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
JaxDawg
December 5th, 2010
11:50 am
The greatest collegian ever? Don’t be daft. He has had one of the greatest seasons ever, but he doesn’t have a “career” to speak of, unless you count being the third stringer at Florida and playing at a junior college. Hate to say it, but Tim Tebow is the greatest collegian ever.
Why all the hate?
December 5th, 2010
11:52 am
Mark’s just asking the questions. Breaking it down. You know, the same way Cam’s done it all season.
Hey haters, PAY COLLEGE ATHLETES at BCS schools. Drop the hypocrisy.
F B I
December 5th, 2010
11:53 am
Be patient folks the pond is bigger than you think and we will take them all down,but first we need to build a bigger jail.
One Nation Under educated
December 5th, 2010
11:53 am
To any of you wondering, like me, how in the hell Reggie Bush got mowed down & stripped of everything, while the Scam gets to play, the company lawyer explained it to me last night.
In short, Cam has potential damages that he can sue the SEC & NCAA for, Reggie Bush had no damages. He got everything, got drafted & got the kitchen sink. No damages to recover. The rule about “parent acting on behalf…” cannot be enforced in civil law because Scam is over 18 if the players lawyer sues for the player, which Scam’s lawyer has repeatedly threatened. Thats the name of this Scam. He guaranteed me that as soon as Scam cashes that 1st NFL check, he’ll be declared ineligible, and all the wins and Championships will be vacated, and that Auburns lawyers probably already know this too. What hurts me is that now the whole (legitimate) dynasty created by the SEC in the NC games will be tainted by these crooked Alabama rednecks who sold their soul to the devil because they can’t win a football game playing fair.
Why all the hate?
December 5th, 2010
11:56 am
FBI,
Are you talking about all the bankers on Wall St. and in Charlotte?
BULLDAWG BILL
December 5th, 2010
11:56 am
He is the best at his position (spread offense QB) that I have ever seen. You really can’t compare players at different positions for “The Best Football Player”. He is big and strong, but I don’t think he would beat out Lawrence Taylor at linebacker, or Frig Perry at nose tackle. That said, we will only be able to see him play at the college level for one season, where some others were very good for several years (Tebow, V. Young).
As to the entire Auburn program and the off the field actions of Newton, with apologies to all my Auburn friends, your football program is DIRTY. They may winn the BCS championship, but they can’t be proud of the way they did it.
GO DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Y'all Not Getting It Yet?
December 5th, 2010
11:56 am
Mark just tosses a provocative question out there to see how many “Take the Bait and Spread the Hate.”
And you all fall for it.
How foolish you all look!
eddie willers
December 5th, 2010
11:57 am
“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”
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how’d you like the play?
MikeP
December 5th, 2010
11:57 am
Mark
December 5th, 2010
11:22 am
“Mike P I hate to burst your bubble, but ESPN reported the FBI was investigating the situation. They also reported it may take up to a year or so before they are complete.”
Yes, as I posted above the FBI Is checking out whether Kenny Rogers can be brought up on extortion charges in Mississippi. They may also be interested in the $11,000 in bad checks Rogers, an MSU booster, has passed.
That has zilch to do with Auburn. In case anyone is wondering, the FBI investigates when federal laws are broken. Said FBI has zero interest in NCAA regulations.
Bulldawg Bill?
December 5th, 2010
11:58 am
Please tell us what proof you have of this alledged dirt?
DO tell. Clue us in?
Amazing that you found something that the NCAA didn’t.
Nice job declaring someone “guilty until proven innocent.”
Red Harrison
December 5th, 2010
12:01 pm
To any of you wondering, like me, how in the *%^ Reggie Bush got mowed down & stripped of everything, while the Scam gets to play, the company lawyer explained it to me last night.
In short, Cam has potential damages that he can sue the SEC & NCAA for, Reggie Bush had no damages. He got everything, got drafted & got the kitchen sink. No damages to recover. The rule about “parent acting on behalf…” cannot be enforced in civil law because Scam is over 18 if the players lawyer sues for the player, which Scam’s lawyer has repeatedly threatened. Thats the name of this Scam. He guaranteed me that as soon as Scam cashes that 1st NFL check, he’ll be declared ineligible, and all the wins and Championships will be vacated, and that Auburns lawyers probably already know this too. What hurts me is that now the whole (legitimate) dynasty created by the SEC in the NC games will be tainted by these crooked Alabama rednecks who sold their soul to the devil because they can’t win a football game playing fair.
al.com
December 5th, 2010
12:01 pm
Cam is the best, walker was great but Cam had the same rushing yards as Waker. How many passing yards did Walker have, Cam has 2650
Why all the hate?
