Cam Newton’s Heisman is a victory for fact over suspicions
Auburn's Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy by a wide margin, but 105 voters chose to leave him off their ballot. (AP photo)
(Updated: 9 p.m. Saturday)
The problem isn’t just that some turned Cam Newton’s Heisman run into a morality play. The problem is how we’re judging morality.
His father tried to pimp him to Mississippi State for cash. So is this was supposed to be a vote for Cecil “Huggy Bear” Newton? Is a Heisman vote suddenly not for the student-athlete but for his father, mother and maybe third cousin? Because if that’s true, clear the trophy case. Start with last year’s winner, Mark Ingram, whose father has been in jail for most of the last 10 years for money laundering and bank fraud.
Cam Newton purchased a stolen laptop when he was at Florida, then panicked and threw it out the window when he heard police footsteps. Big mistake, for which he paid a price (public humiliation).
There have been stories of him being on academic probation at Florida. Sorry, but does this put him in some exclusive company in major college athletics that I’m not aware of?
As someone who makes his living in the world of opinion, it nonetheless astounds me how opinion so often trumps fact today.
Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy Saturday night. Maybe you don’t like it but it was the only choice that made sense.
Newton’s 2,263 points were far head of the next closest competitor, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck (1079). But 105 voters out of the 886 returned ballots left Newton off their ballots. For the holier-than-thou voters who want to point to the word “integrity” in the Heisman’s mission statement and yell, “Aha!” — fine. The laptop incident and academic issues at Florida two years ago at the age of 19 prove that Newton is flawed. Welcome to a very large club.
Warrick Dunn, here delivering a new home to Janice Cantrell, is a pretty fair judge of character. (AP photo)
Question: Do Heisman voters hold every candidate to that standard every year, or is this just a new policy of theirs?
But to those who chose not to vote for Newton for the Heisman based on what they think he knew or they think he did or they think he took during recruiting, I would suggest they try peddling that in a courtroom and see where it gets you.
“They’ve done their investigation and the NCAA says he’s in the clear right now,” Warrick Dunn said Friday. “If they say he’s eligible, he’s eligible. People need to just let it go. He deserves whatever he gets.”
Dunn, the former Falcons running back, didn’t win the Heisman when he was at Florida State (he finished fifth in 1996). But he’s in New York with Newton this weekend to accept the Heisman Humanitarian Award for his long-standing.
“Home for the Holidays” program and the work of his foundation.
Few athletes in history have commanded as much respect on and off the field. So his opinion carries some weight.
When asked about Newton as an Auburn quarterback, Dunn said: “He’s resilient. Mentally tough. To be able to focus and stay on course during all of this says something about his character. He’s been able to separate the nonsense off the field with what he has to do on the field. It shows he’s strong mentally.”
As for Newton’s Heisman candidacy, Dunn was bothered that it was even a question.
“They’re just not giving him his due,” he said. “You’re innocent until proven guilty. Most of this is about public opinion, not facts. People want the perfect student-athlete. There are no perfect student-athletes. When I went to college, most of us didn’t even know if we were breaking rules. What if somebody talked to us or gave us a ride or bought us a meal? We didn’t know. I think a lot of what’s happening to Cam Newton just goes back to the Reggie Bush thing [when he had the trophy taken away for NCAA violations].”
Newton overcame his early problems. He plays with pure joy. He lifted a college program like few ever have. He’s one bowl game away from completing arguably the greatest season ever by a college player. He has endured the darkest of clouds hanging over his head, beating Georgia just after the scandal broke, Alabama on the road after it mushroomed and then South Carolina in the SEC title game.
If evidence should come out that Newton knew something or took something, the argument changes. Take away the award. A lack of integrity will be confirmed.
It’s not an ideal situation, but it’s better than the alternative of disqualifying somebody on a hunch. We don’t convict people when we think they might be thinking of robbing a bank. That’s not enforcing morality. It’s a presumption of guilt.
– By Jeff Schultz
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681 comments Add your comment
goldcreek
December 12th, 2010
1:41 pm
Haters Hate. It is all they know how to do. Tell them to get a life.
