Serious question: Is Cam Newton the greatest collegian ever?
Say what you will about him, but he can play the game. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
For a month, the question involving Cam Newton has been, “Did he or didn’t he?” Just for today, let’s try something different. Let’s ask instead: “Is he or isn’t he?”
As in, the greatest player in college football, and not just this year.
As in, the greatest ever.
Said Steve Spurrier, who won the Heisman and who has coached a Heisman winner: “That’s a good question. I don’t like putting anybody at the top, but he might be the best running quarterback probably ever to come through college ball.”
Gene Chizik coaches Auburn, so he doesn’t qualify as a disinterested party. But the same Gene Chizik was the defensive coordinator on a Texas team Vince Young willed to the 2005 BCS title, so he does have standing in the matter. And Chizik, asked if he’d ever seen a better college player than the one he has now, said this:
“No. It’s that simple. If you look over a 13-game span, I’ve never seen anything like it. And it’s running the ball, throwing the ball. Usually great quarterback usually do one or the other better … what God’s blessed Cameron with is the ability to be really, really good at both.”
Then: “We have one game left, so he can’t too big a head with one game left, but I can say he’s probably the best football player I’ve ever seen.”
Said Newton: “Wow.”
We might never know how Cam Newton came to be an Auburn Tiger, but let’s leave that for later. Let’s focus today on Cam Newton, Auburn Tiger. Let’s examine a quarterback who, in one SEC championship game Saturday, managed to replicate the best of what both Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow, Heisman winners from Florida, had done in this event on this field.
Against Spurrier’s Gamecocks, Newton passed for 335 yards and ran for 73. He accounted for six touchdowns — four passing, two running. He converted third-and-longs out of nothing.
The thinking was that South Carolina, having seen Newton in his game-of-arrival Sept. 25, might be better suited to get a hand on the irresistible Cam. Turned out the Gamecocks had no idea. They couldn’t sack him and couldn’t cover his receivers. They couldn’t even prevent him from — another Heisman reference! — pulling a Doug Flutie.
Sixteen seconds left, first half: The Gamecocks draw within 21-14. Newton throws two passes, the first for eight yards, the second for 51-yard deflected touchdown as time expired.
About here, you thought to yourself: “Tim Tebow never did that.”
Yeah, yeah. Nobody ever wondered if Tim Tebow’s daddy put him up for sale, either. But if we’re comparing the two quarterbacks — and it wouldn’t seem fanciful to do so, given that both played in the SEC and ran a spread offense — the sainted Tebow never worked the wonders in any of his four seasons that Newton has wrought in his one.
A year ago — to the day, Newton emphasized — this quarterback was winning a JUCO national championship with Blinn College of Texas. On Saturday he had won the SEC title and booked passage to the BCS title game and done it in his hometown to boot. “Words can’t explain it,” said Newton, meeting the media for the first time since Nov. 9.
Then: “It’s a wonder what God can do in a person’s life, in such quick fashion. I thank Him single every day. As soon as my feet touch [the floor] my knees touch … I can’t even be happier than I am right now.”
Newton began his postgame session by reading a statement: “I’ve done nothing wrong, and I’m only going to answer questions about football and this game.” And ordinarily we hard-nosed media types would have snorted with laughter at such a request. But such was the majesty of Newton’s play that the request seemed almost reasonable.
We can and will spend the month before Auburn plays Oregon in Glendale, Ariz., parsing the latest reports and allegations — and you just know some will be forthcoming — but for this night it was possible to revel in a performer and his performance. And we would like, so as not to leave the question posed above unanswered, to offer this:
Cam Newton is the second-best college player I’ve ever seen. Herschel Walker, and only Herschel Walker, was better. And not by much.
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995 comments Add your comment
Richard Hamilton
December 5th, 2010
10:00 am
Serious question? Really? Tim Tebow did it for 4 years, how does one year even put someone in that category?
You might ask greatest season ever with somewhat of a straight face, but best ever? Running out of topics to cover?
