Cam’s the man in college football, and now he’s free to play
Yet another precinct heard from. (Rainy-day photo by M. Bradley)
BREAKING NEWS: The NCAA has ruled Cam Newton eligible. Technically the NCAA ruled him ineligible for one day and has reinstated him. Another post is upcoming.
Auburn, Ala. – The wayfaring journey of Cameron Jerrell Newton has turned for home: From College Park and Westlake High to Florida and Auburn with a Texas junior college in between, and now back to Atlanta for Saturday’s SEC championship. It should be one of the happiest stories in the history of the sport, but its hero has gone missing in plain sight.
Auburn’s coach was asked Tuesday when the best player in college football might again be made available to the media, something that hasn’t happened for two weeks. Said Gene Chizik: “I’m going to stay on the path of commenting directly on his play.”
A reporter noted that SEC rules call for every player to be available for interviews after the title game and asked if Auburn would comply with league policy. Chizik: “I’m going to stay on the path of making comments on the championship game or the previous 12 games.”
More intriguing was how often Chizik, in the course of a 33-minute briefing, mentioned his best player by name — once. (He called him “Cameron.”) Asked by this correspondent if playing such a massive game in his hometown might heighten the pressure on Newton to an unbearable level, Chizik didn’t even deploy the third-person singular, meaning “he” or “him”, in his response. He went plural, both in the first and third person, all the way.
Chizik: “We’ve had a lot of big moments to get to this point, in my opinion, as a team and individually … We’ve all kind of been here before at some point in the other games. I think that’s big for us, and I think that’s big for our players individually. I’m hoping that this would not be any different. They don’t give me any reason to believe they’ll respond differently.”
Weird. You cannot take two steps in the Loveliest Village of the Plain without hearing or seeing some mention of Cam Newton. (See the example above, photographed outside Momma Goldberg’s Deli — home of the “Pastrama Momma” — on Thach Avenue.) No serious discussion of college football can commence anywhere in these United States without lip service being paid to the irresistible Tiger quarterback. Yet it’s as if the man who coaches Newton dare not speak his name.
Given the twists in this tale, Auburn’s skittishness is understandable. Since the first ESPN report on Nov. 4 that the former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond (formerly of Valdosta) had been told it would cost serious money for Newton to play for the Bulldogs, the Tigers have awaited the next shoe dropping. Who knew Newton’s story housed more shoes than Imelda Marcos’ closet?
We’ve heard from two more MSU voices, the ex-players Kenny Rogers and Bill Bell. We’ve been informed by FoxSports.com that Newton left Florida under suspicion of cheating. We’ve heard, via Mark Winne of Channel 2 Action News, that Newton’s father Cecil has admitted to someone that he sought money from Mississippi State. The air (and airwaves) became so charged it wasn’t clear if Cam Newton would play against Georgia on Nov. 13 until he took part in the pregame Tiger Walk, leaping and shouting and high-fiving, and entered Jordan-Hare Stadium, pausing to kneel at the goalpost.
Newton was great that day, greater still against hated Alabama in Tuscaloosa last week. The Tigers trailed 24-0, won 28-27. Asked if Newton’s performance had been “one for the ages,” Chizik again took the big-picture tack: “At some point we’re going to have a chance to breathe and look back and realize how monumental that was … I don’t know how many teams in the course of history would have been able to do that.”
Win Saturday and Newton’s team will play for the BCS title in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 10. That is, however, a long way off — plenty of time for more investigative work, more allegations. Newton will surely have to break his silence when he wins the Heisman Trophy, which is announced Dec. 11, but even then the man of the year in college football is apt to remain a man of mystery.
On Tuesday, the tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, who’s from Lassiter High in Marietta, spoke of and essentially for his quarterback. “Business as usual for Cam is basically straight goofball,” Lutzenkirchen told reporters. “He’s always joking around, always messing with everyone. That hasn’t changed at all throughout this year.”
As for Newton himself: The son of a preacher is holding his peace. Asked if the most valuable and visible Tiger was planning to address the media, a helpful Auburn staffer pointed to the entrance of the Athletic Center and said: “He’s going to walk through that door … and keep on going.”
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452 comments Add your comment
BamaFans=SoreLosers
December 1st, 2010
2:09 pm
“everybody hands go up”
WAR EAGLES ARE PICKLE KISSERS
December 1st, 2010
2:10 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA your nothing but a bunch of cheaters!
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Theyalldoit-'ceptVandy
December 1st, 2010
2:10 pm
Winder: People who live in glass houses…just saying.
spike
December 1st, 2010
2:10 pm
“Is yours a academic school or a cheating football factory.”
This is the funniest thing that will ever be posted in a discussion regarding SEC football.
