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
Jeff Schultz
December 1st, 2010
9:04 pm
Follow the money … Thank you.
Big dawg Cobb
December 1st, 2010
9:05 pm
Go dawgs
Flat Earth Society
December 1st, 2010
9:05 pm
The Flat Earth Society stands behind all the allegations being made by rival fans. What we say is right until we are proven wrong … and sometimes even then we’re still right.
Walk outside. Then look at the ground. Is it round? Hell no it’s not round! How stupid do they think we are! Yet we’re supposed to believe that the FLAT WORLD we see outside is round!
… I’m not making this stuff up, folks. Neither are the Cam Newton conspiracy theorists.
Ralph is lurking
December 1st, 2010
9:05 pm
But the AJC (until this column today) didn’t get it right for the dozens of columns and articles inferring Cam Newton guilt, ineligibility, and forfeited games. “Reporting” rumor, innuendo, wishful thinking, and rampant speculation just added to the AJC’s reputation as a political rag.
WEGL_100
December 1st, 2010
9:05 pm
You’re right. I’m sure y’all all know more about the case than the NCAA.
Jeff Schultz
December 1st, 2010
9:05 pm
Finally!!! … Hah. Thanks. I’m sure I’ll you’ll hate me again one day. (Kidding.) (Sort of.)
Cam-A-Lot
December 1st, 2010
9:05 pm
Slive said that he received a final set of established facts in the Newton case on Monday of this week. It was only upon receiving these established facts — those facts that were agreed to by both the NCAA and Auburn — that Slive was able to determine whether Newton violated SEC bylaws as well. That decision ultimately came down to Slive’s interpretation of SEC bylaw 14.01.3.2
L-Dawg
December 1st, 2010
9:06 pm
Jeff,
Do you believe Cecil Newton solicited Auburn?
Do you believe Auburn paid Cecil Newton?
Do you believe Cam Newton knew about the above?
I’m not asking what you or the NCAA claims they can/cannot prove. What do you believe?
Braves95WS
December 1st, 2010
9:06 pm
Jeff,
Thanks for your maturity!
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 1st, 2010
9:06 pm
UGA fans look into how much money LEEBURN makes selling Liquor to underage kids in Athanes. Now that is a real crime. Athens has more bars than can be supported by the people of legal drinking in the Athens area. Tell me, who supplies all the booze to the Athens bars? Could it be the biggest UGA JOCKSTRAP(athletic supporter) named LEEBURN? Why yes it is. UGA suports Law Braking because Leeburn gives so much of the money it generates right back to the GAA. Parents if you send your kids to UGA and you give them money to blow parting then you are fools. Keep your kids safe and keep them from getting DUI’s or killed by a DUI driver by just handing your money right to LEEBURN or the GAA. Your kids will be safer and better off if you would.
I just went to Cosco and got a years supply of Kleenex. My Christmas shopping for all my UGA friends is done. Did you like my UGA Sports VENTS posted today? ! had #2,3,4 top vents today. I am so proud. I really like the one that says UGA fans will have to cheer for Tech in their games to help your SoS. AHHAHA Thanks McGarity I hope buying WINS will help the Dawgs beat the Gators and maybe make it to the MNC.
Bodda Getta
December 1st, 2010
9:07 pm
Agree 100%, Jeff.
Let the butthurt Georgia and Alabama fans obsess about this.
Everyone else can get back to focusing on football.
Brad
December 1st, 2010
9:10 pm
AU and NCAA knew what Cecil did the day before the UGA game, after he spilled his guts. They waited till after UGA and UA games to rule him ineligible (which means rules were broken) and then reinstate him two days later.
If he was ineligible Monday, why wasn’t he ineligible then when they first knew?
Braves95WS
December 1st, 2010
9:11 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. – That is the dumbest comment I have ever seen in my entire life. Are you a little bitter about something?
