The Cam Newton Saga: Even by SEC standards, it’s bizarre
There’s no tempest like an SEC tempest, the scope of which can be breathtaking. Only in this conference could Alabama’s signing of a lineman from Memphis lead to Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer being served with a subpoena at the league’s Media Days. Only here could a night out in Pensacola, Fla., lead to Mike Price being fired by Alabama before coaching a game. Only the SEC could spawn the feel-good-gone-bad tale of Cameron Jerrell Newton.
He’s a quarterback from College Park who played at Westlake High. He signed with Florida, where he served as understudy for the sainted Tim Tebow. Newton left to attend a junior college in Texas, where he played for Brad Franchione, whose father Dennis used to coach Alabama and whose abrupt departure for Texas A&M led the Tide to hire, albeit briefly, Mike Price. (Nobody does connections like the SEC.)
Newton wound up enrolling at Auburn, where he’s considered the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. His team ranks second in both the Associated Press poll and the BCS standings and can clinch the SEC West by beating Georgia on Saturday. All of this is, however, subject to change.
Last week ESPN and the New York Times reported that former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond had been informed it would cost $180,000 for Newton to commit to MSU. (This John Bond, not to be confused with Georgia State offensive coordinator John Bond, was the quarterback at Valdosta High after Buck Belue and John Lastinger, both of whom went on to greater glory at Georgia. At MSU, the Valdosta product was known as “One-Hop Bond” for his aerial accuracy.)
Bond has dropped from sight — the celebrity Web site TMZ reports that the FBI wishes to speak with him — but not before granting an on-air audience to Belue, his fellow Valdosta alum, on 680 The Fan in which he undercut his own story by suggesting he hadn’t spoken with the intermediary named in the initial reports. (To which we say: Huh?)
Auburn was quick to assert that Newton was fully eligible to play for the Tigers, whom he led to a 62-24 victory over Chattanooga last weekend. Afterward he told reporters: “When God be blessin’, the devil be messin’.” (Newton’s father Cecil is the pastor of the Holy Zion Center of Deliverance in Newnan, which, as the New York Times helpfully informed us, has only recently been restored to city building codes.)
We pause here for breath, for our tangled tale has only begun. This week FoxSports.com reported Newton had been accused of cheating while at Florida. (While a student in Gainesville, Newton was also charged with three felony counts involving a stolen laptop that was subsequently tossed out a window. The charges were dropped after he underwent pretrial diversion.)
This cheating revelation, attributed to an unnamed source, immediately led Florida coach Urban Meyer to issue a statement saying nobody connected with the Gators had done the leaking. On cue, Auburn coach Gene Chizik dismissed all allegations as “pure garbage” and wondered, in what seemed a clear reference to Meyer and Dan Mullen, the former Florida assistant who’s now head coach at Mississippi State: “Is there a wizard behind the curtain? Is there one? Is there two?”
In all of this, the overarching question has been: If it was going to take $180,000 for Newton to play for Mississippi State, did he really enroll at Auburn for free? On Tuesday ESPN became the first outlet to address that issue, reporting that two unnamed Mississippi State recruiters were informed in separate phone conversations with Cam and Cecil Newton that the player’s services were indeed for sale.
One recruiter, according to ESPN, maintained the elder Newton said it would take “more than a scholarship” to land his son. Another source said Cam Newton expressed regret after his father chose Auburn for him, saying, “The money was too much.”
And that’s where we are, our story nowhere near its conclusion. If Auburn has reason to believe there’s a chance Newton’s recruitment wasn’t aboveboard, will it bench him for the Georgia game and risk losing the division title it’s so close to winning? (Chizik asserted on a teleconference Wednesday that Newton would start against the Bulldogs.) Does the SEC, shuddering over the possibility of its championship game matching Auburn and Chizik against Florida and Meyer, intercede? Does the NCAA? The FBI?
And what of Georgia, which needs one victory in its final two games to become bowl-eligible? Could the underwhelming Bulldogs face Georgia Tech without quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, who broke his arm against Virginia Tech, and Auburn without Newton? If so, wouldn’t that make Mark Richt the luckiest man alive?
And what of us? What does it say when we pay so much attention to games purportedly played by amateurs after being reminded so often that college football is as pure as the driven sludge? Does that make us hypocrites? Or merely fools?
Feel free to answer, but I’m not sure I want to know.
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519 comments Add your comment
Jeff
November 11th, 2010
10:50 am
Phil Steele says Auburn-Georgia game will be a 3 point game. Georgia could pull upset.
Steele has Aubun 34, Georgia 31.
