College Football Insider: Cam Newton-To the Victor Goes the Spoils

The much-hyped BCS National Championship Game has ended, and the Auburn Tigers are college football’s best team thanks to a 22-19 victory over the Oregon Ducks.  The game was supposed to be an offensive showdown. But it turned out to be a defensive battle filled with question marks about play-calling and judgments by the referees.  It’s over now, and the Auburn Tigers—in particular quarterback Cameron Newton—can enjoy the moment.

All of us are aware of Newton and the success that he has had at Auburn, and we are all aware of the problems that he has had this season as well.  We know that he won the Heisman Trophy, we know that he is college football’s “all-world” quarterback and we know that his father was part of a “play-for-pay” scheme that could have ruined his college career.

Newton started out his college career at Florida, but he sat behind Tim Tebow and didn’t get an opportunity to play.  With some legal problems there, he transferred to Blinn Junior College in Texas.  While at Blinn, Newton helped guide them to a Junior College National Title, and then made his way to Auburn where he has helped to make history.

Before anyone knew about the whole play-for-pay scheme. everyone in the country who liked college football liked what he was doing with the Tigers down there in the SEC.  He was a one-man wrecking crew, tearing up opposing defenses, giving defensive coordinators headaches and helping to drive his team towards the national title.  You really had to admire what he was doing.

Once the play-for-pay scheme hit the press, people started to doubt the things that Newton had done.  Once someone is looked at in a negative light, especially in sports, their accomplishments or the value of their accomplishments diminish. 

Look what happened to Tiger Woods and Pete Rose.  Not too many people will remember what they did in sports, but they will remember what they did to tarnish their reputations and make them sink low in the minds of American sports fans.

At least for now, it appears as if America is enjoying the spectacle that has been Newton’s season with the Tigers.  He just won the BCS National Title, and his team is the best in college football. 

How could he not be on top of the world and near the top of every football fan’s list of the best college football players of all time?

Newton should enjoy this because if there is a link found between what his father did and what he knows (or knew at the time), he could suffer a similar fate to what Reggie Bush had to endure.  Bush ended up giving his Heisman back, caused USC a bunch of problems with scholarships and not being allowed to play in the postseason.

If Newton’s problems end up costing Auburn like Bush’s did with USC, then Newton’s legacy would suffer much like Bush’s did.  But for now, let the victor enjoy the spoils of his championship win and relish in everything that comes with being a Heisman winner and college football national champion.