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
Couldn't hold Hershel's jock strap
December 4th, 2010
10:33 pm
Can you say Bandwagon much???…….He doesn’t hold a candle to the likes of Hershel, Peyton Manning, Tebow, Tommie Frazier, Roger Staubach, Earl Campbell,Bo Jackson,Marcus Allen,Deon Sanders,Reggie Bush,Charles Woodson, and Charle Ward just to name a few….Come on man!!!!!!!
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
10:33 pm
Bo knows corruption.
Former Auburn Fan
December 4th, 2010
10:34 pm
Maybe its the media these days where by every news outlet knows when an athlete farts. I’m not saying Dye’s era was totally clean, but it was a damn site better than the mess that going on down on the plains these days.
Jackson, Bo
December 4th, 2010
10:34 pm
Mumah saad i wuze jus bige bownd
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
10:35 pm
well put bullwinkle
Questioning
December 4th, 2010
10:35 pm
After looking at photos of Cecil Newton, I do believe that was the man Cam kept hugging when he came off the field on at least two occasions. Thought he was to play a minor role…so, why wasn’t he sitting with his wife? Also, Cam’s postgame interview was way too brief…the usual thank God, etc. He will be seriously pounded in the NFL. Cam isn’t too popular, too say the least, even in the SEC.
BnB
December 4th, 2010
10:36 pm
I see where you are coming from, bullwinkle. Campbell was ultra milk toast. Cam is a ham, no doubt. So was Deion. They understand that is a game played for entertainment rather than a religion…though I do find the 100 yards and a cloud of religiosity of the AU guys kind of tiresome.
Bobby Lowder
December 4th, 2010
10:36 pm
And they thought I was bankrupt! Ha! I still have enough stashed away to buy the SEC and BCS.
Marcus Dupree
December 4th, 2010
10:36 pm
Dat what me mamma seyz two Boe
Jackson, Bo
December 4th, 2010
10:36 pm
I nowe Carupshon. I gote mey digrey at awbuwn
A Former Auburn Fan
December 4th, 2010
10:36 pm
Bullwinkle, you hit it right on the head
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
10:36 pm
Question for AU fans other than Former AU fan, IF, and I mean IF (nobody knows for sure) it turns out Cam was in on the SCAM, and IF Auburn paid up, what should the outcome be?
Marcus Dupree
December 4th, 2010
10:37 pm
There you are Mr. Lowder! I cant get my colonial bank atm to work!
Cecil Newton
December 4th, 2010
10:37 pm
Bobby Lowder where you been fool you owe me some money and me and the Marcus’s want paid
A Former Auburn Fan
December 4th, 2010
10:38 pm
I know you didn’t include me, but here’s my comments anyway. Obviously the season should be forfeited. Other than that, I don’t know.
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
10:38 pm
Carupshon iz my neffuuu. hee pretty gud playa. mmaybb u tel shhizzzkk bout him.
Cecil Newton
December 4th, 2010
10:38 pm
Pat put that down there go the police
Bobby Lowder
December 4th, 2010
10:39 pm
Nobody knows dee trouble I see, nobody knows but me. Swing low, sweet chariot.
wishuhadit
December 4th, 2010
10:40 pm
Cam newton is a lying sack of sh!t dirtbag n!gger
Jackson, Bo
December 4th, 2010
10:41 pm
marcuz u shuda staad en coleeg becawz u caynt speel gud
Marcus Dupree
December 4th, 2010
10:41 pm
Mr. Lowder if you see Milton McGregor will u telz him dem dog track vouchers he been givn me dont work at walmart
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
10:41 pm
Carupshon Lattamor. Quantity: 1 Price: $225,000.00
Bobby Lowder
December 4th, 2010
10:41 pm
@wishuhadit….did your mama have any kids that lived, you racist pig?
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
10:42 pm
My speeekk ann spellzz needd batrees.
Cecil Newton
December 4th, 2010
10:42 pm
OH HELL NO!!!! WISHUHADIT I’LL BEAT YOU AZZ YOU KEEP TALKN BOUT MY MONEY I MEAN BOY
Questioning
December 4th, 2010
10:42 pm
Maybe the question should have been “Is Cameron Newton the most disliked SEC football player ever?” And, the wishuhadit post should not have been allowed. Real poor taste.
Cammy Wammy
December 4th, 2010
10:43 pm
I’m so pretty, oh so pretty, so young and so witty.
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
10:43 pm
When UGA with Harrick got caught cheating, I was glad to see UGA, voluntarily, not play in the SEC tournament, nor the NCAA tournament. It was fun to watch them win, but, after the news of academic fraud, etc. came out, it wasn’t fun anymore. It was cheating. Why can’t people just play by the rules. My team, UGA, has been down, for two years. But, I’ll take Richt, and his 96 wins in ten years. I wish he’d quit recruiting guys he has to kick off and suspend, that only hurts the team, but, I guess, these days, any kid is a risk. One reason I like Div II ball is that kids are playing because they want to, not because of what they are getting for playing.
