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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
995 comments Add your comment
SoCal Dawg
December 4th, 2010
10:55 pm
BnB – Once you enroll you are owned.
Mike
December 4th, 2010
10:55 pm
You’re dreaming…How many yards passing and touchdowns did Walker have???
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
10:55 pm
Check your records STEVO, dawgs have six top ten finishes in last ten years, two sec titles, three title game appearances, and, a winning record 7-3 against AU I believe. After you season is vacated, that will be adjusted to 8-2. Yes, we’ve had two bad years but we wouldn’t resort to a retread, but gifted, thug who got kicked out of UF for whatever reason (yes, at talented as he was he had to leave UF), in order to win. The thing is, its not just UGA fans that are disappointed in this. It is reasonable auburn fans, and damn near everyone else who considers themsleves a college football fan. Ask the ACC Commish, and ESPN, and all the writers everywhere who’ve pointed out when the NCAA has punished far too many for much much less. a pay for play scandal and 180K. Seriously, you are going to try to blame this on UGA fans losing one in five to ya’ll. Get real man
Burn Fat Faster Get Serious With Your Fat Burning Workouts | Weight Loss Workout
December 4th, 2010
10:56 pm
[...] A serious question: Is Cam Newton the greatest collegian ever …Also on this blogMake All Exercise Workouts a Fat Burning WorkoutFat Burning Workout – Lose 2 Pounds of Fat a WeekNew Body New Life- What makes it so unique?New Body New Life- What’s so different about New Body New Life?EpheDrexin – 90 Capsules Extreme Thermogenic Fat Burning Fire Weight Loss Diet Pills Posted in Fat Burning Workout | Tags: Body Fat, Burn, Burn Calories, Burning, Calorie Deficit, Consistency, Crunches, Excess Body, Faster, Fat Burning Workout, Fat Burning Workouts, Going Through The Motions, Healthy Eating, High Intensity, Intensity Levels, Losing Belly Fat, Nutrition, People, Serious, Shape, Success, Tabata Workout, Tricep Kickbacks, Workouts, World Class Athletes [...]
Marcus Dupree
December 4th, 2010
10:56 pm
What!? They aint gonna be a good o-line to block for me next year at the plains? Let me get Lowder on the phone, he can change that.
2011 Season
December 4th, 2010
10:57 pm
Can’t wait for it. Malzone will be gone. The pay for play QB will be gone. Tons of seniors will be gone. What goes around comes around. The whole damned SEC wants a piece of you cheaters and you will get it next year. Beware Coach Cheese Stick. This might be a good time to head back to Texas.
BnB
December 4th, 2010
10:57 pm
I don’t think that is true, SoCal. Can a guy not always leave and play in another division? Isn’t that what Randy Moss did?
Cecil Newton
December 4th, 2010
10:57 pm
As long as you buying you know im in
Randy
December 4th, 2010
10:58 pm
Al Burn reminds me of a pig with lipstick on, it’s still a pig.
Ted M
December 4th, 2010
10:58 pm
Thanks for talking football!
Calls em like I sees em
December 4th, 2010
10:59 pm
whoor dam ego!
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
10:59 pm
Yes I do BnB, and that’s the problem. All those guys that blocked for SCam, and worked their butts off, could’ve won without him. His actions will end up hurting those guys, Au fans like yourself, not to mention SEC fans who AlWAYS support the conference winner. Well, always until this year. Go Ducks! BTW, the ducks have no chance but we can all wish.
Does Your Chewing Gum ......
December 4th, 2010
10:59 pm
lose its flavor on the bed post overnight?
Dirty Dawg
December 4th, 2010
10:59 pm
As for whether he’s the best ever, that’s something that we’ll never know as it is purely speculative…however, in a few months we’ll know if he’s the best football player money can buy….oh, I just mean the contract he’ll get from some NFL program…the other stuff will take longer.
BnB
December 4th, 2010
11:00 pm
Yeah, Chizik may want to go back to TX who were in the NC game last year and won, what, 5 this year? So this must be imperative proof that they were dirty last year? Not unusual at all to be on top one year and down the next as seniors depart. Nature of the college game. AU will no doubt be in relative dire straits in 2011. Are they supposed to go undefeated every year? You know, other teams get a vote.
Major Ogilvie
December 4th, 2010
11:01 pm
Bradley, you accomplished what I believed was truly impossible. “Cam Newton” and “collegian” in the same sentence. Cue the Pulitzer Committee!
Just Sayin'
December 4th, 2010
11:01 pm
SEC opponents will be out to lay some serious points on Pay For Play U next year.
Katherine
December 4th, 2010
11:01 pm
Congrats to Auburn…..they have definitely shown they deserve to be in the NC.
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
11:01 pm
Enjoyed the board guys, good luck on the upcoming investigation AU fans, seriously, I hope nothing else turns up. I’d say good luck in the title game but you won’t need it. Even without Cam you are far too physical for the Ducks. The worst part of this is that after Jan 10 we have to wait nine months for football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Dan
December 4th, 2010
11:02 pm
OK, do this: Name me five better college players. I’ll give you Herschel. And I won’t quibble with O.J. or even Tebow. Now name me two more.
