NCAA right to end investigation into Cam Newton, Auburn
Cam Newton can celebrate another victory. The NCAA has closed the book on its investigation.
The conspiracy theories won’t end. But the NCAA says its investigation into Cam Newton’s recruitment by Auburn is over.
College’s football’s relative governing body announced Wednesday it was closing the book on Newton and Auburn after conducting “more than 80 interviews,” apparently none of whom claimed — and could verify — that they were offered money, took money or had a cash register receipt for somebody who did.
Go ahead and whine. But I’m not sure how you can fault the NCAA on this. There is little question the NCAA, for all of the criticism it has received over the past several months on how it has handled this, would have nailed Auburn and/or Newton if it could have. The NCAA is not above wanting to make a big show of things.
The problem: There’s simply no evidence of wrongdoing.
Here’s a copy of the NCAA’s statement:
After conducting more than 80 interviews, the NCAA has concluded its investigation into Auburn University. The NCAA enforcement staff is committed to a fair and thorough investigative process. As such, any allegations of major rules violations must meet a burden of proof, which is a higher standard than rampant public speculation online and in the media. The allegations must be based on credible and persuasive information and includes a good-faith belief that the Committee on Infractions could make a finding. As with any case, should the enforcement staff become aware of additional credible information, it will review the information to determine whether further investigation is warranted.
Yes, we know that Newton’s father, the pastor Cecil “Huggy Bear” Newton Sr. tried to pimp his son out to the highest bidder. The NCAA found back in December of 2010 that Cecil attempted to solicit a large payment, reportedly $180,000, from Mississippi State in exchange for assurances that his son would transfer there from a junior college, bringing his football talents with him.
For this NCAA violation, Newton was ruled ineligible — unbeknownst everybody at the time. He then was reinstated in time for Auburn’s SEC championship game three days later, when the whole bizarre chain of events was disclosed. The NCAA was criticized at the time for not declaring Newton ineligible for the season. But it ruled that there was insufficient evidence that Cam Newton was aware of his father’s actions.
Now, if you wish to debate the logic of that, that’s fine. But what you think you may know is not exactly considered admissible evidence in a court of law. And there certainly never has been a evidence of wrongdoing by Auburn in all of this, despite what buffoons like Danny Sheridan might claim on radio shows.
Jackie Thurns, the NCAA’s associate director of enforcement, sent an email to Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs on Tuesday that outlined its 13-month investigation into the Tigers, not just regarding Newton but allegations of impermissible inducements and extra benefits connected to four other players: Raven Gray, Stanley McGlover, Chaz Ramsey and Troy Reddick. All made allegations on HBO’s “Real Sports” show called, “Dirty Money,” but nothing could be substantiated.
If anybody committed a crime, they did an excellent job wiping away the finger prints.
College football stirs emotions here in the South, and nobody stirred them more last year than Newton during Auburn’s unexpected run to a national championship. But the contention of many that Newton should not have been eligible to win the Heisman Trophy (which he did) and Auburn should not have been allowed to play for the SEC and BCS titles (which it did, and won) were baseless.
Many will vent about this, as they have for months. There will be angry comments from fans and flaming comments from a few major media outlets that quoted double-secret sources of Newton’s guilt and Auburn’s finger prints.
But the NCAA made the right decision here. The last time I checked, we don’t convict in this country on a juicy theory.
By Jeff Schultz
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558 comments Add your comment
Columbus
October 13th, 2011
2:57 pm
I imagine the “further information” will be surfacing within the next 12 months….
DC
October 13th, 2011
3:02 pm
I was waiting for someone to say it…and there Columbus did it…
Rafe Hollister
October 13th, 2011
3:04 pm
Latest news from Auburn:
O. J. didn’t do it! It was proven!
Sad
October 13th, 2011
3:19 pm
It’s amazing to me how many UGA fans wanted Cam and Auburn to be guilty. I posed the question to UGA fans a long time ago, and I could pose it again now, but it wouldn’t matter. UGA fans then, as well as now, didn’t want to admit why they felt that way.
The truth is that UGA was mad that Cam was allowed to play in the Auburn/UGA game, because they knew that they had a much better chance without him. UGA, regardless of it’s storied tradition of football, has become the school that wants to play their opponents at their weakest, not at their best. They want players to be sat by their school, to not be allowed to play by the NCAA, or to be injured so that UGA will have a better chance of winning (UGA fans have become very interested in Brantley’s healing process).
