Another Cam Newton allegation? Sorry, I’m still not swayed
Cam Newton while at Westlake High. He was good then, too. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Another Cam Newton allegation has arisen, this one involving the quarterback himself. Citing an unnamed source, Thayer Evans of FoxSports.com reports that Newton was accused of cheating while enrolled at Florida.
The same Thayer Evans, it must be noted, had already passed judgment on Newton before his latest round of reporting. Wrote Evans last week: “Listen closely, Heisman voters: Do not vote for Newton.”
I no longer vote for the Heisman Trophy. (The AJC now precludes its writers from so doing.) But if I did, I’d have no problem casting a ballot for the Westlake grad.
Because even if he did cheat at Florida — he was also arrested there on three felony counts involving a stolen laptop — he’s not at Florida anymore. (The charges were dropped after Newton completed a pretrial diversion program.) Even if former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond was approached by someone saying it would cost $180,000 to land Cam, as reported last week by ESPN.com, Newton didn’t go to Mississippi State.
He enrolled at Auburn. He plays for Auburn. Neither the school nor the NCAA has ruled him ineligible. This isn’t to say that both parties shouldn’t go back and investigate his recruitment; it’s simply to say that anyone who seriously believes a player should be forced to sit because a charge of recruiting impropriety surfaces that doesn’t involve either the player directly or his chosen school is, shall we say, naive.
(Think of it this way: Auburn plays Alabama the day after Thanksgiving. Auburn and Alabama are — stop the presses — serious rivals. What would prevent an Alabama fan from saying to some news outlet: “Know what? I offered Newton 10 zillion dollars to play for the Tide — somebody suspend that guy now!”)
Yes, naivete cuts both ways. We can be skeptical of Newton. Heck, we can be skeptical of college football writ large. (Ask Clemson fans if they ever wondered about the recruitment of the 1982 Heisman winner, a tailback from Wrightsville, Ga.) But Newton getting arrested at Florida and being accused of cheating there in no way proves there’s anything untoward about his presence at Auburn.
If something implicating Auburn does come to light, that’s a different matter. But we cannot make the Reggie Bush leap — Bush had to return his Heisman, so no future Heisman should go to someone who might have to hand it back — because, at last check, Cam Newton is not Reggie Bush. I mean, come on.
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405 comments Add your comment
MURPHY
November 9th, 2010
10:09 am
Uhoh,
Amen.Then he would have kicked my butt and made me get a job and support myself.I believe his dad saw the dollar signs.
Cam Newton is an excellent student
November 9th, 2010
10:09 am
Awwww everyone give this kid a break! All these allegations are lies. Get a clue people, where there smoke, there fire. This kid is a cheating thug and needs to be suspended immediately.
WDE
November 9th, 2010
10:09 am
Look at it this way.. the reason Cam hasn’t been sitting all season is because there is nothing to substantiate any of these allegations. Auburn/NCAA wouldn’t have allowed him to play this season at all since it has been out for some time. All that is necessary in the court of public opinion is an allegation, its a shame. Like I said, you are all hoping and praying he gets suspended so he doesn’t break records on you.
Clempsun??
November 9th, 2010
10:10 am
Why Clempsun? Every school in the Southeast, and many more nationally knew something was up with Hershel. His showing up with a new Trans-Am and his mom getting a new house proved the smoke and fire was there….Georgia fans saying this wasn’t true were simply liars. But I guess if you never had won a title….better to buy one than earn one. Right UGA fans???
War Eagle
November 9th, 2010
10:11 am
I wish these sources would actually name themselves. You’re saying some pretty damaging things that may or may not be truth. It’s actually illegal for this record to be released so I guess they don’t want to get in trouble themselves. If true, the source broke the law to get this information out. I think that we all made some mistakes growing up. I’ve got a little record back in college that we laugh about today.
You can’t accidentally pee on the seat if you’re an athlete today.
