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
Nole 5050
December 10th, 2010
6:03 pm
AU FAN What are you the blog Fox News reporter?
One Of The More Ignorant Posts You Will Ever Read
December 10th, 2010
6:06 pm
Must be Obama’s magic or something
December 10th, 2010
5:46 pm
Our nation is financially struggling because of the US government making home mortgages too easy for anyone to get, even with bad credit and no job history. Folks with shady pasts were ENCOURAGED by our liberal government of Barney Frank, Pelosi and Chris Dodd to do these things at ANY COST and AU is doing the exact same thing to win at any cost. Newton DOES INDEED HAVE a very, very shady past and AU is sweeping it under their rug.
Or are folks like you trying to harp on his past because you have Skeletons In Your OWN closet?
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
6:07 pm
“AU is doing the exact same thing to win at any cost. ”
So where’s your proof, Matlock?
One Of The More Ignorant Posts You Will Ever Read
December 10th, 2010
6:08 pm
I’m not a democrat but if you think the economy is all Obama’s fault you are drinking waaaay too much of the Fox News kool-aid……
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
6:09 pm
“I’m not a democrat but if you think the economy is all Obama’s fault you are drinking waaaay too much of the Fox News kool-aid……”
Highest unemployment rate under Bush: 8.1%
Highest unemployment rate under Obama: 10%
Lowest unemployment rate under Bush: 4.4%
Lowest unemployment rate under Obama: 9.6%
Nole 5050
December 10th, 2010
6:10 pm
I am truly sorry- I assumed that you were a poster with some semblance of the ability to blog without name calling. I won’t make that mistake again.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
6:11 pm
“I am truly sorry- I assumed that you were a poster with some semblance of the ability to blog without name calling. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
One Of The More Ignorant Posts You Will Ever Read
December 10th, 2010
6:12 pm
I was actually a Republican until Bush came along and destroyed everything the party stood for. I am now an independent thanks to Dubya. Biggest spending, big-government president ever, never met a spending bill he didn’t like….
Asterisk
December 10th, 2010
6:12 pm
Sammy Sosa*
Mark McGwire*
Barry Bonds*
2004 USC Trojans*
Reggie Bush Heisman*
2010 Auburn Tigers*
Cam Newton Heisman*
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
6:13 pm
“Biggest spending, big-government president ever, never met a spending bill he didn’t like….”
No, that would be one Barak Hussein Obama.
all rightie then
December 10th, 2010
6:13 pm
What is this JABA all about?
One Of The More Ignorant Posts You Will Ever Read
December 10th, 2010
6:15 pm
Surplus when Clinton left office- $127 billion
Deficit when Bush left:$ 1.3 TRILLION dollars with a T!!!
Case Rested…..
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
6:16 pm
“Surplus when Clinton left office- $127 billion
Deficit when Bush left:$ 1.3 TRILLION dollars with a T!!!”
And Obama……….
But, like you said, you were once a “Republican.” LOL
Lawsuit coming
December 10th, 2010
6:16 pm
The Univ of FL cheating stories are based on a SINGLE source, and would have one believe that Cam paid another student to write a paper for a class that Cam and the student were in together, but the other student was so stupid he didn’t have paper for himself, so he told the prof he wrote Cam’s paper! HUH? Thayer Evans will have an opportunity to discuss his single source soon. He is going to be sued after the season is over.
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
6:18 pm
“He is going to be sued after the season is over.”
As are a lot of “jourNOlists.”
AU FAN
December 10th, 2010
6:19 pm
One Of The More Ignorant Posts You Will Ever Read
Are you regretting having voted for Obama?
Alibi Ike
December 10th, 2010
6:25 pm
Bottom line, when the NCAA is going to change a rule specifically to address something you (or your family) did, you ain’t all Care Bears and Gum Drops.
Delbert D.
December 10th, 2010
6:25 pm
I’m not a Heisman voter, nor an NFL owner (surprise). If I were going to invest many millions of dollars on a rookie QB, I would go with Andrew Luck.
William C Smith
December 10th, 2010
6:25 pm
The issue of grades and cheating is not an issue of football. This information is an issue of privacy per federal law. Privacy supersedes football in my opinion. If you have ever had a situation that you seek to keep private hope these writers never go after you. Problems in the work place many times are kept within house, and this prevents not so good information. Let it go public. To hell with your job and marriage.
