Why Auburn can’t allow Cam to play against UGA (Updated)
On Tuesday Gene Chizik defended Cam Newton against allegations the coach called “pure garbage” by saying the quarterback had done everything asked of him since arriving at Auburn. But now Auburn needs to ask — nay, to demand — that Newton do something difficult for all involved.
Auburn needs to tell Newton to sit out the Georgia game.
The dynamics have changed since Chizik offered his ringing defense. On Wednesday ESPN reported that two unnamed Mississippi State “recruiters” had heard both Newton and his father Cecil mention money in separate phone conversations. On Thursday Kenny Rogers told ESPN 103.3 in Dallas that the elder Newton was seeking between $100,000 and $180,000 for his son to enroll at Mississippi State.
In nine days we’d gone from two reports that referenced the former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond as a rather distant accuser to stronger allegations that Cecil Newton himself asked for money. And late Friday Mark Winne of Channel 2 Action News reported that Cecil Newton has admitted discussing the possibility of getting money from MSU. (Though the elder Newton claimed no money changed hands and that both Cam Newton and Auburn are clean.)
Rogers has offered names, dates, details and demands. Rogers, who has worked for an agent who is apparently being investigated by the NFL Players Association, might not be the perfect witness, but the murky depths of NCAA violations tend not to be the realm of saints.
As yet, nothing has surfaced to tie Auburn to any player payola, but that’s no longer the issue. It can be an NCAA violation for anyone to seek money or benefits on behalf of a prospect, and now Cecil Newton has apparently admitted as much. Which means Cam Newton could be ineligible. More to the point, it means Auburn has reason to suspect he could be ineligible.
Auburn faces Georgia tomorrow. The Tigers can clinch the SEC West if they win, but there’s more at stake that a berth in the SEC championship game and the clear possibility of playing for the BCS title: There’s the reputation of a university on the line, and it’s a reputation Auburn hasn’t always gone to the wall to protect.
In 1957 Auburn went undefeated and finished No. 1 in the Associated Press poll but couldn’t grace a bowl because it was on probation. In 1993 Auburn went undefeated but was barred from a bowl appearance — and even from appearing on live TV — because it was on probation. In 2003 Auburn’s president and athletic director flew to Sellersburg, Ind., on a private jet owned by the toxic booster Bobby Lowder to meet with Louisville coach Bobby Petrino even though Auburn still had a coach in Tommy Tuberville.
According to the NCAA’s database, Auburn football has been penalized five times for major violations. (This doesn’t count JetGate, which was merely an affront to human decency.) The most recent sanctions were levied in 1993, which suggests the school has become more scrupulous in recent years. Here’s the chance for Auburn University to prove it’s more than a football program with a few classrooms as window dressing. Here’s the chance for Auburn to prove it cares more about being an institution of higher learning than it does the outcome of a given game.
Auburn has cause to doubt that Cam Newton’s recruitment was pristine. It plays Georgia on Saturday but doesn’t play again until it meets Alabama the day after Thanksgiving. That’s nearly two weeks to conduct a thorough in-house investigation, as opposed to relying on the kneejerk “Cam Newton is eligible to play at Auburn” defense. That’s enough time to get some grasp on what’s really what.
The worst thing a school can do is to allow a player of questionable eligibility to represent it. For Auburn to let Newton play against Georgia simply on faith would be to ignore the revelations of the past nine days. It doesn’t much matter if Mississippi State or Florida or the CIA or the KGB was behind these allegations; what matters is that the burden of proof — and proving that something didn’t happen is a massive burden — has fallen on Auburn.
If Newton doesn’t play against Georgia and the Bulldogs win, Auburn will have lost a football game. If Newton plays and is later found to have been ineligible, Auburn will lose much more. For the sake of his latest school, Cam Newton cannot take the field tomorrow.
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1,576 comments Add your comment
All Auburn All In
November 12th, 2010
10:09 am
“Suppose this” and “suppose that”. Suppose an astroid hits the Earth tomorrow and the planet blows up. Does that mean it is true???? NO! That IS NOT PROOF. Kenny Rogers and Bond could not get any less credible. This is a smear campaign if there ever was one. WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!
ivan camp
November 12th, 2010
10:09 am
Just report the news- don’t make it.