December 5th, 2010
12:03 pm
Bulldawg Bill?,
I hear you. That’s SOP (standard operation procedure for Palin lovers), for Black men. In most things in this country, you are guilty until proven innocent. When in doubt, the black man is guilty.
Sad,…so sad.
MikeP
December 5th, 2010
12:04 pm
By Bulldog Bill: “As to the entire Auburn program and the off the field actions of Newton, with apologies to all my Auburn friends, your football program is DIRTY.:
Ah, another AJC poster that knows more than the team of NCAA investigators that spent five months looking at this. Congratulations on your wisdom!.
AU-Alum-79
December 5th, 2010
12:06 pm
What amazes me is all the folks on here making the claims like:
“I always liked Auburn until this year”
“I used to be an Auburn fan”
“I respected Auburn until this year”
“I feel like Auburn has always been our sister school, but no more.”
Really?
Wow, if you were really that “loyal” then we don’t really need ya. You see, I doubt my sister would automatically think the worst of me based on allegations and speculation from unnamed sources. My loyalty would go much deeper than that. I would tend to believe the BEST about someone until someone showed me absolutely proof of the WORST.
So stop making those claims. Although they may appear to make you look better, they only succeed in revealing the deep-down hate and envy you had for Auburn all along, not to mention your lack of character. If you every truly cared about Auburn University, you don’t throw that away so easily. But you did. You JUMPED at the chance, hypocrites that you are.
So keep on hating, Dawgies, because we WILL rise above this. AND we will weed out the fair-weather fans in the process.
War Eagle!
Why all the hate?
December 5th, 2010
12:07 pm
MikeP,
I think Bulldog is saying don’t jump to conclusions. Which is what a lot of people are doing.
I’d like to know more about the folks in Miss. who made these allegations.
Brian
December 5th, 2010
12:12 pm
Tebow in ‘07- 55 touchdowns
Newton in ‘10- 48 touchdowns
Both thru 13 games. Newton’s awesome, but this is clearly a “What have you done for me lately?” argument. If UF’s defense wasn’t so terrible that year (much worse than Auburn’s D), Tebow would’ve had another national title.
GotAFeeling---
December 5th, 2010
12:16 pm
— the Bulldogs are going down.
No, not the Georgia Bulldogs. The Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Discussions for pay-for-play have been admitted. But just WHERE did those discussions originate? Who made the first move? Couldn’t have been a MSU booster (Bell) who offered cash, right? Because we KNOW that boosters are as pure as the driven snow — they do no wrong! They would NEVER try to exploit a family in dire financial difficulties. NO!!!
So since boosters are so holy, it MUST be the preacher who sinned! BINGO!
Wow, how skewed is our thinking! How insane!
MSU reported the contact to the SEC in January of 2010 and then SAT on it, refusing to offer any follow-up to the SEC until July, even after the SEC made three (count ‘em THREE) requests. Mississippi State said they were too busy with other pressing issues.
Too busy? Really?
Busy doing what? Covering tracks? Water-damaging cellphones? Destroying documentation?
And the media has done a darned fine job of deflecting attention from MSU and to an amazing athelete, knowing that those who hate and want to see a star fizzle would jump on the band wagon without question.
So… here we are.
Still guzzling the KoolAid.
Amazing.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2010
12:19 pm
He’s certainly one of the greatest. I would have to put him up there with Herschel and Tebow. And I don’t think anyone would dispute that without him AU is a marginal 7-5 or 8-4 football team. The only reason I would put him equal to Herschel and Tebow but not ahead of those 2 is because their exploits were done over 3 great seasons while Cam has had one magical season. If Cam stays because of an NFL lockout then we could make a better judgement based upon what he does next year. Still a great player though.
5150 P.O.A.D
December 5th, 2010
12:20 pm
Hey DAWGS I guess Hershal is not THE GREATEST anymore.
Even BO KNOWS CAM.
NCAA Probation
December 5th, 2010
12:22 pm
This just out: The University of Georgia has finally admitted to slipping money to Fran Tarkenton to enroll at Georgia instead of Georgia Tech. In another admission, they admit to shovelling “wads” of money and a Cadillac Escalade to Matthew Stafford, if he would sign. Another stipulation in that agreement was that he would play as a freshman, even if other QB’s outplayed him. This was in a deal made with his father, who insisted that no matter how badly Matthew played in ANY game, he was not to be benched. This is just all FYI.
gatoralumihateurbmeyer
December 5th, 2010
12:23 pm
why all the hate on this board for Newton? The guy has had an absolutely incredible season. And enough about the accusations of play for pay…all big time programs have boosters that give cash to players..I know UF does and I am sure UGA does just as well. although they dont seem to get the same return on their investment these days. I am rooting for Auburn to crush Oregon, I hate the BCS and want a playoff. All you Bulldog fans act like your program is relevant when really you have no national relevance whatsoever. Auburn crushed you, they would have whipped my Gators as well with our pathetic offense. This Gator is all War Eagle these days.