Vegas Baby
December 10th, 2010
6:28 pm
Please bet me that anyone will get sued by the Newton family or Auburn. PLEASE!
Nole 5050
December 10th, 2010
6:28 pm
I’m sure all the Auburn fans on here are so proud to have you representing their University. You are the perfect example of the new breed of student- who thinks he is educated and has no idea how to defend a position without calling people names. That is,in fact your only position- you disagree with me therefore you are an idiot.You are a buffoon and an embarrassment to educated people everywhere. Stop listening to Limbaugh, Beck, Boortz and the other people on talk radio. Try and learn how to think for yourself and defend your position without poisoning the discussion. I truly feel sorry for you.
AltamahaDawg
December 10th, 2010
6:30 pm
11 Uga players arrested? THAT has anything to do with this? Ok fine, don’t give any of them a prestigious award.
Delbert D.
December 10th, 2010
6:40 pm
Voters don’t vote what they know, they vote what they think.
Got to put a caveat on that statement, though. They can think what they have been told to think, and that is different from a rational thought process.
AltamahaDawg
December 10th, 2010
6:51 pm
You DO realize that being a registered republican never actually forced you to vote for every single republican that was running for public office, right? You always had the right to vote for any cadidate that represented your views. You thought Bush was not consertative enough, (I’m assuming thats what you meant) so your answer was to Declare your independance to vote for members of the other much more liberal party? I’m not sure I’m getting that logic. Sounds like you are not really an “independant,” as much as you are a disgruntle republican with no balls.
BobbyDawg
December 10th, 2010
7:09 pm
As for the eleven arrests of UGA football players, not one of these players brought up a ruling from the NCAA. All of these were handled by coach Richt. He is an honest man with the good of the whole university in his heart, not just the football team.
Delbert D.
December 10th, 2010
7:16 pm
I’m wondering if everyone posting here is reading the same blog…
cecil newton
December 10th, 2010
7:17 pm
you’ze peoples thanks us black preacha’s bees jus a buncha crooks, but i’ze got news fer ya , we’ze makes lots mo money than you’ze people’s, and it’ all be tax free so ha!
Time
December 10th, 2010
7:19 pm
I love how the Cam Newton saga can be written off to a 19 year old making a mistake. But when a UGA player gets arrested for shooting off fireworks, the AJC and it’s holier than though columnists go into celebration mode writing column after column after column on the incident, even invoking stupid media creation awards like the “Fullmer” cup.
Once again, the liberal media crowd shows just how truly hypocritical they are.
Huffdawg
December 10th, 2010
7:22 pm
AU fan.. of course it’s evil… that’s what makes it funny.. LOL
JuneBaby
December 10th, 2010
7:23 pm
Pago Pago Dawg@3:36pm…, the biggest liars, cheats, charlatans, abusers are our white brothers, and it’s well known and documented, but i don’t see people of your ilk condemning them, like you want black people to do to Cam and Cecil Newton! Why is that? Is it because they’re white???? Would you call that the White People’s Code of Conduct?
BobbyDawg
December 10th, 2010
7:26 pm
We’ve had politicians now we’ve got a racist. Will someone please bring up religeon and get it over with? I thought this was a sports blog.
BobbyDawg
December 10th, 2010
7:30 pm
I Know! I’m a UGA fan who can’t spell religion. Sorry.
JuneBaby
December 10th, 2010
7:31 pm
BobbyDawg…, does your buddy Pago Pago Dawg get a pass?
Delbert D.
December 10th, 2010
7:32 pm
All of my posts have been on the topic of the Heisman Trophy; voters, why they may decide, whether it is a product of their rational thought or some other reason. I suppose it could be applied to politics and religion, though.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2010
7:37 pm
Keep in mind that the Reggie Bush allegations surfaced after he was awarded the Heisman, right before the draft. What happens if some holier than thou media member votes for, say, Andrew Luck or LaMichael James, and it comes out that there were improprieties involving them as well? You can’t vote based on what you don’t know, only based on what you do. Of the five candidates available, Newton is clearly the best.
Then again, I am still holding out hope for the day the Heisman will be awarded to someone who is not an offensive skill position player.
Dawgs!Rule!
December 10th, 2010
7:39 pm
I’ve said it all year: Shults is Trash. And this article proves it. Yeah, go ahead. Steal! Cheat! We all do it. Great.
