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
GA War Eagle
November 9th, 2010
1:54 pm
There sure are a lot of haters just dying to bring down Auburn because they are having a great season while, Ga, Alabama, and Florida are not. I am inclined to believe that nothing has gone on at Auburn because of the following:
1. AU probably gets the death penalty for football if the pay for play is proven. I think they are still hanging under their last probation and cannot see them reducing the university to ashes for any player. We could still win 9 games without him.
2. Gene Chizik is done as a coach if this is true. I cannot see him risking his career to get Cam Newton. Au was already improving under him. Two great recruiting classes. Great assistants. No way he takes this chance.
3. Has anyone calling Cam a felon/cheater/liar taken a look at this kid in interviews and on the sidelines. This kid appears to have grabbed his 2nd chance by the horns and is making the most of it. Always smiling, positive attitude, etc.
This is a great media story given Cam’s season and Auburn’s resurgence. Show me some proof and I’ll believe it. Until then, sit back and enjoy the best QB in the Nation!
Bobo
November 9th, 2010
1:54 pm
Stupid he didn’t steal the laptop..know what you’re talking about, Bob!
Mary
November 9th, 2010
1:57 pm
Hey leave him alone, I want to see the Oregon Ducks clean their clocks..I don’t think you will see any results from anything this year. Let him play..but their is a snake in the wood pile somewhere? This would not just come out of no where and we all know money talks, just hope they are looking in the right bank accounts??? Don’t care about the other charges, can’t do anything for that but the money thing they can, but like I said it won’t happen this year…so let him play..GO DUCKS!!!!
TAMPADAWG
November 9th, 2010
1:57 pm
Hey GT-Hammer go back to your blog and stop going after the few UGA fans that dont know what they are talking about in reference to Cam. He is a great player on a good team. I personally would not want UGA to play them this weekend with out him. I like UGAs odds they have nothing to lose and Auburn has everything to lose. They will play alot looser in this game !!!! And oh by the way GT-HAMMER Tech cant beat UGA !!! So please go away…
EDawg71
November 9th, 2010
1:57 pm
GA War Eagle, denial ain’t just a river in Egypt. But I’m sure you’re right about all those things.
how2fish
November 9th, 2010
1:58 pm
Observer why would you think Bama or UGA needs to leak anything…you signed a know thief! People are naturally going to be putting him under the microscope…I hope all this blows away and the young man has turned a corner in his life…but no one really needs to smear him.
guesswho
November 9th, 2010
1:59 pm
Look North to the Tide for the guilty party, they’ve told on people before
JB
November 9th, 2010
2:01 pm
BIG DAWG………IF he was a second team tackle, that would happen……But Auburn without CAM is like peanut butter without Jam !
AFL anyone?
November 9th, 2010
2:01 pm
Love Mark Richt…..He is a great coach….
AltamahaDawg
November 9th, 2010
2:02 pm
yes NP I would also be willing to bet thet Urban would be the LAST person in the world who would want the occurance of mulitple cheating allegation for one of his football players, that gets completely swept under the rug, brought to light.
More likely it’s Nick Saban, who needs to distract newton this weeek, because he is likely to about 4 days away from being the coach of “world beater, best in history, lock to repeat a NC, but didn even win their conference”, team of the year. I’m sure Urban would also be pulling for AU to win, so that he can hand that title off from last year.
The Man
November 9th, 2010
2:02 pm
more than urban, it’s probably sorry cmr gossiping about a star recruit he failed to get right out of his backyard… again… again… and again
Headley Lamar
November 9th, 2010
2:02 pm
Stupid he didn’t steal the laptop..know what you’re talking about, Bob
Yeah he just bought a really expensive one for 50 bucks LOL.
Top Dawg
November 9th, 2010
2:03 pm
If Urban Meyer said the earth is round, I would not believe him.
JB
November 9th, 2010
2:05 pm
The only one that would have access to a kids academic records is someoen AT that school. Hello!!!
HBTD!!!
mike
November 9th, 2010
2:05 pm
Well Cam move on to the pros. You are getting caught up in a game these coaches play when they look for any advantage. That clown coach at Florida leaked that information on you despite what he and others say. You have the talent for the next level and you owe these folks nothing. This ought to be a warning to any kids thinking about playing at Florida. And this is why these athletes should be paid something from the millions of dollars they generate for these schools and their sports program. And I don’t want to hear that free education nonsense.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
November 9th, 2010
2:05 pm
Blame Saban
Blame Urban
Blame everyone except Allbarn
You recruited this gangsta… now deal with all his baggage losers.
Yes we SCAM
Boise Dawg
November 9th, 2010
2:05 pm
I feel for this kid and hate stories that rely on quoting “unnamed sources”. I think there needs to be a higher level of journalistic integrity and protection when it comes to reporting on college kids.