Soulja Boy
December 5th, 2010
10:02 am
How can anyone who supports a team with 11 arrests, two or which were sexual assault, one player on probation with the University for plagiarism, drunkenness, hit and run, and assorted houliganism, a philandering, drunken AD, and a dishonest and corrupt University President, ever accuse anyone else of lacking class? I think that these puppies are suffering from PTSS inflicted by Nick Fairley.
Waaaahhhh
December 5th, 2010
10:02 am
@ Richard Hamilton
Cam Newton – Only and First EVER SEC player to put up over 2000 passing yards and 1000 rushing yards in ONE Season. I’d say that’s a good start…
RJ Dawg
December 5th, 2010
10:03 am
JPTigers,
No one has to sit around and find ways to smear Auburn because Auburn and Cam newton and his dad already have smeared Auburn.lol
» SEC: Is Cameron Newton the greatest collegian ever? John Clay’s Sidelines
December 5th, 2010
10:03 am
[...] Is Newton the greatest collegian ever? asks Mark Bradley of the AJC. [...]
Brave New World
December 5th, 2010
10:05 am
Did the CBS sideline reporter really drink the container of Cammy-juice on live TV??? Did she not understand what Trooper Taylor and Cam were thinking as they watched her drink that??? Is she a complete moron??????
Oledawg
December 5th, 2010
10:05 am
Vince Dooley when asked by ESPN after game Sat.night…said “Cam Newton was better than Walker.” There you go from the man that Coached the great Walker. It was repeated again this morning on espn.
Dawgdad (The Original)
December 5th, 2010
10:06 am
Frank Sinkwitch, Charley Trippi, Gayle Sayers, Joe Don Looney, Dick Butkus, were all top collegians, maybe Brian Bosworth. sCam certainly is the best of the recent phenoms, better than Tebow, who was pretty dadgum good himself. I agree that Herschel should be #1, but sCam belongs in the top ten.
JPTigers
December 5th, 2010
10:08 am
One question: Where is the Coach GC “airport heckler” at now? LoL Boy how quickly the “Tide has turned” in AL Baaaahaha
SEC: Is Cameron Newton the greatest collegian ever? : Acrylic Sports
December 5th, 2010
10:10 am
[...] Is Newton the greatest collegian ever? asks Mark Bradley of the AJC. [...]
JPTigers
December 5th, 2010
10:11 am
U must be RJ b/c u are sitting here smearing us the morning after 1 of the greatest victories in our School’s history. Keep scraping the bottom of that barrell while we ride out to Glendale & play for the BCS NC! Good luck in Memphis hear it’s nice this time of year LMAO
Oledawg
December 5th, 2010
10:12 am
Vince Dooley said after the game last night when asked by ESPN…VD said ” Newton is the best player.. even better than Walker.” Thats from Walkers own Coach. It was repeated again this morning on espn.
Mark, Walker’s old Coach disagrees with you! Both are great!
JPTigers
December 5th, 2010
10:13 am
LoL “Soulja” You got me ROTFL with that one It’s amazing how blind UGA fans are being here! Talk about casting stones from a Glass House unreal it really is….
Edward
December 5th, 2010
10:14 am
Better check Newton’s brother’s account. That is where the money is.
RJ Dawg
December 5th, 2010
10:17 am
Auburn 13 and 0 record right now and a year or 2 they will 0 and 14 once the truth comes out.enjoy while u can.
Jake
December 5th, 2010
10:17 am
All I can think is how Georgia was recruiting Newton as a tight end and how small and slow those prized recruits, Ealey and King, turned out to be.
Andy Shores
December 5th, 2010
10:19 am
Walker? NO…No Way. I don’t think Hershel was as good as Bo. A little history: I have watched three Heisman seasons / careers from the stands — not on the television, but live and up close and personal; Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson, and now Cameron Newton. I watched Secretariat win the Derby from the front row of the grandstands … so, I have seen some very gifted athletes on the football field. Cam Newton’s athleticism, mystique, and just his mere presence in competition is FAR ABOVE anything I’ve ever seen — No one has ever totally dominated a season like Cam. IS HE THE BEST EVER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL OVER A SINGLE SEASON? ABSOLUTELY — NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
Boz
December 5th, 2010
10:20 am
Is CN the greatest collegian? To count as a collegian, you have to be an amateur.
