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
Freddy
December 2nd, 2010
1:30 pm
About the W’s and not morals..Pulpwood Smith, REMEMBER dawgs.
The Barn Cheats
December 2nd, 2010
1:32 pm
O-me….this might be easier for you to understand since you probably need pictures……look in the mirror….TRASH=Auburn Fans
CockDoo
December 2nd, 2010
1:32 pm
So Cam’s free to play but the question is does he play for free? Doubtful! Is there any doubt that auburn would not be anywhere near the SEC championship without this guy? He has become the focal point which does not benefit the team. This will catch up with the tigers, eagles er.. whatever the hell they call themselves. Go birds!
xdawg
December 2nd, 2010
1:33 pm
Have no fear John. One day you will wake up!
Follow the Money
December 2nd, 2010
1:34 pm
Does any think the SEC is above “helping out” Auburn here?
(both before and during the game)
It’s worth an additional BCS game this year, and money in future contracts with ESPN and CBS.
Say about 15 to 20 million.
Rots-o-ruck South Carolina
John
December 2nd, 2010
1:35 pm
whew….thanks Xdawg….I was afraid you actually were a Dawg.
o-me
December 2nd, 2010
1:36 pm
I’m not a Auburn fan..loan my mirror to a dawgs fan.
Pago Pago Dawg
December 2nd, 2010
1:37 pm
$cam and his father beat the system…case closed.
Bill
December 2nd, 2010
1:37 pm
Watch out S.C. and Atlanta, the TRASH of college football in America, the Auburn tigers, are coming to town. Hide your laptops & term papers !
I have 180K...do I hear 200K???
December 2nd, 2010
1:37 pm
Auburn doing what they do best Cheat!
Kyle
December 2nd, 2010
1:39 pm
O-me…sounds like your lost dude….
Kyle
December 2nd, 2010
1:40 pm
So will the barn make cammieboy available to the media??????? HA! yeah right…..like they want to give him a chance to have to answer any questions…..what a joke this bunch is.
bob
December 2nd, 2010
1:41 pm
Ever notice how the undercover cops always waits until the person takes the money before they arrest them.
Kyle
December 2nd, 2010
1:44 pm
So Auburn is going to stink up Atlanta like they have the SEC. Hopefully Steve and the chickens can come thru but again, its tough to beat what the SEC already seems to have pre-ordained based on Mike Spineless Slive doing nothing…..you can bet our SEC officials have been given their marching orders for this game…Auburn wins at any cost……hmmmm…sound familar Barn fans???
independent
December 2nd, 2010
1:44 pm
As usual, the dogs are long on talk, short on results. Before the game with mighty Auburn all we heard was, dogs they gonna do this, dogs they gonna do that, but they did not do this or that. Auburn stomped them into the ground like the twerps they are. Face it dogs, you are a second tier program. Accept it
Honestly....Really?
December 2nd, 2010
1:48 pm
Come on folks Honestly you think Cam Newton didnt’ know his dad shopped him around for money. Okay so Miss State offer was for 180k what do you think Auburn gave. Your all dumb arses if you dont think Cam knew. Second of all his dad found a loophole. Lets just REALLY have a nice talent pool of kids that can enter college football and I will represent him and have the player claim they didnt know. What a load of crock that is!!!!!!!!!!!! Mike Slive needs to bend over and take it in the ass. I think FBI needs to investigate NCAA……
o-me
December 2nd, 2010
1:48 pm
Kyle you on a roll..keep it coming. I haven’t laughed this hard in years. Now you saying officials are paid off?
Bill
December 2nd, 2010
1:51 pm
Will the FBI make Cecil Newton tell where he got the money to repair his church ? He does owe the I.R.S. & the feds their share you know.
DAWG A
December 2nd, 2010
1:53 pm
We might be “second tier” this year but we beat you guys 4 out of the last 5 times and did it with players that are legal. Our best player admitted his mistake and had to sit out four games. He served his time for his mistake. Tell you little Camie to take a polygraph and lets see what hole you guys go crawl into.
There are times I have not been proud of our program but we have a coach that handles things when they happen. Your coach is only concerned with winning and keeping the player on his team that without him you would be at best a 500 team.
So keep talking but you might want to look in a mirror!
Funny..
December 2nd, 2010
1:54 pm
..how the Allbarner’s think this is a UGA issues. They keep bringing the Dawgs up. This is an Auburn issue. Auburn will die by it..
Tide Rising
December 2nd, 2010
1:54 pm
Does anyone with a mind really think that Cam Newton had no clue what his dad was doing?
