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
Lowders wife
December 1st, 2010
10:40 pm
http://www.unliberaledwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/rosie_odonnell.jpg
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:40 pm
“Wouldn’t you have liked to had a chance to play for it?”
Nothing we can do about it now.
Woodie
December 1st, 2010
10:41 pm
Dawg fans are jealous of Cam Newton.
flagboy?
December 1st, 2010
10:41 pm
AUFan
December 1st, 2010
10:36 pm
flagboy?
So where’s the evidence?
_____________________________
fan, that’s what i’m saying. The report came out about that, but it must not have come out at all in the latest investigation part. I’m saying it either didn’t happen OR they couldn’t get someone to own up to being on the other end of the line when it was said. Either way, it makes the reporting by whomever broke that part of the story to seem unreliable.
KH
December 1st, 2010
10:41 pm
So everything’s cool as long as you don’t get caught. There’s a fine damn example for ya.
Ineligible on Tuesday. Eligible on Wednesday. There’s no way in hell somebody can convince me this wasn’t contrived between the Barn and the NCAA. AJ Greene sat out for 5 weeks. Big difference.
Another problem. Slive ignored the SEC bylaws particularly the one about following the “spirit” of the law.
19.10.3.4
“The Commissioner has the duty and power to investigate the validity of violations and impose penalties and sanctions against member institutions, their athletic staff members or student-athletes, for practices and conduct which violate the spirit, as well as the letter of NCAA and SEC rules and regulations. This shall include the ability to render prospective student-athletes or current student-athletes ineligible for competition due to their involvement in a violation of NCAA or SEC rules that occurs during the individual’s recruitment. The Commissioner also has the authority to suspend institutional staff members from participation in recruiting activities or participation in practice and/or competition due to their involvement in violations of NCAA or SEC rules.”
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:43 pm
“Either way, it makes the reporting by whomever broke that part of the story to seem unreliable.”
Most reporting is unreliable these days. We live in a “shot gun” society where people spray the whole room and then try to see if anything sticks.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 1st, 2010
10:43 pm
Nice call COUNTING IS HARD Auburn has 28 players. That sounds like a difference of 9 players. You know the Dawgs never let the facts get in the way of their Inferiority Complex.
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:44 pm
“AJ Greene sat out for 5 weeks.”
That’s because there was physical evidence.
flagboy?
December 1st, 2010
10:44 pm
Dawg fans are jealous of Cam Newton.
____________________
Fully admit to being a Dawg fan, but my issue is with the fuzzy area this ruling leaves open, not as much with Newton himself. I just think you’ve given people the green light to get away with a lot of things.
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:45 pm
“Dawg fans are jealous of Cam Newton.”
And 12-0……….
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:45 pm
“I just think you’ve given people the green light to get away with a lot of things.”
Blame Bush.
ckgator
December 1st, 2010
10:45 pm
This thing stinks to high-heaven.
JRob
December 1st, 2010
10:45 pm
What about Newton calling MSU and apologizing for not going where he wanted to go. and going where his father instructed him because “the money was too much.” Forgot that didnt ya? He’s guilty. He knows it. The NCAA knows it and after the $$$$ rolls in, and Newton is in the combine, they’ll take it away and great—-a wasted college football season.
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:46 pm
“This thing stinks to high-heaven.”
I suggest you see your Proctologist.
Bodda Getta
December 1st, 2010
10:46 pm
AJ Green was guilty. Cam was not.
AU Sorority Girls for Cam Cam
December 1st, 2010
10:46 pm
http://www.wastelandchic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/1160957_Ugliest-Woman-in-the-world_620.jpg
NatCoruptAcceptAssoc
December 1st, 2010
10:46 pm
My only experience with AU will forever remain my only experience with AU. I utilized the services of the vet school for a sick husky. First, they almost killed the dog because they apparently did not know how to find the veins in a dog’s leg. Second, we were given five diagnosis in four days–the last coming moments before radiation treatment was to begin. We were, at number five, told the dog would lose weight and be dead within two weeks. Six months later and having dropped from 58 pounds to 56 pounds the dog died. Then an autopsy performed at Colorado State University revealed that neither of the five conclusions were correct. At every turn, the cancer had been wrongly identified.
That is the educational(?) institution with which we are dealing. Wrong, both academically and ethically is a fact of life for the university. We would do well not to hold our breath in expectation of a measured and intelligent response.
Y.R. Delusional
December 1st, 2010
10:46 pm
Where do i start… first, The guys who gave money to Bush’s family wanted to start an agency. They were not agents. Secondly, Todd mc Nair was implicated based on a phone call and a photoshopped photo. Third, Mc Nair is filing a civil suit and when he reaches settlement with the NCAA, all bets are off… You are biased… just like the ESPN, NCAA… You think Scam didn’t know about it???? What a croc… When the FBI is ready with Louder…. then we talk again
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
“The NCAA knows it”
Oh boy……
flagboy?
December 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:43 pm
“Either way, it makes the reporting by whomever broke that part of the story to seem unreliable.”