The better question
December 5th, 2010
10:22 am
is which is the best team ever, because it is only within the context of a team effort that any individual player succeeds. Without blockers, you are not going to run very far. Without receivers, there will be no TD passes. Just look at the hail Mary pass from yesterday’s game. All the QB does is heave the ball as far as he can. It was the receiver who was the “greatest” player on that play, yet the QB gets credit in his personal stats for completing the TD pass. While Cam obviously has great personal football skills and physical abilities, I am not ready to crown him the best ever.
MJ
December 5th, 2010
10:26 am
He’s not the greatest ever – but this year he’s the best player. I’m from the Northeast, and don’t have a dog or dawg in the SEC or ACC battles. I’m nuetral. I enjoy the fierce level of competition, and feel it’s the best in the country. Auburn is a great story. Newton going through his battles this year, and their coach being so heavily criticized by everyone when he was hired. If they win the National Championship game, what will all the Auburn people say who were such jerks when the coach got his job a few years ago? Will that famous Auburn student who works for TNT “man up” on the air and apologize? I doubt it, but it would be great to see!
Dawgfanharris
December 5th, 2010
10:30 am
He has certainly made a gigantic impact in his one year of big time football. In the 50 + years I have been following football the game has changed. The availability for regular people too see so many games, the Internet, the “social media” and the general attitudes of sports fans has made comparison unrealistic. How many people saw Hornung, Doak Walker, or even O.J., or Herschel or Bo? That said, the single season impact of Cam Newton makes this years Heisman a no-brained.
PMC
December 5th, 2010
10:30 am
Right now, sure. The touch pass down to the 4 yesterday was as pretty a pass as I’ve seen and he’s got Tebow and Terrell Pryor’s run game. Kid is ridiculous.
But everyone said that about Tebow last year. Athletes today are better than they have ever been.
The “once in a lifetime thing” doesn’t apply…really. Right now, he’s as good as anyone ever and we have to wait more than a month to see them play again.
Tell me again why anyone anywhere should prop this God Awful Bowl System up?
RJ Dawg
December 5th, 2010
10:32 am
JP Tigers,
I will be in Memphis and I will enjoy it.I sure the weather won’t be as nice as where I live now here in Orlando, Fla.I rather be in Memphis this year than going to Glendale and playing for the BCS NC this year only to have it taken away next year or the year after when Auburn is stripped and put on probation because of the lies of Cam and his Dad.then JP Tigers all of us Dawg fans will be laughing our A$$ off.
RJ Dawg
December 5th, 2010
10:40 am
There have been lots of great players in the past.who is the best we will never know.best running back in the SEC H.Walker by far.best Qb i hate to say as of now Tim Tebow.
$cam_Newton
December 5th, 2010
10:41 am
We shoula asked for more – I got ripped off !
Vick=Dog killing Thug
December 5th, 2010
10:45 am
I like Cam and I wish his well at the next level. Did get a little tired of show show boating at the end of the game. But that’s just me
Col. Klink Stalag 13
December 5th, 2010
10:47 am
You dumbkoffs are as blind and deaf as Sgt. Schultz! And you know less then him as well. CAM DID NOT BUY A STOLEN LAPTOP!!!!!
CAM DID STEAL THE LAPTOP FROM THE ROOM NEXT TO HIS!
CAM IS ONE AND DONE, and what does this have to do with a topless bar? Auburn fans aren’t getting their money’s worth, but like the dancers, they’ll be stipped of their titties, er, titles too!
Dr. Dawg
December 5th, 2010
10:48 am
Although Cam is perhaps more versatile, I’d have to go with Herschel – and I’ve seen both play. People don’t remember and it wasn’t shown on T.V., but everytime Herschel touched the ball, the fans stood up – regardless of down or situation. Just the anticipation that something special was about to happen – it was incredible.