The media is running amok on this issue. No proof of anything has been put forth.
Get real…Cam will,and should, play…
twhite
November 12th, 2010
10:09 am
If you are scared just say so!
Different from UGA HOW?
November 12th, 2010
10:09 am
And how is this different that UGA playing athletes that hit and ran? Ran off and ignored University officials? Stole items but still on team? Not paying fines for traffic violations? etc. etc. Recruiting two players that have been kicked off their high school teams this year but are signed with UGA? Bought the only Championship they ever earned by purchasing Hershel Walker? Why should we expect less from Auburn??? Only Vanderbilt of the SEC is angelic….the rest simply cheat because it brings in the dollars! Just ask the fans or ESPN.
Don't Like Crybabies
November 12th, 2010
10:09 am
Correction Bradley, see even the fairest of us can be wrong
Guilty until proven innocent?
November 12th, 2010
10:10 am
How exactly does anyone prove that nothing happened. The burden of proof is ALWAYS to those that say something DID happen. Their has yet to be any evidence of anykind on anything. The only think we know for absolute sure is about the laptop.
Coaches (recruiters) never reported alleged conversations to SEC (according to SEC)
Bond’s story changed
Roger’s story changed
Cheating on tests were irrelevant to Newton at Auburn. Not to mention the legality of the topic.
Now things that haven’t changed
Auburn’s stance on eligibility.
Westlake Alum
November 12th, 2010
10:10 am
its ridiculous and ludacris that people would even address these allegations. We have a kid here who is the best college football player in the last decade who is a sure win for the Heisman, then all of a sudden he has scandal. This no more than propaganda. Cam Newton deserves to play and has done nothing wrong at Auburn. Oklahoma coach Stoops said there was wrongdoing when he recruited him, and so did Auburn. So if he was shopping his son around why he didnt ask these institutions for money. Very shady and is based off he-say she-say. They have already taken the fathers financial statements and there clean!!!
Don't shortchange the Barners
November 12th, 2010
10:10 am
7 major violations…not 5. Come on Mark…they worked hard to earn it…give em credit!
http://blog.al.com/bn/2008/03/SECcheatinghall030908.jpg
Mark Wallace
November 12th, 2010
10:10 am
Mark, you say in your column:
“That’s nearly two weeks to conduct a thorough in-house investigation, as opposed to relying on the kneejerk “Cam New is eligible to play at Auburn” defense. That’s enough time to get some grasp on what’s really what.”
Do you honestly believe Auburn learned about all of these allegations THIS week? How could you be so naive. If you don’t think that Auburn has already conducted a “thorough in-house investigation” you are one stupid SOB. They have known about ALL of this for MONTHS and have found no reason to sit him. Your assertion that he should sit is a desperate attempt to get your beloved Dawgs a W tomorrow……disgusting
BigTenBarry
November 12th, 2010
10:10 am
The SEC motto: “If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’!
AU Girl
November 12th, 2010
10:11 am
Get your facts straight before you go running your mouth! Geez…they will let anyone be a journalist! They have proven no gilt, so let the boy play!
ga gator
November 12th, 2010
10:12 am
Mark you are a complete jack a%%. First of all you are typical of 99% of reporters. In your world, if the media reports it, it is true. He had been found guilty of NOTHING. Like DawginLex said earlier, if he is guilty Auburn forfeits every game. If he is innocent they will play for the NC. This is totally different from Mark Richts decision to bench AJ. AJ’s was made public before the season and he benched him until he found out the outcome of the investigation. Auburn found out this summer, but evidently they believe he has violated no rules. So he plays.
Ron Mexico
November 12th, 2010
10:12 am
Mark- Auburn has already done a thorough in-house investigation. They did so before the season, and determined Newton was eligible. So your premise is wrong here. This is new information to you, but not to AU or the NCAA.
Perfesser
November 12th, 2010
10:12 am
This just in from ESPN.com: ESPN has learned that, in a little known Tibetan dialect, “Cameron Newto” translates as “Osama’s love child.” Details @ 11.
mark twain
November 12th, 2010
10:13 am
I JUST VISITED MY WEB-CAM, AND HE SAID HE DID NOT CHEAT AT FLORIDA, AND HIS DADDY DID NOT GET ANY MONEY. IM SURE IT IS ALL TRUE, AND OH YES obama IS NOT GONNA RAISE ANY TAXES, SO ALL IS RIGHT IN THE WORLD. GOOOOO DAWGGGS.
