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
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
5:02 pm
Dawg fans are bad at a lot of things after a few burbons and coke.. LOL
Cam-tastic
December 10th, 2010
5:02 pm
hey daddy, who’s the highest bidder?
dang, i’m going to cry when i have to refuse coach mullen’s offer. wah wah, snif snif.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:03 pm
“Dawg fans are bad at a lot of things”
Common sense, spelling, facts, quotes, the English language………………
Blog Security
December 10th, 2010
5:03 pm
AU FAN,
Being you are really a Techie.I saw this posted earlier on the blog just in case you missed it.
So a Techie can spell? Just remember you cant spell Domination without UGA!
1-9 IN LAST 10 AGAINST THE DAWGS!!!
Cam-tastic
December 10th, 2010
5:03 pm
but auburn is great at cheating!
war cam eagle!
Cam-tastic
December 10th, 2010
5:04 pm
hey cam,
the chizmaester just called…son, you’re going to auburn!
-cecil
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
5:05 pm
HDFOHA, Warrick Dunn is a great man, you’re right.. I have no idea who much he knows about this story, but anyone that has read the evidence could NOT come to the same conclusions as Dunn has.. we both know that now don’t we?
David Granger
December 10th, 2010
5:06 pm
I certainly agree, Jeff. If the NCAA says he’s eligible to play, he should certainly be eligible for any post-season awards. (Though I do wish he had not changed his story about who decided that he would attend Auburn. That takes a rather “fishy” situation and makes it even fishier.)
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
5:06 pm
Yea, all us UGA grads are complete idiots. We both know this isn’t true about any school, I understand your anger… I’d be mad if my school were about to go on probation as well. The facts speak for themselves, and no sling you fire my way will ever change that for you.
Cam-tastic
December 10th, 2010
5:06 pm
auburn definitely wins the cha-cha award.
chiz chiz and cheat cheat…shush, don’t tell anyone…-cecil
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:08 pm
“Yea, all us UGA grads are complete idiots.”
You didn’t graduate from UGA.
“I’d be mad if my school were about to go on probation as well. ”
Prove that Auburn is going on probation.
“The facts speak for themselves”
What facts, ma’am?
“and no sling you fire my way”
Thanks for proving that you didn’t attend college.
Cam-tastic
December 10th, 2010
5:08 pm
hey cam…the church needs a new laptop.
shush, don’t tell anyone.
-cecil
-cecil
Blog Security
December 10th, 2010
5:09 pm
AU FAN
1-9 1-9 1-9 1-9 1-9 Bhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Techie boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blog Security
December 10th, 2010
5:10 pm
AU FAN,
You must have been one of those Techies that actually took classes at Morehouse or Morris-Brown.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:11 pm
“You must have been one of those Techies that actually took classes at Morehouse or Morris-Brown.”
No, that would be UGA students since UGA leads the nation in kids having to take remedial classes.
HuffDawg Is Full Of Hot Air
December 10th, 2010
5:11 pm
What we are talking about here is a man’s character, what does the character of Cam show, what has he done so far?
From everything I’ve read the kid has turned his life around. Is it SO shocking that a 19 year old kid made a mistake? I was a 19 year old kid once like I’m sure most of us were, and BELIEVE ME I made MANY mistakes. Do I want that held against me the rest of my life? It is truly a crying shame what his Dad did, but should the NCAA be in the business of punishing kids for the actions of others? You can only control what you do on the field, and this kid has special talent. To deny him the right to play the game he loves just isn’t right….
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
5:12 pm
AU, you have made my night.. the anger you display is probably about the way anyone would feel if their team were in such trouble. Fire away man!
If you notice AU fan, no one, and I mean no other than Auburn fans feel Cam is innocent? We both know why that is…the facts are hard to avoid man.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:12 pm
Blog Security
MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS MEMPHIS
6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6
Blog Security
December 10th, 2010
5:12 pm
AU FAN,
Dont get mad just because I know who you really are! You are so predictable! Techie boy!!!!!
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:13 pm
I clearly have too much time on my hands.
Blog Security
December 10th, 2010
5:14 pm
AU FAN,
I cant imagine how tough it is to be a fan of a losing program such as Tech’s and be to embarassed to show your true colors.
1-9 techie boy
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:14 pm
“you have made my night”
Why, because your boyfriend is out of town?
“the anger you display ”
LOL! How does an illiterate blogger, like yourself, sense that I am angry?
“no other than Auburn fans feel Cam is innocent? ”
And we Auburn fans, don’t give a rats @ss what loser 6-6ers think about us.
“the facts are hard to avoid ”
What facts, troglodyte?
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:14 pm
Just because I am a child doesn’t mean I can’t pollute this blog.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:15 pm
“You are so predictable! ”
Enjoy Memphis, 6-6er.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:15 pm
Cam-tastic, why are you stealing blog names, troglodyte?