Auburn Redhead is a bottom for sCAM NEWTON
December 1st, 2010
2:11 pm
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyop !
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2010
2:11 pm
A new Cam post is now available, if you’re inclined.
WinderDogg
December 1st, 2010
2:11 pm
Reggie Bush did not know why is dad gave him an Escalade either…
Bosshog
December 1st, 2010
2:11 pm
WinderDogg
December 1st, 2010
2:07 pm
Redhead…he told Miss State he could not come because of dad and the money…not trying to get that fiery temper up or anything..
—–
come on now. cammy cam is from the ATL where you learn “no snitching” before your “abcs.”
that’s just sour grapes by that lousy school in that third world hell hole called Miss. Who wants to spend a day in Miss? That state is just awful. It should be nuked and condemned.
meh
December 1st, 2010
2:11 pm
the NCAA doesn’t want TCU in the national championship game. they’d get lower ratings and less money than they’d get with AU in the championship game. So they reinstate Cam Newton in hopes that AU beats SC and advances to the national championship game therefore keeping TCU out. If SC wins and TCU jumps AU in the polls I’ll bet you the NCAA finds a bunch of connections between Cam and the money real quick.
BR-ATL
December 1st, 2010
2:14 pm
What if ……. Kenny Rogers sent the text messages asking for money, and then had to report back to Cecil Newton that Miss State said “not only no, He!# no.” But Miss State kept recruiting Newton anyway.
Then, as a next step, Auburn and Oklahoma started recruiting Newton, but they are “rogue” programs and don’t have the luxury of getting in trouble anymore. So, Auburn and Oklahoma recruit Newton straight up – you know, with tradition, stadiums, game day festivities – and the Newtons pick Auburn because it is only 90 minutes from Newnan, GA.
Not much of a scandal, but this is probably how it happened at the end of the day. Auburn’s fat cat boosters all have bigger problems right now than winning football games. Which is a blessing for us normal AU alumni who manage to keep it all in perspective.
Scam Eagle
December 1st, 2010
2:14 pm
Do you Auburn folks REALLY think that “insufficient evidence at this time” equates to innocence? It took the NCAA nine months to prove that his father shopped him a round. It will take a while longer to prove what Auburn did. So go ahead and live for the moment and enjoy—while the rest of the nation ridicules your hypocricy…..But be sure your sins will find you out…..And ask an Auburn old-timer what bowl game the Tigers went to after their 1957 undefeated season….or Terry Bowden’s undefeated season…War Cheater!
Stripes
December 1st, 2010
2:14 pm
“Our members have established rules for a fair and equal recruitment of student-athletes, as well as to promote integrity in the recruiting process,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for academic and membership affairs. “In determining how a violation impacts a student-athlete’s eligibility, we must consider the young person’s responsibility. Based on the information available to the reinstatement staff at this time, we do not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity, which led to his reinstatement. From a student-athlete reinstatement perspective, Auburn University met its obligation under NCAA bylaw 14.11.1. Under this threshold, the student-athlete has not participated while ineligible.”
Auburn and Cam are eligible. End of story – end of discussion. WDE!
Auburn Redhead
December 1st, 2010
2:15 pm
WinderDogg
Where are the supposed “text messages” saying that? Oh, the phones were conveniently destroyed by water. Bond is crafty and has already been busted for walking a crooked line. Cecil Newton just happened to, unfortunately, get tangled up crossing it.
Your Breath Smells like Fish Fry Tacos
December 1st, 2010
2:15 pm
What a load of crap this is.
Ted Striker
December 1st, 2010
2:15 pm
Free to play. But does he play for free?
Theyalldoit-'ceptVandy
December 1st, 2010
2:17 pm
Cell phone “got water damage.” Uh huh. Auburn is ok, if they have no proof. If they do…they are in more trouble than Butchie and UNCHEAT.
WinderDogg
December 1st, 2010
2:17 pm
Unfortunately? Cecil’s no fool…
Jeffro Bodeen
December 1st, 2010
2:18 pm
Funny how the NCAA can rule on this so quickly, but the AJ Green matter took months…..looks like cherry picking to me!!
All Auburn All In
December 1st, 2010
2:18 pm
The NCAA investigated and cleared him. Auburn is not under investigation. End of story.
So sad that fans of other SEC schools (other than South Carolina) can’t put away their bitterness and pull for Auburn to beat South Carolina and, therefore, play for another national championship that belongs to the SEC.
WDE!
cam karma......
