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
PR
October 12th, 2011
8:42 pm
People were bought off. Newton is dirty and so is his dad. He should’ve been sacked from playing but the NCAA has no balls. They only go after white coaches and players. They’re afraid to go after blacks for fear that someone will play the race card on them. THE NCAA IS A JOKE!
Lighthouse
October 12th, 2011
8:42 pm
After the <24 hour suspension to save the SECCG and BCSCG, there was no way they'd "find" anything. Cam said he knew nothing. End of story.
Who cares? Maybe OJ can find the bag-man for them while he's hunting his wife's murderer – at the golf course.
Gator
October 12th, 2011
8:43 pm
What kind of car was Herschel driving at Georgia? Seems as though they won a National Championship then too!
Dawglasville
October 12th, 2011
8:43 pm
Sneekyweek – You are not really going to compare the way football business was conducted during the Dooley, Dye, Ford, Bryant, Switzer era of college football to the way business is done today are you? The Clemson police department had Danny Ford’s number on speed dial. How many courtesy calls do you think Clark County gave Richt? (The answer is none and rightfully so). The kid’s dad is a proven d-bag. The reason you guys are coming out with the “na, na, na, na-na’s” now is because you are so relieved that it is not true. Anyone in the conference, short of Vandy, would be concerned.
Lighthouse
October 12th, 2011
8:44 pm
After the < 24 Hour suspension to save the SECCG and BCSCG, there was no way they'd "find" anything. Cam said he knew nothing. End of story.
Who cares? Maybe O.J. can find the bag-man for them while he's hunting his wife's killer – at the golf course.
Lighthouse
October 12th, 2011
8:46 pm
After the < 24 Hour suspension to save the SECCG and BCSCG, there was no way they'd "find" anything. Cam said he knew nothing. End of story. Who cares?
If the glove don't fit, you must aquit
October 12th, 2011
8:47 pm
Need I say more…What a charade. Guilty.
Lighthouse
October 12th, 2011
8:48 pm
After the less than 24 Hour suspension to rescue the SEC and BCS Championship games, there was no way the NCAA would “find” anything. Cam said he knew nothing. End of story. Who cares?
WEGL
October 12th, 2011
8:48 pm
AsktheQuestionJeff -
“Jeff – I enjoy your columns, but ask yourself this, if Rev. Newton was attempting to milk MSU for $180,000 and Cam didn’t go there, what did Auburn or someone affiliated with the War Eagle/Tiger program provide Rev. Newton?”
Um, how about the opportunity to play for a really good SEC team with an Senior Offensive Line and an excellent Offensive Coordinator whose “system” is the perfect fit to showcase your talents and vault you to the #1 pick for the NFL. A really good strategic move. Same reason that Wilson kid transferred to Wisconsin this year.
boots
October 12th, 2011
8:51 pm
I need someone from Auburn to help me with my taxes and to erase a few parking tickets. Nice going, Tigers. You got away with it like OJ did…
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
October 12th, 2011
8:51 pm
HAHAHHAHAHAHH!!!!!!!!!!
EAT CROW, UGA LOSERS!!!!!!!
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
October 12th, 2011
8:52 pm
A LOT of butthurt UGA/Bama fans out there tonight!
Hey leg humpers, what were you all saying about the “death penalty?”
HAHAHAAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
willie
October 12th, 2011
8:53 pm
Didn’t read all the previous post…but is there a “Double Jeopardy” rule in the NCAA if something does come up later???? Just saying…
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
October 12th, 2011
8:53 pm
“Auburn is not the Champs in anyones eyes”
Nick is a moron.
Delbert D.
October 12th, 2011
8:55 pm
@Lighthouse “Maybe O.J. can find the bag-man for them while he’s hunting his wife’s killer – at the golf course.”
Good intentions, but OJ is currently in prison.
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
October 12th, 2011
8:55 pm
Roll Tide, get off your sister, get a job and quit poisoning plants.
bitter ev--uh--dance
October 12th, 2011
8:56 pm
jeff,—– and i thought CRAVELL was a horrible writer—you sir STINK——4 all burn playas admitt that they were payed for play—-all sworn to the truth —-and you and anyone who continue to say
———where’s the beef???????——-dumb as—s———-i guess scam newton and daddy money bags
————————rule the day———that official opens “PAY FOR PLAY”—-at every scum bag collage
David0
October 12th, 2011
8:56 pm
It WAS bogus for A.J. Green to get suspended for selling his jersey. And if Ohio kids want to trade signatures for tats they should be able to do so, though I don’t understand the longing for an arm full of ink. But those who think, “where there is smoke there is fire” must never have seen a fog machine. The allegations against Auburn were smoke, with no substance; just a media frenzy for ratings and advertising dollars.