Mark Bradley
November 12th, 2010
10:13 am
Seven major violations for Auburn, but only five in football. I checked.
ricky
November 12th, 2010
10:13 am
Cam Newton will play because of 1 reason. He is eligable. He will be eligable at the end of the season. I understand why you write what you write, but use your Brain and not your wallet. If AUBURN HAD ANY DOUBTS HE WOULD NOT HAVE PLAYED AT ALL. these are not new accusations…just new stories
Bama Bill
November 12th, 2010
10:13 am
Sit down Newton – must be kidding – Newton is the Auburn Team ! The real question in my mind is why did Florida not recruit Newton back to the Gators knowing his talents and the need for their spread offense – there is a lot more to the recruiting of Newton ????
bradical
November 12th, 2010
10:13 am
Auburn has to make a decision to sit Cam based on the hard facts that it is privy to. Given that no tangible facts have surfaced publicly, that only leaves the allegations…that lie solely in the hands of MSU alum. Unless AU has additional facts or is asked by the NCAA to sit him, Cam should play. Benching him would probably jeopardize his Heisman run and would likely be seen as an admission of guilt – a risk that as an AU alum, I would not be willing to take without hard facts.
Hog Fan
November 12th, 2010
10:13 am
At ct: These players DO get paid. Jesus, what do you call free tuition, book, room and board at a good college for at least 4 years????
blake
November 12th, 2010
10:13 am
Um the burden of proof rests upon the invedtigation to prove he’s guilty, not to prove his innocence, that’s simple law period. As far as a loss just because he doesn’t play? Don’t go counting your chickens before they hatch. Sure Newton is a tremendous part of auburn offense, don’t play down on the ability of dyer, mccalebb, and burns. Especially against a mediocre Georgia defense. I’m behind Cam Newton 100%, but don’t say they’re going to lose if does not play. If it comes down to it and he has to sit out, I have all the confidence in the world that my tigers would finish at least 12-1.
Ed
November 12th, 2010
10:13 am
Jesus tapdancing Christ on a cupcake. How is it that so many of you can’t spell? There is even spellcheck in the little comment box.
WDE!!
November 12th, 2010
10:14 am
Dammit Bradley, I hate it when you’re right.
I still feel that Auburn could pull the win tomorrow, but it will be a dogfight with out Newton.
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 12th, 2010
10:14 am
If I were a big time college athlete and the university was making big bucks off of me, I’d want to be paid too. Drop the student athlete charade and pay the players and/or let the NFL finance it’s own minor leagues like other sports do.
AUTiger
November 12th, 2010
10:15 am
Where has Auburn been implicated in anything? Sure … it doesn’t look good, but so far the finger has not been pointed at Auburn. Like someone else said, if he’s ineligible, he has been all year so what good does sitting him tomorrow do? And Auburn has had a lot of time to look into this … and, I believe, has looked into it. I say play him!
Barbara Dismukes
November 12th, 2010
10:15 am
What happened to being INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in this Country People?
Are you serious?
November 12th, 2010
10:15 am
Mark Bradley….if you only knew how ridiculous you sound right now. You want a team, who is on the verge of a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, to BENCH the best player in the nation, even though he is currently ELIGIBILE…..I think you might have lost it.
Everyone knows you would love for Newton to sit out so that your precious dawgs might have the slightest chance of victory, but come on, for real? Bench the best ELIGIBLE player in the nation, are you okay? Do you need medicine? Do you honestly think benching Cam Newton has even crossed their minds? NO
This is the most pointless and retarted article I have ever read in my life. You want Auburn, who is on the verge of a National Championship, to BENCH the best player in the nation just because of some allegations that are NO WHERE NEAR being resolved. Which mean he is NO WHERE NEAR being ineligible. Please…..spare me the ignorance and stupidity of articles like this. It literally makes everyone more dumb for reading it.