December 1st, 2010
2:20 pm
it will all come out in the wash…… the only people who truly know if cam knew anything are cam and his dad, and they obviously are not going to admit it if he did. i truly believe that auburn knows nothing about money being offered for cam. it took a mississippi state recruiter informing the school for them to find out. if an auburn recruiter or alum was willing to deal with cecil, i would not expect them to inform the school.
if someone compensated daddy newton in order to get his son to auburn it will take time, more than has transpired, to get to the bottom of it. the million dollar question is why would he shop cam to one school and not another? something changed his mind, good or bad. when that gets answered then this story will be put to rest.
The Brain of this group
December 1st, 2010
2:21 pm
Slow down all you bickering idiots…..The real investigation has just started. The NCAA has no real investigative power. You can “no comment” those guys with no real consequences to you individually. Yes, they can interview coaches and players etc., but big deal. Just wait until the FBI starts asking more and more questions. You better answer, and it better be accurate. No one is going to prison for lying to the FBI just to cover up a little recruiting violation. The FBI doesnt give a damn about football or a bowl game. They have bigger things they are looking at, and they will take their time doing an investigation. You heard it here….By the time this is over Cam Newton will be in the NFL, and he will personally admit that he was paid to go to Auburn, and the complete story will go down as the worst black eye in college sports history because Auburn is going to have more problems than just paying CAM. They will eventually get the death penalty. I have nothing against Auburn. I just know a little more about whats going on than the rest of you loud mouths.
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
December 1st, 2010
2:21 pm
SOMETIMES BETWEEN THE TIME THE PREACHER HIT UP MISS. STATE FOR 180 GRAND AND WHEN HE WENT ON TO AUBURN, THE PREACHER DECIDED THAT WHAT HE HAD DONE WAS WRONG AND THAT HE WOULDN’T ASK ANYTHING OF AUBURN FOR HIS SON’S QUARTERBACKING SERVICES…..WHEN DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS FLY……THIS IS GONNA HAVE A BAD ENDING, BUT THE NCAA GONNA LET IT GO FOR 5 YEARS LIKE THEY DID REGGIE BUSH BEFORE ANYTHING IS SAID…..THEY KNOW MORE NOW THAN THEY ARE TELLING……
gdawginkalamazoo
December 1st, 2010
2:22 pm
Well I guess we can consider this thing, water under the brige now, laptop out the window or whatever past tense phrase we want to stick on it. Go South Carolina!
SEC Fan
December 1st, 2010
2:22 pm
When a pimp pimps out his or her prostitute, does the prostitute not know that he or she is committing an illegal act? What differs? Cam is just as guilty as his father, but the NCAA has chosen to turn its head. Shame on the NCAA for not upholding the rules it has mandated. Regardless, I am pulling for the SEC all the way.
Wait...what?
December 1st, 2010
2:23 pm
This is ridiculous. His dad can shop him around AND he’s still eligible to play? What sense does that make?
BG
December 1st, 2010
2:23 pm
Cam and his Dad filled their pockets with cash! Cam is a cheater and a thief.
gdawginkalamazoo
December 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
You know what I find funny in this whole thing?
Cam’s middle name is Jerrell.
Bobby Lowder
December 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
Cam knows nothing about my dealings with his Dad!
gdawginkalamazoo
December 1st, 2010
2:27 pm
You can hear the can opener in Indy grinding away. Huge can of worms just got opened today.
Fairley in mean:)
December 1st, 2010
2:27 pm
Hog, That is too funny. All you had to do is beat a team from Alabama and you might have played in the title game. Instead, you have to hope Auburn wins so you can play in a BCS game. Counting on Auburn to pull the load for you again!
Bobby Lowder
December 1st, 2010
2:27 pm
Has anyone seen my ATM card? Cam’s Dad needs it for this weekend but Cam knows nothing about this.
Cam's the man in college football, and now he's free to play … « All About Football
December 1st, 2010
2:29 pm
[...] BREAKING NEWS: The NCAA has ruled Cam Newton eligible. Technically the NCAA ruled him ineligible for one day and has reinstated him. Another post is. Follow this link: Cam's the man in college football, and now he's free to play … [...]
grifter
December 1st, 2010
2:29 pm
Its amazing how many awbarn fans there suddenly are (jumping on the bandwagon in full force are we?) before this game. And whats up with hating on the gamecocks? Sounds like a lot of little Georgia boys and girls are weawwy upset that there sucky team got waxed all year. I know it hurts ladies but don’t worry, next year will be worse. The gamecocks have all of their starters coming back to pound the puppies into the dirt. Again. Meanwhile, we’ll handle the kitties on Saturday. So sit back, relax, go to home depot, or watch reruns of hee-haw, the best team in the sec will take care of awbarn on sat.
timthebrave
December 1st, 2010
2:31 pm
How is not now open season for any parent to shop their son as long as their son “doesn’t know about it.”
