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
Jeff
October 13th, 2011
7:59 am
Cam and Barry Bonds have the same smile.
Athens 93
October 13th, 2011
8:00 am
Jeff, Thank you for your even handed approached with this story. While it may have garnered more attention (look at me! look at me!) to write sensational garbage, temperance and facts are far more appreciated.
To all my fellow Georgia brethren, let this one go. No one can prove Auburn did anything wrong, and it certainly wasn’t from a lack of looking.
Jeff
October 13th, 2011
8:03 am
Cam looks like a ventriloquist dummy.
Shug
October 13th, 2011
8:04 am
Mr. Schultz, you give the NCAA a credibility it doesn’t deserve. There is no reason to believe that it is any less incompetent at investigating cheaters than it is at anything else. I also think it was in the NCAA’s interest not to uncover any sordid detail at Auburn. Time to put the ole head back in the sand and collect the check.
Poor ole Dawgs
October 13th, 2011
8:05 am
Conspiracy theories are always more common amongst the poor and disenfranchised and with Georgia once again on the sidelines watching the SEC on it’s way to its 6th straight BCS title and nothing to show for it they have to blame someone else to keep them from confronting their own inadequacies. Perhaps UGA should join the Big East where they could finally move up from the kids table.
KAW
October 13th, 2011
8:06 am
@Barnyard Follies — what a rude comment. How dare you wish a tornado come through a devestate a town.
Jeff — please remove comments such as these. What happened in Tuscaloosa is absolutely tragic and to wish that kind of death and destruction on another town is just repulsing.
yep
October 13th, 2011
8:13 am
OJ SIMPSON = AUBURN
DC
October 13th, 2011
8:16 am
everyone apologize to me now for all the hateful words you stated haha ..man a lot of egg on some people here good work on MikeP, trisa, wde (the auburn fan one), kiss the ring..and im sure there are others for holding your ground on this! man o man!
Bama Bill
October 13th, 2011
8:16 am
Never realized the NCAA was truly searching for the truth or even investigating ? Time will tell – just wait and see. The 1-day suspension for “holding up” MSU tells the story and cover-up ambition of the NCAA.
Brandon
October 13th, 2011
8:19 am
Cam Newton takes $200,000, tells everyone involved to lie but “cooperate” with the NCAA = no punishment……Demarius Thomas takes clothes from an ex-teammate who may or may not end up gaining employment from an agency, Tech is scene as non-cooperative for telling the NCAA to suck it = $250,000 fine, loss of ACC Championship (that the NCAA said they would kept Thomas eligible for anyways), and 4 years probation…….
Cam Newton
October 13th, 2011
8:20 am
You know what’s really funny? 200K is just walking around money for me now.
Thanks Aubarn!
Barnyard Follies
October 13th, 2011
8:21 am
KAW…..you are 100% correct. I absolutely appoligize for the comment- it was made in haste to respond to the gloating auburn fans…….I would never wish anything like that upon anyone……time to keep college football games in perspective……..
Thanks for calling it out!
Poor ole Dawgs
October 13th, 2011
8:21 am
Florida = 2 BCS Titles
LSU = 2 BCS Titles
Auburn = 1 BCS Title
Bama = 1 BCS Title
UT = 1 BCS Title
Vandy, UGA, Ole Miss, UK, etc. = Squadoosh!
yep
October 13th, 2011
8:25 am
2nd yr coach chizik goes undefeated – NOT coach of year as voted on by peers.( a 3 loss spurrier is) cam newton freakish athlete -not player of the year as voted on by other SEC schools. what did the voters know???hmmm.
observer
October 13th, 2011
8:25 am
Nothing like reading georgia dog comments for a good laugh. There is ZERO EVIDENCE of any wrongdoing by Auburn, but dog fans are still convinced they CHEATED. hahahaha..I’m no Auburn fan but you have to be pretty small, ignorant people to not give them their due. There was a lot more evidence that uga cheated with Herschel 32 years ago when they won their one and only “title” in the modern era. And, oh yeah, Auburn won their title on the field. The old uga title was just”polls”.
Pickled Pigs Feet
October 13th, 2011
8:31 am
Im gonna pimp my son and my ride!! Suckas!!
frAUd
October 13th, 2011
8:35 am
Yes, Identity crisis U may have been cleared, but what does that really say? The NCAA may be the most corrupt group in the land. No way Scam would not play in the BCS title game last year….too much $$$$ involved. frAUd has had way too many times where they have been on suspension for things in the past, so it is not like they are innocent. Oh, and for all of the plainsmen lovers….Scam is NO war eagle, I mean tiger, or whatever. Dude got kicked out of UF, played Juco ball and used you as a springboard to a nice payday in the NFL.
Cam Newton
October 13th, 2011
8:35 am
I’ve learned an important life lesson from this whole experience. It’s not what you do that matters most. It’s what you get caught doing.
