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
Thomas Brown
October 13th, 2011
12:29 am
It is just whining UGA fans known as DISNEYdawgs.com who say it is better to have Mark Richt, a Christian, whom I believe is a great guy than to have :
I-A Wins after 2005 through today ( 6 Seasons ) :
1. Boise State 65 wins
2. Florida 59 wins
3. Texas Christian 57 wins
4. Oklahoma 58 wins Choke-la-homa
5. Virginia Tech 55 wins
6. LSU 55 wins
7. Southern California 54 wins
8. Texas 54 wins
9. BYU 53 wins
10. Wisconsin 53 wins
11. Utah 52 wins
12. West Virginia 52 wins
13. Auburn 51 wins
14. Alabama 51 wins on the field
15. Penn State 50 wins
16. Missouri 50 wins – if is last SEC, Auburn & Alabama go to SEC East
17. Oregon 50 wins
18. Hawaii 49 wins
19. Cincinnati 49 wins
20. Texas Tech 49 wins
21. Boston College 47 wins
22. Ohio State 47 wins I thought they are supposed to be Great ?
23. Oklahoma State 46 wins
24. Nebraska 46 wins
25. Navy 46 wins
26. Georgia tek 46 wins – NCAA Probation back-to-back football
27. Georgia Bulldogs 46 wins 2006-2011 – six (6) seasons
I-A Wins 2006-2011 after 2005 through today
DAMON
October 13th, 2011
12:47 am
Don’t tell me the Bees have as many wins as the poddles…….Oh hell, they cheated!!!
gt4ever
October 13th, 2011
1:01 am
What a complete JOKE the NCAA has become….
AubieNC2011
October 13th, 2011
1:25 am
To There Will Always Be An Asterisk and the rest of the haters: Auburn is the 2010 National Champions and will be FOREVER. I live with this fact just fine! You will have to live with that for THE REST OF YOUR LIVES NOW. Doesn’t that just eat at you and frustrate you, like an itch you can’t scratch? Doesn’t that just sour your love of college sports just at bit. Just knowing that it does makes me happy
. PS: Did I mention that Auburn is the 2010 National Champions? 
bamabelle2000
October 13th, 2011
1:43 am
The NCAA dropped the ball last year when they didn’t declare Cam ineligible for the whole season. Let’s be honest here, Auburn get off on a technicality and the NCAA tried to correct itself but it was too late. Whatever evidence that was out there is gone.
Dirty Dawg
October 13th, 2011
2:28 am
Looks as if the ‘hush money’ is still ‘holding out’…just wait til it’s run out and the only way for some of these guys to make some money is to steal it or sell their story. Meanwhile the ‘all in’ bluff is still working.
Craig Spinks
October 13th, 2011
2:38 am
Folks,
Auburn has been cleared of wrongdoing in the recruitment of Newton.
How much of the total NCAA investigation into Newton’s recruitment involved Auburn? Not 100%, not nearly.
Don’t think the Newton matter is over although Auburn’s connection to it, in the eyes of the NCAA, apparently is.
MikeP
October 13th, 2011
2:59 am
bamabelle2000
October 13th, 2011
1:43 am
“The NCAA dropped the ball last year when they didn’t declare Cam ineligible for the whole season. Let’s be honest here, Auburn get off on a technicality and the NCAA tried to correct itself but it was too late. Whatever evidence that was out there is gone.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Auburn got off because nothing of value changed hands. Quoting NCAA spokesperson Suzie Osburn: “We conducted a thorough and complete investigation. There isn’t anything there”.
At bammer, Marcel Darious got free plane rides and some fun parties in Miami. At UGA, Greene sold his jersey for $1,000. At Tech, somebody got $300 worth of clothes. At Auburn, Cam Newton got….nothing. That’s why you other schools got punished and Auburn did not. Live with it.
As much as you DullDawgs and bamzos hate it, Gene Chizik’s Auburn Tigers whipped you fair and square
Win P.
October 13th, 2011
3:02 am
Lots of smoke but no fire found. NCAA’s finding of no creditable evidence of wrong doing helps Auburn and the SEC. Unfortunate that the “Game” is surrounded by this kind of atmosphere. Money corrupts. One thing for sure, somebody lied.
Crimson Crush
October 13th, 2011
3:34 am
You ( and Sgt. Jeff Shultz) might want to pretend this is just about Bama or Georgia fans . A quick trip to ANY sports forum where the idiots don’t end every sentence with W.D.E. (apparently short for W.e D.eny E.verything) shows that is a lie . Fans of teams who NEVER play /*\U in so much as a game of badminton can recognize a b*llsh*t coverup when they smell it .