Well one would be Johnny Rodgers at Nebraska – In his three years with the Cornhuskers, Rodgers established an all-purpose NCAA yardage record of 5,586 – plus he robbed a gas station in 1971 – he is the only Heisman winner to be convicted of a felony before receiving the award
BnB
December 4th, 2010
11:04 pm
Aubie’s Denial, you are living in a fantasy world if you think fans of the Dawgs or whatever team you pull for would do that. Come on…Auburn fans hope the program comes out OK but you pretty much sink or swim with them either way. It is not unlike being a citizen of a nation. I don’t agree with lots of things the US gov’t does but I pretty much have to ride with them. You have seemingly forgotten the Jan Kemp affair and the death threats she got?
bob
December 4th, 2010
11:05 pm
Herschell took a 6-5 team to a national championship. Well Buck did complete one pass in the Sugar Bowl.
BnB
December 4th, 2010
11:06 pm
Wrong again, Aubie’s Denial! Real football (NFL) just getting cranked up about that time. Go Falcons!!!!;)
Jackson, Bo
December 4th, 2010
11:06 pm
i ame hongree
Randy
December 4th, 2010
11:06 pm
Cam Newtons daddy reminds me of one of the two preachers of different faith who rode their bikes to church on Sunday’s. One Sunday one of them sees the other one walking and asks him “Brother where is your Bike?” He replies “you know one of them saints in my church done stole my bike.” The other preacher tells him “ON Sunday you get up and preach fire and brimstone on the ten commandment and you’ll get it back” The next Sunday they come upon each other headed for church and the preacher has his bike back. The preacher says “I see you did what I told you” to which he replies “Yes but when I got to the part about thou shalt not commit adultery I remembered where I left my bike”
Tech One
December 4th, 2010
11:07 pm
Maxie Baughan was the greatest.
SoCal Dawg
December 4th, 2010
11:07 pm
BnB – I’m not an expert by any means, as anyone who has read my posts can tell you, but I’m pretty sure you have to have permission from the school.
Cecil Newton
December 4th, 2010
11:08 pm
If it was my bike i would have sold it to the highest bidder.
uga2002
December 4th, 2010
11:09 pm
I’d say Newton is better than Te ow for sure especially if you consider the talent level surrounding Tebow. Better than HW? Too different to compare, one a qb and one a dedicated rb. So really the question is who is the best qb ever? Newton is certainly in the running.
One thing for sure is Auburns senior laden team plus Fairley and Newton will be gone, Carolina returns a lot of players. I dont expect Carolina to trwat them very nicely in Columbia next year, Carolina by 3-4 TDs.
JSS
December 4th, 2010
11:09 pm
Told you some fool would come here and vie for the “fool of the blog” award! @ 10:40PM is even a low water mark for an AJC blog!!!
BnB
December 4th, 2010
11:10 pm
Neither am I, SoCal. Like I say, Cam has been pretty clear that he was not a saint at FL and Meyer may have had a good riddance attitude about him. People evolve. It’s easy to forget these guys are kids. The conduct of the “adults” is much more troublesome.
SoCal Dawg
December 4th, 2010
11:13 pm
BnB – Agreed.
BreakingNews
December 4th, 2010
11:13 pm
Hands down, Marcus Dupree is the greatest college player ever….
Definitely not Scam, or his boyfriend Nick
Now Now Mark----
December 4th, 2010
11:15 pm
— you’re giving UGA fans yet another venue in which to whine.
As for Cam Newton? Yep, pretty darned impressive. But I can’t say he would be without the chemistry of the team around him. His receivers were awesome. The running backs did what they needed to do. The defense hung tough. And Cam has been coached well.
Maybe he’d have been the same player at any other school, but somehow I don’t think so. He’s a good fit at a fine University with excellent coaches. I wish him well in the NFL.
AU’79
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
11:15 pm
brakin newz u be dissin me?
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
11:15 pm
BnB, you are right about the falcons. And, actually, I was at UGA during the Kemp thing, found it embarassing (damn, mispelled it again), and felt the punishment was due. I’d rather not win if winning requires cheating. period. is that so hard to believe. Honor, integrity, and playing by the rules are part of winning. And, if you don’t win fairly, you really don’t win. I’m a die hard uga fan, and, I really do love the AU UGA rivalry. One I think we’ve faired pretty well in recently. But if I were an AU fan, after Bishop Newton admitted what he did, I would’ve wanted Cam benched, and I would’ve hoped that would’ve saved vacating an entire season. Maybe I’m in the minority, but, that’s where I am. I’m also a minister, so, I’m likely not the norm. I love to see the dawgs win, I’ll admit the last two years have been frustrating, but I’d rather be frustrated than be part of a once proud University like Auburn who is unwilling to discipline itself. What’s not fair is what it does to all the guys that played with, and for Cam. I really hope nothing more comes of this, but, if it does, here’s my question, will it have been worth it. Is a NC, and an SEC title, worth paying a guy to play for you. Before you respond, I know, UGA has recruited some less than stellar characters lately. I’ve been disappointed and know full well that the dismissals and suspensions have hurt us on and off the field. But, I’d rather lose than play them and I hope integrity, as well as physical prowess, plays into who we recruit in the future. Have a good night man, and good luck in the title game and the upcoming/ongoing investigation.
