More on Cam: Urban Meyer claims he wasn’t the town crier
Get the picture: Cam Newton plays for Auburn but used to play for Florida and considered playing for Mississippi State. Last week ESPN.com reported that former MSU quarterback John Bond — from Valdosta, by the way — was told it would cost the Bulldogs $180,000 to land Newton. On Monday FoxSports.com reported that Newton was facing expulsion for cheating at Florida.
Today’s development in this swiftly moving SEC tempest: Urban Meyer, who coached Newton at Florida, told Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun he hadn’t leaked the information to FoxSports. Dooley quotes the Urbanator thusly:
“Obviously, it’s a joke. I don’t know anything about anything. I heard they’ve got me meeting with the agent and all that. I never met with anybody. It’s ridiculous.”
According to Dooley, the Florida media relations department went so far as to release this statement from Meyer:
“Our entire focus right now is on preparing for our biggest game of the year against South Carolina. For anyone to think that I or anyone on our staff may have leaked information about private student records to the media doesn’t know us very well. It’s a ridiculous claim and simply not true.”
None of this has anything to do with us here in Atlanta. Except that Newton played at Westlake High and lives in College Park, and his father is the pastor of the Holy Zion Church of Deliverance in Newnan. And also that Auburn, which is ranked No. 2 in both the Associated Press poll and BCS standings, faces the Georgia Bulldogs this weekend and can clinch a berth in the SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome by winning. And that Auburn could well meet — small world! — Urban Meyer’s Gators here on Dec. 4.
According to Charles Goldberg of Al.com, Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs released a statement — hey, it seems the thing to do — regarding Newton on Tuesday:
“In the past 24 hours, a lot of allegations have surfaced that date back two years ago and further. These allegations and rumors about Cam Newton are unfortunate and sad because they seem intent on tearing down the reputation of a young man who has done everything we’ve asked him to do.
“Cam has been and continues to be completely honest with us. Cam is, by all accounts, a great kid. Any discussion of academic records is a clear violation of federal privacy laws. We will not go down that path or stoop to that level as others have apparently done. We will, however, emphatically say that Cam is eligible to play football at Auburn University both academically and athletically.
“I am proud of this young man and the progress he has made to be a better football player and a better man. We are truly blessed that Cam is a part of the Auburn family, and we support him 100 percent.”
More linkage! If you’re wondering what I, famous Auburn fan that I am, have to say about this, you can click here.
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323 comments Add your comment
HAIRYBALLSINMYMOUTH
November 9th, 2010
1:16 pm
Its college football. WHO CARES. They dont even have a playoff. TCU would WHOOP auburn.
GO FALCONS
Urban Creyer
November 9th, 2010
1:16 pm
no big deal
reebok
November 9th, 2010
1:16 pm
Cam Newton is rude to old people and he doesn’t like dogs.
reebok
November 9th, 2010
1:18 pm
Cam Newton was born in Kenya, he’s not even a US citizen, and he’s a Socialist.
Tweets that mention More on Cam: Urban Meyer says he wasn't the town crier | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
November 9th, 2010
1:18 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by AJC , amy mengel, Mark Bradley, Brittany Johnson, MUCHO DENIRO OF 67 and others. MUCHO DENIRO OF 67 said: RT @ajc: Urban Meyer says let's search for the real leakers in Cam Newton cheating scandal. http://bit.ly/93t6h7 #indenial [...]
Jan Kemp's ghost
November 9th, 2010
1:18 pm
Why is any UGA fan even commenting on this story?
reebok
November 9th, 2010
1:18 pm
Cam Newton believes in Global Warming AND evolution.
timthebrave
November 9th, 2010
1:19 pm
If it’s the NCAA looking into it I would be really worried if I was an Auburn fan. Not that I think they will find something that serious but they probably will find something.
Notso Fast
November 9th, 2010
1:21 pm
Makes you wonder. I have always wondered why Florida whould let him go IF all he did was buy a stolen computer. Any of us could have done that. Makes you wonder was there more to it.
Rob in Chapel Hill
November 9th, 2010
1:22 pm
I do have a serious question for Mark. I understand the pressure, pragmatically, to publish the allegations about Newton at Florida. But in terms of journalism ideals or ethics, I would like to hear the AJC’s argument for why it is appropriate to publish those allegations. Clearly the paper is letting Fox Sports do the dirty work, by casting the story as, “Fox Sports is reporting that…” That seems like proof to me that the AJC doesn’t really think it’s justified in publishing it, and doesn’t have enough facts to go to print with a story of its own. Can you comment, Mark?
Pensacola Dawg
November 9th, 2010
1:23 pm
Aubarn will end up paying the price for this one. No way this kid is clean. So now Aubarn has started the one and done in football. Still glad he is playing on Saturday, beating the barners with thi pay for play punk will make sweet!