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
5:15 pm
I think he’s one of the greatest players I’ve ever seen HDIFOHA, I really do… I’m telling you, I’m an SEC fan, when UGA is losing, like they usually are lately, I pull for some other SEC team. But the facts are there, Cam’s daddy was asking for money, and Cam suddenly wasn’t going to go to MSU. In one interview he said “it was his daddy’s decision” in the ESPN interview he said it was his.. he’s go to be lieing.. it can’t be both ways.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:16 pm
“I cant imagine how tough it is to be a fan of a losing program”
Auburn is 13-0, loser. Enjoy Memphis.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:16 pm
I childishly call people names because I have trouble forming coherent thoughts and difficulty articulating intelligent responses.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:16 pm
“he’s go to be lieing”
Have you heard of spell check?
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
5:17 pm
Yea AU, you’re “not angry”… LOL
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:17 pm
Blog Security
Why are you stealing blog names?
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:17 pm
If only had I gone to college, I would be bright enough to not embarrass the AU grads who actually attended the school.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
“Yea AU, you’re “not angry”… LOL”
You are one dumb dawg fan.
Supes
December 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
It’s official:
Jeff, Kincade and Mr CF Tony B. all on the Auburn payroll to turn out “positive press”…
Blog Security
December 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
AU FAN,
I hear Shreveport is real nice during the holidays.At least it’s a step up from Boise? Hahahahahaha
1-9 techie boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
I have resorted to arguing with myself. Sad.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:19 pm
“If only had I gone to college,”
Well, this proves that Cam-tastic stole my name.
Also: “enough to not embarrass ”
THAT was the dead giveaway.
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
5:19 pm
I’d be mad too AU fan, if my team had never won a title because they were always being penalized for cheating. Man, I know why you’re pissed, anyone with eyes can see the writing on the wall man. Yet another title that AU will never win because they are cheaters… sad, it really is.
But then again, who would really want to go to school in Auburn, what a crap hole.
Tell the truth
December 10th, 2010
5:19 pm
JABA!!!
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:19 pm
“I hear Shreveport is real nice during the holidays.”
You should know, UGAY was there last year. LOL
Blog Security
December 10th, 2010
5:19 pm
AU FAN,
How many different names have you used today? Your customary 6-7? There you go with the insults just like always. Techie boy
1-9 1-9
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
5:21 pm
I’z dumb as crap! WOOF WOOF SIC EM DAWGAS! We’z goned win dus da natioanl champsip in 2008! woof woof
Aubarn is stoopid and be dum! UGA is smart and intlegent. WOOF WOOF.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:21 pm
“How many different names have you used today?”
One
Nate the Great
December 10th, 2010
5:21 pm
Do you think he will have “The Decision” when he goes to the next level? He is a mini-Lebron, hands down the best athlete, but a complete pompous, egomaniacal jerk!! How long do you think until he starts to refer to himself in the third person?
But, he will be the athlete to introduce the Spread offense to the NFL. sCam is an absolute gifted FREAK at QB. Kinda like Ben Rothlesberger though, it doesn’t and won’t excuse his jacka$$ tendencies.
Blog Security
December 10th, 2010
5:22 pm
AU FAN,
Well now that I have called you out,just like I do everyday.Have fun slinging your spew Techie boy.
Have fun-I will be here next week to call you out again.
Dont forget Techie boy
1-9 1-9
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:22 pm
I waste countless hours hurling my feces on AJC blogs.
PRESEASON NUMBER ONE IN 2008
December 10th, 2010
5:23 pm
WOOF WOOF WOOF SIC EM DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!! WE’RE PRESEASON NUMBER ONE IN 2008!!!!!!!!! THE BCS GOES THROUGH ATHENS LIKE ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOF WOOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA man here but I saw the game film on Dodd's Sunday am show
December 10th, 2010
5:23 pm
Grew up in metro Atlanta …………………half Dog and half Tech with some Gator thrown in ………….all family members. UGA grad and very ahppy that I am. Yes, 8 IS better than 1.
I recall the Darwin Holt/ Chick Graning incident and later, in church actually met Chick at some FCA meeting. Anyway, the game films showed Holt pummeling and pumeling Graning as they slid out of bounds on the ground after a hard tackle and he kept at it. He kept at it. Don’t tell me about the face mask of the era, being the cause. No sir.
Face mask or not …………………….then, like now, that incident was cheap shot artist at its best. Holt was a thug.
UGA class of 71 & 73
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
5:24 pm
“I will be here next week to call you out again.”
Why, because Pizza Hut lets you blog during delivery hours?
Tell the truth
December 10th, 2010
5:24 pm
He used the third person yesterday with Fowler. Not long.