Urban may not be the source… but if his academic records where truly leaked to the media, someone from UF was the source.
JB
November 9th, 2010
2:07 pm
Let’s play ball !!!!!!
Bobo
November 9th, 2010
2:08 pm
Lamar, son he bought the lap-top that was stole..past news.. wake-up
AltamahaDawg
November 9th, 2010
2:09 pm
“yes we scam”
Now THAT is funny!
Boobie Bowden
November 9th, 2010
2:10 pm
Under all this crap you’ll probably find a dawg. Hope the Barners lay half a hundred on you guys Saturday – in the first half.
Smart like a Fox
November 9th, 2010
2:10 pm
your guys a felon…….noooo your guy is a felon…….noooo your guy is a felon……noooo yours is……noooo your is……..just got to love the message and the fact that it’s all SEC. and by the way…UGA leaked all this mess to take some heat off their team. Auburns a bunch of felons ….nooooo Georgia is……lol
Fred
November 9th, 2010
2:12 pm
JB you been on blogs all day..do you ever work?
PMC
November 9th, 2010
2:12 pm
When Cam Texts women he says… TIME TO LIE.
Gen Neyland
November 9th, 2010
2:13 pm
MB : Thanks for not letting this one slip between the cracks. Personally, I was beginning to wonder if it were going to die on the vine and while it still may, there is a culprit on the loose and for us enquiring minds in the southeast and of the SEC, we’d like to know who it is. Like I said last week, thank goodness Fulmer’s name hasn’t been brought up…
Bozydeco
November 9th, 2010
2:13 pm
A CBS Sports.com reporter about the $200,000 smear campaign – http://bit.ly/IBelieveinAuburn
Fred
November 9th, 2010
2:16 pm
When King Texts women he says…I’ll post the nude pictures! check Athen police records. lol
5150 P.O.A.D
November 9th, 2010
2:18 pm
Lets just play the game. UGA has all it players back and no Auburn players have been proven to have done wrong. Play the Damn game and see what happens. UGA 50 Auburn 49 and 6 ties. Avg points scored @ AU: UGA 19.37 Auburn 18.85
Always a great game now let them play.
I can’t figure how but they say UGA’s D is #15 and Auburn’s D is #52
UGA’s O is #54
Auburn’s O is #6
Gen Neyland
November 9th, 2010
2:20 pm
One more something : In the past when highfalutin wheelings and dealings take place, and before the dirty rat is cornered, the accusations start flying from Alabama to Vandy to all points in between. For the record, CDD did not stab Kiffin in the back to get the Tennessee job..!
Ralph
November 9th, 2010
2:20 pm
2 YEARS AGO and beyond. For crying out loud. I ran a stop light back in the middle 90’s, one of only 2 tickets I have ever gotten in 43 years of driving, maybe I shouldn’t be allowed to drive anymore. This kid has only done EVERYTHING he has been asked to do. I do hope that if it is discovered that these academic records were leaked from Florida or any other school for that matter, that they pay a severe price. Apparently, there are some very pissed off boosters, fans, reporters, employees, coaches, and or (_______)(fill in the blank) who missed their chance to have this kid play for their team and now they are willing do anything to destroy him, regardless of the truth or the law. And for full disclosure, I AM a Tigers fan, a CLEMSON Tigers fan………
drbasic1
November 9th, 2010
2:20 pm
momma also taught me that……a person who cheats will lie and steal, they go hand in hand…..hmmm
Mindy
November 9th, 2010
2:20 pm
David: 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?
Got proof? Or are you just blowing smoke up your azz?
Honky Talkin'
November 9th, 2010
2:21 pm
I’m not an Auburn fan, but these are ALLEGATIONS! Please wait until the facts are out before you pass judgement.
drbasic1
November 9th, 2010
2:23 pm
lets face it, if Cam were at Georgia, everyone would already have him crucified and thug labeled and our coach has no control over the team…etc…..
marc
November 9th, 2010
2:23 pm
bottom line..these kids should get paid….and the better their performance..the more $$ they should get….Everyone get’s a piece except for the players….get yours Cam.
Bobo
November 9th, 2010
2:24 pm
Thanks Bozydeco for CBS link..That I believe.
Pathetic
November 9th, 2010
2:24 pm
No one can beat Cam Newton on the field, so they try to tear him down in other ways.
Whaddabunchachickenchits.