Heels Rock and Rule
November 11th, 2010
10:55 am
Yea UNC is getting pounded….with the signing of 4-star recruits. Scout has them ranked at #10, expecting to go higher (especially if they beat VaTech this weekend with so many 4-5 stars in attendance at Chapel Hill).
GaDukie
November 11th, 2010
10:59 am
How many of those guys are gonna get suspended, Heels Rock?
My name is Cameron Newton
November 11th, 2010
11:05 am
I got in Auburn and my ACT scores were….touchdown throwing, touchdown running, touchdown scrambling…..I scored pretty good….
Bobo
November 11th, 2010
11:17 am
Cam has done nothing to compare with What Bishop Long is charged with and all the BS is on Cam and Football…Whats more Important ‘Kids are football.’
Mindy
November 11th, 2010
11:18 am
What gets me about all of this are the people who are calling Newton a “thug”. These same people, called Danny Heatley (the guy who KILLED his friend while drunk driving and received PROBATION), a poor “mixed up” kid. Why is it one kid is a “thug” for stealing/possessing a stolen laptop; while the other kid, who KILLED his friend while Drunk driving, is a “poor kid”?
I’ve noticed that a lot on these boards…..Michael Vick – (who didn’t kill anyone) is a THUG; Danny Heatley (who DID kill someone) is a poor kid; Plaxico Burress (who didn’t hurt anyone but himself), THUG; Ben Rothlesberger, (who DID hurt someone / accused of RAPE), a poor kid.
Hmmm…….I wonder what’s the “common denominator” in all these sequences…….hmmmm…….
OkefenokeeDawg
November 11th, 2010
11:24 am
If anybody should know about “Kids,” it’s you Bobo . . .
mexdawg
November 11th, 2010
11:26 am
Hey Buckeye check out Georgia’s record against Ohio Skate and the little 10.What a joke.
wHAT
November 11th, 2010
11:29 am
Of course Cam is starting Saturday!
Even if Auburn wins this game all the other wins would be taken away if it is proven Cam took money!
Why do we think Auburn would want to do the right thing?
It is not about winning fairly it is about winning at all cost!
Justafan
November 11th, 2010
11:31 am
What proof do all you people have thats bitching and cutting the young man down. I’m not a Auburn fan but Bond and Evans is leading a lynch mob…and all you perfect uga fans and others are going along for the ride. Mark Richt has more class at least he don’t blame Newton unless “PROOF” is provided.
So far all Rumors….glad you people are not on a jury somewhere. The kid would be hanged!
He who has not cheated in school is a lier………………..look in the mirror.
GT
November 11th, 2010
11:32 am
Agree Mindy
Bobo
November 11th, 2010
11:36 am
What does that mean..Okie from Waycross, Ware Co ….
David Granger
November 11th, 2010
11:37 am
A few thoughts…
The SEC needs to:
1. Tell us what is SEC policy on players who leave one SEC university, earn a junior college degree, and then go to another SEC school? That policy should be the one that governs Cam Newton’s eligibility.
2. If a player leaves before becoming academically ineligible, does that factor in his later eligibility?
3. If a player is scheduled for a hearing on his academic eligibility, and he leaves school prior to it…what is school policy? Do they just drop it as no longer applicable?
4. Did Cam Newton or anyone in his circle of family or friends get any money from ANYONE for going to Auburn. Newton, Gene Chizik, and the entire Auburn coaching staff should testify under oath as to what they might know about it.
The US Justice Department should:
1. Investigate who revealed private academic information in defiance of federal law.
David Granger
November 11th, 2010
11:39 am
And by the way, Mindy…I’ve always felt that Ben Rothlesberger is a punk-ass THUG, just like Michael Vick.
Auburnfan
November 11th, 2010
11:47 am
LZZ: you are right about GPA. But for ACT you are wrong. It is definately a 26. Low- 24 High-29 Average- 26. I’m going throug the college process right now, I would know. And I’m not even applying.
Okefenokee: you have a point. But Auburn is better.
Lance
November 11th, 2010
11:47 am
Mark— ok – play “What if”. What if it is found that AU did pay Cam to play. Would AU get the death penalty? Is that any worse than SMU? What would that do to the state of affairs in the SEC. Not sure if it is true but there seems to be too much “I am not going to comment one way or another” for it not to be somewhat true.
Wonder
November 11th, 2010
11:53 am
David is there any proof the academic information on Newton is true are not?
Agree Big Ben is a sorry A@@ thug. I refuse to watch a game he plays in.
