I was hesitant to make a thread about this, but it seems like all the smoke is starting to reveal fire here. Cecil and Cam both seem like they are going to shoot themselves in the foot by opening their mouths in these interviews. They need to just shut up and let the investigators figure things out instead of giving vague comments neither confirming or denying reports.

If this winds up being true, this will be catastrophic to Cam Newton, Auburn, the Heisman trophy (assuming he wins it) and to the NCAA as a whole since their potential National Champion could have their wins/titles vacated.

Here is the latest article from espn. I figure we could post any new developments here instead of the 2010 college football thread

Quote :

"Two sources who recruit for Mississippi State said that Cecil Newton and his son, quarterback Cam Newton, said in separate phone conversations to a pay-for-play plan while Newton was being recruited late last year. Mississippi State compliance officials relayed the alleged conversations to Southeastern Conference compliance officials in January, according to two other sources close to the football program. Prior to Newton's commitment to Auburn, one of the recruiters said Cecil Newton told him it would take "more than a scholarship" to bring his son to Mississippi State, a request the source said the school would not meet. Cecil Newton also referred the recruiter to a third person that would provide more specifics, the source said. ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit gives his take on the Cam Newton situation at Auburn. Herbstreit says he's voting for Newton for the Heisman unless there are hard facts proving the allegations. After Newton committed to Auburn, another source said an emotional Cam Newton phoned another recruiter to express regret that he wouldn't be going to Mississippi State, stating that his father Cecil had chosen Auburn for him because "the money was too much." The NCAA is investigating allegations surrounding the Newtons in regards to the recruiting process. Cam Newton, who is having a Heisman-caliber season for No. 2 Auburn, declined comment. Cecil Newton, who previously has denied any wrongdoing, did not respond to an e-mail request for comment Tuesday night. However, when reached late Tuesday night by phone by FoxSports.com, Cecil Newton said he had no comment. "I'm not going to confirm nor deny nothing that has been taking place," Cecil Newton said. He also said he knew nothing about the report when asked if he'd seen it. "I've answered what I need to answer," Cecil Newton told FoxSports.com. "If they're out there, go with it and make the decision or determination based on whatever you've got to say." Cecil Newton also described all of the allegations about his son as "a witch hunt," according to FoxSports.com. "They can continue doing whatever they're doing, sir," Cecil Newton told the website. "I'm just in support of my son." Auburn did not respond to a request for comment. The school has repeatedly said it looked into Newton's recruitment and that he remains eligible. Wednesday, Auburn coach Gene Chizik said: "I want to get off the table up front the fact that Cameron Newton will be playing Saturday against the Georgia Bulldogs. I want to get that off the table. If there is anybody that has any questions that relate to this game Saturday, I'd love to entertain those questions only. Thank you." When asked further about it, Chizik reiterated he was solely focused on Georgia. On Tuesday, Auburn found itself defending Newton in the wake of allegations of academic cheating when he was at Florida. The Tigers' coach, Gene Chizik, dismissed a FoxSports.com report as "pure garbage" in an emotional 4-minute, 25-second rant. "I'm standing up here on a very important week trying to defend something that's garbage," Chizik said. Auburn faces Georgia on Saturday. FoxSports.com reported Monday that Newton was caught cheating three times and was to appear for a hearing in front of Florida's Student Committee facing possible expulsion during the spring semester of 2009. A person with knowledge of Newton's situation confirmed Newton left Florida after the fall 2008 semester rather than face suspension or expulsion, in part due to the allegations of academic wrongdoing, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. Newton's father said he could not confirm or deny the report, citing a gag order from his attorney, The Times reported. "I don't know what's in his personal file, but if someone is bold enough to post something like that, there will be consequences," he said. Newton transferred to Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas, where he played last season. He declined to discuss the latest report, which came on the heels of former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond telling ESPN.com that someone claiming to represent the Newton family sought money during his recruitment by the school. Sources told ESPN.com the man who said he was representing the Newtons was Kenny Rogers, who played in the 1980s for Mississippi State alongside Bond. "I'm not going to entertain something that took place not three months, not six months, not a year but two years ago," Cam Newton said. "I'm not going to sit up here and say anything about it, whether I did or did not do it, because I don't want to beat a dead horse talking about it. It's not going to affect me any way, shape or fashion." In Gainesville, Florida coach Urban Meyer said in a statement that neither he nor anyone on his staff leaked information on Newton's academic record, calling it a "ridiculous claim." "For anyone to think that I or anyone on our staff may have leaked information about private student records to the media doesn't know us very well," Meyer said. "It's a ridiculous claim and simply not true." Cam Newton said Meyer was a man of integrity. "I would hope he wouldn't say anything like that," he said. Meanwhile, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who also recruited Newton out of Blinn, said he saw "nothing at all" out of the ordinary during that process. "Our recruitment of Cameron could not have been better, or was just fine," Stoops said. "I didn't notice anything and none of our coaches did as we were recruiting him.""