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
October 12th, 2011
8:57 pm
Cam’s gonna put a beat down on the loser Falcons this weekend.
Dawglasville
October 12th, 2011
9:01 pm
Racists – Really?!?!? Wow… and to invoke the name of Dr. King…
White people attack Michael Jordan and Tiger because of race? Where do you think the money came from that made them millioniares? I guess it was only blacks buying the gear. I guess you think that black people alone got Obama elected? I’ll speak for the voice of one middle aged white man … I hated MJ and Tiger (I am one of the few) because I hate to see one person dominate a sport like that. I also hated Bird for the same reason. I hate Bonds because he broke my hero’s (the only sports hero I have) home run record. I thought it was funny when he beat the other cheater, Mark McGuire’s, hr record because I hate him more. I hate Cam Newton because he is narcissistic. I hate that he would run out separate from his team. I think that is crummy. (When I say, “hate” I mean sports hate. I really don’t care about any of these guys).
I wonder how Dr. King would feel about accountability? I know how some fans feel about it.
David0
October 12th, 2011
9:03 pm
In 2004 Auburn went undefeated and did not get selected to play in the BCS championship game. What makes anyone out there think that there is bias towards Auburn???
MSU is the team that failed to report a discussion with an MSU booster claiming to represent Cecil Newton until AFTER Cam committed to another team. But Cam also had contact with several other schools in different conferences, and NOT ONE of them was asked to pay for Cam.
Ryans house
October 12th, 2011
9:06 pm
Auburn nowhere near as good as they were last year-had to cut payroll.
War Eagle
October 12th, 2011
9:06 pm
suck it up bama and UGA, You should be happy Herschel Walker, Joe Namth, Julio Jones, Johnny Musso and “Carver Connection” were never investigated by NCAA, both schools would be in LIMBO with probation. Give bama credit they have been caught and put on probation only 4 times since Bear Era. The Ncaa were actually AFRAID of Coach Bryant, that why he never got caught.
MikeP
October 12th, 2011
9:07 pm
For those of you who found the two-page letter a little difficult to comprehend, here’s a followup statement from NCAA spokesperson Stacey Osburn on the AU investigation: “We’ve conducted a thorough investigation and have done all we can do. There’s nothing there.”
Through tax records, bank records, personal observations in the Newton home, business and church on several different occasions, there has not been a single item that indicates any extra money came into that family.
Mississippi States’ Kenny Rogers and Cecil Newton discussed money in a Starkeville hotel on November 27, 2009. $200,000, of which 20,000 was to be Rogers’ fee. Since Rogers couldn’t raise $200, let alone $200,000, that’s where the money talks stopped.
Ask why money was not mentioned on Cam’s recruiting trips to Oklahoma, Tennessee or Auburn, as the NCAA asked. The answer was money was not discussed anywhere but at Mississippi State.
Cecil wasn’t “shopping” Cam’s services, Kenny Rogers was hustling a deal, trying to make a buck. End of story.
Strange Murphy
October 12th, 2011
9:14 pm
This is complete BS!
WDE
October 12th, 2011
9:15 pm
BWA HA HA HA HA! well, all you asterik loving dogs will just have to make do with pulling out your 30 year old Munson tapes of Herschel. It was too rich to have thUGA fans trying to find fault with our national championship.
come on over to our place, we’ll show you what a crystal football looks like.
Murray for Heisman! LMFAO
Notso Fast
October 12th, 2011
9:15 pm
It’s over. Auburn just won again. NCAA is better looking into 2 or 3 hundred dollars of cloths being given to a player than $200,000.
rooster58
October 12th, 2011
9:16 pm
Mark Bradley is somewhere crying. LOL
Dawglasville
October 12th, 2011
9:23 pm
WDE – I think the Dawgs will find a little comfort when we play your WDE in a few weeks.
Shane
October 12th, 2011
9:25 pm
Wow!! When are you guy’s going to realize that the NCAA doesn’t care about former players. They care more about going after the current players at schools. These guys even told HBO they cheated and then turn around and say they didn’t.. Hmmmm. Get real Auburn fans, you know they got hush money to stay quiet!! The NCAA is going to get there hand forced and all of the top programs will eventually come together and do away with the NCAA and go out on there own.
zulu
October 12th, 2011
9:27 pm
Does anyone really think Cecil Newton was able to hide $200,000? Maybe in a coffee can buried in the backyard? Unlikely.
Power Rangers
October 12th, 2011
9:30 pm
It was Nick Fairley’s fault!
Delbert D.
