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
why
December 1st, 2010
4:13 pm
Does anyone think the NCAA didn’t have all the information to make a decision last Friday?
This whole deal stinks and anyone that touches it is going to stink too.
Skitty Fritty
December 1st, 2010
4:13 pm
Why:
You really thing OJ is guilty?
Citizen1
December 1st, 2010
4:14 pm
Now the NCAA and SEC has opened the door for every recruit to simply say ” I did not know that my father asked for money”! Cam is on record saying my dad helped make the decision for me to go to Auburn. Any who thinks Cam did not know about all this is a fool. What kind of Preacher is this guy?
Wow!
December 1st, 2010
4:14 pm
Suspended or not…AU football is now the laughing stock of the nation.
Boz
December 1st, 2010
4:15 pm
By the way, it’s worth noting that this whole line of defense was set out by Auburn’s lawyer, not the Newtons themselves. From the beginning it was the university that came up with the SODDI angle (Some Other Dude Did It). Every pimp and drug dealer in America uses it. So at the very least, you can get a good idea of where Auburn University’s morals are.
SEC Fan
December 1st, 2010
4:16 pm
I am laughing
why
December 1st, 2010
4:17 pm
Attention all High School Football players. You better go somewhere else for college because sooner or later Auburn will get the hammer!
SEC Fan
December 1st, 2010
4:18 pm
Cam has incredible talent, I think the AU team is the best in the SEC and possibly the country. However, Cam Newton knew his Preacher Man father was orchestrating some type of pay-for-play scam. It’s sad that it will take time to drag out and find all the pieces, but the truth will come out. The NCAA ruling is based on “information available at this time.”
Heady
December 1st, 2010
4:19 pm
Hey Dawgs and Turds. Enjoy complaining about ’society’. I’m going to the Dome to watch our Heisman trophy winner kick some cockaboose butt. Sorry your seasons sucked so bad.
why
December 1st, 2010
4:19 pm
OJ = guilty, Cam = guilty, Auburn = guilty
I don’t care if the glove fits over the first pair of golves or not.
Rock the Casbah
December 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
Watch out Barners, karma is a beyotch!!
MRuc
December 1st, 2010
4:21 pm
I got your facts
RTR all the way to what…..#19 “They all say…” you sound like you got left out of the party. Mark Bradley is a wimp and poor sports writer
NCAA is a joke
December 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
the only thing this ruling does is make a joke of college football.. attention all parents of potential athletes you can sell your kid to colleges just make sure you don’t tell them and get a good lawyer!
Herschel Walker
December 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Why does Cam get more than me?!?
why
December 1st, 2010
4:24 pm
Quote from Lane Kiffin after a kid from Knoxville Tn. at Notre Dame intercepted a pass on their would be game winning drive.
“I now believe in Karma”
Auburn we have the same statement at some time. Maybe this week if they get beat by the cocks.
Boz
December 1st, 2010
4:25 pm
Here is Auburn’s story–and they’re sticking to it:
1) Nothing happened!
2) And if something did happen, there’s no proof we are completely sure we knew nothing about it!
3) And even if we did know anything about it, Cam didn’t!
4) So leave us alone already, because everyone does it!
Actually we’re not up to #4 yet, but it can’t be long now.
Herschel Walker
December 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
Wow@ 4:14 – I hear more people whining than laughing. Sounds like you’re right in there with them.
bruce mac
December 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
This is an eligibility ruling only. At this point he is eligible and the investigation continues. If you can’t read I feel sorry for you. The NCAA memo goes out of the way to tell you the investigation has nothing to do with this current eligibility ruling.
Dorsey Hill
December 1st, 2010
4:28 pm
I understand that Auburn declared Cam ineligible then applied for reinstatement and that the application was handled very quickly. Presumably, everyone agreed that neither Auburn nor Cam Newton were aware of the prior, presumably failed, pimping attempt. Agree with it or not, it at least makes sense.
The question that I can’t get my head around is whether the NCAA agrees that Auburn only had enough info to act this week. I mean what did they learn this week that made them decide that Cam was ineligle that they didn’t know last week or the week before?
RL
December 1st, 2010
4:30 pm
Bubba, the article you are commenting on is saying the rumor is true and what the NCAA isnt going to do about it. It isnt a false rumor. Yeah I know a little about football. I was just getting inside your sensitive head. How about I kick Scam Newton in the ribs while he plays dead killing the clock and give him something to act hurt about?