Additionally, UGA was rooting AGAINST Auburn in the National Championship game. Instead of wanting the conference to win it’s 5th straight NC, they were more concerned about how another team (not UGA) winning the NC, and how it would make UGA more irrelevant.
Yes…UGA needed Auburn to be guilty. They needed an excuse that they could point to and say “that’s the reason we didn’t win the game.”
It’s sad to me to see UGA fans act that way.
Courtney
October 13th, 2011
3:22 pm
@Gator and @Aubie-won-Knobi- I was thinking the same thing. Herschel Walker came from a one room shack and he is driving around in a sports car!!!!! And please believe that Buck Belue,Kevin Butler and the rest of those GA players during that time received gifts and money as well. People just did not go the media like they do now.
AUCHEATS
October 13th, 2011
3:28 pm
Cam’s daddy admitted to shopping his son around, and the NCAA had to invent the CAM RULE. So don’t act like he’s innocent. The rules state that if a player is “shopped” to a school by someone acting as an agent on his behalf, then that player will be deemed ineligable. Auburn argued that they did not pay for Cam’s services, which may very well be true, and that he didn’t sign with the school that he was “shopped” to, as well as his dad was not an agent. The next “Cam’s Daddy” that tries this crap, will find a different outcome!!!!!!!
All-Involved
October 13th, 2011
3:30 pm
Atlanta87: “we’re protesting because we’re defending our University:
All-Involved: You can’t defend the indefensible, no matter how hard you try. Congrats to LSU, UF, and Bama for winning NC’s. Congrats to *AU for bringing shame to itself and the SEC.
Sad, you can try to deflect all you want. We wanted to play *AU at full strength, even if that included the hired gun (kicked out of UF for cheating and stealing) and the thug Un-Fairley, along with the rest of the payroll. Try and pretend “sad” all you want. We know it’s really “shame”.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 13th, 2011
3:33 pm
overheard at SEC media days …
“..yeah everyone seems stuck on that Andrew Luck kids arm,but me and bobo had him on the chart as our #1 punter in 2008..I haven’t been as sure of anything since we recruited that Tebow kid at free safety”…Baron Von RICHTofen
AU Family..In Chizik we Trust!!
WDE
AUCHEATS
October 13th, 2011
3:37 pm
His Daddy shopped him around, that is proven. Should not have been allowed to play. Kudos to all the class act AU fans who still support the “Pimp’s Son”. You’re all fading back into your rightful middle of the pack status in the SEC. hahaahahahahahhahaha
Atlanta87
October 13th, 2011
3:38 pm
@ All-Involved Sounds like the NCAA should have hired you on their violations committee since you are 100% certain that Auburn cheated. Funny how you are that much better than everyone else they have and are going on absolutely zero evidence or credibility. Show me the check made out to the Newtons, signed by Auburn, and then I will say you are right. Until then you are making UGA look pathetic crying about Newton and we hit your Quarterback too hard. And no one understands why I was rooting for Boise State to beat the crap out of y’all. Well now they know.
Atlanta87
October 13th, 2011
3:39 pm
and what the F does Try and pretend “sad” all you want. We know it’s really “shame”. mean?
DawginLex
October 13th, 2011
3:40 pm
Why do all these redneck Auburn fans always talk about someone being “butt hurt”?
I guess that’s why we Georgia folks get married to a girl and have children while these Auburn rednecks get a life partner and raise gerbils…………….
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 13th, 2011
3:41 pm
AU..3 undefeated seasons in past 20 years..only one other school matches that..
Atlanta87
October 13th, 2011
3:41 pm
@ AUCHEATS that’s not in the rule books.
Atlanta87
October 13th, 2011
3:44 pm
@ DawginLex I know plenty of “Auburn rednecks” who “get married to a girl and have children ” Plus I’m allergic to gerbils. I thought you had better material than that man.
DawginLex
October 13th, 2011
3:47 pm
atlanta 87
not talking to you man.
2010 BCS champs and hollywould
They love each other and their gerbils
MikeP
October 13th, 2011
3:48 pm
Problem is, nobody found even one extra dollar anywhere in the Newton family. The NCAA tried to “follow the money” and found there was no money. End of story.
Looking forward to another nice trip to Athens next month. As an Auburn fan that always goes to that game, there have been many happy rides back down I-85 to East Alabama. Auburn holds an 18-11 edge over the Dawgs between the hedges. That’s quite a home field advantage for the Tigers.