11/10/2010 2:24:28 PM

Biggest sign yet is that the books are closed for Auburn/Georgia

11/10/2010 2:29:34 PM

they better just take him off the ballot now cuz they cant have another bush situation


if they keep cam newton in the running it illustrates to me that the Heisman race and trophy is nothing more than a ploy to hype the National Championship game. It really has no historical significance to the NCAA

11/10/2010 2:30:59 PM

I wonder whether there will be any significant amount of voters who'll avoid him in the Heisman balloting.

11/10/2010 2:34:27 PM

Recent Heisman winners = Recent inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame

11/10/2010 2:36:56 PM

I hope those shitbags indy and smc don't find this thread.

11/10/2010 2:42:47 PM

^^they had that argument on Mike and Mike this morning, about how people wont vote for players who played during the steroid era because they cant prove if they juiced or not.

I think this is VERY different, just because you may or may not have taken money, it doesnt affect the way you play on the field. Whereas the steroids affected the way you played and your ability to hit with power and increase your statistics. Thats why I dont think Reggie Bush shouldve given back his trophy, sure he took money and broke the rules, but he was still without a doubt the best college football player the year he won his heisman. I know I'm probably in the minority with this argument

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 2:43 PM. Reason : adsf]

11/10/2010 2:43:23 PM

it has a huge effect


unfair advantages and benefits that other players do not get are the difference between a player performing at his best and a guy that has to transfer/doesnt ever develop properly because they are homesick

when i played ball for state Raymond Brooks was homesick as fuck and you could tell in his demeanor.

dudes are being flown in here and there and everywhere nowadays its a fact that they get homesick/never adjust physically and/or socially to their new environment.

its the reason why recruiting visits are the way they are in the first place, within the rules they provide a level of comfort and a feeling of belonging, at the very least you already begin nuturing that sort of belief in the athlete. pretty girls leading them around, taking them to this club and that bar, having them visit coaches home etc

that honeymoon is over once they report for training, for the most part. Imagine the guys that continue to receive that treatment even WITHIN the scope of the rules. Imagine Reggie Bush not receiving this or that extra benefit...extra money, meals, travel etc just deciding hes not feelin USC and going to Cal or somethin where his potential would not have been realized and in theory, Lendale White takes over as that Heisman winning back.

to say that these things dont make a difference towards the potential of an athlete is misguided and absurd.

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 2:58 PM. Reason : g]

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 3:00 PM. Reason : f]

11/10/2010 2:55:06 PM

Quote :

"If this winds up being true, this will be catastrophic to Cam Newton, Auburn, the Heisman trophy (assuming he wins it) and to the NCAA as a whole since their potential National Champion could have their wins/titles vacated."

The only way he even gets an invite to NY at this point is if he is completely cleared of any wrongdoing before the votes are made. No way the Heisman Trust is going to risk having another ineligible player win the Heisman after the whole Reggie Bush fiasco.

