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
Slick
December 5th, 2010
12:19 am
These clowns from South Carolina embarassed the SEC East.
What's Important
December 5th, 2010
12:19 am
Cam Newton does not have a long enough college career to crown him as the best college athlete ever.
UGA Fan
December 5th, 2010
12:19 am
waaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I’ll never stop crying and blaming others. Facts or no facts, it doesn’t matter – if he ain’t playin for UGA, I hate him.
waaaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaa
agdawg
December 5th, 2010
12:20 am
Why have there not been any pictures of Pastor Eddie Newton? If it was anyone else the media would have plastered their picture on every front page and 6 o’clock news!
Haters gonna Hate
December 5th, 2010
12:20 am
@dawggirl I’ve seen dirty play in every football game I’ve ever watched, including 60 or so games in Athens I’ve attended. Go back and watch some film. You’ll see some of your beloved players coming out just as guilty as Fairley or the eye gouger from UF. Let it go, already.
Seriously
December 5th, 2010
12:21 am
Hey dawggirl – YES, it is an obsession with UGA fans.
Your team sucked this year. Get over it and stop pointing fingers at innocent parties. Get your team back together and stop being pathetic sore losers
smart dawg
December 5th, 2010
12:21 am
Thuga,
The statue is in Athens. It is of mediocre height, about 4′ tall. One hand reaches out horizontal to the ground. This represents reality: That uga can only reach mediocrity.
The other hand reaches skyward. This represents delusions of grandeur, the perception of the fan base.
Propylene
December 5th, 2010
12:22 am
I don’t hate him, and I was pulling for Auburn as Auburn is about third on the list of teams I root for. But when the game was down to the last few minutes, I sent my friend a text saying that I wish he’d take a lesson from Herschel Walker and act like he’d been there before. And if he hasn’t been there before, that’s why it’d be acting.
Pathetic
December 5th, 2010
12:22 am
JEALOUSY!!!
JEALOUSY!!!
All these pitiful people who point fingers at Cam and call him names. He did nothing wrong. Even the NCAA says so.
You don’t know 1/10th of what the NCAA knows – all you “know” is false rumor and you’re to stupid to know the difference.
GROW UP
dawggirl
December 5th, 2010
12:22 am
Slick – “These clowns from South Carolina embarassed the SEC East.”
I think the East did a pretty good job of that this year, with or without South Carolina’s appearance in this game.
Just saying...
December 5th, 2010
12:23 am
The answer is NO..Cammie is a great athlete, but at this point not even close to being considered the best collegian…not even 2nd best.
What is a shame is if he is found guilty of knowing of the scheme to extract pay for play. A great season for him as an individual and for his team and their fans which may be taken away. I was very sympathetic with Auburn in 2004…not so in 2010. I don’t have to apologize for the play of UGA over the last 5 years, 20 years, or 110 years against AU. We have been beaten by classy teams and coaches over the years including Jordan, Bowden, and Tuberville. I do not include Chizik and this team in that category. Now why would I be jealous of one team and not the others? The on field demeanor and the coach’s response to it are the difference. Cammie and Chizik should not be placed in the same category as your previous successful programs.
Good luck in the NC but I think its all going to unravel on you.
Boooo
December 5th, 2010
12:23 am
Propylene – you’re dissin’ on him because he wasn’t afraid to show his emotions? Happiness? Instead of Robo-Herschel?
You’re weak.
dawggirl
December 5th, 2010
12:24 am
“Your team sucked this year”
I’ve never said otherwise.
WDE
December 5th, 2010
12:24 am
dawggirl – I would agree tha the blindside hit was inexcusable by Fairley. Of course, we both know that he was flagged for the transgression, and rightfully so. As to the media obsession, I would agree on that, but I would disagree about the hate obsession by Dawg fans about Cam or AU that is so evident on these blogs. Although I perceive you to be rational and logical, many of your fans are anything but that, and please remember that Dawg fans are the majority of posters on this blog… which goes back to my original reply to you about why there are so many inappropriate posts on this blog! See how my reply fits logically to your premise?
Seriously
December 5th, 2010
12:24 am
Hey Just saying….. – It won’t unravel.