Norm's Panties in a KNOT
November 9th, 2010
1:24 pm
Colorado’s Coach just got fired. HAHAHAHAHAHA. They beat BIG BAD BRUCE and the DAWGS, but the coach gets fired. UGA should keep Bobo forever, PLEASE.
RealDawg
November 9th, 2010
1:24 pm
Cam Newton hates old people and puppies.
God Bless America... and no one else
November 9th, 2010
1:24 pm
BTW MB, did you happen to catch the article praising Auburn fans and Auburn hospitality published in The Daily Gamecock after the AU – SC game? Kinda blows away your “worst fan” theory.
EDawg71
November 9th, 2010
1:26 pm
As a UGA fan, I’ve been through the stages of denial. “I’m sure he paid that parking ticket” or “I’m sure he just forgot that his license expired”. To all my Auburn friends, to honestly believe there is nothing to any of this is pretty naive. As for the timing of all this, with being undefeated and Cam leading the Heisman race, it’s all about $$$ for the papers and sports channels and this is prime time to break the story for them.
npgator
November 9th, 2010
1:26 pm
Since nobody knows wno leaked this story (I bet anything is wasn’t coach Meyer) my guess is Mark Schlabach. That’s right he is a smug, frustrated Bulldog fan who is not above something like this. By the way who are the Bulldogs playing this week? Oh yeah – Auburn!
Norm's Panties in a KNOT
November 9th, 2010
1:28 pm
So Bark B the last post you stopped must have some legs? HAHAHAHA Just kidding. If it is good enough for Damon isn’t it good enough for you? LOL
BG
November 9th, 2010
1:28 pm
Urban spilled the beans on Cam. Urban would give his right arm to have Cam on his team. Urban is like a spoiled 4 year old girl!!
JB
November 9th, 2010
1:28 pm
Would anyone really be surprised if Urban Cryer were behind this stuff? I mean really? This is a guy who plays people who make death threats and who calls time outs, late, with big leads. He’s a punk. Sorry but it is what it is.
And BTW, Bobo’s doing a terrible job when UGA scores 30+ for 5 consecutive weeks, for the first time ever. Anyone with a clue knows the D is a far bigger issue than the O.
HBTD!!!
EDawg71
November 9th, 2010
1:28 pm
npgator, Schlabach doesn’t have the pull or cred to cause this much ruckus.
blue
November 9th, 2010
1:29 pm
Chipperdawg; You do understand, don’t you, that the “presumed innocent until proven guilty” thing you TRIED to quote is for the legal system, right? There are no rights that others outside of a courtroom have to assume anyone is innocent of anything. Just the way it is, like it or not…
JB
November 9th, 2010
1:32 pm
EDawg – Nor the access. What a reach by a lizard.
HBTD!!!
Norm's Panties in a KNOT
November 9th, 2010
1:32 pm
Hawkins was 19-39 and 3-6 but he and Colorado did beat UGA. I though beating UGA could let you keep your job! Well I guess not. Everybody (other than High School teams) are beating UGA this year.
Seriously
November 9th, 2010
1:32 pm
To Aderb 12:36
Nick Saban lost to one of the directional Louisiana schools 2 years back and he’s still around. Everything goes in cycles, we have to be patient and get all the bad stuff out of the way last year and this year. After that, if things don’t improve, then yes, it might be time for a change for everyone.
Go Dawgs!
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
November 9th, 2010
1:34 pm
GT-Hammer:
YEA, AND KANSAS MUST HAVE CHEATED TOO…..
Darius
November 9th, 2010
1:34 pm
:yawn: Bradley missed on opportunity to write a thoughful column/blog about the Newton situation. Instead, he wrote a piece of crap that offers nothing to the discussion. Well done.
blue
November 9th, 2010
1:37 pm
EnterEDawg71: yeah, right…everyone is focused only on UGA’s missteps and everyone else just doesn’t get caught as much. Let me see if I can finish whining for you? The refs have been against us in the SEC ever since we celbrated a touchdown in the endzone, blah blah blah. Want a little cheese to go with it, dude?
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
November 9th, 2010
1:37 pm
Norm’s Panties in a KNOT:
BOBO AND BOYS PUT UP 30 POINTS 5 GAMES IN A ROW…THINK YOU NEED A FOOTBALL 101 COURSE CAUSE YOU GOT THE DEFENSE MIXED UP WITH THE OFFENSE….
The view from the Swamp
November 9th, 2010
1:37 pm
Once again, pathetic UGA fans are trying to ridicule another program when theirs has similar issues.
See Udell Thurman, Montez Robinson, Caleb King and the list goes on. “Those in glass houses…………”
cattledawg
November 9th, 2010
1:38 pm
I wish the game was in Athens on Saturday . The Athens cops would arrest Mr. Newton for something.