I was just a rank amateur when I left Florida, but I left Blinn as a seasoned professional.
Bill
October 13th, 2011
8:36 am
Hey Dawg fans — eat it. Seriously.
DC
October 13th, 2011
8:36 am
yep…voters are voters..heck someone voted TCU as #1 in the final poll….its what you call sour grapes….im sure you got a mouthful right now..
Mo Cash
October 13th, 2011
8:38 am
everyone knows cam and cecil took all that money—they hid it so good the ncaa can’t “prove” it–very simple.
jr
October 13th, 2011
8:39 am
Shultz never, ever thinks “student athletes” do anything wrong – T. Pryor would have to kill someone for this guy to condemn him.
DawginLex
October 13th, 2011
8:39 am
since everyone knows the NCAA can’t get out of its own way, why are we surprised at this?
I’m not
The NCAA is the biggest joke in the world
They target certain individual and certain schools
They allow their leadership to have agendas that get played out by targeting certain schools and individuals.
No consistency in enforcing the rules
Auburn didn’t get caught. Big deal.
NCAA is a joke
Pimp Daddy
October 13th, 2011
8:39 am
Hiding $180,000 cash? very simple, my man. I want more!
DC
October 13th, 2011
8:40 am
Mo Cash…180K-200K just doesn’t go missing..that is a very large paper trail…
I’m not surprised that people are still on the conspiracy theory kick…but you would think some of these people that were barking would have retracted some statements…
Proud Tiger
October 13th, 2011
8:40 am
Well well well…..looks like all the jealous puppies can shut it now!! No progam is a clean one but for gosh sakes shut up already! Its over its done and every true Auburn fan knew that from the beginning.
It was a jealous Gator coach who lost his job and his health knowing he let the best QB go from his team that started all this crap to begin with. He wishes he would have kept Cam as his QB now and Auburn was glad (and lucky) to take him into the family.
WDE!!!!!!
yep
October 13th, 2011
8:41 am
OK DC..Why do you think they voted against them? It’s an award given by 12 teams in the SEC….
Whiskey Breath
October 13th, 2011
8:43 am
The NCAA has never used evidence to decide a school’s fate. They don’t have to, they are not a court of
law. It is more about how bad they want a school to go down. If the powers to be want a school to go down, they will. Some schools get a pass, their long history of dodging the NCAA proves it.
Congrads Auburn, you got away with a big one. I tip my hat to Bobby Lauder and Pat Dye, your the best.
Poor ole Dawgs
October 13th, 2011
8:44 am
Dawg fans remind me of Dick “WMDs” Cheney. Wait, they didn’t find any? Well, they are still guilty in my book, now give me my shotgun, I hear there is a feisty critter living in that cute house over on the sidelines.
DC
October 13th, 2011
8:47 am
Jealousy…they think they know best…i’m sure they felt like they “knew” Auburn was guilty…Kirk Herbshreit (sp) said it best last year on the heisman voting..you cant vote as if someone is guilty..you vote on who was the best player on the field this year.
Cam Newton
October 13th, 2011
8:47 am
@Proud Tiger
It wasn’t Urban’s fault. He covered for me as long as he could. It was my jealous classmates who turned me in for cheating on my exams. Coach couldn’t get me out of that one.
Don’t matter now. I got in the League and I got to wear the Blue & Orange while I did it.
Once a Gator – Always a Gator!
Ernest T. Bass
October 13th, 2011
8:49 am
OJ was found innocent too.
Doesn’t change a thing. They just couldn’t prove it.
Auburn never won the title and there was no Heisman winner last year.
Case Closed.
Supes
October 13th, 2011
8:51 am
the truth will come out eventually.
hard to find evidence when u pay in cash and people lie…
anyone with common sense knows that Auburn bought Cam, it wont be the first or last time it happens. College football and the NCAA is a mess.
I wonder if 10-20 years from now, someone talks…what then? How long will the secret stay buried?
Ernest T. Bass
October 13th, 2011
8:51 am
Once a Gator – Always a Gator!
Thats true
Scam is still a gator at heart.
Even though he got thrown out for cheating on exams and stealing laptops and unpaid parking tickets he still is a gator at heart.
Hollywould
October 13th, 2011
8:52 am
Well, Well, Well, Columbus Dawg, destin Dawg, paul-in-destin, dawg forever, and all the other fortune tellers on these blogs better go back to their day job or get off mom’s computer. After a year and a half
of hearing all the horror stories of what will happen it turns out to be NUTHIN. And now dawginlex is now telling everyone how the ncaa is run. When will u people ever learn? Oh, never mind, you are delusional leg humpers. You may now kiss the ring!!! War Eagle!!