Most reporting is unreliable these days. We live in a “shot gun” society where people spray the whole room and then try to see if anything sticks.
________________________________________________
That part of the story was from one of the two original reports that broke the story though. Seems like a lot of the other parts of the story have been proven true.
Bodda Getta GF
December 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
Here is your guilty pleasure at night http://www.unliberaledwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/rosie_odonnell.jpg
Bodda Getta
December 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
JRob,
Enjoy your obsession.
We’ll enjoy the game.
Rod
December 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
The NCAA has opened pandora’s box. Funny how it was not reported that Cam was declared ineligable untill after the NCAA reinstated him to eligable. How is what Reggie Bush’s family did any different than what Cam’s dad did?
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
NatCoruptAcceptAssoc
Sorry, but I just don’t believe your story about the VET school.
NEWTONS LAW(WAR EAGLE)
December 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
WE MIGHT BE FOUND GUILTY AT A LATER DATE….BUT AREN’T YOU INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY….WHAT IS EVERYONES PREDICTION ON THE SEC CHAMP. GAME THIS WEEKEND…WAR EAGLE AU 43 USC 34
Dog Killers
December 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
NatCoruptAcceptAssoc, are you sure you did not take your dog to Mike Vick?
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
“Seems like a lot of the other parts of the story have been proven true.”
Like what?
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:49 pm
“How is what Reggie Bush’s family did any different than what Cam’s dad did?”
Had to do with something we call……….ACTUAL EVIDENCE.
Idiots Gone Wild
December 1st, 2010
10:50 pm
“AU Fan”, has changed his handle to “Donnan of a new era”…..brilliant
flagboy?
December 1st, 2010
10:50 pm
Donnan. . . the entire part about his Cecil Newton asking for cash for his son to play at Miss ST?
UGAGrad99
December 1st, 2010
10:51 pm
UGA fans don’t have an inferiority complex with AU. The rivalry is as close as they come so there is nothing to feel inferior to. Our last NC was 1980 and yours was 1957 (neither is “recent”). The real inferiority complex is between AU and Bama.
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:51 pm
Idiots Gone Wild
Do you want a gold star?
Newtons folly (AU will need the lawyers in 6 mo)
December 1st, 2010
10:51 pm
get your head out of your a double ss…. Stevo will end up rocking AU’s world this weekend… will not even be close….
Big L
December 1st, 2010
10:51 pm
The precedent set here is BAD. Has Crowell’ s parents started to make calls yet. And Schultzy. I love ya bubba, but if you honestly believe that Cam new nothing, you are as naive as the Dawgs defense is bad. It’s just not possible that he was out of the loop on his own recruitment.
Sautee Dawg
December 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
Truth be known, if not for a phone trail Newton would have played at Missy ST.
Never know.
Hope the young man does well and goes to the next level. Only problem is the next level (NFL) dont have a single team that runs the spread.
Mark Richt had the best case that could happen for Newon. Make a tight end out of him.
He’d be unstoppable.
Anyway what comes goes. Truth will come out oneday.
JT
December 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
The NCAA ruled on Todd McNair based on the hearsay evidence from an ex-con. One phone call with the wrong date in the report is the only other evidence.
The NCAA also investigated USC for 4 years, but only for 5 months in this case.
The USC sanctions were way more severe than any precedents, but Cam Newton getting off scott free is absurd.
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
“The real inferiority complex is between AU and Bama.”
No, not really. Auburn fans don’t have any desires to be inbred, stupid, hairy or dumb.
Bodda Getta
December 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
Newton’s Law,
There is no later date. It’s over. Enjoy the game.
Auburn 42, South Carolina 17.
Dumb Dawg
December 1st, 2010
10:52 pm
Almost all of you are a bunch of idiots. This is the reason Georgia ranks at or near the bottom in eduction. Stupidity and hunches rule here. There has been almost no real reporting on this whole story just a bunch of rumors from “sources” with one columnist after the other trying to come up with something more sensational based upon unnamed secret sources.
You idiots know that Cecil got the money to fix the church from Cam’s older brother who played as a reserve for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009, right? He told the Newnan City goverment this was the case and the source of the fix up money back in September 2009 well before Cam was even recruited later that year. I have seen only one news source report this story including an interview with a city of Newnan employee to verify.
You idiots know that Cecil did not even go to Auburn on the recruiting visit, right? Cam went alone. Cecil was not involved at Auburn.
You idiots know the “money was too much” statement was a BS rumor from another unnamed “source”, right? If it is a true story and statement I guess the folks at MSU lied to the NCAA and the FBI the week before last. If true I challenge this unnamed source to step forward in the public spotlight and confirm the statement and call the NCAA while they are at it.
You idiots know that there is basically no loophole. Auburn did not discuss money with Cam or pay Cam. Auburn cannot be held responsible for bad things that happened at MSU. There is no evidence or even credible allegation that Auburn paid Cam. If Auburn can be held responsible for discussions at MSU I will see to it that UGA gets the dealth penalty because I will make it my purpose in life to discuss paying UGA recruits on visits to other schools with no involvement with UGA and UGA will pay the price! What a great system! In fact, if it works this way, the next time I get a traffic ticket I will make sure my UGA co-worker get the points and has to pay the fine even though I was involved and not him!