Just saying...
December 4th, 2010
11:16 pm
A talent no doubt…but what a narcissistic prick who went to the highest bidder.
He couldn’t hold Herschel’s jock. He can’t even spell class and neither can the Reverend Cecil Newton.
M.Lattamor
December 4th, 2010
11:17 pm
I thought cecil was a bishop.
BreakingNews
December 4th, 2010
11:18 pm
Cam is without a doubt and INCREDIBLE athlete – i just HATE the way he carries himself, his antics, his “Christ” posing for his student section after games, blowing kisses, etc…..makes me sick.
BreakingNews
December 4th, 2010
11:18 pm
*an incredible
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
11:20 pm
BnB, I’ll try again, blog is acting funny. Actually, if a GA player’s dad had solicited funds from GA or any other school, I’d want the player kicked off the team. I wouldn’t want any player, regardless of how gifted he was/is, to taint what is so much fun for so many people. Maybe I’m in the minority, but, I am a mister and I believe how you play the game is just as important as if you win the game. Good luck, with the title game and the investigation. Here’s hoping nothing worse comes out of it, for AU, the SEC, and for all of College Football, the best game America has. Enjoyed the board guys!
Auburn University 56 - Mark Bradley and his small ThUGa fan base 17
December 4th, 2010
11:23 pm
Enter your comments here
BnB
December 4th, 2010
11:24 pm
I’ll give you that, BreakingNews. It has gone from spontaneous to semi-scripted. He does seem to have fun playing and I like that but he has become too aware of the camera. FWIW, if I could play like him and were in his shoes and at his age I’d like to say I would behave differently but who knows. It’s no win–you’re either “RoboCoach” or “narcissist.”
After the sideline reporter drank the Cam Juice and they were all laughing about it I thought eh should have told her, “Yeah, actually I pissed in that and the rest is pure steroids!”
UGA Identity Crisis?
December 4th, 2010
11:25 pm
After the Dawgs got spanked on 11/13, they immediately became Bama Fans. “Roll Tide! Beat Auburn!!”
After Auburn spanked the Tide, the Dawgs promptly became South Carolina Fans. “Go, Spurrier!! Beat Auburn”
Now the Dawgs are instantly Duck fans. “Go, Ducks! PleaseOhPleaseOhPlease Beat Auburn so we can somehow be avenged!!!”
How pathetic. Why not just be Georgia Bulldawg fans? Why not just admit that you had a lousy year and concentrate on turning it around next season? Congratulate your foes (for once in your lives) and move on.
Arkansas, LSU and Bama didn’t whine and make excuses. I doubt South Carolina will either. Only UGA does that year after year whenever they lose. Doesn’t that strike you as rather odd? Why are UGA’s the “Whiners of the SEC.” Don’t you want to give UP that title?
And now all UGA fans can do to feel better about their own program is to desperately pin all their hopes on the downfall of another. Will that really redeem your season? Will that make you any better? Somehow, I don’t think so.
Bulldawgs, you had a bad season.
So what?
Get over it and move on.
college football is an academic farce
December 4th, 2010
11:27 pm
“Greatest collegian ever” was the first byline and that was just a mistake. The second is thinking that one could make such a judgment before anyone has even finished their first year.
Supes
December 4th, 2010
11:27 pm
The best MONEY can buy in 2010….Hope that answers your question Mark!
Hey Aubie's Denial ---
December 4th, 2010
11:29 pm
— you do NOT know if Cam’s dad solicited money from a university. Could be just as likely that the university approached a family in desperate financial need and made an offer. Boosters are known to do that sort of thing, so don’t rule it out.
Aubie's Denial
December 4th, 2010
11:30 pm
Hate to burst your bubble identity crisis, but, the only fans who are not busting au’s chops right now for cheating, are au fans. USC, Bama, the ACC Commissioner himself has asked for a review for what seems to be no punishment for a major violation when many have been punished for much much less. Lower your ego and realize, we don’t like the game we love being cheapend by the Bishop and his son. We like to pull for SEC champs, be it my school (UGA), or Bama, or LSU, or yes, even FLA. Hell, I’ve always liked AU. If I were an AU fan I’d be pissed right now. This is not about the fact that ya’ll kicked our ass this year. We’ve won four of five against you guys, we have nothing to “whine” about on the field with you guys. We just don’t want the black eye AU is giving the conference, the greatest conference in football.
GTBob
December 4th, 2010
11:30 pm
The real question should be is this the greatest season anyone has ever had in college football since Newton has only played one season. The answer is still no. There have been better seasons.
BnB
December 4th, 2010
11:30 pm
I hear ya, Aubie’s Denial. I’m a “mister” too! I’m also a world class cynic and really don’t think any other schools would have handled it differently given the same circumstances. There are a lot of commissioners of various conferences questioning the NCAA ruling though. It will be an eternity between now and the NC game on Dec. 10. They may finger Cam for the JFK assassination between now and then. I think I saw powder burns on his throwing arm.