Jim Pierce
December 5th, 2010
12:24 pm
LHardingDawg: “I’m upset about Auburn making the SEC and the south in general look stupid, cheap, and unprofessional. ”
Question: HOW has Auburn made the SEC look stupid, cheap, and unprofessional?
Try pointing your finger at MSU, not Auburn. Auburn recruited Cam fairly, and NOTHING shows they didn’t. Auburn has not been accused of ANY violations of NCAA rules, or SEC rules in 20 years.
Slam Cam (nice rhyme) if you want. I’ve found in life, that people believe what the WANT to believe. Facts don’t matter. The fact is: The NCAA , the SEC, and the FBI investigated and found NO wrong doing.
Yet?? Dawg fans choose to convict based on allegations. I see NO Dawg fan ragging on MSU. Why?
WAR CAM EAGLE
December 5th, 2010
12:25 pm
We Run this Country
NEWS FLASH!!!
December 5th, 2010
12:26 pm
This just in “Georgia Bulldogs whine, complain and make excuses.”
Oh wait, that was yesterday’s news.
And the day before…
And the day before that…
Oh, and the day before that…
And before that…
And before that…
And before that…
::: sigh :::
(can we PLEASE rise above this and move on, UGA????)
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2010
12:27 pm
GotAFeeling,
I think the NCAA has closed its investigation of MSU- there is nothing more there. The investigation into AU continues for a myriad number of reasons. In its statement regarding Cam being reinstated the NCAA quite clearly said “at this time” he remains eligible- in other words they are still investigating things.
Everyone knows Cam was 100% fully committed to MSU and then for some inexplicable reason he reversed himself and signed with AU. Not saying he was paid. Just saying there is too many coincidences for the NCAA to not continue the investigation.
And while they can’t prove it yet no rational person outside of Auburn fans really believes that Cam’s dad was selling him and that Cam had no idea. That really strains credulity to believe that Cam didn’t know. And to further that point Cam isn’t exactly a model of character given the stolen laptop incident and the alleged pending expulsion from Florida for not one but 3 separate instances of academic fraud. I wouldn’t believe this kid if it was 2 o’clock in the afternoon and he was trying to convince me it was daytime and not night time.
Redfern on Capella V
December 5th, 2010
12:28 pm
Herschel Walker was only faster than Newton when he was driving the new Pontiac Trans Am that UGA gave him.
hey!
December 5th, 2010
12:30 pm
how are y’all using HTML tags?
I’ve been unable to use bold and italicized text.
:’-(
UGA Fan with NO DIGNITY OR CLASS
December 5th, 2010
12:31 pm
I guess that about says it all, doesn’t it ?
WantSomeMoreKoolaid---
December 5th, 2010
12:31 pm
—LHardingDawg?
Or are you full of it yet….?
rotflm*o
LHardingDawg
December 5th, 2010
12:32 pm
The fact is that the SEC has a specific rule that prohibits discussing money with anyone associated with the athelic. That rule was broked and the SEC did not act on their own rule. It should not matter who he signed with. He, Cam, according to the SEC rule, is not eligible to play for any team. Mike Slive should be fired for not upholding the rule.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2010
12:33 pm
Jim Pierce,
The investigation is ongoing. It could be AU is eventually cleared but your statement that the NCAA and FBI have found nothing is inaccurate. The NCAA merely pointed in their statement that they have found nothing “at this time” meaning the investigation continues. Hopefully there will be nothing found and AU will be able to celebrate an untainted national title.
It should be noted also that these investitgations take time- took years to nail USC on the Reggie Bush thing. Last, you state AU has not been in trouble with the NCAA in 20 years? Close but not quite. AU was on probation in 1993.
TigerWalk
December 5th, 2010
12:35 pm
Amen AU-Alum ‘79 Well said. Why does everyone assume the worst instead of letting it all sort out first? When we lose do we accuse the other team of “cheating”? No, you take it like a man and move on! War Eagle!!
Kenai Ocelata
December 5th, 2010
12:36 pm
Before you dawgtards blast Auburn any more, think about the football team THUGA puts on the field. 96% of the players are academically provisionally accepted, with Richt and his cronies knowing full well that they will use up all their coaching and tutors and elligibility and then have their asses kicked out on the street and soon be pushing grocery carts around Atlanta looking for a warm place to sleep. What a pitiful way to run the State’s flagship university.
Is there no shame in Athens? Apparently not.
UGA, winner of the Fulmer/Richt Cup and The Cesspool of the South.