Joe
December 1st, 2010
4:32 pm
Seems very strange that Butch Davis will probably lose his job because a tutor completed papers for football players. Yet rewind the tape and…well maybe it’s because it is the SEC and Urban Meyer and Cam Newton and well, you get the picture….suddenly a bought paper on the internet and stealing laptops and whoa…yet another paper turned in that a tutor did…and NOTHING happens. If I am a law firm in Chapel Hill I leave my lines open. Why the contradictory penalties from the NCAA????
John
December 1st, 2010
4:34 pm
Thought I’d address WinderDogg glowingly unbiased hate post:
“I hate Auburn for the following..
1) stealing the hedges idea – I wasn’t aware UGA had a patent on bushes.
Bo is not better than Herschel – Disagree, but who cares?
2) stealing our fight song – Wrong. Auburn actually has a fight song called “War Eagle”. You don’t even know what your fight song is apparently, because it isn’t Glory to Ole Georgia, which incidentally stole it’s music from the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
3) spraying me with water – Nothing smells worse than a wet dog, and you deserved it if you were one of the fans on the field trying to rip up the sod.
4) Pat Dye – So you hate your own? We don’t hate Dooley, get over it.
5) Orange – Orange is the new red.
6) Fans are so stupid to not see a crime in front of their face. – What crime is that?
7) Scam
9) Having two mascots – We have one mascot, but you don’t even know your own fight song so I’m not surprised by you speaking out of ignorance.
10) Making a mockery out of college football this season….0 wins and a staff full of cheaters. – Exactly how has Auburn cheated? You must have failed reading comprehension, because I haven’t seen anyone but butthurt rival fans say Auburn has cheated.
Love Auburn because I was there when sugar fell from the sky….
NC DAWG
December 1st, 2010
4:36 pm
The cloud may be lifted over Auburn, but there certainly is an even bigger cloud over the NCAA and SEC!
St. Clarkston
December 1st, 2010
4:37 pm
I’m glad he’s eligible. However it’s sick that AJ Green got 4 freakin games for selling his OWN jersey.
So Funny
December 1st, 2010
4:38 pm
The BammerWhinery and DawgWhinery are still desperately hoping some kind of legal action will rescue them from their pathetic losses.
There just isn’t anything to the Cam Newton thing. No scandal. No probation. No vacated wins.
Get over it.
……… and go back to trying to win your games on the field — instead of having the NCAA bail ya out.
(still laughing)
Vince
December 1st, 2010
4:40 pm
So AJ Greene gets suspended for four games because he sold his jersey. Cam is just fine even though his dad tried to sell his services for $180,000.
Yeah….that’s fair.
droopydawg
December 1st, 2010
4:40 pm
I hope no one has kids that follow sports. It is going to be awfully hard to convince them to live a moral life when things like this are essentially approved of.
To John
December 1st, 2010
4:40 pm
well said
droopydawg
December 1st, 2010
4:41 pm
Vince: damn straight. The NCAA imposes sanctions based on nothing other than what they think will be the consequence. Bama players get slaps on the wrist, so do AUB (so that they do not have to suffer TCU in the title game) while AJ and UNC get reamed. Screw the NCAA.
to droopydawg
December 1st, 2010
4:43 pm
*things like this*…..?
So, you’re saying that just because UGA and UA and UMS declared Cam Newton guilty, therefore he must BE guilty?
There’s a reason we have higher organizations to investigate and reasons why we do NOT let fans and the media be the judge, jury and executioners (although they DID try so hard).
Sorry it didn’t turn out the way you wanted it; get over it. And as for the kids, if the lesson learned is that they can’t have everything their way, then that’s a good lesson indeed!
WDE
awwwwww, droopydawg!!!
December 1st, 2010
4:45 pm
Poor thang…. bless yore heart
:’(
John
December 1st, 2010
4:46 pm
Sorry to interupt the UGA lynch mob circle jerk to inject some actual reasoning, but explain to me what benefits were received by Cam for this to be comparable to the AJ Green suspension.
To Joe
December 1st, 2010
4:46 pm
No stolen laptop
Stop skewing facts. Making you look dumb, son.
RL
December 1st, 2010
4:46 pm
4:43 Are you proud of Cam Newton and his family? Do you approve of his fathers actions? Is Cams father right in what he did? Is that what you are saying?
Hey, John?
December 1st, 2010
4:47 pm
Don’t try to confuse the UGA crowd.
They don’t know the difference between AJ Green DOING something (directly) and Cam Newton NOT DOING something.
It’s a bit above them.