MADDOG
December 12th, 2010
2:01 pm
First, that was awesome last night that Cam and Auburn won. The show was cheesy but the fact he got the award and the hug with Bo were awesome.
Now on to to the UGA idiots starting with:
Mark
December 12th, 2010
9:34 am
There’s a cummulative effect to this Newton thing that reeks of a bad odor. Laptop stolon from room 303 when Cam lived in room 306 and laptop was found in Newton’s room–painted, cheat academically, cheat again, cheat again, Preacher man Dad tries and extort $180,000, Dad banned from school events with his son, Cam claiming he has never spoken to his dad about the charge????, etc.
Jeff worte about the cummaltive effect. If that’s the standard, no one shold have voted for Cam Newton.
——
One article for you:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=rivals-1150363
FoxSports.com writer Thayer Evans published a story today alleging Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton “had three different instances of academic cheating while attending the University of Florida.”
The story follows several days of editorial attacks on Newton by Thayer, a former stringer for the New York Times.
Two independent sources with detailed knowledge of the UF academic discipline system during the period in question have disputed the Evans story. According to the sources, no allegations of academic impropriety regarding Cam Newton were sent to the Florida Student Conduct Committee at any time either during or after Newton’s time at UF.
“Nothing was reported, officially or unofficially” says one source, who did not wish to be identified. “The formal process is for allegations to go through the Student Conduct Committee. If [any allegations against Newton] didn’t follow that process, then they didn’t follow the rules.”
Newton enrolled at Florida in the spring of 2007 and transferred to Blinn College in January of 2009.
Per the source, no charges against Newton were ever brought to the Student Conduct Committee during that time.
The source also indicated that no Florida football players have ever been officially reported to the UF Student Conduct Committee for academic violations during Urban Meyer’s tenure.
According to the source, student arrests are subject to additional discipline via the Student Conduct Committee, but it is not uncommon for students in such situations “to cut a deal with the Dean of Students’ office before coming to the Committee.”
At the time of Newton’s enrollment at UF, if attempts to informally settle academic disputes failed, academic violations issues were referred from the Dean of Students office to the Student Conduct Committee, where a hearing chaired by a member of the UF Honor Board would be conducted.
No charges against Newton, to the first source’s knowledge, were ever sent to the UF Student Conduct Committee.
A second, independently verified source, also with detailed knowledge of the Florida student disciplinary system, took issue with Thayer’s assertion that Newton, had he actually been charged with academic misconduct, would have been in danger of expulsion. “I worked ten or twelve cases,” the second source says, “and I never saw anyone get expelled.”
The second source, who also declined to be identified, also says no charges regarding Newton were ever brought to the Student Conduct Committee, noting, “If Cameron Newton would have come before the committee, we would have known about it.”
The second source also expressed indignation over the possible leak of student information to the media.
“That is completely confidential. We’re not allowed to say anything to anyone.
“The person that was in charge of [students’] academic records is a very ethical person. Someone like him would never have released anything.”
$cam Newton
December 12th, 2010
3:30 pm
Being the best player, which he is, doesn’t make him Heisman worthy. The award has now lost any integrity it had left. The show yesterday was an embarrassment to ESPN, the NCAA and college football in general. To all the Newton apologists…I have some ocean front property in Arizona for sale. Only $180K. Just please make it in cash and donate it to my church…..$cam Newton
Orange10
December 12th, 2010
5:31 pm
What round do you think this four month wonder will go in?
Tony
December 12th, 2010
5:44 pm
I hate to tell you Cam has already gone pro.