Katie
December 1st, 2010
9:11 pm
I am disgusted with the way that people are ripping this 21 year old kid apart. I am a junior at Auburn, University and I ALWAYS go for the SEC team. I even cheered for Alabama in the national championship. I am shocked at what all these middle aged “dawg” fans are writing on here. You are grown men, talking smack about a 21 year old. Does that make you sleep better at night? Knowing that you were man enough to get on here and talk about how cam cheated? Does cheating on a test make you 6′6 and 250? Does buying a stolen laptop mean that you can outrun your opponents? Does your dad “supposedly” shopping you around make you have a 68% completion rate, or 1200 yards rushing? No, these things have nothing to do with cams superior athletic ability. I used to be a UGA fan, before my best friend was punched in the face by a 32 year old dawg fan after this years game, a dawg tried to set toomers corner, the multiple chop blocks on fairley, and the fact that they are all still whining about auburns “dirty” players and Cams past.
So I hope that DawgNation is happy with the Fulmer Cup, but frankly, I’m more excited about the heisman and national championship trophies.
Also, the Alabama players showed a lot of class during this years iron bowl, so I wish them the best in their bowl!
LHardingDawg
December 1st, 2010
9:11 pm
Didn’t ESPN report that Cam called a coach at MSU upset he had to go to Auburn because of the money. What happened to that fact.
Truth
December 1st, 2010
9:11 pm
In order for Cecil to legally qualify as Cam’s agent, there had to be a written or verbal contract.
If there is no evidence of said contract…and if all parties testify that there was no contract…then in keeping with a legal tradition that if guilt can’t be proven, innocence must be presumed…
The NCAA has no choice but to declare Newton eligible, or potentially face a massive lawsuit by the Newtons and Auburn University.
This is a no-brainer.
yesfollowthe$
December 1st, 2010
9:12 pm
From the Bank to Victoryland.And it has more legs than just tigerdroppings…You will see. Buy your popcorn and your SI mags in Jan and enjoy it,FOR NOW!
DK
December 1st, 2010
9:12 pm
BS. The NCAA woosed out. Their rules clearly state that the player our any of their reps. The father is surley his rep. God will talk with his “preacher” father when he goes to hell.
Loophole
December 1st, 2010
9:12 pm
Jeff what would prevent a dad from accepting money in the form of cash and never depositing it into a bank or depositing in a new bank account that the NCAA doesn’t know about? Isn’t this a slippery slope? I understand you can’t punish Cam Newton because of the evidence but this is not a legal trial where prison and loss of freedom is at stake. It is a privileged to play college football not a right. This is why the SEC gets a bad name because it allows anything as long as there is no proof.
Flat Earth Society
December 1st, 2010
9:13 pm
@Brad
The reason is because they just concluded their investigation OF THAT VIOLATION. This is the process, though it is mostly ceremonial. Once the NCAA wraps up the investigation and confirms that a violation occurred (note Auburn committed no violation), the school that committed no violation can suspend the player pending clearance from the NCAA.
Same thing happened with bammer when Albert Means went to Memphis.
UGA fans are dumb as rocks
December 1st, 2010
9:13 pm
“What happened to that fact.”
It wasn’t a fact.
Jason
December 1st, 2010
9:13 pm
The Good Book says ‘Thou shall not bear false witness’.
For a state that loves to claim to be more religious than others, there sure does seem to be a whole lot of people claiming to know things that they have no way of knowing, which means a whole lot of false witnessing going on. I’m sure the Lord will forgive you… once you admit your sin.
Ralph is lurking
December 1st, 2010
9:14 pm
But the AJC repeatedly convicted Cam Newton with all sorts of stories and columns based on conjecture – demanded he not play against thUGA. The lack of journalistic integrity has been a political hallmark of the AJC, and has spread to sports.
Vol Master
December 1st, 2010
9:14 pm
Auburn and alabama have been cheating in football for years—auburn will get their title–bought and paid for by rich auburn boosters paying off players and their parents. Way to go auburn!!!
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
9:14 pm
“And it has more legs than just tigerdroppings”
tiggerdroppings has the same credibility as mediamatters, dailykos and pmsnbc.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2010
9:14 pm
Jeff,
You’re right on all points. However, the NCAA investigation is ongoing- this aint done by any means and these NCAA investigations often take a long time. And we do know from the NY TImes article on Cecil Newton’s church that this congregation was dead broke and for a year had been under local govt order to repair the church or have it condemned. Suddenly the 50k appeared and the church was brought up to code. The church is refusing to say where it suddenly got 50k to pay for the repairs. Yeah, I know its a church and they aren’t obligated to say where the money suddenly appeared from. But it seems like Cecil’s church could just put an end to the whole thing by coming forward and showing exactly where this 50k suddenly came from.