Until then, WAR EAGLE! It’s great to be an AUBURN TIGER!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 13th, 2011
3:50 pm
3 undefeated seasons since 1992, with 3 separate coaches…I guess it’s just the power of the Plains!!
I would assume UGA has gone undefeated at some point..but a quick search thru Google shows it was not in MY lifetime
@Dawginlex, I have dubbed thee Herschel Walker Cuyler Them Dawgs Is Hell Don’t They.
DawginLex
October 13th, 2011
3:54 pm
Trisha
go make me a sandwich and shutup
Leave the football talk to people who know what is going on
AU vs the World
October 13th, 2011
3:55 pm
AU-3 The world-0 (NC,heisman & ncaa clears AU)
What about the FBI trial? Over ha! Tapes? Nada. UGAs best hope is to win in a crappy division. I hope they do. Then bama or lsu will take uga to the woodshed and CMR stays another year. Love it!
To top it all, to all those that said Cam wont be able to play in the NFL…how’s that working out? Most of you will get to enjoy Cam’s play on sunday at the dome where he is very comfortable playing.
I just dont think that there is enough crow in the state of GA to go around.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 13th, 2011
4:11 pm
aww Dawfinlex, It’s great to see chivalry alive and well in puppydawg nation.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 13th, 2011
4:17 pm
btw..by “Leave the football talk to people who know what is going on”, do you mean the UGA coaching staff?
“We actually had him(#1 pick Heisman winning QB Cam Newton..who threw for over 400 yrds each of his first two NFL games) pegged as more of a tight end prospect.”
“we feel the pro style offense is the future of the college game”
Coach Baron Von RICHTofen
Atlanta87
October 13th, 2011
4:28 pm
It’s okay Trisha. I’ll make you a sandwich. What kind would you like? War Eagle btw
Tiger Trip
October 13th, 2011
4:32 pm
If the NCAA is looking into a program they generally find something if there is something to be found. Auburn has put in place great processes, and great people to ensure they are compliant. All the other scholls that have current NCAA issues has no bearing on each individual school’s investigation. They all stand alone, so comparing 1 to another is not an accurate comparison.
People who don’t want to believe need to go color!
All-Involved
October 13th, 2011
4:35 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle: “AU..3 undefeated seasons in past 20 years..only one other school matches that..”
All-Involved: Dirtiest program in the history of sports. No other school matches that!
Atlanta87
October 13th, 2011
4:40 pm
All-involved are you just dumb or do you not do your research.
See below
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ycn-7965352
Atlanta87
October 13th, 2011
4:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Atlanta87
October 13th, 2011
4:42 pm
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/08/miami-hurricanes-ncaa-scandals-football-history/1
All-Involved
October 13th, 2011
4:49 pm
http://www.fanblogs.com/ncaa/007054.php. And this is before *Scamgate and the The HBO Four. Guess you *Barners can explain that one away too?!?!
All-Involved
October 13th, 2011
4:50 pm
Atlanta87: “See, see, see, Miami’s dirtier than we are!!!!! No, you just paid the NCAA more than they did!
All-Involved
October 13th, 2011
5:00 pm
Tiger Trip, did you use superlatives like “great” for Lowder and McGregor? You *Aubies can profess your innocence all you want, but no one’s buying it. And never will…………………. Goodbye ’til November 12th, when we avenge this: http://sportsbybrooks.com/tag/aaron_murray. Yep, this is *Auburn folks. This dirt is why everyone hates you. You are a filthy, dirty program. Miami can’t even come close. And you will get what you deserve one day. Count on it!
Ray
October 13th, 2011
5:31 pm
well it is about time that the Ncaa closed the case on what was an out right attack on a university by alot of alabama media and bama alum and paul finebaum. it was a circus and the losers were the people in the state of Alabama. what a harsh look at the state of alabama in a way its ugly and down right hillbilly bob for sure. paul finebaum used his position to attack AUBURN in anyway possible. now he is trying to say I told you so. But AUBURN or bama is buying his two faced back stabbing tatics , it was incredible to wittness . tim brando and danny sheridon all in on the assalt. thayer evans and schad , and dont forget espn what a follower of second hand news…now the ncaa can focus on the real deal in the state of alabama ….bama and the gifts the players have recieved.
AU in ATL
October 13th, 2011
6:13 pm
Ok, that was fun reading. As somebody posted here, there isn’t enough crow to go around on the Cam saga.