You can bet that REGARDLESS of what Sgt. Shultz here thinks … this outcome that spits in the face of ALL fari minded college football fans WILL create more problems than the NCAA thinks it just solved by trying to sweep it under the rug .
The NCAA has been slamming other programs for years if their players get so much as a “unauthorized” ice cream cone , sitting players for mutliple games if they accept so much as a car ride to get home for a funeral , keeping investigations against school like the USC Trojans open for over four years . Yet when it comes to the $Cam the NCAA opens and slams the book so fast someone is lucky they didn’t lose a finger . First he is Declared ineligible … then eligible fatser than he could steal a laptop . Then when that didn’t go over well they pretend to investigate to “calm everyone down” . In the middle of that investigation FOUR /*\U players go live , on air , and CONFESS to taking bags of cash … result ? The NCAA can’t find any evidence and those are just “allegations” ROFL ( someone in the NCAA offices might want to learn the different between the words “allegations” and “confessions”
All of which begs the question MikeP … YOU have been the /*\U head clown on AJC comments claiming there was no investigation for months . Now you accept that announcement that the investigation is over and pronounce that it “proves” $Cam U was “clean” all along .
Obviously there was an “investigation” …. even if it was a farce …. not that a fan of a cheating scumbag program like /*\U would care . Lie one week …tell a different lie the next … what’s the difference ? All part of being part of the the “Fambly” lifestyle .
Then again … given the pathetic excuse for “investigation” from the very beginning on this entire charade … maybe you were right all along . The so called “investigation” was obviously more of a “cleanup on Aisle 3″ type thing than any effort to find the truth .
Just curious there … because I am sure it doesn’t happen often for people like you … How does it feel to tell even half a truth … even if it was by accident ?
Congratulations on /*\U being able to find the right mix of liars and scumbags to apparently get away with buying that once in a Tiger fans lifetime whiff of a $Campionship .
mike
October 13th, 2011
4:09 am
Well if they can not find anything on Cam let’s do like they used to do to people who look like Cam. Let’s just make up something and pin it on him. He must have done something wrong other than winning the Heisman trophy, the national title, generating all that money for the NCAA and its member schools as well as the local economy where ever Auburn played. It must be nice for those out there to spend their time hating on Cam. Now they can see him on Sunday’s and really get upset. Maybe now he can help his father with a church where all of you haters need to go.
Give me a break
October 13th, 2011
5:09 am
I’m tired of all the cheating in the NCAA. I rather watch a pro game. Too much money has ruined college football and college basketball.
Rodney King
October 13th, 2011
5:11 am
Caint we all jus’ git along?
dd
October 13th, 2011
5:19 am
Best team money can buy.
Just didn’t get caught, that’s all
Stinger2
October 13th, 2011
5:42 am
My reading skills must have vanished. I read this blog and thought Jeff had wrote about Auburn and the NCAA.
I read the responses and it seems like its about UGA fans.
I guess I am confused.
Jeff
October 13th, 2011
5:43 am
Was OJ innocent or not guilty? Does it really matter because most everyone believes he was guilty and except for those on the plains most think Auburn is a dirty program. Has been and will always be. None of the other SEC programs that have won the NC carry that reputation. Plenty dislike those teams but Auburn is dirty regardless of what a useless body like the NCAA says or the AJC. It does not pass the smell test for Newton to only offer his services to the highest bidder only to back out and accept nothing from Auburn.
All In!
October 13th, 2011
6:00 am
Stinger2 — Hour reedin scills is just fine, thank you. s/ Auburn Nation
Bill
October 13th, 2011
6:19 am
As a Dawg fan, I guess there is such a thing as karma.
in 2004, Auburn had the best team in the country and was undefeated, but didn’t get a chance to play for the NC.
They were shafted big time and probably would have won either matchup with the other 2 undefeated teams. …
In essence, this was their delayed NC for 2004 AND also for last year.
However, the karma is probably used up now, and don’t think that the NCAA won’t still have a wary eye on the Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsman.
Go Dawgs.
Tennis Rodman
October 13th, 2011
6:27 am
So it is ok for you diddy to ask for money…and shop you around like a PIMP? The NCAA proved and agreed to this? Cam is just a HO.
Tennis Rodman
October 13th, 2011
6:29 am
Auburn is the Casey Anthony of college football.
LOL. I like it.
UGA2002
October 13th, 2011
6:34 am
Dawg ‘88
October 12th, 2011
10:57 pm
sCAM newton, Inc. gets away with extortion….NCAA strikes again.
AJ Green sells his jersey and gets suspended 4 games.
sCAM and his Dad cheat beyond belief and get…nothing.
The NCAA….a joke at best…hypocrites!
