For Cam and Auburn, what the NCAA didn’t say resonates
For SEC championship game purposes, the three biggest words in the NCAA’s statement on Cam Newton were these: “Is immediately eligible.” Over the longer term, three bigger words were tucked into this statement from the NCAA’s Kevin Lennon.
“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.”
The three massive words: “At this time.”
Just because Cam Newton has been cleared to play Saturday doesn’t mean he has been cleared forever. It doesn’t mean the NCAA can’t and won’t continue to investigate. (It can and surely will.) And if at any time it finds “sufficient evidence” that Newton himself or a representative of Auburn violated an NCAA regulation … well, we know what that means.
Forfeit city.
Folks on the outside have a tough time understanding how the NCAA works. (Folks on the inside do, too.) But the key revelation made Wednesday was that the NCAA had indeed found evidence a rule had been flouted — by Cecil Newton, Cam’s dad, and the scout Kenny Rogers in their solicitation of Mississippi State. This prompted Auburn to declare Newton ineligible and petition for reinstatement.
This is the procedure in every NCAA case. (Georgia’s A.J. Green had to be reinstated after the NCAA suspended him those four games.) That the NCAA acted so quickly, reinstating Newton a day after Auburn ruled him ineligible, was surely due to logistics: Auburn has a game Saturday.
Yes, it’s a big game. And yes, it was awfully convenient that Auburn rendered Newton ineligible on Tuesday, Nov. 30, as opposed, say, to Friday, Nov. 26. (Gee, that was the date of the Iron Bowl!) So far, you’d have to say Auburn has found its version of Ed Tolley, the Athens attorney who has steered Georgia through tempest after tempest the past quarter-century. But that’s OK: If you were a school under scrutiny and your football team was about to play for an SEC championship and then maybe the BCS title, you’d have to be awfully dumb not to hire a smart lawyer.
Newton being rendered ineligible for one day might seem silly, but it served an essential purpose: It forced the NCAA to say yea or nay as to his playing status. It forced the NCAA to tell us, “A violation was committed … but the violation wasn’t Auburn’s.” A lot of folks have hooted down this ruling, saying it opens the door for every prospect to find a relative willing to be his talent broker and take the rap if found out, but the NCAA hasn’t yet slammed this particular door.
I say again: Don’t mistake this reinstatement for absolution. The NCAA didn’t say, “Case closed.” Newton and Auburn could still be held accountable for any transgressions that come to light. (And we know already the NCAA has found one violation involving one Newton.) Cam Newton has been cleared to play Saturday, but he and his school are not yet in the clear. Wednesday’s ruling restored his eligibility at this time, which isn’t to say for all time.
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450 comments Add your comment
Tosh.No
December 2nd, 2010
9:50 am
And the cheating in Auburn goes on and on and on and on and on and on. WAR SCAM EAGLE!
Wow forgot that AU fans are some of the most classless trailor park vermin out there. Big deal you beat UGA once in like what was it like 6 or 7, beat ya’ll so many times lately we forgot you were even a rivalry game. But anyway, good luck this weekend, hope that axe don’t come down before you get waxed by Oregon.
ARMY TRAINING!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2010
9:53 am
GT-’97 Where is the evidence or are you an FBI informant? More yapping with no evidence.
Bishop Eddie Longs Red Panties
December 2nd, 2010
9:53 am
You mean to tell me a Preacher LIED!
Why do..
December 2nd, 2010
9:58 am
..all of the Plainsmen/Tiger/Eagles think this is all about UGA hating on them. This is solely Auburn’s problem. Really has nothing to do with Georgia.
Bradley The Idiot
December 2nd, 2010
9:59 am
The SEC or NCAA hasn’t accused Auburn of doing ANYTHING wrong. You are a moron and should find something else to whine…I’m mean write about. And btw, Schultz is a much better sports writer.
Jim
December 2nd, 2010
10:00 am
Army Training….even though you may be in the Army and defend this nation- in that you are a Auburn supporter makes that irrelivant.
Ted M
December 2nd, 2010
10:03 am
Yeah but…Who’s going to break more tackles Lattimore or Newton?
