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
Take a break
December 1st, 2010
3:20 pm
and read the national blogs. Not too many AU fans out there. “Cheaters” is the work used most often. No Heisman for sCam.
RiffRaff
December 1st, 2010
3:23 pm
This investigation by the NCAA is a joke.
Fairley in mean:)
December 1st, 2010
3:28 pm
Fact that Cam was, briefly, ineligible, but yet Auburn has forfeited no games…
The NCAA has ZERO MANDATORY penalties for violations of the amateurism rules. This is FACT. They make the punishment fit the crime.
Here, the athlete did nothing wrong…other than have a father who, in a lapse of reason, did something very, very stupid.
So why was he declared ineligible at all? Well, if Auburn tells Cecil Newton never to set foot on Auburn’s campus, or to keep his distance from all current and future football events, etc., they have to have a damn good reason to do it. Likewise, MSU had to have a legitimate reason to disassociate Kenny Rogers. If either institution had taken that action without justification, they’d have been civilly liable to the parties so dealt with.
What this shows you is that Auburn University has been TOTALLY compliant with this entire process from the beginning, likely in January of 2010 or even earlier…that Auburn University dotted its I’s and crossed its T’s and did a roto-rooter on this whole thing, and when they came back CLEAN, they did the HONORABLE thing and didn’t punish the student athlete involved, and STUCK TO THEIR GUNS.
The NCAA quite clearly has been telling Auburn what would likely transpire, and I have zero doubts that Newton being ruled ineligible one day and being reinstated the next was simply the agreement that the parties reached.
The punishment fit the crime. The responsible parties received a comeuppance. The innocent party in this keeps his good name, his athletic and acamdemic standing, and Auburn Univerty is shown to be a champion of the enforcement process.
That’s not what will be said by those who desire to tear down, to destroy, but that is EXACTLY what happened, without variance.
Smile proudly Auburn men and women, your University did you proud today, and continues to do so.
CW
December 1st, 2010
3:29 pm
Cam told his recruiter at Mississippi State that he wasn’t coming to MS State because “the money at Auburn was too much” so how could the NCAA say he didn’t know about the money? That’s absurd.
FrAUdBURN
December 1st, 2010
3:30 pm
“Smile proudly Auburn men and women, your University did you proud today, and continues to do so.”
Are you freakin’ kiddin me? Proud of this…Auburn certainly has LOW expectations!
ASHCAN.
December 1st, 2010
3:32 pm
Lets hear it from AJC(bradley)and all the haters.problem is cam newton is the wrong color.
PhilDunphy
December 1st, 2010
3:32 pm
AU declares Cam INELIGIBLE the Tuesday after their biggest game of the year, when this has been out for a month. Then the NCAA declares him eligible the next day? Sounds fishy to me. AJ Green was held out of UGA’s first game because the NCAA took months to investigate a sold jersey, and still didn’t wrap up the investigation until after the season. But AU declares Cam ineligible on Tuesday and Wednesday morning the NCAA has wrapped up everything. I don’t buy it. NCAA doesn’t want this over the Heisman Trophy and potentially the Championship Game, so this gives AU cover until January.
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
December 1st, 2010
3:34 pm
McLagman:
HIS DAD RENTED HIM OUT LONG BEFORE THE SPORTS WRITERS GOT TO HIM….DON’T BLAME THE SPORTS WRITERS….WHEN IT ALL COMES OUT, WITH THE ROBOCOP NCAA, THERE WILL BE A BUNCH FOR THE SPORTS WRITERS TO REPORT….
jeff
December 1st, 2010
3:34 pm
Bradley,
Where is the investigative reporting on this. Thing went dead 3 weeks ago and you guys have gone to sleep on it. Bet if it were UGA, all hell would be breaking loose about now…
RL
December 1st, 2010
3:35 pm
Cam is not a good football player.
AllBarn is FINISHED!
December 1st, 2010
3:35 pm
FBI and NCAA are about to turn Auburns football program into Kent State
Bye-bye!
Bubba
December 1st, 2010
3:36 pm
Suck on this, you bunch of haters. Cam didn’t do anything wrong – no matter how many rumors you want to spread.
WAR EAGLE!!
RL
December 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
Cam runs slow.
Jackson
December 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
NCAA wouldn’t have cleared Cam if there was ANY chance they’d change their mind. They don’t want to have to strip a title later.
So obviously, HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG.
You idiots are sooo stupid you’ll believe anything the media (and Auburn haters like Bradley) tells you.
WDE!!!!
