Cam Newton: Why Auburn QB Will Survive NCAA Investigation
Last Saturday, it seemed like something may have changed.
Before Auburn played Georgia, school officials said "no comment" when it came to whether or not Auburn quarterback Cam Newton would play against the Bulldogs. Newton did, and finished with 299 total yards and four total touchdowns in Auburn's 49-31 victory.
With the win, Auburn clinched the SEC West Division and a spot in the SEC Championship. Newton continues to be the favorite for the Heisman Trophy, but many will argue whether he deserves the award or not, since the NCAA hasn't ruled yet on allegations of a pay-to-play arrangement.
At this point, though, he's survived.
Here's 10 reasons why that won't change and why Newton will survive the NCAA's investigation:
10. He's Still Out There
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You have to look at it from two angles.
One makes sense, the other is a huge gamble.
If the NCAA had found any evidence of wrongdoing, do you think Auburn would have allowed Newton to keep playing, knowing there's a chance they would have to forfeit any game he participated in?
On the flipside, that's the gamble that still exists until the NCAA finally rules.
If they do happen to find anything, then everything crumbles. Newton would go from hero to villain in a moment's notice, whether Auburn fans admit it or not.
9. Auburn Wasn't The Issue
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If Cam Newton would have wound up at Mississippi State, then the heat would only intensify.
Mississippi State was among the schools who were after Newton. It was two former players who allegedly were involved in dealing with Cecil Newton, Cam's father.
There have been numerous reports of how Cecil Newton allegedly said it would take $180,000 for his son to commit to Mississippi State.
He didn't, and wound up at Auburn instead. Nothing has been published about any alleged improper behavior with the school, which only helps Newton's case.
8. All You've Got is Talk
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So far, this whole controversy centers around alleged claims of improper behavior.
But there have been no reports of any hard evidence surfacing to show that Cam Newton and his father received money. Find a money trail, email or text messages, or taped phone conversations, and then everything changes.
But all you've got is one man's word against another's. Not exactly something that would cause a star player to miss playing time.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. The Tip of the Iceberg
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Let's just consider it for the sake of discussion.
Let's say Newton and his father did take money.
Auburn could get seriously punished. If Newton wins the Heisman, he could be forced to return it.
But here's the dilemma: This wouldn't be the only case of athletes getting paid. If the NCAA goes after Newton, then they couldn't stop there and would have to investigate and hunt down every other athlete like him.
They don't have the manpower, or the time, and pay-for-play isn't the only problem that exists on college campuses. The NCAA can't enforce morality and can't control the behavior of its athletes, and won't gain a thing by trying to change that.
6. No More Chances
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Talk to college coaches, and they'll tell you there's more emphasis than ever on recruiting players with high character.
A player may be talented, but if there are issues with his behavior, he'll be overlooked for someone else.
Newton came to Auburn out of tiny Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas. He went there after leaving the University of Florida, where he had been arrested and charged with grand theft, burglary and obstructing justice in connection with a stolen laptop.
That was in Nov. 2008. Newton admitted to possessing the laptop, and he went through a program which ended with all charges being dropped last December.
Athletes know that when they get second chances, there's no room for anymore mistakes. To take money after what he'd been through already would be insane on Newton's part.
5. Other Major Questions Exist
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The NCAA has more issues to deal with here besides allegations of a player taking money.
Like for instance, why didn't Mississippi State take this seriously whenever former player John Bond reported the matter to school? And who was behind the leaking of Newton's academic records from Florida (a violation of federal privacy laws)?
Seems like this wouldn't be in the spotlight if Mississippi State would've handled it in the first place.
4. The Media's Role
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How many times has the media missed the mark?
This is the era of "gotcha" journalism, where reporters are quick to hide behind unnamed sources. But so far, no one has published any hard evidence linking Newton to any payments he received before coming to Auburn.
If the NCAA comes out and declares that Newton did nothing wrong, then the media won't be held accountable, while Newton's name and credibility will have suffered enormous damage.
3. No Way They Missed It
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College coaches and recruiting coordinators are almost like private investigators when it comes to gathering information on prospective players.
They will talk to every person closely associated with them. Then they'll gather as much paperwork as possible too under NCAA rules.
It's hard to imagine a program like Auburn overlooking something like this if it was legitimate, and letting Newton play knowing the possible consequences of what could follow.
2. Greater Riches Await
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The downside these days with college athletics is that many athletes could care less about getting degrees or staying all four years.
All that matters is it being a springboard to million-dollar contracts and the chance to play at the next level.
They play the system. And if you've watched Newton at all, you know he'll be a wanted man by several NFL teams.
No matter what the NCAA's decision is, a bright future awaits.
1. Nothing Will Stick
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There may be zero evidence to any of this.
It could come down to certain people bent on wanting to ruin Newton's life.
Why? Who knows.
But until any further evidence is revealed, you could easily just make the argument that all this stems from fans who were upset Newton didn't come play at their school. Instead, he picked Auburn and has them on the cusp of playing for a national title.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