I think it might be fun to watch and find out.
Jim
December 2nd, 2010
10:03 am
I sincerely despise Spurrier, but I hope he beats the barners by a point. AU is dirty as usual.
MikeP
December 2nd, 2010
10:06 am
The NCAA’s “Reinstated without conditions” statement means that the Auburn and Cam Newton part of this is over with. Mississippi State may have a few problems, but “without conditions” means no forfeit city, as you so cleverly put it.
Unless, of course, some bloggers know more than the NCAA’s team of experienced investigators knows after five months of digging.
Auburn and Cam Newton are clean. Haters need to find something else to whine about. Waaaah! Nick Fairley TOUCHED our QB! Waaaaaah!
Cody
December 2nd, 2010
10:08 am
ARMY Training……I would rather take my chances with the enemy than to depend on some moron from Auburn defending me or our great nation. The actions of this school and fans speak loudly about their morals.
gdawginkalamazoo
December 2nd, 2010
10:08 am
If he is eligible why is the NCAA still continuing to waste their time investigating. IF Auburn goes on to win it all they can’t very well come back and say that he wasn’t eligible after declaring that he is good to go. This has been THE worst distraction of the season. Cam has had one hell of a season and should bring the Heisman home.
Bama
December 2nd, 2010
10:09 am
It is amazing that all of these Auburn fans want to drag Alabama into the middle of this Cam Newton mess. Alabama has had nothing to do with it. It is just another nail in the coffin of why Auburn will always be Auburn and Alabama will always be Alabama. Auburn will win some battles along the way just like they did last Friday, but the truth remains that Alabama will always be thought of as a top 5 program and Auburn as a top 20 program. Battles come and go and both teams will win some and lose some, but the war is already over and it is not even close. It is a respect thing, and Auburn has struggled with that for a long time.
75-76-DAWG
December 2nd, 2010
10:09 am
No way Cam didn’t know what was going on. That’s why his father admitted to it a few weeks ago and as long as everybody sticks to the lie Cam and Auburn will get away with it.I’m not upset that Auburn will get a chance at the national title because all of the college football higher up’s that make decisions owes Auburn after the screw they got in 2004.
I’m a little concerned about Auburn’s defense though. If they get by South Carolina Auburn may not have enough defense to stop Oregon , so they will just have to do it the BIG-12 way , try and out score the opponent.
Newton ruling demonstrates loophole in NCAA legislation – al.com
December 2nd, 2010
10:12 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
atlvol55
December 2nd, 2010
10:13 am
Mark,
You should read a good article Clay Travis yesterday. What is not being talked about is how the SEC, not the NCAA has a rule that specifically says that if a player OR HIS FAMILY solicits money, the player is ineligible.
That is as black and white as it gets. Yet, Pearl has a couple kids over to his house for hot dogs, and Dictator Slive throws an 8 GAME suspension at him after UT had already docked hime $1.5 million in pay and banned off campus recruiting…
Slive sounded like a complete idiot yesterday in his comments. They don’t even make sense. Basically if you are bring millions into the SEC, you can do whatever you want….The SEC office is a complete joke
georgiadawg70
December 2nd, 2010
10:14 am
Remember, when all of this shakes out, the Newtons are only going to be a footnote. Trust me, it’s going to shake college sports to it’s knees. Movies will be made about this.
Chuck
December 2nd, 2010
10:15 am
As a Gamecock fan, I’m glad Cam Newton is playing on Saturday. I want the entire Auburn roster suited up and on the field. This way, when the Gamecocks kick the crap out of the Tigers, there’s nothing they will be able to say about it.
Keith UGA 83
December 2nd, 2010
10:16 am
I think everyone needs to take a deep breath and calm down. When we start calling out guys that serve and defend this great country as irrelivant just because they choose to support Auburn is crazy….this is football guys…..I dont agree with alot that has happened but the men and women that defend our nation are heros plain and simple….yes people- even those that cheer for Auburn!
georgiadawg70
December 2nd, 2010
10:18 am
I agree with Keith.
bjohndawg
December 2nd, 2010
10:20 am
I think this is how it went down.