If my dad sold me out I think I’ld be a little depressed, despondent, and feel pretty betrayed. Cam sure doesn’t show the demeanor of a kid whose dad betrayed him. Matter of fact he seems pretty happy go lucky.
When Albert Means found out that his high school coach- who he regarded as his father figure, had sold him out he withdrew from school, became depressed over the betrayal, and a year later was out of school and football. Contrast that with Cam’s state of mind.
I can’t read Cam’s mind. But judging from his behavior either this kid has such low moral values that he sees no problem with his dad selling him and it doesn’t bother him in the least- or he was in on it the whole time and this is why his dad selling him out doesn’t seem to bother him. As far as his morals go or lack thereof- receiving stolen property and allegedly being on the verge of expulsion from UF for not one but three separate instances of academic fraud means the whole thing just doesn’t bother him. Which is it AU fans? He either was clueless and for some strange reason being sold doesn’t bother him one iota- or he was in on it the whole time with pop.
Now I’ll just sit back and listen to the AU fans talk about what a great kid he is.
Bill
December 2nd, 2010
1:56 pm
Actually, when Cecil Newton does his taxes before April 15, 2011 he will by federal law be required to say who gave him that mystery money. You listening AJC & NCAA ?
bjohndawg
December 2nd, 2010
1:56 pm
First questions out of my mouth if I am a reporter and Auburn lets came talk to the media.
1) You made the statement that your Dad said you have to go to Auburn…is that correct?
2) Did you know that your dumb ass father solicted money for you to go to MSU?
3) Where you at the grassy knoll?
4) Ever been to Area 51?
5) Did you light the toilet paper at Toomer’s Corner the night of the Georgia Game?
6) When did you become a Daddy’s boy?
Point:
Good reporters will have a field day.Grill him like no player has ever been questioned before. And THAT is why he will never talk to the media .
Tide Rising
December 2nd, 2010
1:57 pm
Bill,
That is the other issue. Cecil Newton’s church is refusing to say where the 50k suddenly appeared from to repair a church that the city had been warning them to repair for a year or they were going to condemn the building. The repairs of course happened after Cam signed with AU and no one knows where this money suddently appeared from when they had been trying for a year to no avail to raise the money for the repairs.
AUgrad00
December 2nd, 2010
1:57 pm
“Cam Newton has been cleared to play Saturday, but he and his school are not yet in the clear.”
Hey Bradley I cant speak for Cam but the fact is they are not even investigating Auburn. Of course dont let the facts get in the way.
Russ
December 2nd, 2010
1:57 pm
This is not about UGA or Bama…this is about integrity across the board. You AU fans are the ONLY ones who “agree” with the NCAA ruling. If you all didn’t have your heads so deep in the sand (or “all in” as you pathetically put it) you would see it too. The blind defensiveness is telling of most of you and sickening to say the least. That is why you have very little respect across the country…not just from your rivals. It amazing how naive you all are.
Old Gold
December 2nd, 2010
1:58 pm
Mark, make all of us a promise, PLEASE. Until something that in the good ol’ days of “journalism with integrity” would be called newsworthy breaks (as opposed to rumor or speculation), will you lay this story to rest now? A few weeks back, you called for Auburn to bench Newton for the Georgia game, thereby giving them two weeks (with the week off before Bama) to “investigate fully.” At the time, I thought that was idiotic, given that they had already investigated the thing for months and felt good about where they were. Now hindsight proves that their decision was correct – they based what they did upon things that they knew – not media speculation.
You’re a great writer, offer insightful opinion, and I appreciate your work. But this story has run its course (at least for now, as you say).
Thanks.
Tide Rising
December 2nd, 2010
1:58 pm
Bill,
I’m not sure about that. I thought the church’s records were private. Obviously they have to file stuff with the IRS but I’m not sure if the NCAA can access that info.
Kyle
December 2nd, 2010
2:01 pm
o-me….dude you are a piece of work…there is no way you are not a barn fan…you have all the characteristics….dumb…moron…senseless…as least be a man and admit it….
Joe
December 2nd, 2010
2:04 pm
Tide Rising…great post…..lets here the barnyard cluckers respond to it…..
Bobo
December 2nd, 2010
2:04 pm
What money Bill? The Church has not been repaired..get you facts man. The FBI is trying to find the money trail but so far nothing. The IRS is another deal, they’re bad boys. Thats another story
No proof…till then…wait?.
Bobo
December 2nd, 2010
2:06 pm
The IRS can check anything…just don’t bend over
Auburn`s the name, cheat`ins our game !