11/10/2010 3:05:51 PM

Bush Lied, Trophies Died

11/10/2010 3:07:50 PM

^^^ To follow along with that point. Players like that who are getting paid are probably throwing to/running behind/catching passes from other players who are getting paid.

11/10/2010 3:28:35 PM

so you're all assuming that the heisman trophy organization won't view this all as political mudslinging.

i mean 1 thing comes out - "uh oh, i hope this isnt true"
2 things come out - "wow i guess he's not at all the good character we thought he was"
3 things come out - "so let me get this straight..."
4 things come out - "ok who is behind this character assassination? one of the other candidate's schools?"

and all so quickly too

i'm not an auburn fan but all of these "sources" with nothing concrete and the fact that ALL of these allegations were apparently made back in January leads me to believe this is crap

11/10/2010 3:32:19 PM

^and from other SEC schools playing like shit

11/10/2010 3:37:01 PM

This whole situation has made me wonder what the going rate is for high-talent prospects. If Auburn paid $200k+ for Newton, what were some of the other can't-miss prospects around the country given?

How much did we pay for Crisp?

11/10/2010 3:37:37 PM

maybe this is the lawyer-to-be in me but is it actually a different violation to ask for money or is it a violation only once you receive the money?

for instance could a kid out of high school go around and ask and see what his going rate is just for the hell of it

11/10/2010 3:42:44 PM

That may constitute a crime like solicitation.

11/10/2010 4:04:25 PM

As long as no money changes hands, there is no NCAA violation.

11/10/2010 4:04:52 PM

^false

11/10/2010 4:06:25 PM

A big recruit being paid? Color me shocked...

This stuff is probably equally as or more rampant than PEDs were in MLB or the NFL..

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 4:09 PM. Reason : X]

11/10/2010 4:08:07 PM

i really dont give a shit what pros do but in college it needs to be curtailed.

11/10/2010 4:13:20 PM

Then they need to get rid of age limits because it simply won't stop unless kids are stopped being forced to go to school (this is admittedly a bigger issue in bball)

11/10/2010 4:15:58 PM

slippery slope here im not even gettin into that one

11/10/2010 4:16:44 PM

I don't think more than about 0.1% of high school football players would be physically ready for the NFL at age 18

11/10/2010 4:17:53 PM

*minimum age requirements

11/10/2010 4:18:10 PM

I agree with you twista but what possibly can be done? A lot of these kids get paid by some rogue agent and the NCAA simply can't police that..

11/10/2010 4:21:22 PM

ESPN Dallas' Ian Fitzimmons reporting that within 3-4 hrs the NCAA is going to suspend Cam Newton

11/10/2010 4:22:23 PM

TCU and BSU in the College Superbowl

11/10/2010 4:25:35 PM

Quote :

"^false"

I'm pretty sure I heard espn discussing how this wasn't directly a violation. It does eventually lead to one, though.

11/10/2010 4:34:28 PM

Quote :

"As long as no money changes hands, there is no NCAA violation."

Yeah...I think I heard this as well.

And the report from Dallas that said Cam is going to be suspended have been said to be false. Not saying that it won't happen, but that report isn't true.

11/10/2010 4:39:26 PM

Quote :

"ESPN Dallas' Ian Fitzimmons reporting that within 3-4 hrs the NCAA is going to suspend Cam Newton"

Pretty sure that was retracted around noon, at least that's what they said on 99.9

11/10/2010 4:40:04 PM

From Joe Schad's twitter...retweets of fat tits...you can't make this stuff up

Marvin Austin says of Cam Newton, "I'm a huge fan and I'm living through you."
4:20 PM Nov 9th via txt

Marvin Austin encouraged Cam Newton and says, "I feel your pain."
4:19 PM Nov 9th via txt

11/10/2010 4:42:04 PM

With the FBI now involved I think it will quickly be found out if these guys were BSing or not... its one thing to lie to the media its another to lie to the FBI

11/10/2010 4:57:13 PM

^^ making heel fans prouder every day

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 5:57 PM. Reason : .]