Daddy Newton: CAM you are going to Auburn.
Cam: But daddy, I want to go to MSU….I thought you said MSU
Daddy: No you are going to Auburn.
Cam: No Daddy, I dont want to go there. Why do I have to go there?
Daddy: One of them Big Auburn boosters is going to give me money to fix the chruch.But you got to go to Auburn. MSU would not come through
Cam: Alright Daddy I will go to Auburn.
A conversation that either never took place, or did and we will never hear about it.
But there is one hint about it:
Cam quote “Daddy said I had to go to Auburn.”
Ted M
December 2nd, 2010
10:20 am
The ACC only has 1 team in the top 25 with Duke at #1. Wow..might only 3 ACC teams make the tourney?
Joe
December 2nd, 2010
10:21 am
Thanks Keith for bringing it all down a notch. I agree!
gdawginkalamazoo
December 2nd, 2010
10:21 am
atlvol55, the SEC is still punishing Pearl for that painted chest thing at the Lady Vols game.
dawg
December 2nd, 2010
10:24 am
The SEC just wants to make sure that they have a chance for the title game and another BCS game for the $$$$$$$$. Please don’t tell me Cam had no knowledge of what his father was doing, when his dad says,” I think MSU is best, no, let’s go to Auburn, or maybe, yeah, let’s go to Auburn…Now lets get on with the church. New roof, paint, furnishings, automobiles,etc. The Lord works in mysterious ways….Praise football !
Mark Bradley
December 2nd, 2010
10:24 am
I read that post, atlvol55. Have to admit it made not a lot of sense.
Auburn is a DISGRACE to the SEC
December 2nd, 2010
10:26 am
GO GAMECOCKS!
GO DUCKS!
Auburn is a DISGRACE to the SEC
December 2nd, 2010
10:27 am
Go Gamec-cks!
Go Ducks!
bjohndawg
December 2nd, 2010
10:27 am
NO DADDY NO
Dont make me go to Auburn.
They will make me take basket weaving 101.
The only place there to hang out is the corner drug store.
Rminds me of the Waterboy;
” Daddy said, if I go to Auburn, that money will fall from the sky and we can rebuild the chruch.”
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
10:28 am
Bradley you amaze me. You never let facts alter your obsession with destroying Cam Newton. Innuendo is enough for you. From DAY ONE you jumped on third party comments, unrevealed ’sources’, and anything else that helped you convict Cam Newton.
You have been judge, jury, and Prosecutor. As a “reporter”, you are an embarassment to the profession.
The FBI, the NCAA, the SEC, and the Auburn Compliance department have interviewed, researched, questioned, and investigated everyone concerned and determined that Cam wasn’t involved in any payoff scheme.
But the mighty Mark Bradley spews his hatred all over the news. Find another profession…. You don’t deserve the job you currently have.
Buckeye
December 2nd, 2010
10:30 am
thUGA would take Cam and Fairley in a heartbeat. They’d fit right in.
emmysmom
December 2nd, 2010
10:30 am
If Cam Newton or Nick Fairley played at UGA, we would be reading none of the above.
Mark Bradley
December 2nd, 2010
10:30 am
Find another profession? And give up showbiz?
Atlanta, Ga Auburn Tiger.
December 2nd, 2010
10:30 am
Get real, Former. Who do you think you’re kidding? There are no former Auburn fans. Either you are or you are not. If you’re not, you never were. That’s like saying you’re a former caucasian.
It’s Great To Be An Auburn Tiger! War Eagle!
jasont13
December 2nd, 2010
10:31 am
I think what a lot of people are missing is the NCAA made the comment that there was not enough evidence at this time. That’s a huge statement. They didn’t say there is zero evidence of this and case is closed. They said not at this time, which means they will still investigate and look into things. As much as I hate it this is not going away especially with the Bobby Lauder mess that has been uncovered as well.
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
10:32 am
Atlvol55: “What is not being talked about is how the SEC, not the NCAA has a rule that specifically says that if a player OR HIS FAMILY solicits money, the player is ineligible.