LHardingDawg
December 5th, 2010
12:41 pm
Reading Kenai (whatever that is) is a total waste of time.
tom
December 5th, 2010
12:41 pm
I think Mark should take a week off without pay for predicting SC a winner yesterday. I guess he hoped to be the lone hero if SC would prevail against all odds.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2010
12:41 pm
LHardingDawg,
Several people posted the rule the other day and from the language of the rule it looked pretty clear that whether Cam knew or not that the rule was broken and that he should have been declared ineligibile.
However, Mike Slive’s job as SEC commissioner is to fight for SEC teams- all SEC teams- and he’s not going to let a magical season for AU and yet another title shot for an SEC team go by the wayside. Whether rival fans like it or not Slive ruled in favor of Cam not breaking the rule as did the NCAA who has the final word in the matter. It is what it is. He is eligible and AU will play for the national title.
What's Important
December 5th, 2010
12:42 pm
Kenai Ocelata, why don’t you just pull a few more made up percentages out of your rear. Georgia athletes have one of the highest graduation rates of athletes of any SEC school, and that includes their football program.
Serious question: Is Cam Newton the greatest collegian ever? | Y'all Sports
December 5th, 2010
12:42 pm
[...] Serious question: Is Cam Newton the greatest collegian ever? [...]
Joe Bob Thibodaux
December 5th, 2010
12:44 pm
Mark, ? the Greatest Football Player ever ?
That is a very large question.
First, take away the facemast and helmet and the ability to slide instead of taking a hit and then you have a level ; playing field (if not a full set of teeth). Is Newton a “Jim Thorpe” or comparable?
I don’t have the answer.
Newton is the best player in the college game this year, but the best ever? Interesting question but oranges are not apples.
Great blog Mark.
My complements.
JBT
WAR CAM EAGLE
December 5th, 2010
12:47 pm
We run your state
Jim Pierce
December 5th, 2010
12:50 pm
19 years..sorry lol
WAR CAM EAGLE
December 5th, 2010
12:51 pm
LISTEN TO THE DAWGS WHINE. HAHAHA. WHO WOULDAVE GUESSED? HAHAHA. EVERYONE. HAHAHAHA. HAY DAWGS, WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE IF YOU AND YOUR OVERRATED PROGRAM CAN COMPETE WITH FLORIDA, OH MAKE THAT CENTRAL FLORIDA, IN THE FREAKIN….
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LHardingDawg
December 5th, 2010
12:51 pm
Tide – Not so fast my friend. The SEC is only one part of the NCAA. John Swofford, the Atlantic Coast Commissioner, does not agree with the ruling by the NCAA. He said it puts collee athletics on a “slippery slope”. The Big Twelve Commissioner Dan Beebe has joined a chorus of college football officals questioning the NCAA’s decision. This in a artical by the AP. He might not be eligible come January and the national championship game.
WAR CAM EAGLE
December 5th, 2010
12:52 pm
WE OWN YOU AND YOUR STATE!
Your Breath Smells like Fish Fry Tacos
December 5th, 2010
12:54 pm
Cam is the highest paid athelete in the history of college football – no doubt about that
LHardingDawg
December 5th, 2010
12:58 pm
War Cam, you don’t own anything. Not even your trailer.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
December 5th, 2010
12:59 pm
Your Breath Smells like Fish Fry Tacos
NOPE: REGGIE BUSH
Nice Try!
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2010
1:02 pm
LHardingDawg,
You have a very valid point and I have seen that several ADs Pat Haden at USC in particular who are incensed that Cam has retained eligibility. And as you say the ACC and Big 12 commissioners are of course equally ticked off. I’m just making the point that Slive is fighting for a member institution of the SEC. That’s all.
And if the situation were reversed and it was say UGA in the exact situation that AU is in now most of the dawg fans on here would expect Slive to fight for UGA as well.
My only take is that if AU wins it all- and I fully expect them to thrash Oregon- that the ensuing investigation would clear AU and Cam once and for all. 3 of my best friends that are huge AU fans and it wouldn’t bother me to see them celebrate a national title. It would indeed suck for them and for AU of course if its later revealed that Cam should have been ineligible all along or that there was a pay for play scheme, etc. That would of course be the worst thing that could happen to AU. Only time will tell if there was never anything there to begin with or not.
John
December 5th, 2010
1:02 pm
“But such was the majesty of Newton’s play that the request seemed almost reasonable.”
Ah, the man-crush again wields its incredible power. Media and SEC refs alike are rendered to a state that makes members of Justin Bieber’s fan club look like Navy SEALS.
Newton’s a helluva player – certainly the best of 2010 by a long shot. But put Steven Garcia behind Auburn’s offensive line last night and he coulda completed those passes Newton made.
What compels you media types to immediately brand the newest “greatest” the “all time greatest” before their deeds even have a chance to bear reasonable scrutiny?
This is the same breathless gushing we hand to endure about Tim Tebow for four years.
Take a cold shower Bradley. Get ahold of yourself.