So in summary, AU won the NC and Heisman in 2010. It stays. That leaves all the top programs in the SEC with a BCS NC that stays. No, UGA is not a top program in the SEC, except maybe in a preseason (ha!) best, case, UGA is middle of the pack in the SEC.
Since the SEC went into divisional play, UA/UF 1 or 2; LSU 3; AU 4, UT5, (based on wins, NC, SEC champs, perfect seasons, trips to ATL) UGA no better than 6 in a conf and division that includes KY and VU. Just the plain truth.
WDE
Joe Bob Thibodaux
October 13th, 2011
6:18 pm
Ray
There is a ring of truth in your postulating.
I think the numerous Georgia Fans might have moved on by now but they haven’t.
Ray, I’m from a distant zip code, what gifts did the bama players receive?
Yeah, the talking heads were out of control, sorta like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and the Texas Longhorn ESPN Network.
Richt, unlike Miles, Saban, and Spurrier, was against paying college players if it were legal.
We have a good week of football almost upon us.
LSU FOREVER
JBT
CRO-MAGNON MAN
October 13th, 2011
6:32 pm
THEY THROW THE BOOK AT GA. TECH OVER SOMETHING MEANINGLESS, BUT NEVER GET AROUND TO ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AT AUBURN….THE NCAA, WHAT A SCAM….JUST COULDN’T FIND A THING….AFTER WANTING 180000, SCAM AND HIS DAD SETTLED FOR NOTHING….
CRO-MAGNON MAN
October 13th, 2011
6:35 pm
THE GUY AT TECH GOT $309 WORTH OF STUFF AND SCAM AND DADDY WARBUCKS GAVE UP ON THEIR GET RICH SCHEME THEY RAN ON MISS. STATE….WILL CALL THE NCAA TO SELL THEM MY OCEAN FRONT PROPERTY IN ARIZONA…THEY WOULD PROBABLY BUY IT ALL….BUT THERE IS NO OCEAN THERE….
CRO-MAGNON MAN
October 13th, 2011
6:41 pm
YOU BOYS CHEATED AND GOT AWAY WITH IT…NCAA LOOKED THE OTHER WAY….IT WILL COME OUT EVENTUALLY….THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT THAT ALL IN STUFF WAS ABOUT……BASICALLY, WE KNOW WE CHEATED BUT WE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER….NCAA LOOKED FAVORABLY ON AUBURN….RULED HIM INELIGIBLE BUT DECIDED HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HIS DAD WAS DOING TRYING TO SELL HIM TO MISS STATE….AND YOU ASKING THE FREE WORLD TO BELIEVE THAT??? WOW
CRO-MAGNON MAN
October 13th, 2011
6:45 pm
NO WAY THE NCAA SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO CONTINUE PLAYING AND RESTORING HIS ELIGIBILITY…BUT THEY WERE IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT, AND THIS MEANT BIG BUCKS TO THE NCAA…BY GOING BACK AND FINDING SOMETHING NOW, THIS WOULD MAKE THEIR DECISION TO RESTORE HIS ELIGIBILITY LOOK LIKE A BAD DECISION ON THE NCAA’S PART…NO WAY THEY GOING DOWN THAT ROAD….
CRO-MAGNON MAN
October 13th, 2011
6:47 pm
DON’T BLAME COACH JOHNSON AND TECH FOR BEING MAD….THEY INSINUATED THAT THE TECH COACHING STAFF/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WERE WRONG FOR DISCUSSING THE SITUATION WITH THE PLAYER BEFORE THE NCAA GOT TO TALK TO HIM….COMING DOWN ON TECH LIKE THEY DID IS AWFUL….
Name your school
October 13th, 2011
6:53 pm
There will always be an “Asterisk” by all those years that Georgia outrecruited us but we kicked dat a$$ head to head and ALWAYS finished ahead of you idiots in the polls.
Peach Fuzz
October 13th, 2011
7:56 pm
Auburn got sigmoidoscopy, UNC got colonoscopy.
UGA2002
October 13th, 2011
8:30 pm
Did you see this in the bleacher report?
Sources at the University of Georgia are not commenting on reports from Yahoo Sports that Bulldog freshman running back Isaiah Crowell’s estranged uncle sought payment in a pay-to-play scheme from the University of Alabama, University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee. Unnamed sources at the SEC say officials from Alabama reported the violation to the SEC in February.