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
9:15 pm
“Auburn and alabama have been cheating in football for years”
Does TN still have a football program?
Ramguy
December 1st, 2010
9:15 pm
Well enjoy it while you can Auburn…..one and done baby! Cam will be gone after this season and he will be shown to be woefully unprepared to be a NFL QB. He won’t be able to pull off those runs in the NFL on a consistent basis. Your OC may be gone too. He will also be shown not to be the genius he is made out to be when he doesn’t have someone like Newton running the show. BTW, I don’t think ya’ll can outscore Oregon…. if ya’ll can beat SC again…..and that is a big if in and of itself.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2010
9:16 pm
Vol Master,
Tee Martin is on the phone. He wants to know if another UT booster who he does not know at all can wire him some more money for some more care repairs.
Bull
December 1st, 2010
9:16 pm
Should anyone care what Jeff Schultz thinks or write about? I mean really.
As a turtleneck wearing transplant from San Francisco trying to rile up the GA fanbase.
Boo Radley
December 1st, 2010
9:16 pm
Jeff — Being contrarian for the sake of being contrarian does not make you edgy, it makes you look foolish. The logic you applied with the following, is astoundingly dull….”It’s like saying you want to rob a bank without ever doing it.” Newsflash, an attempted bank robbery is a crime, as is attempted murder, attempted rape, attempted fraud, attempted embezzlement, get the picture? Cam’s father attempted to shake down MSU for the services of his son. Because he was unsuccessful does not prevent this from being an NCAA violation, nor does Cam’s supposed lack of knowledge about said shake down.
Defending the inconsistencies and arbitrary logic of the NCAA reduces you to being one of their useful idiots.
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
9:16 pm
“And we do know from the NY TImes article”
The NY Times is a struggling left wing newspaper on its last leg.
YesFollowTheFlatEarth$ociety
December 1st, 2010
9:16 pm
yesfollowthe$, the Flat Earth Society would like to applaud your appeal for the truth. Don’t let the fact that there is no basis for truth in your claims stop you from making them.
You are right, even when proven wrong. Stand by your beliefs and those in the Flat Earth Society will stand by you.
cam's money!
December 1st, 2010
9:16 pm
Cam needs another “bonus!” Get him some cash before the SEC game to keep him happy!
NCAA vs FBI ....... who has FAR MORE power?
December 1st, 2010
9:17 pm
As for Scam playing football right now, yes, the NCAA ruling allows Scam to play right now. Period. They only have over site on college recruiting issues …………..not criminal issues. See??
The NCAA was never, ever AU’s biggest problem. Never. The FBI can supoena folks and they can go to jail IF they lie to the boys. NCAA?? They can only investigate NCAA recruiting issues, not CRIMINAL issues. If a kid is aware of bribes made to him or a coach is aware of them and he said nothing …………..wow!!!
The man in the dog track business up the road on I-85 near AU is very shady and is already BOOKED ans CHARGED on bribery charges dealing with Alabama politicians. The FBI wants to know if Scam or his Pastor daddy talked about $$$ pay for play and they want to know where that money was coming from. They also want to know what they might have requested of Scam later in the season. He could make big plays for sure. They were not talking to him just because they voted for Obama and believed in social programs.
Folks ……………….AU is spelled Pete Rose. Shall I say any more??
As for AU ……………… it is gonna get very ugly and they may still win it all. In the end however, AU will be tainted as will the SEC and yes, the NCAA. This is very dirty and it will come out. Lizard shoes, greazy hair and cheap shark skin suits are not what AU is all about ……………or is it??
Time will tell.
NCAA Declines to Punish Newton – New York Times | SportsZrr
December 1st, 2010
9:17 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
9:17 pm
“Well enjoy it while you can Auburn…..one and done baby!”