December 2nd, 2010
2:09 pm
Auburn had a top 5 recruiting class last year so, Cam ain`t the only one that was paid. Auburn the best team money can buy. Cam + 17 = Death Penalty
Bodda Getta
December 2nd, 2010
2:10 pm
Mark,
Stop trying to squeeze blood out of this turnip.
You know it’s over. This horse is dead.
Time to play football.
o-me
December 2nd, 2010
2:11 pm
Kyle you cool man..I’ll pray for you.
Bodda Getta
December 2nd, 2010
2:13 pm
Tide Rising,
With this level of scrutiny, no one will be stupid enough to claim the anonymous contributions on their tax return.
Find another straw.
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
2:13 pm
Jeff: Thanks for the compliment… typical of a loser like you.
And I will be here when the final investication is closed. Will YOU?
Bodda Getta
December 2nd, 2010
2:15 pm
Auburn outworked its competition in recruiting and hired competent experienced assistants.
Your school did not.
The results speak for themselves.
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
2:17 pm
Tide Rising : Cecils church is NOT , and has not, refused to be transparent… ALL of Cecils personal finances, and the church finances were released to the NCAA and to the FBI.
They refused to disclose where the repair money came from: that’s a basic confidentiality issue for anyone who contributed to it…BUT the proper authorities were allowed to view the records.
Bodda Getta
December 2nd, 2010
2:18 pm
Bobo,
Thanks for calling all those running plays at Jordan-Hare.
We love ya, man.
Charles Barkley
December 2nd, 2010
2:18 pm
As I said on a national radio show back in July, Auburn paid me when I was attending school there.
Eric Ramsey
December 2nd, 2010
2:19 pm
They paid me too Charles & are still paying players, why the big fuss all of a sudden ????
Bodda Getta
December 2nd, 2010
2:20 pm
Old Gold,
You stated it perfectly.
Jim Pierce
December 2nd, 2010
2:21 pm
It seems that while there is a limit to intelligence, there is NO limit to “dumb”…. Keep it up Bama fans and Ga fans… You lost ON the field. Now you are crying because Cam played? lol Now THAT’S funny.
Bodda Getta
December 2nd, 2010
2:24 pm
Jim,
Let the butthurt Alabama and Georgia fans obsess about this.
It is funny and sad at the same time.
The rest of us will enjoy the game.
tr
December 2nd, 2010
2:26 pm
atlvol55 (December 2nd, 2010 @ 10:13 am)
Yes, atlvol55, the black and white NCAA rules state that under the circumstances laid out in the NCAA news release, the player would be ineligible. But you obviously stopped reading there, because the rest of the rule you semi-quoted goes on to say that such ineligibility is AT THE SCHOOL INVOLVED with the illegal recruitment. That would make Cam ineligible at Mississippi State. Last I noticed, he plays for Auburn with no plans to transfer to Mississippi State.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
December 2nd, 2010
2:26 pm
Let me see if I can get this straight. Cam really wanted to go to Miss. State but Miss. State would not come off the jack. Am I right so far? So Cam’s father insisted that Cam go to Auburn instead? Am I still on track? Now Cam commits to Auburn. Auburn payed nothing for his services right? Let’s see, so dad wanted money from Miss.State, but would let his son play for Auburn for free even though his son really wanted to go to Miss. State. Now in the mean time Cam knew nothing of his fathers dealing’s? Yea right! Jezz you Auburn people really are dense, aren’t ya? Hum, hope you guys don’t get the death penalty. I would really miss our rivalry.
——————————————————————————————–
This post hit the nail on the head.
DAWG A
December 2nd, 2010
2:27 pm
Funny how we are called dumb when all of the major sports networks and radio sports shows are attacking the decision to let Cammie play! Maybe we are not so alone in our thinking!!!! But go ahead and defend this decision and when all of the facts are in …. I am certain you will crawl back in your hole!!
The Bucketshop in Buckhead = dooshe bag city
December 2nd, 2010
2:28 pm
Are the barners this stupid? Or maybe just desperate to be relevant again.
Either way, I will enjoy watching their football program go down the toilet.
(and yes I know I spelled d-bag wrong)
BCS Man
December 2nd, 2010
2:28 pm
@bjohndawg
SEC Bylaw 14.01.3.2 states:
“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.”
The key here is the word “agree” as in they had a formal agreement. Which there was not. Simple chatter and solicitation doesn’t consitute an agreement by NCAA standards nor in a court of law. The idea was merely floated around per the evidence at hand.