There is also no loophole because in fact Cam nor Cecil ever got any benefit. No money changed hands. There was not even an agreement to pay Cecil because the MSU boosters turned him down. If idiots would read the NCAA bylaws carefully you will see either the money has to be paid or there had to be an agreement to pay the money- but there was no agreement to pay money at MSU. If money had changed hands then Cam would be ineligible whether he knew about it or not. But even still, Auburn would be clean only Cam would sit.
You Einsteins also know that regardless of the NCAA bylaws, as a practical matter, the NCAA has never brought disciplinary action where benefits were discussed but not paid, right? AJ Green did the deed at UGA where he plays and he got paid! Reggie Bush’s family got paid while he played at USC and a USC coach knew about it. Auburn did not pay or discuss paying Cam, Cam nor Cecil got any money and Auburn was not involved in any way, hence Cam is eligible at Auburn. If Cam was at MSU it might be a different story.
Even though I know I am preaching to the stupid and deranged masses, is it not plausible after Cecil got rebuffed at MSU he decided to drop the issue? Oklahoma has also confirmed that no money requests were made on that recruiting visit.
Finally, and I know this will not fly with the foaming at the mouth irrational Auburn haters, you know that almost all of this has been known to Auburn, MSU, SEC and NCAA since July- well before Auburn even knew if Cam would be a good QB. Yet you think all of these parties would allow Cam to play all season and flaunt the system if they thought he was guilty? Beleive it or not but the media and idiots out there would not listen. Auburn has known basically for weeks if not months and hinted to this in their strong statements as to Cam’s eligibility at Auburn that Cam would be determined eligible by the NCAA but no one wanted to hear that because the other rumors cultivated your most base instincts.
Woof. Woof. Go Dumb Dawgs..UGA….ThUGA….. Red Panties…15 arrests…Harrick….academic cheating……can’t wait till UGA has another incident……
Donnan of a new era
December 1st, 2010
10:53 pm
“Stevo will end up rocking AU’s world this weekend… will not even be close”
You base that on what?
woodford
December 1st, 2010
10:54 pm
JRob, whatever makes you sleep at night man. As long as that helps you get Nick Fairley out of your head. But thanks for letting everyone know about the facts….err….ignorant opinions. “He’s guilty.” You should call the NCAA up. They probably haven’t heard that one yet.
Wow
December 1st, 2010
10:54 pm
How long has it been since the Auburn/UGA game? And still the gnashing of teeth from UGA fans?
Look…the game is over…UGA lost. Get over it and move on. Cam being declared ineligible, or Auburn being found guilty, does nothig to help UGA…or the SEC for that matter. The only thing it does, I suppose, is allow UGA fans to sleep better at night thinking that the only reason UGA lost was because of a player that shouldn’t have played. It’s sad.
UGA has a rich football tradition, and you UGA fans are coming off sounding like a bunch of small, whinning, sore losers. Stop it…you are embarrasing yourselves.
PS…I’m not a GT or Auburn fan.
Bodda Getta
December 1st, 2010
10:55 pm
Dumb Dawg,
That’s quite an essay.
Obsess much?
6-6
December 1st, 2010
10:55 pm
“Stevo will end up rocking AU’s world this weekend… will not even be close”
You base that on what?
The fact he owned UGA for so many years and was one of their 6 losses this year.
Dumb AU
December 1st, 2010
10:55 pm
really worked up… how about a tub of peanut butter strip down and watch cam / cam …. http://en.ce.cn/World/Americas/200802/17/W020080217359109414148.jpg
Taylor
December 1st, 2010
10:55 pm
Almost all of you are a bunch of idiots. This is the reason Georgia ranks at or near the bottom in eduction. Stupidity and hunches rule here.
I’d be glad to explain to you why these rankings are so fudged. I stopped reading after that though. You should focus on writing essays if you can write something that long though!
tha' Pride of College Park
December 1st, 2010
10:58 pm
All y’all dawgs,
Who y’all play this weekend?
flagboy?
December 1st, 2010
10:59 pm
Dumb Dawg
If Auburn can be held responsible for discussions at MSU I will see to it that UGA gets the dealth penalty because I will make it my purpose in life to discuss paying UGA recruits on visits to other schools with no involvement with UGA and UGA will pay the price!
________________________________________________
Whoa dude. . . you should take up knitting.
Rod
December 1st, 2010
11:00 pm
The NCAA’s questionable ruling on Cam Newton opens up a loophole the size of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Akitadawg
December 1st, 2010
11:00 pm
I’m not an attorney, but according to criminal law in the U.S. if one can prove that there has been an intent to commit a crime, in this case the attempt by Cam Newton’s dad to solicit money in exchange for a verbal commitment to a university from his son, the actual crime of accepting money is not necessary to convict. Therefore, why is Cam Newton eligible? The intent was there to violate NCAA rules and several state laws for sure? Anybody want to explain that to me?