The NCAA took their best shot – BUT THERE’S NOTHING THERE BECAUSE HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING. ALL YOU HAVE IS RUMOR.
Are you stupid enough to only believe rumor?
Huh?
December 5th, 2010
12:25 am
Just sayin…how did you feel about the on field demeanor of your DC coordinator when he cursed an opposing player? Were you just as upset?
Give it up
December 5th, 2010
12:26 am
WDE – you can’t reason with her. She’s blinded by the UGA bug that all of them have. If someone’s better than you, then you have to insult it and make up lies about it.
That’s the UGA way.
Seriously
December 5th, 2010
12:27 am
Hey Just saying… – there are rumors about Cam (NEVER PROVEN)
Meanwhile, 11 UGA players and the AD arrested in the past year.
That’s a program to be ashamed of.
Haters gonna Hate
December 5th, 2010
12:27 am
Justsayin sounds like NYT writer Pete Thamel, who asked a cheapshot question about Cecil attending the Heisman ceremony, then stormed out of the press conference when Chizik said that it wouldn’t be answered. There are bitter people in this world. It happens.
Haters gonna Hate
December 5th, 2010
12:29 am
I love UGA. Every one of my heroes went to school there. I wish some of the fans here didn’t exist. It happens, though. Haters gonna hate.
Propylene
December 5th, 2010
12:29 am
You say I’m weak because I don’t prefer Cam Newton’s onfield demeanor.
That’s quite a stretch. I’d like to see a well-constructed couple of sentences on how you arrived at that.
smart dawg
December 5th, 2010
12:29 am
Propylene mentioned acting like you’ve been there before.
Do you mean not strutting and posing like Moreno did repeatedly?
Or do you mean rushing the majority of the team on the field to provoke a fight?
Hmmmm.
dawggirl
December 5th, 2010
12:30 am
WDE – Good luck in the National Championship, although you won’t need it. I seriously think it will be a blowout.
I thought Auburn got seriously robbed in 2004, so hopefully this is your makeup shot.
JSS
December 5th, 2010
12:31 am
Is that a “Statue” like the one in NY Harbor or the one in Sanford of that poor mutant bulldog?
LakeDawg
December 5th, 2010
12:32 am
Undoubtedly, Herschel is the best ever. However, I do believe Cam is the second best college player I’ve ever seen. I measure their greatness by how much effect they have on their team and the games they play in. Herschel took an average 6-5 team to a 12-0 record and a MNC. Cam has taken an average 7-5 team to 12-0 and to the doorstep of a title. Also, both players just dominated the games they played in. BTW, Tebow was the most overrated player in history.
georgia boy
December 5th, 2010
12:32 am
gee whiz georgia fans..is it that serious?..did this guy slap your mama or something..get over it..he whipped your team and he is moving on to bigger and better things..this reminds me of the lebron situation so much anger and hate..no wonder people think of the south the way they do
smart dawg
December 5th, 2010
12:33 am
Haters gonna hate.
“Everyone of my heroes went to school (UGA) there.”
What a world you live in.
WDE
December 5th, 2010
12:33 am
dawggirl – as I said before, you appear logical and rational, to your credit. Thank you for the well wishes and same to the Dawgs next year (and your bowl game). It’s a shame that there are not more Dawg fans of your caliber.
Valdosta Tiger
December 5th, 2010
12:34 am
Wait Mr. Bradley, let’s not forget your pick of South Carolina, 33 -31, in the most lopsided SEC Championship Game ever. I guess Ted Roof’s defense was a tad better than your analysis!!!!!!!
Haters gonna Hate
December 5th, 2010
12:35 am
It’s a wonderful world!
War Damn Eagle!
It's really sad
December 5th, 2010
12:35 am
The sad, pathetic, hopeless Georgia fans are really getting pitiful. All they can do is hurle insults at a good Christian young man. Cam has done nothing wrong.
He dad is shameful, sure, but all these people are being vile and nasty towards Cam. All it is, is an indication of their true selves.
These Georgia fans are showing they truly have no class at all.
Huh?
December 5th, 2010
12:35 am
ESPN just discussed the question of whether Cam Newton is the best player ever. They said that you have to put him in that category. They named 5-6 other players (including Tebow) as well…no mention on Walker.
