Cam Newton and the Heisman Trophy: Don't Judge Him, Applaud Him

Cam Newton—haven't met him.

Would like to.

Would like to shake his hand, look him in the eye and talk to him about what makes him the player and young man he is.

He will most likely step to the stage, front and center Saturday evening and accept the Heisman Trophy. He is deserving of it, if indeed, it recognizes the BEST college football player in the land.

There are those who have deemed him unworthy of their vote. They somehow deem him guilty because of the sins of the father. They have judged him, decided that they best snub him. Most likely without knowing him.

And that is simply not the right thing to do.

There is no doubt about his competitive fire and spirit and the love he shows for Auburn supporters. He ran to them after every win and shared the moment with them. That is living testimony to an unselfish young man. He simply walks the walk.

When he accepts the Heisman, we should applaud him.

He has not been judged guilty of anything except in some courts of human opinion.

It's not the first time the father of a high-profile college athlete was involved in some form of "compensation."

Back when Tiger Woods entered Stanford, International Management Group, the representation giant that sought to bring him into its fold when he turned pro, actually gave Earl Woods, Tiger's father, a compensated position that was something like director of youth development or akin to it.

When the NCAA found out, it quietly informed the elder Woods that he simply couldn't do that and still have his son eligible to play golf at Stanford. But it was a bit after the fact. Still, Woods played and played well for Stanford and signed with IMG when he turned pro.

Cam Newton was judged eligible to play, eligible in the SEC title game, eligible for the Heisman, eligible for the national title game against Oregon.

He is also eligible for your applause.

And he deserves it.

This writer knows firsthand about rush to judgement. As a high school golfer, some classmates left school grounds early one day, happened to ask if that young golfer, the top player on his team, wanted them to bring him something from the McDonald's that was minutes from the school. He did and they did. They left, delivered, then left, off for who knows what sort of Ferris Bueller-type adventure. He simply waited there, never leaving school grounds, and ate his meal, waiting for everyone to gather to leave for the day's match.

The principal happened to see the young golfer with a McDonald's bag and no questions asked, hauled him to the office and declared, "You're not playing today." A teammate saw what happened, went to the coach, who was also the athletic director, who soon went right to the principal.

The coach asked the player where the McDonald's bag came from. He told his coach. The coach looked at the principal and simply said, "He is like my son, his father is a naval officer, he does not lie and has never done one thing wrong, ever, at this school. He's playing and it's not open for discussion."

The principal tried to ask the player to name the students who supplied the goods. "Don't know, don't care," snipped the AD and he took me from the principal's lair.

I learned firsthand that day about rush to judgement. The principal simply assumed the player had left school grounds, a strict no-no. I never broke that rule, but was judged guilty without a moment's hesitation.

Cam Newton is guilty of being his father's son.

That's it.

So why judge him?

It's the wrong thing to do.

Applaud him Saturday night.

It's the right thing to do.