In accordance with new NCAA rules Isaiah Crowell will be suspended indefinitely pending further investigation. Sources close to the Crowell family say the Crowell’s uncle Doug Montague is estranged from Isaiah and he has only met him at family functions as a child and that he has no part in Isaiah’s life. According to compliance officer at one major program that relationship will have to be investigated.and the faster it can be determined he had no contact the sooner he will be reinstated although it could take several weeks.
UGA2002
October 13th, 2011
8:34 pm
Now I made all that up. On an iPhone, that’s hard to do btw.
Anyways, I’m weary of this new Cam rule. What you have is a recipe on how to wreck another schools championship. It’s exactly what dawginlex foolishly wanted last year and while you may claim Cam and his father had a closer relationship how can you be sure? Every day people sleep in the same bed and even you know what with their spouse without ever knowing that same spouse has been you know what-ing with someone else.
This to me is a bad idea. If money exchanged hands you’ll have the evidence, you can’t hide $200,000 all that easily. Especially from the NCAA that wanted this real bad.
Nick Fairley
October 13th, 2011
9:54 pm
Ha ha ha. The best part is, if that story had been true and UGA had to forfeit it’s season because Isaiah Crowell was being paid to play… it’s be an improvement over losing games to say you had to forfeit!!
HA HA HA HA HA.
Nick Fairley
October 13th, 2011
10:02 pm
The problem for UGA fan’s is they believe every August they’ve won the national championship. When reality sets in, they get really mad. So they’re mad a lot.
So when Auburn, who is in UGA fan’s mind beneath UGA, wins out for the second time in a decade and wins the Heisman and BCS National Championship and smokes their team 49-31, they’re outraged. The Cam Newton saga was their outlet, their hope… their falsehood. Because when reality sets in and all they had hoped in terms of NCAA violations won’t ever happen what do they do? They come on the internet and say they were right and the NCAA was wrong!!! HA HA HA HA
This is just plain fun. I hope you know Auburn fans are smiling and laughing and UGA fans aren’t. This is just so much fun.
And you know what.. you know I’m right. We are laughing at you and smiling because you lied and lied and lied and we’re proven wrong and wrong and wrong. No different then saying we’ll beat you and you get beaten 49-31 and you say we cheated because we played Cam and Cam cheated. Instead, we never cheated, and Cam beat the pooh out of you. I agree with whoever said UGA is desperate for their opponents to have injuries and suspensions so they have a chance to win. That says a lot right there and it’s so very true.
You’re about as worthless as the white inbred bag of pooh excuse of a dog for a mascot. UGA I to UGA whatever, what a difference inbreeding makes and how appropriate a mascot.
David0
October 13th, 2011
10:36 pm
Several posters have referred to the NCAA’s new rule that would make a player ineligible if someone solicits money for him, even if he did not know. Do you really think that rule is anything but a nightmare? What if the kid’s stepfather hates him and sets him up? What if his sister is a selfish princess and asks for money? Does it not occur to you how easy it would be to have any team’s best recruit declared ineligible, for something he didn’t do or know about?
The Truth From Texas
October 14th, 2011
1:43 am
Haters are gonna hate. The fact is Auburn was cleared after an exhaustive 13 month investigation and NOTHING was found. Only Alabama is a repeat offender in the NCAA’s eyes in the State of Alabama. Deal with it. 28-27. WDE!
Phillip Fulmer
October 14th, 2011
10:13 am
Maybe if the Mutts were even halfway relevant since a guy named Hershey Bar left campus in the early 80’s, they wouldnt have to worry about Auburn and Florida so much. Ga fans are pathetic losers. Ironic most of them are Falcon fans too. Maybe if either of those teams won, but I digress.
WAR CAM EAGLE
October 14th, 2011
1:10 pm
READ IT AND WEEP DAWGS! WHAT AN EXPENSIVE WITCH HUNT. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE CAN BE INVESTIGATED LIKE CAM AND HIS FATHER AND COME OUT CLEAN? GET REAL. FACE THE FACTS. WE KICKED YOUR HAIRY BUTTS (AND EVERYONE ELSES) FAIR AND SQUARE. HOW ABOUT STARTING A CONSPIRACY THEORY WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY. HAHAHAHAHA@THETOP (youlookmightysmalldowntheredawgnation)!
WAR CAM EAGLE
October 14th, 2011
1:11 pm
THE LAST LAUGH IS ON YOU DAWG IN LEX AND ONE EYED JACK! HAHAHAHAHA@THETOP (youlookmightysmalldowntheredawgnation)!