Col. Klink Stalag 13
December 5th, 2010
10:50 am
You dumbkoffs are as blind and deaf as Sgt. Schultz! And you know less then him as well. CAM DID NOT BUY A STOLEN LAPTOP!!!!!
CAM DID STEAL THE LAPTOP FROM THE ROOM NEXT TO HIS!
CAM IS ONE AND DONE, and what does this have to do with a topless bar? Auburn fans aren’t getting their money’s worth, but like the dancers, they’ll be stipped of their titties, er, titles
$cam
December 5th, 2010
10:51 am
Don’t you just LOVE my smile?? I flash it for the world to see cause I know my daddy, the Pimpin’ Preacher, and I just got away with it all!!
HEY, Why AJC Wont Post........
December 5th, 2010
10:54 am
Because this is a discussion about College Football
This is a discussion about Male athletes
No one gives a crap about female gymnastics in this discussion
DawgSinceBirth
December 5th, 2010
10:54 am
As an AUBURN and FLORIDA HATER to the nth degree, I would still have to say that 2 of the 5 GREATEST College Players ever are Tebow and Cam….but 2 others of those 5 are ALSO from the SEC….Herschel and McFadden…DOMINATE!!!!!!!
DawgSinceBirth
December 5th, 2010
10:56 am
AMEN, RJ Dawg…see you in Memphis!
Clarity
December 5th, 2010
10:58 am
Auburn fans are like the proverbial horse led to water. You can show them the facts and the truth but they can’t seem to see it. They accuse everyone of jealousy and bitterness and believe that somehow makes everything ok. The SEC is an organization of liars and cheaters. Always has been, always will be. Sorry Auburn fans but the rest of us hate you too but enjoy your national title. At least try to cover better next time. Pathetic soul selling hacks with a subpar university in a conference of trash.
JPTigers
December 5th, 2010
10:58 am
RJ How sad is it that you have to root for your rival to get in trouble instead of actually beating US ON THE FIELD! Used to be a friendly rivalry but it’s quickly gonna turn ugly when u & other thUGA fans start ROOTING for rival schools to be put in probation. Keep it classy LoL BTW google “UGA Football arrests” & see what u come up with! Ya’ll gonna need to take a good look in the mirror first b4 you start running that mouth LMAO War Cam Eagle!!!!
SEC fan pulling for the Ducks!
December 5th, 2010
11:01 am
Let me get this straight…
Cecil wanted $180,000-200 for son to play at MSU
YET Cecil chose Auburn for $cam to attend
Yet Auburn paid NOTHING for him?
Wow, Cecil must of changed his mind… right barners???
What a joke…
Dudeabides
December 5th, 2010
11:03 am
Hershel indeed looked like a man among boys out there, but Newton’s passing ability brings the apple to the orange on the comparision. Newton is going to be fun to watch at the next level, but the Hershel comparision may prove somewhat prophetic when he runs into the level of skilled opposition and smarts from the guys in the booth. Can he read defenses and audible successfully with a host of Fairley’s coming down on him?
JPTigers
December 5th, 2010
11:03 am
Not to mention your AD gets caught DUI here in Athens with some red panties in his lap & a chick who’s NOT HIS WIFE LoL That was real classy…..way to send a nice message to your student-athletes. Hypocrisy don’t even begine to describe what ya’ll are engaging in…..
SEC fan pulling for the Ducks!
December 5th, 2010
11:04 am
@ You’ve proven how STOOPID you all are
The investigation isn’t over jerk-weed. Auburn has been cheating for years, this time they did a great job hiding it. The truth will come out in the end, believe that!
P.S. Thanks to Auburn for being such a great representative of the SEC…… (sarcasm)
Go Ducks QUACK QUACK
I-Right135
December 5th, 2010
11:04 am
Said Steve Spurrier, who won the Heisman and who has coached a Heisman winner: “That’s a good question. I don’t like putting anybody at the top, but he might be the best running quarterback probably ever to come through college ball.”
