The NCAA is less organized than your local PTA. They really are.
They’re so slow to investigate things, you see, because that would actually take some work. As in, someone governing the big business of collegiate athletics might actually sweat, or put in more hours on their feet and making phone calls than sitting in their office and waiting for so and so to tell so and so something–something that so and so heard from so and so.
This kid. Cameron Newton. He has always carried significant weight on his shoulders. Don’t believe me, ask any kid whose pops is a preacher. When he enrolled at Florida, he was to be the replacement for Tim Tebow. Unfortunately for Newton, Tebow decided he would finish out his collegiate career. Newton bolted for a J.C., then enrolled at Auburn earlier this year.
As we’ve seen all season long, he has definitely filled the role of Tebow in college football, and I’m sure every Florida fan, in an honest and inebriated state, would tell you that they wish Cam were still in Gator orange, as opposed to Auburn orange.
Regardless, the stink started to stank when Newton was accused of shopping for money in exchange for QB services from Mississippi State University during the recruiting process last year. On Monday, the NCAA made it public knowledge that there had in fact been a recruiting infraction in regards to Cameron Newton. Auburn ruled him ineligible yesterday, and asked that his eligibility be restored for the remainder of the season.
Today, the NCAA stated, “Hey, no worries to you fine folks at the A.U. It wasn’t Cam, rather Cecil Newton, Cam’s daddy that was soliciting him for cash from Mississippi State, so Cam can play. It seems he knew nothing about the ordeal.”
While I believe the NCAA kind of got it right, there’s no way I believe that Cam knew nothing about it. His pops is definitely to blame, and sadly, he was under some genuine life stress, trying to make ends meet in their small community, at a small community church. He made a mistake. I’m sure he’ll bite the bullet and learn from it.
Should Cam be punished with or without knowledge of the scenario? Absolutely not. Because regardless of what the law in this country states, or the rules of the NCAA state, when your momma and poppa tell you to do something, until you’re on your own, and living as an adult, you’re probably gonna do it. The letter of the law vs. the intent of the law.
Ironically, the people who are most excited about his reinstatement to NCAA eligibility are the Vegas odds makers. They can now have a field day with the opportunities this kid presents for the SEC Championship Game, the Heisman Award and what will more than likely be the BCS National Championship Game come early January. However, let me not put the cart in front of the horse. What we know for sure: Newton will be on the field for the Auburn Tigers for the rest of this football season.
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