JASon
December 5th, 2010
12:37 am
“Say what you will about him”
What are we saying about him, please tell us. You journalists were the ones who blew this story up, in an effort purely to get people to click on your articles. That is always the effort.
Just saying...
December 5th, 2010
12:38 am
Good luck Barners! Hope you beat the Ducks and that it will in some way even out 2004.
Why not ask Bo to talk with Cammie and hope a little of it wears off on him. Just don’t do a disservice to your own hero with all the adulation over your current narcissistic idol and your dirty player Fairley.
Haters gonna Hate
December 5th, 2010
12:38 am
Mark May and Dr.Lou were not prepared for that question…they don’t answer well when they’re unprepared.
Huh?
December 5th, 2010
12:39 am
Just sayin…maybe Ben Jones and Fairley and they can wear off on each other?
Huh?
December 5th, 2010
12:40 am
They had a whole breakdown of Tebow vs. Newton…numbers were scary close
smart dawg
December 5th, 2010
12:40 am
Haters gonna hate’
It’s a very small world you live in.
LakeDawg
December 5th, 2010
12:40 am
Huh? Anything that happened before ESPN was covering college football doesn’t count to them. And Tebow one of the top 5 or 6 of all time. Puhleeeeeze. He was a media concoction. A fullback, who could throw a wobbly pass to a wide open receiver or just toss it to the sidelines to his plethora of 5 star athletes.
Rumbo
December 5th, 2010
12:40 am
Herchel made his rep against weak sisters. He was always contained when they played Clemson, the only good team on the regular schedule in those days, and the bowl games with the exception of the first one. He peaked as a player in the Notre Dame game. Never had any moves, that’s why he was never anything special in the pros. Newton has never been stopped and will excel in the pros.
Huh?
December 5th, 2010
12:42 am
LakeDawg…anybody that put up the numbers he did and won as many games as he did had some talent. I know you hate the Gators…but let’s keep a bit of reality going please.
Halsey
December 5th, 2010
12:44 am
Can media memeber s these days go a day without calling someone in sports “The Greatest Ever!”. If you blieve the media, there’s a greatest ever in every sport right now. It seems awfully unlikely that every sports has its greatest player at the same time…
LakeDawg
December 5th, 2010
12:44 am
Rumbo you couldn’t be more wrong. When Herschel retired he was in the top ten in total yardage in the NFL. And that was while playing on crappy teams and losing three of his most productive years to the USFL.
Haters gonna Hate
December 5th, 2010
12:44 am
smart dawg,
Let’s just say it’s a short list, and I don’t give those kind of accolades very easy. You should really know someone very well to elevate them to a pedestal, and public accomplishments rarely show the full worth of a person.
Haters gonna Hate
December 5th, 2010
12:46 am
@Just Sayin’
You mean THE BO JACKSON? The one who was on the sideline jumping up and down with and celebrating with Cam? Keep hatin’, brotha.
Texas Toast
December 5th, 2010
12:46 am
So Bradley’s got to:
[1] Find entertaining columns to write for the blog while maintaining journalistic quality and integrity,
[2] pick all the games and get them right, including point spreads
[3] report on the games
[4] keep up with all the lawyering stuff that goes on during the week
… ON A FREE RESOURCE?
Rough audience…
Huh?
December 5th, 2010
12:48 am
Toast…yeah…Bradley’s got a really rough gig. I’m sure he doesn’t mind cashing the checks though.
irish bulldogs
December 5th, 2010
12:50 am
AUBURN,CONGREGATION ON YOUR SEC TITLE,NOW YOU HAVE TO WIN 5 MORE SEC TITLES TO TIE GEORGIA AND 14 SEC TITLES TO TIE ALABAMA!
LakeDawg
December 5th, 2010
12:50 am
Not saying Tebow wasn’t a good player…just shouldn’t be mentioned with the best ever. Do you really think he should be mentioned in the same breath as Herschel, O.J., Marino, Griffin, Bo Jackson, etal ?
Huh?
December 5th, 2010
12:51 am
LakeDawg…based on his accomplishments…absolutely. I think that’s why ESPN agrees with me.