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
10:43 pm
take da hood off wishaduit.
Jackson, Bo
December 4th, 2010
10:43 pm
marcuz u shud tri foniks
@wishuhadit
December 4th, 2010
10:44 pm
People (and I use that term loosely) are what’s wrong with this world.
BnB
December 4th, 2010
10:44 pm
Aubie’s Denial, I don’t know what it should be…something along the lines of what USC got? Instead of sanctimony, people should put themselves in the shoes of the basic AU fan. We have no way of knowing what has gone on and really have pretty much had to ride and die with the team. At this point, does it make any sense to sit Cam (as MB suggested prior to UGA game) because he might wind up dirty? And this will be hard for anyone from the “losers bracket” to weigh but, at day’s end, this was our team. Had he arrived with a spotless resume the on field results would have been the same. Back room shenanigans are beyond the control of any fan. If he wins the NC and the Heisman and it gets taken away then so be it. If sanctions are imposed then likewise. Will we look on Cam less fondly and consider him mercenary? No doubt. But college football is about as “pure as the driven sludge” as someone here wrote a while back. Like the old Janis Joplin song said, “Get it while you can.” Retrospective viewing of some time in the past when college football was pure is nothing but pure fantasy.
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
10:45 pm
imm hukd on um
Marcus Dupree
December 4th, 2010
10:45 pm
i done knowd what cam put in hiz cammie juice, but i cantz sayz whit it be n dare
Cecil Newton
December 4th, 2010
10:45 pm
Lets go to the dog tracks and cash out on some greyhounds. Milton lets us win everytime
BnB
December 4th, 2010
10:46 pm
Got bigotry?
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
10:46 pm
Two more questions . . . why did UF, and Urban Myer, knowing how good Newton is, let him go? And, why aren’t more AU fans pissed about all this?
Randy
December 4th, 2010
10:46 pm
Well he does rank right up there with some of the biggest cheaters and his daddy did pimp him out like a street walking hooker. Makes me wonder is his daddy gonna preach about that kind of stuff now and if he does he sure can’t call it sin.
Also makes me wonder about those folks sitting in his congregation…………..you gonna let your kids try to figure that hypocrisy out or you gonna help them by telling him goodbye?
Marcus Dupree
December 4th, 2010
10:47 pm
I hope cammie’s reverned dont be takin his money, cause i know a rev who done took my money from the usfl
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
10:47 pm
@wishuhadit, peeple(also used loosely) lik u need 2 b spayed or neutered.
Jackson, Bo
December 4th, 2010
10:47 pm
I hayt Came Nutone. Nobudi wile nowe mey now
Cecil Newton
December 4th, 2010
10:49 pm
Wishuhadit….. you pay me some money under the table and all this goes away
GTBob
December 4th, 2010
10:49 pm
Nobody can be considered the best ever after only 12 games. He is great, but there have been other great players who did it for a lot longer.
Steveo2
December 4th, 2010
10:51 pm
I love it how all the fake a$$ puppy fans think that their sh$tty jawja bullpups are not corrupt like the rest of the SEC. Since AU whipped that a$$, all we have heard in the ATL is late hit…bad hit…etc. Cry me a river….What happened last year when the new DC was hired and the pups were yet again the national champs? Nothing…Grantham is a douche like the rest of you sweaty bat wings. You will never be a top tier SEC team. Best season is a 9 to 10 win season with a 2nd place finish in the west.
BnB
December 4th, 2010
10:52 pm
Why did Meyer “let” cam go? He doesn’t own him for one and I think everyone is aware of Cam’s off the field issues at FL of which he has been fairly candid. Why are more AU folks not pissed? What can they really do about it? What would you have them do…boycott the team? In all seriousness do you think any fans of any team would do that to a 13-0 squad?
LT
December 4th, 2010
10:52 pm
Yep, the best money can buy…..legitimate best, no way, no how, not even in Top 10, not proven enough, had a nice run this year, mostly the last half of the year, but needs to sustain for several years to be considered this, and the best should not be paid to play, doesn’t matter who knows what, should be a legitimate player, clearly he is not, just a hired gun for a year.
Steveo2
December 4th, 2010
10:53 pm
Updating from division. East you sorry sweaty sacks of nothing. Go Tech
Randy
December 4th, 2010
10:54 pm
Ummmmmmmm Steveo2 whatcha gonna do when they come for you ……….next year without all them seniors, no offensive coordinator and your street pimp is gone? looks like all burn falls right back to being the rest of the SEC’s beyich
Jackson, Bo
December 4th, 2010
10:54 pm
hez note az gud az mey
Bobby Lowder
December 4th, 2010
10:54 pm
Yo, Cecil, baby, hop in bro’ let’s go to the Chettah stip club. Drinks on me, my friend.