October 12th, 2011
9:31 pm
I wonder who gave the former Auburn players the hush money. The usual suspect, Bobby Lowder, had his bank shut down, and had that fraud investigation.
Top Dawg
October 12th, 2011
9:33 pm
Cheaters
Aubie-won-knobi
October 12th, 2011
9:33 pm
Leg Humpers just need to man up and realize they got owned by CATS! Yes you were whoosies last year but your wishful thinking CERTAINLY is not greater than the NCAA.
Bring It
October 12th, 2011
9:37 pm
Enough of the Cam story. That was over long ago.
I for one am looking forward to beating some Gator ass. Georgia, this is your year to do the same.
However, as a Falcon fan I am feeling conflicted about the game this Sunday. WDE.
Aubie-won-knobi
October 12th, 2011
9:40 pm
Mike P! Leg Humpers everywhere are peeing all over themselves! The AUBIE NATION told them but they didn’t beleive! FAMILY…ALL IN! Auburn University War Eagles! 2010 BCS National Title Champs!!!!!!
Weather Channel Expert
October 12th, 2011
9:43 pm
Cam is dirty. Just admit it. His daddy took cash money. It will all come out in the end. If you believe Cam is innocent you believe OJ is innocent.
Hit A Single
October 12th, 2011
9:43 pm
Do you really believe the NCAA? All they are doing is counting their money. Anyone that gives baseball only 11 and 1/4 scholarships is not capable of making decisions.
*All-Involved
October 12th, 2011
9:44 pm
The NCAA got paid.
Dawglasville
October 12th, 2011
9:46 pm
Aubie-won-knobi – Cpngrats. Let’s see if your coach can continue his success or is this just lightning in a bottle. UGA doesn’t have a whole lot to hang their heads over. 12 SEC titles and a national championship. Auburn has 7 SEC titles and one national champioship. Again, I understand that you are relieved and happy. I hope that after we play you guys this year you will be just as gracious losers as you have been obnoxious winners.
P. Bull Terrier
October 12th, 2011
9:47 pm
I don’t know if the Newton’s got any money from Auburn, but the NCAA sure made it look like they were trying not to find anything. It took weeks for the NCAA to figure out what they were going to do about AJ Green selling his jersey and UGA had no real choice but to keep him on the sideline while the NCAA slowly investigated. GA Tech made the mistake of letting Demaryius Thomas play while the NCAA was trying to figure out if he was guilty of accepting a few hundred dollars worth of clothing and it cost them their ACC Championship. When it came to the Cam Newton case, the NCAA was able to make a decision about his eligibility in the middle of the night and have him back in the line-up the next day. Maybe Cam isn’t guilty of taking money from Auburn, but the NCAA has about as much credibility as the first OJ Simpson jury.
not buying this
October 12th, 2011
9:52 pm
I say the truth will come out at some point and the NCAA will look like morons, more so than they already do
Cam Newton
October 12th, 2011
9:52 pm
Like I said, I had to go to Auburn rather than Mississippi State.
The Auburn money was just too good.
Hit A Single
October 12th, 2011
9:54 pm
The NCAA didn’t want to find any wrong doings. Also it doesn’t take this long unless you don’t know what you are doing. The bottom line is that he is in his second year of pro ball.
hind tit
October 12th, 2011
9:54 pm
The NCAA better come up with a no pimping rule because the the flood gates have just been busted down.
Hit A Single
October 12th, 2011
9:55 pm
Very well put P Bull Terrier!
Aubie-won-knobi
October 12th, 2011
9:56 pm
Dawglasville…US OBNOXIOUS? Leg Humper nation has been GLEEFULLY shouting from Stone Mountain that Tiger Nation would fall. ALL of last year we were on the blogs and EVERY week after Auburn won, Leg Humpers said wait till we played South Carolina. Wait till we played LSU. Wait till we played Georgia. Wait till we played Alabama. Know what? Every week was the SAME VICTORIOUS ending for our beloved Tigers. And then even AFTER the victory…you Leg Humpers said WAIT TILL THE NCAA. Seriously. As a Tiger…we are STILL waiting. Have some class and give props where our props are due. Don’t be a jealous hater. 1980 was a long time ago but at least you STILL have 1980. Give it a rest already.
Aubie-won-knobi
October 12th, 2011
9:58 pm
Cam Newton putted around campus on a Moped…all I want to know is how Herschel Walker afforded that new Trans Am on a college student’s salary….just sayin….
MAD Dawg: Congrats WAR EAGLE !!!
October 12th, 2011
10:00 pm
I will be bold enough to give Auburn credit they deserve. It’s not cheatin’ if you don’t get caught redhanded. The Georgia Bulldogs have more than enoug