Cam Newton: Impact of Auburn Tigers QB's Potential Suspension
The Cam Newton saga continues to get deeper and deeper for the Auburn University. The star quarterback first hit trouble when allegations surfaced that he or someone representing him, may have been paid to guarantee Newton's enrollment at a university, after his year spent in junior college.
Then, further allegations of cheating during Newton's tenure at Florida cast his transfer from the school in a much less favorable light.
Now, most recently, sources have come forward claiming that the Newtons were discussing a pay-for-play plan regarding Cam's transfer back into D-I athletics, and claims of a potential suspension being levied by the NCAA in the near future.
While reports of suspension are purely speculative at this point, with media claims being debunked, it is a serious possibility. What kind of impact would that have on the football world?
Let's take a look at what a possible suspension of Cam Newton could do to the national title race, the Heisman trophy race, and the fates of several other teams and events.
The BCS Title Race
1 of 10
A potential suspension of Cam Newton would blow the national title race wide open. Auburn is nowhere near as dangerous without the junior quarterback as they are with him, and a loss could definitely be in the cards at that point for the Tigers.
That would, in turn, boost the profiles of non-BCS conference hopefuls Boise State and TCU, both of whom need Auburn or Oregon to lose in order to have a chance at the national title game. It would also thrust one-loss teams such as Ohio State, Wisconsin, LSU, Nebraska and Stanford back into the title game picture.
Urban Meyer
2 of 10
People have been blasting Urban Meyer for letting Newton leave Florida, especially with the Gators' troubles this season. But, if Newton is suspended, he has suddenly saved the program from potential NCAA sanctions, particularly in regards to the cheating allegations.
But Meyer's image amongst his fellow coach could be tarnished as a result of this. There a rumblings around the college football world that Meyer is the whistleblower, Meyer's the one who dropped the hammer on the scandal. If Newton is suspended, it all but confirms that someone ratted on Newton and Auburn.
With the rumblings about Meyer, that's a smell that'd be tough to get off.
Alabama
3 of 10
If Newton is suspended, the Crimson Tide go back to being the best team in Alabama. Newton was the impetus behind Auburn's 9-0 start, and without him, this offense lacks a true playmaker in the backfield.
Alabama also stakes a serious claim to a BCS bid, as the second-best team in the vaunted SEC.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The Iron Bowl
4 of 10
The annual Auburn-Alabama clash is always a special one, but if Newton's suspended, the game suddenly gets a lot more interesting.
We know Newton is playing this weekend, meaning that the Tigers would be undefeated heading into Bryant-Denney Stadium. Without Cam for that game, the playing field tilts heavily in favor of the Crimson Tide, particularly at home.
Auburn can still win, but their odds just got a lot slimmer to pull out the win. And if they fall here, you can kiss the BCS title game goodbye.
Mississippi State
5 of 10
The team who has the biggest bone to pick with the NCAA if Newton is suspended is Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs were thought to be Newton's top choice, and they alerted the NCAA to the request for payment, doing the right thing.
Newton obviously chose Auburn, meaning the Bulldogs missed out on one of the most exciting players in college football history.
But it gets worse.
Newton beat Mississippi State earlier this season, leading the Tigers to a win in Starkville almost singlehandedly. That loss will, in all likelihood, cost the Bulldogs a shot at the SEC title and perhaps even a shot at a BCS bowl from there.
So, not only was Mississippi State cost Newton's excellent services, they also lost its bid to be a contender in 2010.
Bowl Bid
6 of 10
For Auburn's bowl hopes, a Newton suspension looks potentially devastating. After all, without Newton, the Tigers could, in all likelihood, kiss the national title game goodbye.
However, the impact on their overall bowl bid is minimal. They'll finish no worse than second or third in the SEC, and should still get a decent bowl bid. Not the one for the crystal football, but not exactly a waste of time, either.
The Heisman Race
7 of 10
If Newton is suspended, the Heisman Trophy is suddenly up for grabs. With only LaMichael James showing himself worthy of challenging Newton for the award this season, the trophy is his to lose.
However, even if Newton isn't suspended, the trophy could still wind up going to James, the Oregon Ducks' talented running back.
The Heisman Trust and the voters aren't big fans of controversy, so if there's even a whiff of a scandal, they'll lean somewhere else. We're already seeing that happening, as James narrowed the gap between himself and Newton this week, even though the junior quarterback hadn't seen a performance dip.
A suspension for Newton would all but guarantee that James becomes the undisputed front-runner.
The NFL Draft
8 of 10
Here's what a suspension does to Newton's NFL Draft status: little to nothing.
Odds are good that Newton didn't personally demand money for his signature, meaning someone else was pulling the strings. That means it's not the quarterback's character that's the issue here, it's those around him.
I'd bet a few NFL teams pass on him, but he won't fall out of the top 10. He's too talented for that.
Gene Chizik
9 of 10
For Chizik, a Newton suspension is the worst-case scenario. Forget about the season; it could be Chizik's head that rolls for the potential recruitment violations.
Gene was always seen as a good recruiter, and a good in-game coach, but losing a guy like Newton and potentially being slapped with NCAA sanctions is a good way to get run out of town, whether you started 2010 at 9-0 or not.
Auburn
10 of 10
If Auburn or the NCAA decide to suspend Newton, the Tigers football program could be in serious trouble in the long-term.
A suspension indicates something is serious, and the allegations are at least somewhat true. If it turns out the Tigers paid Newton to come to Auburn, expect the NCAA to come down hard on the program, with postseason bans, revoked scholarships and potentially more than that.
In short, all that this great program has worked to build could easily be undone by one colossal blunder, rendering them incapable of competing with the elites in college football.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
