NCAA Cam Newton Ruling a Real Head Scratcher
Best for NCAA to Close Books On Newton Case to Avoid Potential Nightmare
1. On Monday (Nov 29 ) the NCAA returned a finding of fact that Cameron Newton’s father, Cecil Newton asked a third party, agent/liaison Kenny Rogers, to seek money from Mississippi State for his son to commit to playing for the school upon his return to D-1A football, after leading Blinn College to a National Junior College Athletic Association championship in 2009.
2. On Tuesday (Nov 30) Auburn ruled Cam Newton ineligible as a result of the NCAA finding of fact, but then the school immediately sent an appeal to the NCAA to reinstate Newton’s eligibility.
3. On Wednesday (Dec 1) the NCAA Board of appeals reinstated Newton’s eligibility stating that “at this time there is no evidence that Cameron Newton was aware of his father’s actions,” nor were there any evidence that Auburn had broken any NCAA rule; thereby, exposing a gaping loophole in the NCAA rulebook: A parent can shop his kid around to the highest bidder, and the player can still remain eligible under NCAA rules as long as long as he (or she) is unaware of the parent’s actions.
Important Note: The NCAA also motioned in its rulings that the investigation into the Cecil Newton affair is still not closed.
Facts: a) Right now Cam Newton is an eligible player under NCAA rules. That means he is also eligible to receive the Heisman Trophy. b) Cam Newton is the best college football player in 2010 and arguably the best college football player of all time.
Under these circumstances whether or not Cam Newton leads the Auburn Tigers to a SEC championship this Saturday is irrelevant—he is still the best player in college football. He should be the Heisman Trophy winner.
Furthermore, if subsequent finding of facts by the NCAA implicate Cam Newton as having knowledge of his father’s actions and or even exposes Auburn’s involvement in this affair that’s just too bad. At that point, I would only be disgusted with the NCAA for having such a glaring loophole in its rulebook that would allow a player to remain eligible–even when they’ve found evidence that the father violated NCAA rules.
As far as I’m concerned the Cam Newton investigation is closed and it would be best for the NCAA if it closes the books on this thing too. It would be a nightmare for the NCAA and college football if they continue this investigation and turn up findings of facts that would make Cam Newton ineligible—after giving Newton such a quick reinstatement.
The NCAA and not Cam Newton nor even his father, Cecil Newton, have become the bad guys in all of this.