Didn’t Newton throw 3 touchdowns and pass for 335 yards in the bombardment of the Ole Ball Coach’s team yesterday ? Why is Spurrier trying to characterize Cam Newton as a “running quarterback ?”
Could it be that Spurrier is prejudiced against Black QB’s ? After all he’s never played a Black quarterback on any of his teams !
MikeP
December 5th, 2010
11:05 am
H. Walker? Puh-leeze! he didn’t say the greatest Bulldog ever, he said the greatest college player ever. Walker might make the top ten.
Cam Newton... meet Akili Smith
December 5th, 2010
11:05 am
$cam will never be successful in the NFL, he’s just a one hit wonder.
Mark
December 5th, 2010
11:06 am
WOW!!! One year and we are asking this question! If Cam did this for two more years then I would say yes, but There are too many College athletes that changed games for three or more years. I can’t stand UF but I’ll give Tebow props because he changed the outcome of games his entire career at UF. Bo Jackson, Hershel Walker, OJ Simpson, Barry Sanders, Roger Staubach, and I could go on. Let’s be real and see what happens next year.
Cooper
December 5th, 2010
11:06 am
Today is is the best in the world. A few weeks ago he should leave football, he was a crook, etc, etc. I wrote then – Why don’t you check out stories before you write them? Again, you said things that will hurt this person and now, just because he had a good football game, you think is the best.
Mark, shape up, review the facts before you slam someone.
Cam Newton is a showboating cheating no good rotten thug
December 5th, 2010
11:06 am
What a classy guy…
JPTigers
December 5th, 2010
11:07 am
List of all thUGA Football arrests since ‘08( This might not even be all of em LoL)
2008
Justin Anderson, OL — Simple battery
Donavon Baldwin, CB — DUI, improper driving
Clint Boling, OL — Suspicion of DUI
Jeff Henson, LS — Public intoxication, urinating in public
Michael Lemon, DE — Aggravated battery
Jeremy Lomax, DE — Speeding, possession of a concealed weapon
Fred Munzenmaier, FB — Underage possession of alcohol, being a pedestrian walking in the roadway
Trinton Sturdivant, OL — Simple battery
Vince Vance, OL — Driving without a valid driver’s license
Brandon Wood, DT — DUI
2009
Vance Cuff, CB — Driving a motor scooter on a sidewalk with a suspended license
Jonathan Owens, OL — Driving a motorcycle without a valid license
Montez Robinson, DE — Simple battery, criminal damage/second degree
Montez Robinson, DE — Underage possession of alcohol
Vince Vance, OL — Driving without a valid license
2010
Trent Dittmer, P — Public intoxication
Washaun Ealey, RB — Hit and run of a parked vehicle, driving with a suspended license
Dontavius Jackson, RB — DUI, underage possession of alcohol, following too closely, leaving the scene of an accident, violation of the move-over law, violation of a learner’s permit
Tavarres King, WR — Underage possession of alcohol
Jordan Love, CB — Obstruction of a law enforcement officer
Zach Mettenberger, QB — Sexual battery
Josh Parrish, OL — Underage possession of alcohol, possession of false identification
Montez Robinson, LB — Simple battery/family violence
Demetre Baker, LB — DUI, underage possession of alcohol and improper driving
Alec Ogletree, S — Theft by taking (misdemeanor)
Snookie
December 5th, 2010
11:08 am
Mike Vick?