TybeeDawg
December 12th, 2010
7:09 pm
Newton steal’s another student’s paper
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/11/foxsportscom_says_auburn_qb_ca.html
TybeeDawg
December 12th, 2010
7:10 pm
Newton then turns in a paper he bought off the internet
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/11/foxsportscom_says_auburn_qb_ca.html
TybeeDawg
December 12th, 2010
7:11 pm
Oh, and I know the AU fans haven’t read this, but check this out and tell me he didn’t know about his Dad.:
Cam Newton police report
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/college/cam-newton-lame-laptop-thief
nole5050
December 12th, 2010
9:38 pm
Jeff I noticed you removed the ugly comment by Dunn that Bush could have solved his problems if he just had repaid the agent. Obviously you thought it was an ugly comment as well. I like Dunn alot- I disagreed with that comment- alot.
witko
December 12th, 2010
11:41 pm
Inference is not fiction. Inference is used regularly in logic and in court. The facts we know about Cam, family, and Auburn renders dirt the better case. But you have remained in pucker mode and refuse to acknowledge the role of inference. So, you continue to kiss a rather peculiar part of the body. I shall send mouthwash.
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Quasimojo
December 13th, 2010
1:40 am
Professional football player receives the Heisman Trophy!
gt4ever
December 13th, 2010
7:52 am
Fact: Cam’s daddy was pimping him out to the highest bidder.
Fiction: Cam and Mommy didn’t have a clue as to what daddy was doing….
Fact: It is sad what the Heisman has become.
Fiction: College football is a farm league for the NFL….
Fact: You Are Clueless
December 13th, 2010
9:16 am
Hey GT4ever do you know more than the NCAA? They said Cam was not aware of his father’s actions. What part of that do you not understand? It is NOT a fact that he “Pimped him out” to the highest bidder! You are DEAD WRONG!! The only boosters that tried to deliver money were from MSU. You are like all the other hacks of the world. Spread a bunch of misinformation and pass it off as fact. What a clueless individual…..
larry
December 13th, 2010
12:52 pm
Like Bush was in 2005, he is the best college football player of the year. Like Bush’s parents, Newton’s dad is going to bring the whole program down and Cam will return the Heisman (another vacated sign) and Auburn may have to vacate a tainted title…
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
December 13th, 2010
4:51 pm
Newtons Heisman Trophy only proves that scum can rise to the top of the pond.
classic
December 14th, 2010
12:20 pm
Another classy Yechie bringing shame and humiliation to the bugs. Tashard Choice looking like a dou-chebag and getting a POS’s dog murder’s autograph after he just beat his a$$ on the field. Classic.
Tashard Choice
December 14th, 2010
12:22 pm
I’d drop to my knees to get Cam’s sig, you know what I’m saying?
Let's be serious
December 14th, 2010
12:45 pm
FACTS:
-EVERY rumor involving Cam’s father and Miss St. was found to be true. Magically the only one that wasn’t, Cam’s personal conversations with the Miss. St. contacts.
- Cam’s father’s church has been desperate for money for years. Bordering on being condemned, the church mysteriously gets the exact amount it needed to stay afloat. Coincidentally enough, at the same time as when Cam went to Auburn.
- Bobby Lowder is one of the dirtiest boosters in all of collegiate sports. The FBI is investigating his bank. A bank shared by other equally shady Auburn boosters.
SUSPICIONS :
That Cam’s father REALLY allowed Cam to go to Auburn for free, even though he was found GUILTY of trying to shakedown another school. Hmm……
Let's be serious
December 14th, 2010
12:58 pm
Jeff,
Given what’s already been proven, the magical money that fell from the heavens to bailout Cam’s father’s church that occurred at the same time Cam decided to go to Auburn, the fact Bobby Lowder is an Auburn booster, the only real “suspicions” are if daddy Cam really let his son go to Auburn for free.
anks
December 14th, 2010
12:58 pm
Sure Jeff…..sure……
threetrone
December 14th, 2010
7:39 pm
He earned it on the field, which is fact. Suspicions are off the field behavior. I am Tech grad of ‘73. I watched this kid outplay Nez this year by mostly passin’. He ran and jumped over defenders like Nez, but he did not run anywhere near as much as Nez. It was his passin’ that won the trophy. That emphasizes the need for CPJ to incorporate passin’ into Tech’s O, and to get the black out of the uniforms with the black stockings and solid side stripes on white backgrounds like Auburn wore as backgrounds this year. This black pleases no one but Erk Russell, Ted Roof and Bill Curry.