OkefenokeeDawg
November 11th, 2010
11:57 am
Just a joke, Bobo. just an off-handed barb at Mike Bobo’s, what, 6 or 7 kids? No disrespect intended at you.
Bobo
November 11th, 2010
12:05 pm
Okefenokee Dawg, Yes I wish he could call plays as well as he gets his wife PG.
OkefenokeeDawg
November 11th, 2010
12:11 pm
I never use the word, thug, but because of the “Mindy” post, I’ll use it one time.
Big Ben is a thug. I read the police report.
Zach Mettenberger is a thug. He pled guilty to 2nd degree sexual battery.
Plaxico is not a thug. He hurt no one but himself, and if he lived in about 35 other states, he would have not broken any laws that night in the bar.
Mike Vick was a thug. He said after his conviction, “I will redeem myself. I have to.” It sure seems, for once, MV has really done just that. He served his time, and I, for one, am happy with his fresh start. A thug no longer.
Cam a thug? We’ll see.
A law-breaker is a law-breaker. Color of skin matters not a whit.
OkefenokeeDawg
November 11th, 2010
12:12 pm
Oh yeah, Bobo. We wouldn’t be 5-5 would we?
Bill Toomer
November 11th, 2010
12:35 pm
3. If a player is scheduled for a hearing on his academic eligibility, and he leaves school prior to it…what is school policy? Do they just drop it as no longer applicable?
Good question.
dawghater
November 11th, 2010
12:41 pm
The SEC is doing this to themselves. Keep it up and they’ll create a new probation league just for the SEC teams after Vandy pulls out! At UGA they’ll have to mandate all new recruits turn in their car keys until they graduate. Sorry, I meant until their football eligibility is over. If they waited until graduation some of these kids would never get their keys back!
Ted M
November 11th, 2010
12:45 pm
Mindy – Not one person called Ben Rothlesberger a “poor kid” virtually everyone called him exactly what he is… “a despicable serial rapist”. He should have been suspended for a minimum of 2 yrs.
Mindy
November 11th, 2010
1:00 pm
I wonder how long someone has to pay for a mistake. Let’s say Cameron DID steal the laptop – well he took the intervention that was given to him by the State Courts, he completed it, and he hasn’t been in any more trouble since…….Do we still have to crucify him or can we at least wait until he kills someone while drunk driving and then gets probation? Any thoughts?
Terry
November 11th, 2010
1:01 pm
Auburn fans, Stop crying about everyone piling on, because if the shoe was on the other foot every Auburn fan would be doing the same thing, if you do not like what is being written, or said, stop reading, or listening to the comments. And when you comment, you just make yourself a target for the fans of the other schools, most of them could careless about Cam Newton, they just like to make ya’ll cry, and it looks like its working too.
Mindy
November 11th, 2010
1:06 pm
dawghater – don’t get mad because the SEC has a great conference…..tell your conference/team/guys to get better so that they can compete too! The SEC has won major championships in the majority of college sports genres (even their Women’s Swim Team has swag); so I can understand your envy and jealousy; but it’s time to let it go. Remember: The lowest rank SEC school = the highest ranked __________________ (fill in conference here) school. Hatred is so useless when all you need is competence (and skill) to compete. Just saying……………
cattledawg
November 11th, 2010
1:09 pm
Who said big ben was a poor kid mindy? Ive seen him get trashed pretty good, and he deserves it. Some folks always got to bring race into everything.
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
1:17 pm
Please Mindy. The SEC has had a few good years with convicts, the conference doesn’t even compare to any others academically, diversity, research or land grant. Only Florida and Vandy are eligible as AAU schools (You might want to look that one up), which is what schools should acheive.
Thugga U and the the Southeastern Convicts are done. The Dawgs are one step above Vandy, what have they done the last decade? Hello? I am not sure I could find anything on the internet about the football the last 10 years that was positive or not criminal.
Crumpy gonna tear it up tonight dudes
November 11th, 2010
1:20 pm
Mindy – please take your “race card” somewhere else.
Crumpy frisky
November 11th, 2010
1:22 pm
Mindy = overweight barner
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
1:23 pm
How can you tell if an Auburn football player has a girlfriend?
Tobacco juice on both sides of the pickup truck.
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
1:29 pm
If you are driving and see Cam Newton riding a bicycle, why should you take great care in not hitting him?
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
1:29 pm
It could be your bike.
how2fish
November 11th, 2010
1:30 pm
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap we would still beat FSU like a rented mule as will the Gators. Face it tough guy there are 5 SEC schools that would make the Ciminoles cry like the bit%% they are any day of the week.