Tebo's cousin's
December 1st, 2010
2:31 pm
SO…he was ineligible for one day ? What a crock….
bruce mac
December 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
I know that an Auburn education creates a major learning disability, but if you bother to read the release the NCAA investigation into the recruiting of Cam Newton continues and that includes Auburn. They have nothing at this time concrete to cause him to be ineligible. This is far from over and all of you Barners need to calm down until the Fat Lady sings. She is just now gargling. I hope Auburn wins the MNC but this investigation is far from over and if you seriously think Auburn supporters did nothing wrong you are on drugs. Now, if Auburn coaches knew or should have known about it is another matter. That is where the rubber meets the road.
ATLNative
December 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
Everyone knows the AJ Green situation was a farse… the NCAA couldn’t allow there to be a precedence for athletes all over the country to start making money off their jerseys. He should have been forced to turn over any proceeds to charity and received a smack on the wrist. The whole thing was VERY cut-and-dry, but the NCAA abused its authority to make a point.
Cam’s situation is not at all cut-and-dry. His Father’s a greedy cult leader and a hypocrite if the professes to do “God’s work”. Cam’s a glory-monger, but no worse than Peyton Manning or Desmond Howard were. Cam just plays… and he plays well. I don’t know why he came to AU, but his Daddy probably wanted him nearby, he wanted good offensive players around him, a top-notch OC in Malzahn, and a place that desparately needed a star at QB. There’s no way it was for money because unless it’s cash hiding under a mattress in College Park, it is pretty easy to find a paper trail – especially if it was used to renovate Dad’s Neverland Ranch.
But regardless, what fuels this debate is that those who want to see a star fall from grace will only watch that small point in the sky. I’m happy Cam’s eligible because he’s a great player. If you’re looking to a 21-year old college kid to be your role model… I feel very badly for you. College students are not saints… except maybe at BYU.
As far as the Victoryland guy and Bobby Lowder are concerned… I hope they fry. You will find that despite Lowder’s name above the Business School, many Auburn faithful have nothing positive to say about him.
grifter
December 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
awbarn and the cam hangers-on,
Tebo's cousin's
December 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
so his dad tried to pimp him out….does that make him a prostitute or a professional..
Tweets that mention Cam’s the man in college football, and now he’s free to play | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
December 1st, 2010
2:34 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by AGKHAN, Danny Wilson and Jack Tater, U. S. College Teams. U. S. College Teams said: Cam's the man in college football, and now he's free to play – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) http://bit.ly/i47zCo [...]
sleepless in athens
December 1st, 2010
2:35 pm
Let the NCAA run this little charade….when the Feds get done, the NCAA will look as bad as Cam Newton and his Daddy! And Auburn will pay dearly for this.
root4au
December 1st, 2010
2:36 pm
bruce mac…it’s over as far as AU is concerned. He is playing this saturday and in the championship game. Neither he or AU has done anything wrong. The fat lady has sang and it sounds so sweet. After Jan 10, 2011 it will not matter.
mike
December 1st, 2010
2:36 pm
Boy you rednecks are ate up with Cam hate. Must be really sad to feel this way about first a game where everyone makes money except those athletes. Secondly you goobers have made the man guilty just because you don’t like Auburn. Well however it ends up, you can bet Cam will one day be in the NFL. So keep the hate coming because it seems to make him stronger.
jak
December 1st, 2010
2:37 pm
Grown men hater’s that’s something else!!!!
SEC Fan
December 1st, 2010
2:37 pm
prostitute, no doubt.
Gary
December 1st, 2010
2:37 pm
Fair and money have nothing in common. Playing him makes the NCAA money on gameday. Benching him makes the reporters money everyday. He should have been kicked out of Florida. Auburn should not have touched him. The NCAA has lost its collective mind.
boots
December 1st, 2010
2:38 pm
I’m confused. So, is the investigation still on-going? Is it just waved off that his dad (how did Cameron NOT know) was acting to extort universities and sell his son’s services? How does someone like AJ sit 4 games for selling a shirt for $1000 but Cameron Newton is left available after asking for close to 200 times that amount to play? Something is not right about this. Is the FBI investigating the fact that academic records were released or the recruiting scam that has Tiger prints all over it?
bruce mac
December 1st, 2010
2:39 pm
Like I said, you can’t read. I feel sorry for you.
SEC Fan
December 1st, 2010
2:39 pm
boots -
The NCAA just asked for 75% and ruled him eligible.
DawgLink
December 1st, 2010
2:41 pm
This is plain horse$hit. AJ sells his jersey to an individual tat the NCAA suspects is an agent and gets a 4 game suspension. Cecil tries to sell his son and gets nothing. Pure hosre$hit.