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
December 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
SHAME ON THE NCAA….GUTLESS, WORTHLESS, BUNCH WHO DECLARE A GUY INELIGIBLE ONE DAY AND THEN ELIGIBLE AGAIN THE NEXT SO WHEN THEY FIND THE REAL TRUTH IT WON’T MAKE THEM LOOK SO BAD…..BARNEY FIFE>NCAA ROBOCOPS
Your Breath Smells like Fish Fry Tacos
December 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
Au Fans = fair
Gtu Fans = fair
Everyone else = not fair
ASHCAN.
December 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
@CW,Don’t know where you got your info,”money at AU was too much”,but thats not true.Your listening to hearsay,give me a link where i can see that in writing.
RL
December 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
Cam is afraid to hit people.
Doug
December 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
Auburn fans are like the passengers on the Titanic that were dancing as the ship was sinking.
Spin it anyway you want, but his Dad asked MSU for money and you want us to believe that he didn’t ask Auburn for money?
Bubba
December 1st, 2010
3:38 pm
PALADIN DEATH DEALER – get a clue idiot, Bradley was wrong.
AUBURN declared Cam ineligible Tuesday and the NCAA declared him eligible.
RL
December 1st, 2010
3:38 pm
Cam acts hurt to run the clock down after he is tackled and jumps up to everyones surprise. “AHH yall thought I was hurt”
David
December 1st, 2010
3:39 pm
Doug – CECIL NEVER ASKED MSU FOR MONEY. ARE YOU STUPID???
He asked a booster for money. Learned his lesson and quit trying that crap.
Bubba
December 1st, 2010
3:40 pm
RL – what? He lays for 2 seconds as a chance to catch his breath.
Do you know anything about football or are you just another moron crying about false rumors?
Fairley in mean:)
December 1st, 2010
3:40 pm
I LOVE IT!!!! We kicked uga’s and bammer’s butts and they can’t stand it. I think we knocked about half the players out of the game too. Nick Fairley is so mean…… He hurt our little QB. We even tried to chop block him out of the game and still could not. Have fun in memphis pups.
Steve
December 1st, 2010
3:41 pm
Hey RL, the clock doesn’t run down, it keeps going. Watch football much?
Bubba
December 1st, 2010
3:42 pm
BUNCH OF BRADLEY CLONES – AUBURN HATERS!!!
Cam didn’t cheat, the NCAA cleared him. They look at facts, whereas you idiots listen to rumors.
WAR EAGLE!!!
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
December 1st, 2010
3:42 pm
NCAA AND THE SEC COMPLIANCE OFFICERS ARE A JOKE…..SIT ONE GUY 2 GAMES FOR TAKING A $1800 TRIP, SIT ANOTHER GUY 4 GAMES FOR SELLING A DAMN JERSEY FOR $1000 TO A SUPPOSED AGENT, BUT YET WHEN BIG MONEY HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND PROBABLY CHANGED HANDS, THEY SLINK AWAY INTO THE NIGHT……WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!
RL
December 1st, 2010
3:42 pm
Bubba, PLaying dead is catching breath? ok then.
Richt
December 1st, 2010
3:42 pm
WAR EAGLE!!!!
WAR EAGLE!!!!
WAR EAGLE!!!!
WAR EAGLE!!!!
WAR EAGLE!!!!
WAR EAGLE!!!!
WAR EAGLE!!!!
Bubba
December 1st, 2010
3:43 pm
RL – playing dead? How about laying still so you don’t exert energy so you can rest.
The clock keeps moving, duh.
inbred
December 1st, 2010
3:44 pm
TECH SUCKS!!!!!!
GOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSS
RL
December 1st, 2010
3:44 pm
bubba. playing hurt is cheating when you arent really hurt
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
December 1st, 2010
3:45 pm
Fairley in mean:)
KNEW WHEN THE REVERAND DUDE LAWYERED UP THAT IT WAS GONNA GET MESSY..IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE, WHY “LAWYER UP”????..AUBURN PROBABLY “ADVISED” HIM TO “LAWYER UP”…..
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
December 1st, 2010
3:47 pm
Fairley in mean:):
NO FUN TO WIN WHEN YOU BE WAITING ON THE HAMMER TO DROP….YOU KNOW ITS COMING…..HAVE FUN WHILE IT LASTS…..
Bully Dawg
December 1st, 2010
3:48 pm
Cam is cleared under NCAA rules. But SEC Bylaws don’t require the athlete’s knowledge for a violation. See this article: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/16/has-cam-newton-violated-sec-bylaws-rendering-him-ineligible/
Auburn is clearly a talented team that has been getting it done on the field. Cam is clearly a gifted player, no doubt. But if the SEC acts on its own bylaws, this still may not be over for CN and AU.
