please.
jarvis
December 2nd, 2010
10:56 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.
We all have things about our schools that we don’t like sometimes, but that doesn’t mean that you abandom them. Do you really expect the Auburn fans to not support their school?
Put the shoe on the other foot.
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:57 am
Thanks Nova Roars: Why don’t you and your girlfriend AU Fan go back to counting change for lunch.
It seems you can dish it but like Chizik cant take it…
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
10:58 am
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
10:53 am
AU Fan: As I said..You are a tuff guy this year.
********************************
1. embarrassment
2. Cecil
3. tough
4.
(I didn’t realize this could go on all day)
Missy Duyu, UGA Scholar
December 2nd, 2010
10:59 am
Well, they beat up our guys all over the field and hurt our tender QB and I say they should be punished. Just because you have a good football team is no reason not to suspend this Cam Newton crook. Anyhow, I just finished packing for our bowl trip and I’m packing for c-o-l-l-l-ld weather. But it beats Shreveport. Just about anything will beat Shreveport.
Ed (The Original)
December 2nd, 2010
11:02 am
I don’t have much use for conspiracy theories or convicting someone based on innuendo, but it does seem strange that Newton was being shopped by his father and then ended up at a school that apparently wasn’t his personal preference (although I’ll allow for the possibility that he changed his mind). The inference is that someone at Auburn was receptive to Cecil Newton’s overtures, otherwise how did his son end up there instead of Mississippi State?
Also, this ruling would seem to establish a precedent where parents can shop their sons’ services and the athlete can retain his eligibility as long as he has plausible deniability. Just blame it on mom or dad and claim ignorance.
Something about the whole situation stinks, especially with Cam Newton’s shady past, but if there’s no proof that he knew what was going on or that Auburn paid – directly or indirectly – for his services, then there’s no basis for declaring him ineligible or punishing Auburn.
Bottom line, the result was right for the reasons stated by Schultz. But the cloud of impropriety has materialized just the same, and regardless of how Auburn fares in its next two games, there will be a taint on this season. From Auburn’s perspective, when you deal with shady characters like the Newtons, that’s the price you pay.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
11:02 am
Cheating is cheating
What is your deal with changing names every so often and pretending to be other people?
Oh, and again you misspelled EMBARRASSED.
That’ll give you away every time.
chris
December 2nd, 2010
11:03 am
The dad’s church just happened to come into the money to renovate!!!!! His dad ONLY asked Miss St and no way he was asking other schools as well that wanted Cam to come play!!!!!
Come on Jeff………If Cam Newton wasn’t going to win the Heisman (because the NCAA doesnt want another Reggie Bush situation) and if Auburn wasn’t ranked #1 he would not be playing Saturday.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
11:03 am
“Why don’t you and your girlfriend AU Fan go back to counting change for lunch. ”
Insult fail.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
11:04 am
“AUfan, are you really a football fan or is this a Mandingo thing you got going on?”
You are really struggling.
Funny how you didn’t say anything to my ESPN column about how Bama is on probation.
still@the bar
December 2nd, 2010
11:04 am
EmBarAsMent? UGA spelling? I can’t spelz good neither, but how many times can you FU EmBARRASSment? I guess at least 11 times for this years UGA arrests.
Referee
December 2nd, 2010
11:04 am
Rules? Innocent untill proven other wise. The world revolves around how to get someone off on a tecnicality.
You usually do not get caught receiving the money, you get caught spending the money.
There are all of these present here.
1.Technically, Cam did not know. The ruke states that does not matter.
2.No money changed hands. New work on a church that has money problems. (spending money)
History? Everyone has their theory. You decide.
I had a friend on the baseball team that got evelopes with money ($500.00)in them when we were in school. I can only imagine what the football players like Bo got. He never told anyone and why should he. Now if I had told anyone, would I have been believed. NO
By the way. I think Cam shot Kennedy.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
11:05 am
“ou are a tuff guy this year..where were you the last four. ”
Why do UGA fans live in the past?
“Oh Man , next year,”
Always about “next year” with dawg fans. How did the preseason 2008 number one ranking work out for UGAY?
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
11:06 am
“The dad’s church just happened to come into the money to renovate!!!!! ”
As someone already stated, the church is shut down. Has been for a while.
Gene Cheesestick
December 2nd, 2010
11:06 am
Whew! Dodged a bullet this time.
AU Fan
December 2nd, 2010
11:07 am
“I can only imagine what the football players like Bo got. ”
Nike knows.
Gene Cheesestick
December 2nd, 2010
11:07 am
Cam, check your mail box this afternoon. Merry Christmas.
Nova Roars
December 2nd, 2010
11:08 am
Referee
December 2nd, 2010
11:04 am
By the way. I think Cam shot Kennedy.
*********************
Follow the $180K and you’ll also find Jimmy Hoffa.
StatesBurr
December 2nd, 2010
11:08 am
Nova Roars: Geez…another English major. You and your girlfriend AU Fan typically ruin a pretty good blog.
Hey Jeff: Gotta go, these nerds ruin it as usual.