Jay
November 12th, 2010
10:15 am
What an awesome strategy: accuse a tough opponent’s best player with no proof, then demand he sit until he proves he’s not guilty.
If you were accused of something, I’d bet you would enjoy a presumption of guilt.
tbone6
November 12th, 2010
10:16 am
You’re an idiot mr no-name blogger. If auburn believes that these allegations are in his past and involve UF/MSU and do not have any link to them, then like others are stating here; they have to STAND BY THEIR player and play him. If he ends up getting pinched, the whole season will be wiped out anyhow. Play the kid because you are not admitting guilt, jumping to conclusions, and because you believe in him like family. I hope they run the table, Mullen and his cronies get canned, and UF gets dinged for leaking federally protected academic records.
t from nyc
Fakey McFake
November 12th, 2010
10:16 am
Congrats on a great article, Mark. I made it all the way to the second paragragh before feeling duped! That’s a paragraph more than the last time I tried reading your trash.
Auburn needs to….
Cam should…
They don’t come to your job and tell you if you are going to write an article for the newspaper, it should be interesting, do they?
Woody
November 12th, 2010
10:17 am
I’m throwing flags on Mark and many others in the press for piling on and excessive celebration.
Given the questionable sources and rumors, it’s not fair to Newton or any young man for them to so readily scream “guilty” and stir up a lynch mob.
Headley Lamar
November 12th, 2010
10:17 am
Then again, if the penalty was going to be the death penalty anyway, I guess it can’t get more severe. Maybe that’s what Auburn’s thinking here by continuing to play him?
I agree, May not be hearing “War Eagle” on the plains for awhile after this year.
Steve
November 12th, 2010
10:17 am
UGABugKiller
You got some proof to back up your accusations of jealous MSU fans, or do you only demand that from other people?
While he is not as dynamic as Cam, MSU’s Chris Relf has the western div Dogs playing pretty competively. I can think of 3 other schools in the SEC West right now who would benefit more than MSU should Cam be declared ineligible.
Upset Special
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
I can’t help but believe this whole mess has to be affecting Cam between the ears. I smell an upset on the flats tomorrow. Remember, the NCAA has been known to declare players ineligible the day before a big game. Just ask Butch Davis.
WDEPeace
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
Wow mark. Thanks for yet another one of your pointless articles. You should really think before you open your mouth. If Cam is ineligible now, then playing him Saturday will not make an inkling of a difference. And the burden of proof is to prove a man wrong. Have you seen ANYONE come out with concrete evidence? No. It’s all he said this and told this guy and he said that. When is someone going to come out with some thing believable? Rodgers is the single handed most incredible source in the story as it is. So for our sake, please refrain from posting bullish*t that will take minutes away from our day.
Right-winger
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
Has anyone at the AJC actually conducted any investigative journalism? Does anyone there do anything besides print whatever garbage they hear on tv the night before. Kenny Rogers stated that he was “not involved” and “had never been asked for money for a player.” Now, all of the sudden, he has names, dates, and times? Every bit of this stems from on guy. A guy with a failing construction business in Mississippi that needed some attention. The is absolutely no proof to substantiate these allegations. Yet, you want Cam to sit out the game? Why? Very nice job trying to get something out of this for yourself UGA. Just a note, you wouldn’t beat Auburn without Cam. This entire ordeal stinks like a Minnesota Senate race. How about I make up some libel charges against the author of this atticle? Should the AJC fire him on the spot at the mere presence of allegations? OF COURSE NOT!
If there were any legs to these allegations, Cam wouldn’t be playing on Saturday. Too bad there aren’t and UGA will still have to go coach shopping after Christmas. Sorry Dawg fans, Richt isn’t gonna get you there.
Bobby
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
Auburn has had no reason to believe Cam Newton is ineligible after having since July to conduct whatever inhouse investigations they deem necessary. Just because some thug changed his story for the third time doesn’t mean Cam Newton’s eligibility has changed. If Auburn were to sit Cam Newton for the Georgia game, they would be showing doubt in Newton’s eligibility. That would effectively concede a lot of ground to the media at this point for Auburn.
Ground which has not been earned because professional journalists should be able to provide better information than second hand sources, anonymous sources, and liars. If they can’t bring up at least one credible source of evidence, they need to keep their damn mouths shut and shelf their story until they have something material to provide.