Arod
November 9th, 2010
10:11 am
LEAVE THE KID ALONE! Why all of a sudden since he has been put on the heisman watch/stage people want to say this or that. It is funny that when the college season started no one was saying any of this crap because he wasn’t the “man” at that point and time. btw…this is from a BAMA fan. Cam is probably taking a line from Cee-Lo song “F— You and you…lol
Duck and cover
November 9th, 2010
10:11 am
Auburn wins by 30+ points. A really really serious beatdown, with the hobnail boots and red panties falling from the sky.
It will be a glorious day unless, of course, you’re a dawg.
"Da Real" Damon Evans
November 9th, 2010
10:11 am
cammy cam, it looks like someone is seriously on a mission to destroy cammy cam’s image.
How this information got out is unbelievable and I already smell a lawsuit against UF. Big time dollars for cammy cam.
UF is incapable of hasling confidential info.
suwaneedawg
November 9th, 2010
10:11 am
What do SEC media types and the democratic party have in common? They both like to dig deep into a potential winner and smear the crap out of the person. I am a Dawg fan but, damn this story stinks in timing. One thing for sure Auburn fans, enjoy your time with Cam because next year you will have a new QB.
uga fan
November 9th, 2010
10:11 am
if you think for a second he is the only college football player that has ever cheated you have lost your mind!
Va. Beach Dawg
November 9th, 2010
10:13 am
I’m a Dawg fan who disagrees with Bradley 99% of the time. Not today. Bradley gets one right. This stuff is not relevant to Auburn’s recruitment of this kid. As Gene Chizik would say: “Period. End of story.”
Blind eye
November 9th, 2010
10:13 am
uga fan- agreed- see Herschel, Quincy, ……
DIT
November 9th, 2010
10:14 am
I have to agree about the comment that this is sounding more like a witch hunt. Has anyone found any clear evidence on this matter? or is it all hearsay? Sounds like a bunch of talk so far.
Frank Lane
November 9th, 2010
10:14 am
Mark,
I ask again how a company like the one accused in the Newton case derives income from matching prospects with colleges. Companies cannot survive without income. Boosters cannot pay them. Prospects cannot pay them. Parent cannot pay them. Schools cannot pay them. How do they make money. I call them and they would not talk with me.
SECWasteManagement
November 9th, 2010
10:14 am
He will still play vs. UGA on Saturday so who gives a (insert expletive). Leave the kid alone…Unless of course it means he doesn’t play Saturday…
I-90 Drifter
November 9th, 2010
10:15 am
Let us now begin to glorify cheats and felons! Do you really think people (including athletes) can live their lives that way and still earn ANYONE’S respect? Get a grip Mark; we’re not all blinded by athletic glory. How many felonies have YOU committed? None? Thought so. It ain’t that difficult to act decently.
November 26, 2010... the day Allbarn's dream season goes down the toilet
November 9th, 2010
10:15 am
the chosen one Scam Newton hasn’t done SQUAT in a big time road game. And he won’t this year (that’s if the NCAA doesn’t suspend his cheating a– first).
MURPHY
November 9th, 2010
10:16 am
Clempsun,
Your school bought one in 1981. Just ask ole Danny Ford he will tell you all about it.
Hurt Kurbstreit
November 9th, 2010
10:16 am
Cam cheated on tests whlie at Florida? So what! So, who didn’t cheat when they were in college. All that stuff is behind him now. Leave the kid alone and lets play ball. I don’t know how he and his dad can keep from exploding.
gcs
November 9th, 2010
10:16 am
Why do you think Cam is always smiling?
He is thinking “I can’t believe I am getting away with all this @#$%.”
.
Arrests and more arrests
November 9th, 2010
10:16 am
How many arrests UGA has had, is completely irrelevant.
Oh really? Explain to me how 45 arrests in three years is not relevant.