Old AU Fan
December 1st, 2010
3:49 pm
I wonder what the comments would be if UGA had won the game? Or hadn’t played Auburn at all? Considering the AJC considers Auburn to be thousands of miles away, you’d probably never read a word about it.
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
December 1st, 2010
3:49 pm
Bubba;
WITH A NAME LIKE BUBBA, WATCH CALLING SOMEBODY ELSE IDIOT…..THOUGHT AUBURN WOULD HAVE DECLARED HIM INELIGIBLE ON THE SATURDAY THEY PLAYED GEORGIA OR ALABAMA……NOT ON A RAINY TUESDAY……THEY GOT A GREAT SENSE OF TIMING IN THE MATTER, I WILL ADMIT THAT…..
ajax
December 1st, 2010
3:50 pm
Auburn – 21
USC – 31
Mike Ditka – 497
War Eagle
December 1st, 2010
3:50 pm
Its sad to see SEC fans like Bama, UGA and ARK moan and groan over a 21 year old kid who would not be playing if vioilation had been proven. YOU ARE NOT A JUDGE AND JURY.
If proven later you can say ” I told you so”.
During the textbook scam and Albert Means $$$ Scam(bama) and AJ Green jersey scam, all I read was let them or him play, they did NOTHING wrong, ,,,,,well I,TOLD YOU SO
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
December 1st, 2010
3:52 pm
ASHCAN:
CHEATIN BE CHEATIN, NO MATTER THE COLOR…..
Rich
December 1st, 2010
3:52 pm
Whether Cam is cleared by the NCAA or not doesn’t matter since his father admitted to soliciting his son. Because of SEC bylaws regarding improper benefits to student-athletes Cam SHOULD be declared ineligible. But of course since the SEC doesn’t want to lose any money we won’t see anything with regards to that matter until after the season.
“If at any time before or after matriculation in a member institution a student-athlete or any member of his/her family receives or agrees to receive, directly or indirectly, any aid or assistance beyond or in addition to that permitted by the Bylaws of this Conference (except such aid or assistance as such student-athlete may receive from those persons on whom the student is naturally or legally dependent for support), such student- athlete shall be ineligible for competition in any intercollegiate sport within the Conference for the remainder of his/her college career.”
Section 14.01.3.2 dealing with Financial Aid states
AC
December 1st, 2010
3:55 pm
So AJ Green should just say his father or brother or cousin sold his jersey and he can get those 4 games back.
Old AU Fan
December 1st, 2010
3:56 pm
SEC bylaws require receipt, or agreement to receive by an athlete or family member. Wow, so you really can ruin a kid behind his or her back – without their consent or knowledge!!!
Of course, you’ve got to show that there was an agreement, or actual receipt. Sometimes that might be difficult to do.
GaBlue
December 1st, 2010
3:57 pm
PALADIN DEATH DEALER,
“BUT YET WHEN BIG MONEY HAS BEEN DISCUSSED…” It’s kind of like when your love life has been discussed. It’s just talk. There’s no evidence that anything ever happened, and her denial is not — as you wish — proof of anything!
AC
December 1st, 2010
3:57 pm
Wow, Auburn declared him Cam inelgible on a Tuesday. What a sham.
JED
December 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
Old AU Fan. I disagree. Yeah Bama and UGA are mad they got beat. But this story has the SEC, NCAA integrity at stake. Im sure Nationwide this story is tops. And really it is unfortunate for every college fb fan, coach, and team. I dont understand why AU fans arent upset at Cam and his family. Or does integrity not matter at AU. Im a UGA fan and have been waiting for 30 years for a NC. But if this is happening at UGA, Im not pleased.
Skitty Fritty
December 1st, 2010
4:06 pm
I am sure the IRS is happy to talk with Cecil Newton about this whole situation.
Boz
December 1st, 2010
4:06 pm
AC is correct. If AJ Green had had his father sell the jersey for him, he would have been in the clear–so long as it couldn’t be proved that the money came directly to him. What a farce. This will destroy what is left of integrity in college football. From here on out, you’re a fool if you’re not on the take.
Skitty Fritty
December 1st, 2010
4:08 pm
I love how everyone refers to Cam as a “Kid”. Come on, he is a grown man. He is old enough to vote, fight for his country, go to an “R” rated movie and buy booze. Stop with the innocent “Kid” references.
why
December 1st, 2010
4:11 pm
If you think Cam is innocent then we know where you stand on the OJ Simpson question.