And don’t give me that sCAM didn’t know….I’ve known what my father was doing on my behalf since I was born. Plus, where did he think that new church came from. The fact that Auburn accepted a criminal from Uf tells me all I need to know about them. The “family” is corrupt!
All In…gamblers cheat all the time!
———————
You’re probably what, 45 years old? And you’re writing this? With that much anger? Get over yourself and grow up. You look like a fool. You can’t stand Auburn can win National Championships and we can’t. That’s all this is. Your hated rival you thought was beneath you is actually above you… even on a down year for them.
Some of you are just sad. Nothing on or off the field turned out as you want and your angry and bitter about it. There were promises and I read them here of FBI tapes nailing Auburn. Then an article came out that said Cam or Auburn was never mentioned in those tapes. So those of you who said that lied. And those who said the NCAA would find Auburn guilty, you lied. You had no idea what you were talking about. So your recourse is to sit here and throw a tantrum worthy of a… Georgia fan. Sigh.
Wake up. Go get a shower. Go on. Be a man and say “congratulations Auburn”. Be a man and realize the NCAA (as another source said put tremendous amount of money and people into the Auburn investigation) walked onto that campus, interviewed 80 people, looked at every record and came out with nada and not even a side offense. Pretty darn impressive.
And Alabama fans… you’re on the verge of the death penalty and there are pictures turning up with your football players having dinner with boosters and signing pictures at a clothing store that the school disavows itself from. You’re skating on thin ice. I wouldn’t talk trash to Auburn. They’re not.
UGA2002
October 13th, 2011
6:42 am
Bill
October 13th, 2011
6:19 am
As a Dawg fan, I guess there is such a thing as karma.
in 2004, Auburn had the best team in the country and was undefeated, but didn’t get a chance to play for the NC.
They were shafted big time and probably would have won either matchup with the other 2 undefeated teams. …
In essence, this was their delayed NC for 2004 AND also for last year.
However, the karma is probably used up now, and don’t think that the NCAA won’t still have a wary eye on the Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsman.
Go Dawgs.
—-
As a Dawgs fan there is such a thing as Karma? So if I am a Dawgs fan I believe in Karma? Or Karma only applies to UGA fans? I’d think “as a Hindu there is such a thing as Karma” would make a lot more sense.
Count me out. I don’t believe in it.
Right
October 13th, 2011
6:42 am
*********************** there willl always be an ********************************
Swamp Thing
October 13th, 2011
6:50 am
I guess it’s easier to make cash disappear than tattoos. Buckeyes should learn from this.
nowoolomyeyes56
October 13th, 2011
6:53 am
NCAA is like every other major organization; they decide who they are going to screw over like AJ Green and give Cam Newton via his Daddy a pass. No way that Cam and pastor Daddy did not have daily conversations about schools and ways to get him the best deal. Absolutely NO WAY. Do not care how Cam is touted by everybody in the sports world; he is a physically great athlete but he is a cheater that rose to fame on that BIG CHEAT. Will NEVER pull for him in pro football or his team and waiting for the day that the real truth unfolds even if 20 years from now.
eddy
October 13th, 2011
7:06 am
Cam will always be a triple threat…liar(Sgt Scultz defense), a cheat (see UF) and a thief (see UF) and of course Cecil, pastor at the Church of What’s Happening Now (is a new Escalade in the future) Good grief even Stevie Wonder could connect those dots but then again we are talking about the NCAA which has the same degree of integrity as Ceil!!
Kinda reminds one of Jeremiah Wright.
money no
October 13th, 2011
7:06 am
cam and cecil hid that money good! auburn got a title, cam cashed in!!! money talks baby!
JB
October 13th, 2011
7:08 am
OK, let’s have some class. In the current system, BCS and the NCAA, Auburn is cleared and Won the title under the current format. I say congrats from this Dawg fan. And you won it on the field, not by some vote. Good job.
Asterisk
October 13th, 2011
7:12 am
That’s two. Fifty years from now, we’ll pull it off again.
Hide & watch!
ROCK STEADY FREDDY
October 13th, 2011
7:13 am
The DAWGS should just start bending the rules like bammer, aubren and tennershe. That’s all there is too it.
Beast from the East
October 13th, 2011
7:19 am
Jeff,
I agree. No evidence means it’s time to close the book on this at Auburn. What I would like to know is how is MSU waking away from all of this? Weren’t they the ones actually having the conversations with Cecil Newton about pay for play? Can you shed some light on this for us?
Dan Mullen
October 13th, 2011
7:24 am
While it may (or may not) be true that Cecil Newton sought financial compensation from Mississippi State in exchange for Cam Newton’s services, I told the NCAA investigators that I had no knowledge of any such discussions. That was good enough for them. They cleared us of all wrongdoing in less than 24 hours.