Urban Crier
November 9th, 2010
10:16 am
I am the un-named source, so what? what are you gonna do about it? Hey pretty lady wanna see my championship ring? efff, efff, efff, gd
Renee
November 9th, 2010
10:17 am
What a bunch of whiners! You wish you had Cam Newton, plain and simple. What is in the past is in the past. You make it sound like Auburn has a one man team–which they most certainly do not. They have a cohesive unit that actually seems to be getting something done this year on the football field. I’ll bet if Auburn wasn’t undefeated, Florida fans weren’t ticked off at Urban Meyer, and UGA fans weren’t sore because their team is losing so badly this year…no one would care what was going on with Cam Newton. No one cared when Urban tossed him off the team in Florida, did they? They choose to try and destroy him now…years later. What kind of hate fuels you people? The kid is a fine football player and from all counts he is becoming a fine young man. Give it a rest. Maybe your favorite team will win next year…
SimpleDawg
November 9th, 2010
10:17 am
Yeah Phil, I was speaking rhetorically…….we miss on too many elite players – either due to our inaccurate evaluations or to the player’s dislike for our preachings….and lack of intensity.
Chris
November 9th, 2010
10:17 am
What do Thayer Evans have against Cam Newton or Auburn. Why is he reporting on records of a student that should be confidential. He should not be reporting on this it is a non issue. Even if it happened he is free to leave a school for whatever reason he wants to, so what. He needs to stop trying to ride this kid and make a name for himself, it shows his lack of character. I can’t believe that Fox would even let him report this crap.
Seriously
November 9th, 2010
10:18 am
Lets put this straight, Green sales a Jersey and gets auto suspended until results then gets another two games. This had NOTHING to do with UGA either but yet he is suspended. How is this different? There is VIABLE proof that Cam did in fact ask for payments from a NCAA school which implicates him. It may not have been from his mouth but I am sure the person asking for the money didnt do it without knowledge.
SECWasteManagement
November 9th, 2010
10:18 am
I cheated all the time in college, but I didn’t get caught like The Camburglar.
middleoftheroadandtiredofit
November 9th, 2010
10:19 am
He’s not a convicted felon. He spent time at a big school, served his penitence at a small school, and is now leading a national championship contention team. If there were anything to find it would be out there by now. It’s a top SEC team and folks who went down the tubes with UGA and the Crimson Tide just can’t stand the possibility of a BCS bowl and Heisman trophy winner from AU in the same year. AU got screwed in 2004 and now this young man will pay the price for his school’s hubris. Let’s hear the scoop on the other trophy contenders too!
Schmee
November 9th, 2010
10:19 am
Shut up Haters. 10-0 AT Auburn. Leading SEC. No crime record, always smiling, headed to the league, he could give a damn about what ya’ll, me, or these reporters say anymore.
Oh, and if all my speculations and allegations were true in this world. It would be one huge f*cked up place. Speculations don’t mean sh*t. neither do the haters hatin’.
DIT
November 9th, 2010
10:20 am
“I cheated all the time in college, but I didn’t get caught like The Camburglar.”
That sounded a lot like Bill Clinton….hmmmm!
NEGACommunityCollege
November 9th, 2010
10:20 am
As a product of the Auburn Student Trailer Parks, I say let’s all stay in denial and love him because the boy just couldn’t, and still can’t, help himself.
Uga fans
November 9th, 2010
10:20 am
The trailer trash of the sec
Seriously
November 9th, 2010
10:21 am
@ Hurt
I for one have never cheated on a test, paper, or anything resulting in a grade in college or HS. You obviously have which makes your statement less creditable.
danny
November 9th, 2010
10:21 am
Good opinion of the situation Mark
Pensacola Dawg
November 9th, 2010
10:21 am
Definiatly going to be some repercussions for Aubarn. No way this kid is even making grades at Aubarn. So they will get thier wins and maybe a NC. But its going to cost em over the next 3 years. So enjoy Aubarn…it aint gonna last
SECWasteManagement
November 9th, 2010
10:21 am
Haha! @ DIT
WDE
November 9th, 2010
10:22 am
Seriously- the problem is there is no viable proof about anything. We all place trust on the media that when an allegation is made public, it will inevitably prove to be true. The fact that he has been playing this whole time means that there is definitely NOT viable proof that Cammy Cam has done anything wrong. Heck, the thing none of you haters want to admit is that he has done absolutely nothing wrong while at Auburn. You are clinging on to allegations from two years and two schools ago in hopes that it will derail the Cammy Cam Express which is going to light you up like a Christmas tree on fire.
Yes we Cam!!!!!!! War Scam Eagle
November 9th, 2010
10:23 am
Anyone Allbarn fan with half a brain knows their in big trouble. This is only gonna get worse, the kid is dirty.