Bama fan predictions never come true.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
AUfan,
UT does indeed still have a football team. That is when they’re not in a bar doing 10 against 2 barfights against much smaller men.
SCAM Newton
December 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
The same NCAA that let USC get away with murder for years… no credibility.
ralphimself
December 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
LOL @ whiner sore-loser dawwwwgie fans.
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
“it is gonna get very ugly and they may still win it all.”
Just because you say it will doesn’t mean it will.
Red
December 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
Seriously? They got it right? How can someone be ruled ineligible for a rule infraction from Fall 2009 and still be allowed to count towards play since then? Fall 2009 rule infraction means from that point on, Cam was ineligible. Why should games he participated since then count? If the rule was broken in 2009 and his eligibility in question from that point, his participation was illegitimate since then until he was ruled eligible. How in the Chizik can someone magically regain eligibility from breaking a rule?
And all this nonsense about poor Auburn and what about Miss State needs to go as well. The rule is about the student athlete and not the school. The rule is about the actions of the recruit/student athlete. If he is ruled to be in violation (which he was) then whoever he’s played with since then has to take the hit. If an athlete runs off and violates a rule during summer break and the university knows nothing…oh well.
As for Cecil doing this and Cam not know anything, this is a load. How would Cecil explain $200K suddenly popping into a bank account? His construction business failed and his church is falling apart. Don’t tell me Cam didn’t know he was part of helping Daddy get out of a hole. Daddy going on trips and having odd calls? And no one else knew? And a preacher flat out lying about it? Sorry. Doesn’t pass the smell test.
This is far from over Tiger fans. This ruling is simply an as of this moment ruling. And Schultz this does open the door for pimping kids out. Now the NCAA has clearly spelled out what can be done and how to get away with it. Go through loosely connected people and pretend Mama and Daddy never told you. Foreclosure or life saving surgery? Done.
AUMan
December 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
Edawg71
December 1st, 2010
9:03 pm
Anyone honestly believe this thing is actually over? This is only Round 1. It’s not over.
It is not over for Miss. State, but it is over for Auburn since they never received a PLOI in the first place. Cam is eligible at Auburn period. Auburn’s compliance director, who was an investigator for the NCAA for several years, would have never cleared him back in July if he thought something was up. He does not deal in gray areas. This is a Miss. State problem.
Edawg71
December 1st, 2010
9:19 pm
Katie, poor Katie. So young, so gullible. Pardon the rest of the real world “outside the Auburn perimeter” for doubting anything to do with this kid. Doesn’t exactly have the cleanest track record, but you go on believing. Ha, so cute.
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
9:19 pm
Tide Rising
Now THAT’S funny!
Seriously Jeff . . . .
December 1st, 2010
9:19 pm
Even the guys on PTI (rightly) observed that if AU weren’t undefeated, and headed to the NC game, and Cam (pfp) Newton weren’t about to be crowned the heisman winner, that he’d be sitting out. They also noted that USC and specically, A.J. Green, were treated unfairly given that Cam has been given this pass. They agreed it was about $$$$, and the BCS. I read your columns sometimes and wonder if you don’t write this stuff just to take the bad side of an argument to stir people up. A rhetoric teacher I had once used to make us do that in class. After all the criticism you’ve dished out to Mark Richt, for lack of discipline, and for his “thug” players, for you to jump on the “Cam should be free” bandwagon, leading that team of thugs at AU, where the coach cheers and encourages late and illegal hits, this is pathetic, serioiusly. Last time I read your garbage!
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
9:20 pm
“This is far from over Tiger fans.”
Why, because you say so?
The Flat Earth Society
December 1st, 2010
9:20 pm
I would like to once again invite all UGA, Bama, LSU, Tennessee, South Carolina, MSU, Florida, Ole Miss and Arkansas fans to attend tonight’s gathering of The Flat Earth Society.
We’ll be monitoring this thread for candidates to join our secret society. Don’t let anyone tell you that the tinfoil hats are useless … go outside: the Earth is flat.
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
9:20 pm
Edawg71
Does Nick Fairley haunt your dreams?
AUMan
December 1st, 2010
9:21 pm
Some of you realize his other son, Cecil Jr, signed a pro football contract during the summer?