Bobo
November 9th, 2010
2:26 pm
Enought of this BS…good day..God bless the USA we need it!
gt
November 9th, 2010
2:27 pm
Anything political apparently Georgia and Florida have the upper hand. This was obvious when Auburn went undefeated and did not have a shot at the national championship. Georgia who has not won a championship since 1980 have been ranked more times in the number one position of the polls the last decade than Auburn, totally on the merit of hot air. You have the natural enemy of Alabama, the new made enemy of Florida who gift wrapped Auburn’s ticket to the blue blood of the SEC with Newton, a jealous Georgia who has had all the fortunes of recruiting and can’t find the north star if they were standing on it. Birmingham, Florida, and Atlanta just about control the PR of the SEC and Auburn has assassins in every city, every state. It doesn’t take that much to win over these pundits, you ever been in a press box? A couple of Big Macs and you have a friend for life. Auburn needs to call Papa John’s send out the pizza, get this cheap gossip back into the box and then go on to win the national championship. Old Tubby Neal may take a case of beer, but is that a price to high to pay for justice and nothing in the rules of the NCAA about paying off the press. Money well spent and try starting any gossip about Tubs or Tony Barnhart, you could go undefeated and not finish in the top 20.
Headley Lamar
November 9th, 2010
2:31 pm
Lamar, son he bought the lap-top that was stole..past news.. wake-up
He bought it for 50 bucks. He knew darn well it was stolen.
merculf
November 9th, 2010
2:31 pm
Again, nothing has been said about Auburn doing any wrong in any of this. The issues Cam is facing all happened before he came to Auburn. You Auburn haters can keep praying that something will result in an infraction by Auburn so the school gets in trouble and it will make it better some how for you and your favorite team. This is a kid who doesn’t need this kind of scrutiny because he is a great football player NOT on your team.
Headley Lamar
November 9th, 2010
2:32 pm
Wether its true or not the guy is a scumbag.
Pure and simple.
To: David
November 9th, 2010
2:33 pm
You wrote:
“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.”
——————————-
Are you as dumb as you seem?
No money has gone into the church. Have you seen it? Check it out; it’s still boarded up and shut down. Financial records have turned up nothing in the way of a sudden influx of cash.
City Council gave Mr. Newton extension after extension because he presented himself as a sincere, hardworking individual who was doing his best to improve the church and bring the facilities up to code. He was working on it as he could and paying for it as he went along.
City of Newnan discussed the situation in an AJC article. READ it — stop pulling information out of your tushie and gather some facts.
Otherwise, you might be seen as a moron.
(Ooops. To late.)
merculf
November 9th, 2010
2:33 pm
http://kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=63716 Here’s some more info on the credibility of the “journalists” who broke this story….
Headley Lamar
November 9th, 2010
2:35 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 for the record !!! War da*n eagle !!!!!
This is why its a news story dummies. Because Auburn has cheated time and time again.
Hello? Headley Lamar?
November 9th, 2010
2:36 pm
You’ve done enough to try compensate for you abnormally small man instruement for one day.
It ain’t working. You’re still small.
You can go back to your mommy’s basement now.
dawg
November 9th, 2010
2:36 pm
CAMS ARREST RECORD:Search Criteria: Last Name: NEWTON
First Name: CAMERON
13 records found
Party Affl Party Type D.O.B. Case Status Case Number
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2007 TR 091786
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2007 TR 094142
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2007 TR 099622
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2007 TR 100986
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2007 TR 106800
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2007 TR 108905
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2007 TR 111571
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2007 TR 136284
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2008 CF 005180 A
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2008 TR 182749
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2008 TR 183424
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CLOSED 01 2008 TR 188853
NEWTON, CAMERON JERRELL DEFENDANT 05/11/1989 CONTINUANCE 01 2008 TR 202433
Headley Lamar
November 9th, 2010
2:37 pm
Its not like Auburn hasnt done this kind of thing before.
They almost had to shut the program down back in the early 90’s
I know Auburn fans dont like to hear it but they have historically been one of if not the dirtiest program in America.
Thats why people are skeptical when Auburn says ” Hey we didnt do nuttin “
Hey, Headley?
November 9th, 2010
2:38 pm
What’s your source for your *facts* ?
Get those figures out of some of the textbooks Alabama atheletes sold?
I’m noticing your team (Bama) didn’t make your list. After all their violations? Wow… rose colored glasses, eh?
Too funny!
Gary
November 9th, 2010
2:38 pm
The real question is does transferring schools clear your record. WIll we see Mettiburger as the next Auburn QB after Georgia kicked him off the team. If the alligations are true the SEC needs to consider a policy to prevent ones schools trash from becoming their rivals hero. If he is caught cheating he should not only be out of athletics he should be out of school. To all those folks who keep bashing Richt. How many kids has he kicked off the team this year and look at their offenses. This and the Chris Rainey incident are making Richt look like he is pretty tough on his players compared to the Gators. How could a cheater and thief tranfer in good standing with the Universities.