11/10/2010 5:57:32 PM

People here (Auburn) are scared. Everyone is still pretty bitter about 2004, can't imagine what would happen if this went south. There has been a huge emphasis on supporting him last week and this week for Georgia.

War Eagle!

11/10/2010 6:01:51 PM

between Reggie, UNC and now this, i think we are about to uncover the ugliness that is college sports in America.

11/10/2010 6:04:15 PM

Until all parties are held accountable this won't end. Cam got to showcase what he could do already, he'll get drafted, apologize for his mistakes, make millions(and probably fail in the NFL) and leave Auburn football in the dust most likely crippled and possibly costing people their jobs and maybe even ruining a program.

Unless the NFL works with the NCAA to impose punishment on their end as well for players that violate these rules this won't change because as it stands now there is little reason for the players to not cheat. Marvin Austin is still going to be drafted. Reggie Bush has a super bowl ring and plenty of money(maybe one less trophy but people will still think of him as a Heisman winner). Same goes with the coaches, until the penalties follow them as well as they change jobs they are in the same boat as the players. If they get caught there is generally someone out there willing to give them a job, just make sure you leave town a few minutes before the hammer comes down.

11/10/2010 6:20:39 PM

i personally do not feel it is the NFLs job to police or monitor this in anyway

GMs and owners of the franchises can decide if the athletes character is worth investing in or not, but as a whole it is not the NFL's problem or concern.

11/10/2010 6:26:48 PM

Saying that the money makes a player "feel better" and thus he'll perform better might be the most bizarre explanation I can think of regarding Heisman voting. When was the last time a Heisman level player transfered because he was homesick?

11/10/2010 6:27:49 PM

Quote :

"Bush Lied, Trophies Died"

ahahahahahahaha

11/10/2010 6:30:13 PM

^^^If college football is going to be the defacto(sp?) "minor leagues" for the NFL it is. Because part of the problem is the NFL agents(who the NFL monitors and certifies as an NFL agent) running around causing the problems and creating this culture as well.

College football and the NFL tend to work well together. The two know their products are both stronger with each other doing well. It isn't good for the NFL to have a bunch of future stars being suspended for their college football final seasons when they are often building up a name for themselves. Think about how many jerseys they are able to sell right away when a player is drafted because he has a massive following from college football? Why is the NFL draft a prime time event? It is because we've been able to watch and follow these players for years.

At the very least, it is a smart business decision for the NFL to help with what appears to be a growing issue. And often it isn't a character issue at all, so the players are still going to be drafted. What poor kid isn't going to take money when the penalties are minimal? If you can play someone is going to draft you, there is a list of players who have been drafted high who have done a lot worse than take some money. It is naive to think that the players will somehow be indirectly penalized by the NFL teams if they take money, it simply isn't the case and that has already been seen because they have no problem taking players who do much worse things.

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 6:37 PM. Reason : .]

11/10/2010 6:37:08 PM

11/12/2010 8:50:08 AM

Quote :

"it has a huge effect unfair advantages and benefits that other players do not get are the difference between a player performing at his best and a guy that has to transfer/doesnt ever develop properly because they are homesick when i played ball for state Raymond Brooks was homesick as fuck and you could tell in his demeanor. dudes are being flown in here and there and everywhere nowadays its a fact that they get homesick/never adjust physically and/or socially to their new environment. its the reason why recruiting visits are the way they are in the first place, within the rules they provide a level of comfort and a feeling of belonging, at the very least you already begin nuturing that sort of belief in the athlete. pretty girls leading them around, taking them to this club and that bar, having them visit coaches home etc that honeymoon is over once they report for training, for the most part. Imagine the guys that continue to receive that treatment even WITHIN the scope of the rules. Imagine Reggie Bush not receiving this or that extra benefit...extra money, meals, travel etc just deciding hes not feelin USC and going to Cal or somethin where his potential would not have been realized and in theory, Lendale White takes over as that Heisman winning back. to say that these things dont make a difference towards the potential of an athlete is misguided and absurd."

you sure are making a lot of assumptions in that post

I'm saying that a player's actions on the field should be the only basis for their ability to win the Heisman Trophy, and that the cheating we are talking about with Reggie Bush and possibly Cam Newton are off the field actions and are not anywhere close to the same as the cheating that goes on when a baseball player takes steroid to boost their production on the field.