Florida, UGA and AU academics
December 15th, 2010
11:12 am
Florida threw Cam Newton out of their school. Period. Class over.
Entrance requirements at UGA vs AU? Please. All of the kids that can afford to, go over to AU or to Ole Miss ( sueprior to AU ) or to SC or to Clemson if they cannot get admitted to UGA or to GT for the HOPE deal. North Fulton and east Cobb are full of AU kids. UGA? They reject tons and tons of highly qualified kids from these two metro $$$ areas who just do not quite hit that SAT requisite. My kids? UGA BABY!! EMORY MBA SCHOOL TOO!!!
All this remedial class talk about UGA? Prove the claim that “UGA has more remedial students than any school in the USA”. Please. EMORY MBA SCHOOL would laugh in your face. Case closed.
Besides …………………….UGA IS THE UNVERSITY OF GEORGIA and AU is the second university in Alabama, unless Spring Hill in Mobile has eclipsed them. AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHA
AU will always always be in the shadow of ALABAMA. ALWAYS IS A LONG TIME.
Maybe this will clear it up
December 15th, 2010
11:20 am
Does this ehlp you AU denial types?
1.) MSU is under an FBI investigation about corruption and MSU ballplayers. WHY? Bribes and possible gambling issues by Scams daddy and um, maybe ………………..Scam himself.
2.) AU IS ALSO under investigation for the same thing. Recruiting is not a jurisdiction of the FBI. THEY ARE concerned only with sleazy crimes like bribes or gambling for money with players, etc.
Now, does this help all of you AU clowns? IT AIN”T OVER till the BUREAU SAYS THAT IT IS.
Nes-2-bitts for Heisman!!!
December 15th, 2010
2:21 pm
We was robbed!!!
Josh
December 15th, 2010
2:24 pm
UGA is always hovering around #50 in the annual college rankings for best national schools. UF isn’t much higher than UGA and of course Vandy is the best in the conference. UGA is a very highly respectable university.
gt4ever
December 15th, 2010
8:11 pm
I’m clueless…….. LOL, You have to be a UGA fan,,,,,
O.J. Simpson
December 16th, 2010
9:50 am
Yes!!! For once the truth has prevailed!!!!!
local ring engraver
December 16th, 2010
9:51 am
Come on Dawgs, you are killing my business!!! At least let the bees beat you in baseball. I need some work!!!
AU in ATL
December 16th, 2010
3:22 pm
AU fans in denial? These are the facts as of right now.
NCAA said Newton was good to go. Yeah at this time…The NCAA didnt have to say anything. No, its not about the money either. If they thought that there’s more to the Newton case, all the NCAA/SEC has to do is keep silent, let AU and Newton keep playing, let all parties SEC/AU etc. collect BCS money and bring the hammer down any time after the BCS Champ game. Like at USC.
The FBI completed the bribe/casino/dog track investigation in late november. Arrests have been made. trial dates have been set. Currently going through discovery. That means the information gathered during the investigation (wire taps, documents etc.) is being shared by all (defendants and prosecuter judge, etc). To date nothing related to AU/newton/booster has been identified. God knows people have (are) looked.
There is no ongoing investigation at AU by the FBI/NCAA or anyone. The only open investigation being carried at this time is in Newton’s recruitment, primarily as it relates to MSU. No money trail. By all accounts no money has been exchanged anywhere. Financial records have been turned in and reviewed. A few thousand you can hide pretty easy. 10s or 100s spent dollars. No way.
If nothing else, consider that Malzahan decided to stay at AU and not take $3MM at Vandy. Call me crazy, but I bet he knows a little more of what’s going on and what may or not happen at AU in the near future than most.
suckeggdawg
December 16th, 2010
3:28 pm
Cam Newton is awesome, and he’s eligible, and he beat the dawgs worse than Vick did, and he rolled the Tide away…and he’s gonna be the Nat’l Champ QB. Auburn gets a title, like Bama and UF and LSU. dawgs get nada!!!! Gotta luv it. Been a long time since ‘80. By the way, who paid for Herschel’s Trans Am that he drove back in the day?? Lets look into that and then talk about giving back some trophies.