Isn’t there some traffic on the connector you can go frolic around in, Shults? I mean, Happy Meal box?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2010
7:41 pm
And I also think it’s hilarious that despite living in a capitalistic society, Cam Newton and his family are considered “criminals” by some for wanting to be compensated for the work they put in, just because some arbitrary and illogical rules were violated. The economic value added to Auburn and the BCS as a result of Cam Newton being in an Auburn uniform far exceed the economic value of Cam Newton’s scholarship. Y’all can live in fantasy land all you want; to me, no NCAA rule trumps the basic principle of capitalism and free enterprise that says a person can and will be compensated for their hard work. And if Cam Newton and his family have to go under the table to make that happen, more power to them.
Delbert D.
December 10th, 2010
7:46 pm
Najeh Davenpoop – Taken to an extreme, Bernie Maddof may have taken that as a principle for his actions.
Dawgs!Rule!
December 10th, 2010
7:48 pm
Yeah Najeh! I hear ya, spoken like a true sociopath.
icallbs
December 10th, 2010
7:48 pm
The hypocrisy on the part of Shultz is remarkable on so many levels I won’t bother detailing. Shultz hammers Richt all year blaming him for one-off relatively minor transgressions on the part of 18-21 year olds (the not-so-minor perpetrators were kicked off the team), then ignores the character issues of a serial miscreant. The kid from Stanford should win the Heisman. Do a comparison using ALL the criteria.
Dawgs!Rule!
December 10th, 2010
7:59 pm
If you really want to waste some time and generally become dumber all in one fell swoop, just read the latest Shults article, and blog afterward on this message board.
Hit A Single
December 10th, 2010
7:59 pm
The kid from Stanford is what college athletics is and should be all about. Cam Newton situation is what is wrong with college athletics, particularly football and basketball. Meyer said it was about family, no it is about being tired of dealing with all the crap that goes along with college football, arrests, players threatening to boycott tough practices and drugs.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2010
8:01 pm
“Najeh Davenpoop – Taken to an extreme, Bernie Maddof may have taken that as a principle for his actions.”
How many people’s 401(k)’s are gone because of Cecil Newton asking Mississippi State to pay him?
Like I said, some of you are living in fantasy land. Cam and Cecil Newton hurt nobody except the NCAA’s corrupt power structure.
(And to clarify, I’m talking about the whole “asking for $180,000″ episode, not the alleged laptop theft. I do not support laptop thievery. Seeing as how the asking for money episode has dwarfed the laptop theft as far as media coverage is concerned, it seems to me that that is the central issue here.)
Hit A Single
December 10th, 2010
8:07 pm
It makes you wonder if Cecil had of gotten his $180,000 would Cam be elligible? I doubt it. So if you don’t succeed no punishment, yet. Oh do you think he would have told Cam? If he had of gotten it Slive would have said give SEC half and you can play.
Dawgs!Rule!
December 10th, 2010
8:10 pm
I just gotta end with: Go read the police report on the laptop theft, and then get back to me on whether you think Cam is telling the truth about knowing anything. He’s a criminal, and oh of coarse he didn’t know his dad was making deals. Geez, what the heck do you expect criminal to say? He basically gave his pre-recorded response.
all sports fan
December 10th, 2010
8:18 pm
Three letters for all you Cam suckers. FBI The FBI doesn’t get involved when it’s just rumors..
Pay the Man
December 10th, 2010
8:18 pm
Hey, OJ was never convicted in a criminal court and we all believe he “didn’t do it”……
Bullwinkle
December 10th, 2010
8:45 pm
Just put a lap top on the Heisman trophey where the football is now and give it to the felon. If he was not a talented football player he would still be in jail. You sportswriters don’t see real life from your ivory towers.
War Eagle
December 10th, 2010
8:48 pm
Dawg fans. to collect criticizm, slander and insults toward someone who kick your butt and when you don`t know nothing about something, wait and be respectable until a conviction is made, as in Atlanta Olympia bombing. A person was innocent, but wrongly convicted by news media, lost his life…
Maybe Auburn playing for National Champioship, UGA with 6 loses going back to the Music Bowl has something to with the sulty remarks about best college football player in the country
Randy
December 10th, 2010
8:58 pm
So this flawed thinking excuses the murderer as well who gets off on a technicality ? Same logic if you ask me.