JPTigers
December 5th, 2010
11:08 am
2008
Justin Anderson, OL — Simple battery
Donavon Baldwin, CB — DUI, improper driving
Clint Boling, OL — Suspicion of DUI
Jeff Henson, LS — Public intoxication, urinating in public
Michael Lemon, DE — Aggravated battery
Jeremy Lomax, DE — Speeding, possession of a concealed weapon
Fred Munzenmaier, FB — Underage possession of alcohol, being a pedestrian walking in the roadway
Trinton Sturdivant, OL — Simple battery
Vince Vance, OL — Driving without a valid driver’s license
Brandon Wood, DT — DUI
2009
Vance Cuff, CB — Driving a motor scooter on a sidewalk with a suspended license
Jonathan Owens, OL — Driving a motorcycle without a valid license
Montez Robinson, DE — Simple battery, criminal damage/second degree
Montez Robinson, DE — Underage possession of alcohol
Vince Vance, OL — Driving without a valid license
2010
Trent Dittmer, P — Public intoxication
Washaun Ealey, RB — Hit and run of a parked vehicle, driving with a suspended license
Dontavius Jackson, RB — DUI, underage possession of alcohol, following too closely, leaving the scene of an accident, violation of the move-over law, violation of a learner’s permit
Tavarres King, WR — Underage possession of alcohol
Jordan Love, CB — Obstruction of a law enforcement officer
Zach Mettenberger, QB — Sexual battery
Josh Parrish, OL — Underage possession of alcohol, possession of false identification
Montez Robinson, LB — Simple battery/family violence
Demetre Baker, LB — DUI, underage possession of alcohol and improper driving
Alec Ogletree, S — Theft by taking (misdemeanor)
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
December 5th, 2010
11:08 am
Just gotta throw in my two cents to this absurd conversation. First of all, you can’t be the greatest collegian of all time if you only play for ONE SEASON.
Make no mistake, Newton’ll leave after this year. In addition to the fact that Auburn has 24 seniors leaving, it’s only a matter of time before the FBI/NCAA finds something on Newton that renders this entire season vacated, at a minimum.
Also, Newton seems horrifically arrogant. I mean, giving Tracy Wolfson that “Cammy Cam Juice” and then allowing his teammates to hoist him on their shoulders and take him on the field BEFORE THE GAME WAS EVEN OVER? Holy crap, this guy’s just basking in his self-perceived greatness. Tebow would never have done or allowed anything like that.
As for his actual play, why is everyone acting like that hail mary was all Newton’s doing? Everyone’s acting like he threw the ball, ran down the field and CAUGHT HIS OWN PASS. All he did was throw it, and the South Carolina defender made a crappy deflection. Bad plays don’t make you look good, they make the other guy look bad.
Yeah, he’s had a good year on the field, but there’s a lot to be said for off the field conduct, and buying stolen property, cheating academically and pay-for-play do not the greatest player of all time, or even this season, make.
And no, this isn’t sour grapes because Auburn beat Georgia.
On a side note, is anyone else horrifically embarrassed about the media in regards to Newton? In addition to idiotic articles like this one, CBS almost seemed like they had a Newton quota they had to hit, and they were showing Newton for absurd amounts of time after he left the game just SITTING ON THE SIDELINE. While there was still football being played, for crying out loud! It seemed like overkill with all the Tebow love, but that’s nothing compared to this Cam-fest.
In the end, though, Newton will be thought of as little more than Reggie Bush, part 2. ‘Nuff said.
JPTigers
December 5th, 2010
11:08 am
2008
Justin Anderson, OL — Simple battery
Donavon Baldwin, CB — DUI, improper driving
Clint Boling, OL — Suspicion of DUI
Jeff Henson, LS — Public intoxication, urinating in public
Michael Lemon, DE — Aggravated battery
Jeremy Lomax, DE — Speeding, possession of a concealed weapon
Fred Munzenmaier, FB — Underage possession of alcohol, being a pedestrian walking in the roadway
Trinton Sturdivant, OL — Simple battery
Vince Vance, OL — Driving without a valid driver’s license
Brandon Wood, DT — DUI
2009
Vance Cuff, CB — Driving a motor scooter on a sidewalk with a suspended license
Jonathan Owens, OL — Driving a motorcycle without a valid license
Montez Robinson, DE — Simple battery, criminal damage/second degree
Montez Robinson, DE — Underage possession of alcohol
Vince Vance, OL — Driving without a valid license
2010
Trent Dittmer, P — Public intoxication
Washaun Ealey, RB — Hit and run of a parked vehicle, driving with a suspended license