BAMA STAN
October 13th, 2011
7:26 am
13 NATIONAL TITLES -22 SEC TITLES!!!
Time to move on!
Congrats to Auburn on a great year last year – they won it on the field and beat us in a great game.
Do I believe that money changed hands between AUBURN boosters and Cam’s father?
It’s irrelevent.
Let’s focus on 2011!
Pat Dye
October 13th, 2011
7:37 am
If you’re gonna pull off this sort of heist, you have to be all in. You had better make sure that you’ve got all of your pieces in place. If you manage to get yourself in position to embarrass not only your conference, but your entire league by blowing up the post-season and costing the SEC, the NCAA and the BCS millions of dollars, then you’d be surprised by the ease with which you can prove your innocence. Throwing a little Jesus© into the mix doesn’t hurt either.
This is not a game for the feint of heart. This is a maneuver that should only be attempted by seasoned professionals. By he way, have you seen my new office? Come on in. I’ll show you around.
HAHAHAHA
October 13th, 2011
7:37 am
So many haters. Tell you what – all those Auburn haters and people insisting that Cam is guilty (their only basis is they believe rumors) – why don’t you spend time worrying about your own football programs (which are going down the tubes) instead of Auburn’s.
GET A LIFE.
Chopdawg
October 13th, 2011
7:38 am
So, it’s OK for your daddy to try to sell YOU to the highest bidder for hundreds of thousands, but don’t dare sell anybody your own shirt. Thanks NCAA, now we all know the rules.
UGA FAN
October 13th, 2011
7:39 am
Boooo Hoooo
Booooooo Hooooooo
I’m so distraught that Auburn is a better program than UGAs, that I refuse to stop spreading the rumors and lies about Cam. I’m a really sore loser with no life.
What a joke.....
October 13th, 2011
7:41 am
If you beleve this………..then I have a bridge to sell you in NYC. Bottom line- Cammie didnt get caught. Amazing they have already proven his daddy solicited money but somehow he decided to come to the barn for free……what a complete and utter joke the NCAA is……BS!!!!!!!
Bama Aaron
October 13th, 2011
7:42 am
The problem with this case is it always relied on someone coming forward and fessing up. Which wasn’t likely to happen as AU has a long history of paying to shut people up (coaches & players alike). I haven’t read the report but listening to the comments of people who have it was more a fact of what they had “not meeting a burden of proof” than them not having anything. And they noted how curious it was that everything was totally clean…no secondary violations found either, which almost 100% of the time are found during this type of investigation. Which tells me everything was spit cleaned to upmost to complete the cover up. So congrats, you kept everyone quiet and got away with it. But I for one will never believe he played for free after asking for money elsewhere, that just doesn’t make sense.
Tennis Rodman
October 13th, 2011
7:42 am
Cam’s smile and when he raises his arms to the sky…it was worth $200,000 easy.
Not Guilty!
October 13th, 2011
7:43 am
It’s not the same as Innocent, but it’ll do!
Waw Weagle!!!
georgiadawg70
October 13th, 2011
7:44 am
Looks like everyone knows what Louder and Raines was doing but the NCAA.
Barnyard Follies-
October 13th, 2011
7:45 am
Hey…HAHAHA…..Know what everyone thinks of Auburn????? Let just put it this way…..it’s ashame the tornado didn’t come thru Auburn instead of Tuscaloosa……
S GA AU FAN
October 13th, 2011
7:47 am
War Eagle!!!
To all the haters especially the FBI tape guys….ROFLMFAO!!!
2010 NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!
S GA AU FAN
October 13th, 2011
7:48 am
When we are finished, we will tell you we are finished and we are finished!
JSH
October 13th, 2011
7:49 am
“mercenary” – 1. working or done for payment only; venal: greedy. 2. designating a soldier (football player) serving for pay in a foreign army (football team).
Two players (Newton, Fairley) hired for one year to win a national championship. Congralations on the national title.
Auburn: best QB money can buy
October 13th, 2011
7:49 am
All it’s going to take is someone coming forward…..it will happen……That Auburn has no knowledge of any of this is a joke…….it isnt like this is the first time this outhouse college has cheated…….they have a storied history of it
Trojan
October 13th, 2011
7:51 am
This is crap. I can’t believe that so called journalist would say, “oh, he didn’t know what his father did, he is a good boy who accidentally stole a laptop, accidentally cheated twice, accidentally took $180K”.
But the same journalist will write column after column after column after column about a scooter incident at UGA.
Cam Newton
October 13th, 2011
7:56 am
I like my trophy and all, but I just want to make this one thing clear. In my heart, I will always be a Gator!
Barner B. Jones
October 13th, 2011
7:58 am
our fine universitie will be offering classes to the rest of the sec on how to cheat and git away with it begining this fall.