WarDamnEagle in Atl
October 13th, 2011
8:52 am
It’s great to have this finally put to bed. We won the National Championship (the first in my lifetime) and now we can truly enjoy it. All those with classy comments, thanks for that. Those who just can’t accept it and are just envious that we won and they didn’t, please, put yourself in our place and tell me you wouldn’t have supported a player on your team with the same accusations. Let’s say a rumor about Isaiah Crowell came out saying his father shopped him around to other schools, but he nor UGA knew anything of it……would it be fair to suspend him without any proof?
WDE to the Auburn nation , now let’s kick some Gator tail.
DC
October 13th, 2011
8:52 am
dang Ernest T Bass…do you look up your facts on tigerdroppings or some roll tide website…please post something factual…
Gary
October 13th, 2011
8:54 am
If history is any indicator, Auburn will get caught again. Just don’t think the NCAA went after the right school. They should investigate Florida for keeping a laptop thief and a three time cheater. How many players on that team should have been dismissed. Auburns day will come. You keep cheating eventually you will get caught.
Joey
October 13th, 2011
8:55 am
Smart of them to deal in cash.
Cam Newton
October 13th, 2011
8:55 am
People think we chose Auburn over MSU because of a better offer. That wasn’t it. I just didn’t look good in Maroon. If Auburn hadn’t coughed up the dough, we were headed for Clemson.
Blue & Orange Baby!
Blue & Orange!
Ernest T. Bass
October 13th, 2011
8:55 am
NCAA is telling the world that selling jerseys is a greater crime than schools buying players. A truly corrupt organization.
Dawglasville
October 13th, 2011
8:56 am
Aubie-won-knobi – I’m happy the conference kept the streak going. Congrats on your trophy. I can’t wait for you guys to come to Athens. I know that you guys won’t take your lumps and be congratulatory, but it will be nice to bring things back to normal.
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE, “Dawglasville, I’ll make it brief for you and other Peabrain people out there. Get your facts right. AU has 2 NC, that’s National Championships and several other Undefeated seasons including 14-0 in 2004.
I did not realize you guys counted the 1957 AP Championship. You know the one the AP gave you although you could not play in a bowl game because you were on probation. Oh, and the other undefeated season, why didn’t you win the title that year? Could it be probation? Your team has been on probation 6 times. Why are you surprised that the whole world thought there was something to this? I’m glad Auburn was innocent. I don’t want the see the SEC blown up like the SWC. We will see you in Athens soon and you guys can leave taking comfort in the fact that your team won the glass trophy last year.
Cam Newton
October 13th, 2011
8:57 am
We had an offer for 180,000 at Miss St but we just changed our mind at the last minute and went to Auburn for free.
And they NCAA bought it.
LOLOLOLOLOL
*All-Involved
October 13th, 2011
8:57 am
What do OJ Simpson, Casey Anthony, Roger Clemens, Amanda Knox, and *Auburn all have in common? Guess. The NCAA can say that they didn’t find anything but we all know *AU, we all know. And we’ve known for years. As my daddy used to tell me, “a reputation is something you build for a lifetime, but you can tear down in a day”.
DawginLex
October 13th, 2011
8:58 am
hollywould
so you think the NCAA is a well run organization?
That explains a lot………..
WarDamnEagle in Atl
October 13th, 2011
8:58 am
Hey Ernest…..I hope you get arrested for a crime you didn’t commit and then have a bunch of jurors with your belief system (LOL). “Ahhh, there’s no proof he did it but I have a feeling so …..GUILTY!!”
Please!!!
WDE!!! 2010 Champs…Kiss the ring
virginia dog
October 13th, 2011
8:58 am
The NCAA is not a legal body and it has no power to prosicute so when it runs into a wall of silence it is powerless. Professional cheaters like Auburn football or Kentucky basketball know the rules and there right so it takes a while.
In the next 3 to 5 years it will break, someone will brag or someone will deciede to write a detailed book and the skinny will emerge.
Like Bob Dylan said … “steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king.” And right now Auburn is king.
Lindsey
October 13th, 2011
8:58 am
Last night I saw how the NCAA is ending their investigation into Cam via Facebook, it was all my Auburn fans who posted it. Most of the people who I know and who are not Auburn fans believe Cam Newton had some type of knowledge of what his father was doing. Even though no one could prove it, Cam and Cecil have shown by their past actions what kind of men they are. Stealing and selling out your son…when you are a pastor. At this point though there is nothing anyone can do, Cam is making big bucks in the NFL and if something were to come out now it would hurt the school, not the Newtons. Wonder how Tiger fans would feel then? Cam is a great player no doubt, I just think the NCAA totally missed this one. I can’t wait until 11/12 when the Tigers come to Athens, after the dirty playes last year I hope the Dawgs take care of business. I have a feeling Aaron Murray will be awesome, after what Nick Un-Fairley did last year he will be ready! GO DAWGS!!
HM
October 13th, 2011
8:59 am
Yeah, right. Nothing to see here folks; move along, move along.
*All-Involved
October 13th, 2011
8:59 am
I wonder how much those players who went on HBO got paid.