Crumpy frisky this morning
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
Look at these loser barners playing the “innocent until proven guilty” card
What a bunch of pathetic fans you are…defending this punk. You make me sick and you deserve what your getting.
soooooooooooooo barners ???????/
Jim Pierce
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
Wow Mark. You CONTINUE advocating sitting Cam with “allegations”. Let’s see. Mississippi States coach…Mullen… Had a gentlemans agreement with Cam when State hired him from Florida, that Cam would come with him. Cam chose Auburn instead. THEN you have TWO ex Miss. State players that broke all this garbage. One of the two obviously lied on one occasion. And yet you chose at this early date, to JUDGE based on no facts, just taking the word of a proven liar that is under investigation by the NFL.
You need to find another profession. Journalism isn’t your call.
RED
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
So what’s your point “Some of you people are really, really stupid”. Who said anything about the criminal justice system, dufus? The term is used losely in society as figure of speech. There is no proven evidence against him nor is there an NCAA invstigation. Get a life.
Tweets that mention Why Auburn cannot allow Cam Newton to play against UGA | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Brian LeCompte, Winfield Featherston, Beau, Lydia Craver and others. Lydia Craver said: RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Why #Auburn cannot allow #Cam Newton to play against #UGA. http://bit.ly/aZnGWV [...]
atlantatiger
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
Ooooh, marking your words football wife. Doesn’t take a football wife to figure out that things are “just getting started.” What irritates me as an Auburn fan, who hopes the school didn’t pay a dime for him and wants a clean program, is that the NCAA has had this information since January. If they thought there was some truth to it they should have checked into it and if there was any question have him sit to begin with! And I don’t want to hear about how slow they move, there is enough money in football obviously to hire some more people. I hope this comes back on them too and changes some things.
Doug
November 12th, 2010
10:18 am
“As yet, nothing has surfaced to tie Auburn to any player payola, but that’s no longer the issue.” You truly have no soul do you? So it doesn’t matter if he is guilty or not, anyone who makes a claim is more right than the accused so you sit a person based on claims? Ok here goes, I claim you embezzled $20k from the AJC. So, that is my claim according to a source. I believe you should be suspended from the paper pending an investigation. I am going to call it in to the police right now.
Hankie Aron
November 12th, 2010
10:19 am
Ga Gator- Since Auburn has known something about it since the summer, that means they done a thorough in house investigation and are ok with it? You do realize that if Newton took BIG money to come to Auburn and Auburn plays him that the penalties will be much much more than the games lost
Rob
November 12th, 2010
10:19 am
DOES BEING INNOCENT UNTIL PROOFED GUILTY NOT APPLY HERE?
So far I’m hearing just allocations.
jimmy
November 12th, 2010
10:19 am
what exactly has changed? it seems like it’s still the same unnamed and/or somewhat questionable sources making statements and offering no proof to back them up. until you have proof, you have no guilt, and no reason to demand that auburn sit cam newton. dawg nation needs to stop grasping for straws and go take its beatdown. show me the money.
RK 22
November 12th, 2010
10:19 am
Mark,
I’m not sure there are that many universities in the SEC (which I love) that given the chance would be interested in proving they are “more than a football program with a few classrooms as window dressing” or “cares more about being an institution of higher learning than it does the outcome of a given game” besides Vanderbilt.
Hog Fan
November 12th, 2010
10:20 am
The other thing is, it could be a dog fight even with Cam. It should be a good game.
KeepitUnbiased
November 12th, 2010
10:20 am
Funny how this obvious Georgia fan’s only concern is for the Bulldogs to win this game at all cost, which would be much easier without Cam playing. If Georgia doesnt win the chances of becoming bowl elligable are very slim and Mark Richt’s job is definately in jeapordy. So sure, when no recommendation from the NCAA whatsoever for Auburn to sit Newton, do it anyway because this Bulldog fan says so…
Jim Pierce
November 12th, 2010
10:20 am
Burner: “innocent until proven guilty” isn’t a “playing card”. It is part of our Judicial system.
How bout I just accuse YOU of something, and have everyone believe it? lol The hypocrite here, isn’t the Auburn fans… its the Georgia fans.