You forget one thing… it has to be “with a players knowledge” that his family is representing his desires.” And its NOT the solicitation that makes a player ineligible… its the “agreement” and “payment” of that solicitation. GET A CLUE.
gdawginkalamazoo
December 2nd, 2010
10:33 am
Slive’s job is to make money for the SEC. Plain and simple. If you took note of Boise’s defeat last weekend, it cost the MWC (?) about a million per team. Of corse that number is higher for the SEC because we might have one or two teams in the BCS.
Mark Bradley
December 2nd, 2010
10:33 am
That’s true, emmysmom. We never mentioned A.J. Green getting suspended a single time. And we certainly never paid any attention to Tony Cole back in 2003.
I mean, please.
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
10:33 am
Mark: “Find another profession? And give up showbiz?
Reporting isn’t ’showbiz’ …. A fact you have yet to realize. Destroying a young man based on your “opinion” and not facts, isn’t reporting.
jasont13
December 2nd, 2010
10:35 am
Actually Jim Pierce, it doesn’t matter. The NCAA by laws state that a players family can not accept or solicit money for the betterment of themselves on the foundation of their family members name.
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
Jasont13…. How bout you read the rest of that rule?
Mark Bradley
December 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
It was a joke, Jim.
And I’m thinking Cam Newton’s father is one the who has done the most to destroy his son’s reputation. Even Auburn doesn’t dispute that Cecil Newton put his son up for sale.
jeff
December 2nd, 2010
10:37 am
Jim Pierce…get of your holier than thou perch…you are the one that’s a moron and loser….Bradley or no one else on this blog distroyed a young man…that lays at the feet of his preacher man father dude…..
jasont13
December 2nd, 2010
10:38 am
Jim Pierce, I deal with the NCAA everyday. Yes they can make previsions of this rule for any case. Actually the student athlete doesn’t have to have any knowledge.
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
Mark: No one is denying Cecil did what he did. Worst case senario is that it made Cam ineligible to play for MSU. He (and anyone else) is still eligible to play for another SEC school if the same senario isn’t in play (and it wasn’t at Auburn).
jeff
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
mark…what are your thoughts on the SEC by-laws that ATLvol55 referred to and why is Slime..I mean Slive mentioning them???
Mr. Obvious
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
WHEN (not IF) another Heisman Trophy Award has to be revoked from another ineligible PAID “student athlete” who will be awarded that amateur under false pretenses next week, further damaging the image and reputation of American College Football, the NCAA powers that be will wish they had handled this mess differently.
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
10:40 am
Jeff: No, it lies at the ones who continue to convict him after a ruling, based on their own opinions… especially in a public forum.
jeff
December 2nd, 2010
10:40 am
Jimmy….the sec by-laws state “the player is not eligible to play AT ANY SEC school”
jasont13
December 2nd, 2010
10:41 am
I’m not for or against the ruling all I am saying is that I do not believe the NCAA will stop looking into what happened and is going on at Auburn. I work in the athletic department at a big east school. We had investigators on campus look into a basketball player who was from another country and his academic records. They finally deemed him eligible but would still review more information.
NCAA only has recruiting violation concerns
December 2nd, 2010
10:41 am
AU family, be careful with your joy. NCAA is only a governing body having to do with recruiting and rules violationss. Understand?
THE FBI ………………….. is involved in day to day criminal activities with their FED jursidiction, NOT little biddy recruiting issues. Your joy might come screachingly to a hault. Their issue will be ( is ) that a gambling race track person ( Milton McGregor ) was allegedly involved in this Scam Newton thing and that money might have been offered. Now, once money is accepted ……. there could be implication of future favors. Shhhhhhhhhhhh, think of Pete Rose and why he has become a man with out a sport.
Lie to the NCAA and you still might win the SEC and the NC and your boy could get the Heisman. You might even have three scholarships pulled for three years in a row. Lie to the FBI and you all could be shaving your legs for Bubba in some federal pen.
This is why AU family needs to lose this giddy feeling. The worst has yet to come as far as criminality.