SEC Homer
November 11th, 2010
1:31 pm
The SEC/Slive would have stepped in and told AU not to play Cam if there was something legit. The NCAA would have as well, we keeping hearing sources sources sources but nobody will step up..There is no money trail from AU to the Newtons I can tell you that, I’m not saying the Newtons are angels but AU is clear..One ? nobody is asking why was Mullen “recruiting” like heck till the last day for Newton if he thought his family was sketchy? Don’t give me this he was doing it the right way stuff. Miss St thought they had a stud and he went to a better program.
5th Year Sophmore at ThugaU
November 11th, 2010
1:32 pm
Please leave Mindy alone, she knowz what she is talking about. She is my tutuor!
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
1:35 pm
Welcome back how2fish, did you bring me an RC and Moon Pie? Today I am tOSU alum.
What cool-aid flavor does the Bulldawg press have you drinking this week?
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
1:40 pm
As I close this thread, everybody please read the smartest comment by StraightJacket, on November 10th, 2010 2:16 pm. This will correct all the problems.
How2fish, it has been fun, but I don’t think the Internet is a place for you…………..
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
2:01 pm
Enter your comments here
how2fish
November 11th, 2010
2:08 pm
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap yesterday it was FSU today OSU…son slow down..and oh yeah I have a little something something for you and its not a RC and moon pie..and the internet is just the place for you I mean when your not “stump breaking cows” in the wilds of OK what else is there to do? Now I fully expect when you return to be either a Buckeye or Duck fan..what’s it going be Sparky?
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
2:50 pm
I see just because UGA beats up on my Tech team every year I am not allowed to complain?
Well that is all I can do beacisse my team stinks yearly.
I give up, the ACC is just never going to be as good as the SEC so I will have to try to tear the SEC down by bringing up off the field problems!
Whip Cream on Dawg Crap
November 11th, 2010
2:51 pm
Oh yeah, well I think Cam Newton is cute.
Mindy
November 11th, 2010
3:04 pm
Who said big ben was a poor kid mindy? Ive seen him get trashed pretty good, and he deserves it. Some folks always got to bring race into everything.
Please show me, oh smart one, where I brought up race. I’ll wait……..
From Whipped Dawg: Please Mindy. The SEC has had a few good years with convicts, ……blah, blah, blah…….Thugga U and the the Southeastern Convicts are done…..blah, blah, blah.
Whipped Dawg – Jealousy is sooooo unbecoming in a woman. Girlfriend, put on your lipstick and repeat after me, “This weekend, in front of everyone, I have to watch my team in ______________________ (fill in conference here), Conference get b##@@ch slapped by the SEC.”
By confronting the problem, you help to solve it. Good luck!
From Crumpy: Mindy = overweight barner
From Mindy: Crumpy = no d#ck weasel. See two can play that game.
5th year Moron…..when you finally graduate from Ohio State, please let Toyota know that you are now available to be the next crash dummy, (since that’s all your degree will be worth). Thanks!!
Have a happy day everbody!! And for all the SEC Haters – I can’t wait until your conference (whichever one it is), gets b##tch slapped by the SEC.
Cherry on Whip Cream
November 11th, 2010
3:19 pm
Mindy you need to stay out of the pantry that has all the Moon Pies………
Mindy
November 11th, 2010
3:26 pm
Please leave me alone. I can’t help that I am into convicts, tools, and academic failures…
Its what I grew up on the last twenty years.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 11th, 2010
4:01 pm
Mark are you doing the live blog for the FALCONS tonight? Are you Doing the Auburn Game Saturday?
Mindy
November 11th, 2010
4:26 pm
To the Fake Mindy – thanks for thinking of me girlfriend!! I hear that imitation is a form of flattery (and adulation!!). Remember put your lipstick on AFTER you service the SEC football players, not before!!
Bill Clinton
November 11th, 2010
4:27 pm
Buh bye, dawgs. A big day for Auburn!
Ken Stallings
November 11th, 2010
4:48 pm
Perhaps time for column number five, Bradley!
ESPN is reporting that they have spoken with two Mississippi State recruiters who both say they received a phone call from Newton. Newton expressed sadness that he would not sign with them but instead with Auburn. Newton’s quote to the two recruiters was “the money was too good” at Auburn!
In addition, a former Miss State player says he personally had a conversation with Newton’s father, who told him he expected between $100,000 and $180,000 in cash from any university that would get an LOI from his son!
Whether Auburn agreed to this, it seems clear that Newton’s father was very cavalier with the NCAA recruiting rules and looked at his son as a cash cow! Very sad, especially since this father is also a practicing minister! So much for integrity!