UGA Insider
November 9th, 2010
10:23 am
Myself along with all of the UGA players and coaches want Newton to play this week. If he beats us then so be it, but we want to play AU with their best player on the field. A win over the second sting qb would not be the same and UGA would not get any respect for the win. Opposing fans should also feel the same about USCe, Arkansas and Miss State who beat us without AJ.
South GA Dawg
November 9th, 2010
10:23 am
Auburn is a joke when I graduated in 1981 the AU alumni bought the QB of our high school a new car. Everyone in school knew about it, there was no secret. He played their a year and got kicked out.Hands down the best athlete to ever come out of this area.
Sanford Drive
November 9th, 2010
10:23 am
BRADLEY!!!!!….
look, I found something for you!!!
Under the Alachua County, Florida open records, I found 13 traffic violations for Cameron Jerrell Newton. 12 have already been closed.
BUT…. the 1 that is still in continuance, is for him driving with a suspended license. It every State i know of, this is punishable by arrest. You should know Bradley, you have had freak out moments more than once when a UGA player drives with a suspended license.
I have not heard this from ANYBODY yet Bradley. So go ahead….. BREAK THIS STORY.
Here is the links you need.
Cameron Jerrell Newton’s records…..
https://www.alachuaclerk.org/court_records/gis/index.cfm?section=results
Cameron Jarrell Newton’s case in continuance…..
https://www.alachuaclerk.org/court_records/gis/index.cfm?section=summary&case_id=79227958
Lori
November 9th, 2010
10:23 am
I’m ASHAMED my education came from the University of Florida.
Did Evans EVER make a mistake…particularly as a freshman in college???
This guy is a mouthpiece for Urban Meyer who looks completely STUPID for letting Cam get away. If Cam were not a Heisman frontrunner and if Auburn was not contending for the MNC…..this would NOT be a story at all.
Auburn Rocs!
November 9th, 2010
10:23 am
So Freakin What! Whatever it takes to finally win a NC is just fine with all of us on The Plains!
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
10:24 am
Chan Gailey is going to get Cam Newton. If they get a couple of offensive linemen… with Spiller and Newton in the backfield the Bills might do some serious damage next season.
Mark (a different one)
November 9th, 2010
10:24 am
The kid made some mistakes, he owned up to them and paid a price. He is back in the SEC and he made it back by following the rules. All this other crap is just that. Until someone finds that Newton, his immediate family or Auburn has done something wrong, we need to focus on the season.
I am a UGA season ticket holder and I hope to see a miracle Saturday, but I want it to happen with Auburn at their best. That is what sports is supposed to be about. I don’t hope my appontents star sprains an ankle in practice or gets benched for missing curfew. The SEC teams need to quit trying to win their games off the field, and focus on the actual games.
As for these alleged sources, if you know something, own up and state the facts under your name.
The sports pages have to much information on off the field scandels. This is not a daming of the AJC or the press. It is a daming of our society that wants to win at any cost, and assumes all others do as well.
blazer
November 9th, 2010
10:24 am
Experts trying to bring him down after all these weeks of football!!
Guess they are upset that all their favorite are done in the championship race!!
wish Boise St. and TCU would play for it!! Experts couldn’t stand it!!
Auburn cowllege professor
November 9th, 2010
10:25 am
Mr Newton is making excellent progress in school this fall.
Cow patty tossing: A+
Cow milking: A
African dancing: A++
We are so proud of the progress this fine young man is making… WAR SCAM EAGLE.
The view from the Swamp
November 9th, 2010
10:25 am
South GA Dawg
If you are correct about UGA standards and ethics, please tell me why CMR has not pulled Christian LeMay’s scholarship offer.
Reggie
November 9th, 2010
10:26 am
Wow!!
It sound like a smear job now!! You guys need to get a life!!
ATL is TigerTown
November 9th, 2010
10:26 am
What all this proves to me is that there are a bunch of morons out there with internet access. Cam’s the man and it’s driving you nuts. Get used to it a-holes. This fly in your ointment ain’t going anywhere. War Damn Eagle!