Headley Lamar
November 9th, 2010
1:38 pm
MOST-PENALIZED DIVISION I PROGRAMS:
Arizona State 8
Southern Methodist 8
Auburn 7
Florida State 7
Memphis 7
Minnesota 7
Oklahoma 7
Texas A&M 7
Wichita State 7
Wisconsin 7
✭Nine programs have been penalized six times, including USC and UCLA.
One more and Auburn is tied for the lead.
Eddie Long did it
November 9th, 2010
1:38 pm
I did it! I did it! I did it! Of course Im lying, I did it!!!
Observer
November 9th, 2010
1:39 pm
I’m guessing UGA or Bama is behind the leaking of all this crap. They are trying to create a distraction before they have to play Auburn. I suspect they were also behind John Bond’s revelation about money being offered for Newton to go to MS State. Since all of this happened quite awhile ago, and these people know all of these bad things about Newton, why did they wait until now to suddenly start spouting off? Gotta be GA or AL behind this. Two sleazy programs.
G'Vegas Dawg
November 9th, 2010
1:39 pm
How about gettting to a day and time when people don’t have to come up with some goofy rumors about a kid just becuase he was/is successful. The kids stole a lap top and got punished for it. I believe that is where everything ends. I’m quite sure that if any cheating had happened at UF it would have been reported then. Let’s quit making crap up and play football. GO DAWGS!!!!
blue
November 9th, 2010
1:39 pm
Pensacola Dawg; yeah, you guys can’t beat anyone with anything close to a winning record, and you are going to beat Auburn. One of those delusional Dawg fans with NO sense of what your team is and is not this year.
what?
November 9th, 2010
1:40 pm
If anyone thinks ALL of this is just smoke? You’re nuts!
Bill
November 9th, 2010
1:42 pm
How sick some people are to destroy a person over a damn football game.Mr Evans and Bond are the two main people involved but produced no proof. No proof on cheating, no proof on $200,000 pay-off, not kicked out of school are anything else. He who is without sin chase the 1st stone…get a life!
Love UGA but they have no room to talk, just look in the mirror.
David
November 9th, 2010
1:42 pm
Cam was all but a done deal at MS State. All of a sudden Auburn flies in and snatches him. Meanwhile his daddy’s church needed a finantial lift and a miracle comes. What about these facts smell?
EDawg71
November 9th, 2010
1:42 pm
Blue, you sound angry. Why so defensive? Tell me with a straight face UGA is the only school that has issues. Not whining, just a little tired of ignorance due to allegiance to a school.
Headley Lamar
November 9th, 2010
1:43 pm
Auburn
Dirtiest program ever. They almost had the program shut down (Death Penalty) back in the early 90’s
If it comes out they paid Cam they will have to shut down the program for a few years.
JB
November 9th, 2010
1:43 pm
Lot’s of AU folks getting defensive, and don’t blame them, but if this does turn in to something, I’ll hate it, because most Dawg fans like AU fans ( maybe the Dooley/Dye connection, who knows, But this situation does worry me….. Richt is a lot of things, But he would never knowingly compromise The University.
Norm's Panties in a KNOT
November 9th, 2010
1:44 pm
UF’s Defence is ranked #7 so that was good for BOBO
Kentucky #39
The Vols #78
Vandy #94
Idaho St is a FCS school.
Good for the Dawgs the Auburn Tigers are ranked #52, but then Colorado is #91 and you lost to them.
Pensacola Dawg
November 9th, 2010
1:44 pm
Hey blue, how does 4 in a row sound? no make it 5.!
ol' balls coach
November 9th, 2010
1:45 pm
Honor Code at The University of Florida – can you say oxymoron?
dawg gone smoke screen
November 9th, 2010
1:46 pm
Whats? if anyone is nuts its you..people blow smoke all the time when trying to win are hurt someone else. Pray no-one ever comes at you.
1eyedJack
November 9th, 2010
1:48 pm
He’ll finish out the season, win the Heisman and enter the NFL draft. Somebody will take a flyer on him and reach in the first round. His skill set will not translate to the NFL at QB. He’ll be out of the league in 3 to 4 years. He’ll be in prison for armed robbery, selling cocaine, or stuffing his wife’s body in the trunk of his car…take your pick.
The question is…will he be able to outscore Vince Young on the Wunderlich test?
BIG DAWG
November 9th, 2010
1:50 pm
Time for this young man to sit on the sidelines like other players while the investigation is done. Should be ineligible for the game Sat.
Having said that, I would hate the UGA victors to not have the pleasure of bragging rights after the win with the footnote “yea but if we had our star”. No excuses!
dawg gone smoke screen
November 9th, 2010
1:51 pm
1eyedjack..you sick man. did your father beat you when you was young?
Bob Sacamano
November 9th, 2010
1:52 pm
“Cam is a great kid.” REALLY? Great kids steal laptops?
EDawg71
November 9th, 2010
1:54 pm
Bob Sacamano!!! You’re a real person. Will you be my friend Bob Sacamano so that I can start my stories with “My friend Bob Sacamano…”