If I'm following your post correctly, you are saying that a player's comfort level and reduced homesickness are a product of extra benefits they receive through cheating/illegal means, and subsequently have the same affect on a player's on-the-field actions as steroids have on a baseball player who juices. Is that right? Because thats one hell of an assumption

you make it sound like every student-athlete gets homesick and if it wasnt for "special treatment and benefits" they would leave and play for a school closer to home, which is ridiculous

11/12/2010 9:34:53 AM

^^Hahahah

I'm still confused as to why most people think that the NCAA has to "prove" anything in order to bring the hammer down. If there's any thread of credibility to the statements made by the individuals who have come out so far (regarding the apparent solicitation of benefits), I don't see how the NCAA doesn't take at least some sort of action.

I doubt they'll ever be able to find much of any trail regarding the money (although Cecil Newton seems like a dumb ass clown), so my guess is that any sort of punishment will have to be based on these alleged conversations and meetings.

11/12/2010 10:08:32 AM

^^no my point is that you cant just brush such things off as innocuous. Its not an "every athlete" kinda deal but thanks for making the post seem that way.

Just like every fucking athlete doesnt improve worth a shit after 4 years of college ball and training regimens.

A layman's way to look at it is "why the hell do they do it in the first place?" a dude struggling to get to the practice field at carter finley takin the wolfline versus a dude that gets money towards monthly payments on a bmw?

are you kidding me?

[Edited on November 12, 2010 at 10:51 AM. Reason : f]

11/12/2010 10:50:02 AM

Quote :

"If college football is going to be the defacto(sp?) "minor leagues" for the NFL it is. Because part of the problem is the NFL agents(who the NFL monitors and certifies as an NFL agent) running around causing the problems and creating this culture as well. "

Exactly. The NFL benefits from the college system since they don't have a developmental league. Their agents are causing some of the problems, they should also be held accountable and should take it upon themselves to help fix it.

If there was a developmental league, I would say it's not the NFL's problem, but as the system currently stands, it is.

11/12/2010 10:54:52 AM

thats your opinion and not fact


fact is that they are completely separate entities

because the athletes are not pledging to compete professionally and are not signed with the expectation to play professionally, and not many college football players have an intent to.

just because thats what you think it is, or "hell well might as well be the D-leagues" doesnt mean it is and college football shouldnt all of a sudden be run as such because some dumbass has a poor sense of judgment and a selfish attitude.

11/12/2010 11:08:45 AM

maybe, but the NFL shouldn't sit idly by when their agents are part of the problem.

11/12/2010 11:41:26 AM

i am seeing your point and I agree, fire them that is within the realm of the NFL

still doesnt account for NCAA coaching staff, university boosters, etc. That unfortunately is just as big an issue and not within the jurisdiction of the NFL

11/12/2010 11:47:33 AM

Quote :

"Rogers said that on Nov. 28, 2009, he and Cecil Newton followed each other out of Starkville, Miss., after the Ole Miss-Mississippi State game. He said Newton asked him: “What do you think is going to happen? You think it’s going to go through?” Rogers said he was referred to a Mississippi State booster named Bill Bell. Rogers said he left Bell a message telling him he was with Cecil Newton, who wanted to know if the deal was going to happen. Bell, when contacted Thursday night by ESPN.com, confirmed Cecil Newton did ask for money in exchange for Cam Newton signing with Mississippi State. Bell said he was contacted by the NCAA about the matter and spoke to an investigator earlier this week. “That’s all I want to say about it at this point,” Bell said. Bell, a Florida resident, was an offensive lineman at Mississippi State in the early 1980s and played with Rogers."

as per espn.com

11/12/2010 1:07:28 PM

11/12/2010 1:13:20 PM