DawgNation
December 1st, 2010
4:48 pm
I am missing something here? Was the NCAA rules broken that would have disqualified him from playing by the actions of his father or not? I thought any stipulation or request for monetary compensation on behalf of a player was the rule that was broken. If so, then how, after his father admitted to the infraction, is he not disqualified? I am not asking this question because I want to see him sit or a program punished but if the rules apply to others, aka going to a party on someone else’s dime or selling of personal property, then why not in this instance regardless of the team or person? After witnessing how the NCAA handled the AJ Green incident with all its grace and speed I can not see how they can come out and say he is or is not eligible for the SEC Championship game or any game he has participated in till now. The NCAA needs to say one way or another if the rule was broken and gives a detailed reason one way or another. If the investigation is not complete then how can they say anything? I will enjoy the SEC Championship game and the National Championship game but really hope that this dark cloud hovering over not only AU but the SEC as a whole is resolved and sooner than five years from now.
to RL
December 1st, 2010
4:49 pm
Should YOU be tried, convicted and executed for every wrong a family member of YOURS has ever done?
Or should YOU be accountable for YOUR actions only?
Hmmmmmmmmm?
RL
December 1st, 2010
4:49 pm
Auburn fans. Tell me why Cam was declared ineligible for one day if he did nothing?
Old AU Fan
December 1st, 2010
4:50 pm
So if Cam is a grown man, then how could a family member dealing behind his back, without his knowledge, become his responsibility? Sons being punished for the sins of their fathers? Now if Cam did something wrong himself, have at it!
I’m not happy this is happening – but am also not convinced Cam and the school have any real responsibility, except a very thin guilt by association… and some fans of opponents that are afraid to admit they were beaten by a better team. Hey, deal with it next year.
Oh, by the way – SEC and NCAA integrity – an oxymoron? There used to be a big SEC football school that had the head coach on some infractions committee for the NCAA…. that school was never ‘caught’ at anything during that period of time – although there were rumors of problems. But that was a ways back…before the internet…..
RL
December 1st, 2010
4:50 pm
answer my question 4:49
RL
December 1st, 2010
4:51 pm
Thanks for your honest answer Old Auburn Fan. The most sensible of any Auburn answer.
to RL
December 1st, 2010
4:52 pm
again, your ignorance is showing
Cam doesn’t *play dead* to kill the clock. His hands were stomped upon several times during the LSU game and coaches have told him to remain on the ground with his hands protected until others around him have stood up and moved away.
AUers
December 1st, 2010
4:52 pm
Raging paranoia. Defend yourself without knocking other schools. This is an AU problem.
J. Edgar Hoover
December 1st, 2010
4:52 pm
NCAA has over sight on college recruiting and rules andplayer and coaches’ conduct, etc.
FBI? They have FEDERAL JURISDICTION over criminal activity. The two agendas are not even comparable. When the FBI says that they are done …………………. then and only then can the AU family be comfortable.
We have to wonder what it is that the FBI is seeking to uncover. That guy ( Milton McGregor?) that owns the dog track near Auburn is the smoking bag of money. THAT is why the FBI is involved. Dog tracks and gambling venues do not mix with college sports. Think of it like the old Pete Rose baseball issues. Know what I mean?? THAT is what The Bureau is looking into.
FBI can supeona folks ……………. the SEC nor the NCAA can do that. See? FBI is the SERIOUS issue.
Go Dogs
RL
December 1st, 2010
4:55 pm
4:52 that is why he only does it in the 4th quarter. gotcha.
And you do approve of what is going on with Cams father and that Cam knows nothing? You believe that?
to RL
December 1st, 2010
4:56 pm
::: sigh :::
do some researching and reading, RL
I know it’ll be hard … but try
RL
December 1st, 2010
4:58 pm
4:56 OK Ill try. Glad you are proud of your team and see no problem with the issue at hand. a word you might want to read up on is asterisk.
Regarding the FBI
December 1st, 2010
5:01 pm
No one knows what the FBI is investigating
Could just as easily be Mr. Booster Bell at MSU. There’s still no proof that MSU was not the one who approached the Newton family (and not vice versa).
Still can’t be sure MSU will just walk away from this. After all, quite odd that ONLY Mississippi State was part of this pay-for-play scandal. Not Oklahoma. Not Tennessee. Not Auburn.
Or, yes, they could be investigation the Dog Track guy. But I think it could be regarding much bigger fish (such as the buying of politicians regarding gambling issues).
P.S. — if you think tha UGA and Bama don’t each have their own *McGregors,* you’re kidding yourselves.
4:55
December 1st, 2010
5:03 pm
I don’t believe rumors and speculation, no.
I know you desperately, DESPERATELY want the Newtons and Auburn to tumble, but it just can’t happen on speculation and rumors.
Let it play out. Stop crucifying someone prematurely.
Bulldawg Bennie
December 1st, 2010
5:04 pm
If anyone thinks that $cam Newton didnt know what his dad was doing they are crazy! Scam Newton is lying!