So let me see if I've got some of this straight.
In the last two weeks, Cam Newton has gone from potential Heisman frontrunner and a positive, happy redemption story in college football to an academic fraud at the University of Florida and (in conjunction with his father) pure chattel to be sold to the highest bidder for his on-field talents and skill set. Oh, and Cam Newton also may or may not be part of the New World Order, threw the ballots from some counties in Florida in 2000 out the window and may or may not have been behind the break up of the Beatles.
Does that sound about right?
I mean, it can't be any crazier than what is currently being reported on by various media outlets. The final straw happened on Twitter today, when it was tweeted and retweeted that a reporter from ESPN Radio in Dallas was alleging that the NCAA was going to suspend Cam Newton later this afternoon. When he was contacted, the reporter in question said that he never said that.
Oops. A false alarm.Misinformation gets out, gets retweeted and then when disproven just vanishes in a cloud of smoke as if it never happened.
Meanwhile, the Newton's are either being mocked for neither confirming nor denying the reports or for emphatically denying wrong doing—possibly because there are so many things that are being thrown their way that they cannot keep up.
There are reports. At this time, there is no concrete evidence suggesting that Newton or his father, Cecil Sr., received any monetary benefits for his enrolling at Auburn. There is no direct paper trail that has come to light that I've seen reported anywhere.
Until that can be proven, he should be eligible at Auburn unless Auburn decides to pull him off the field until the investigation is resolved or the NCAA states that he is ineligible and cannot play.
With regards to his academics, that is simply a red herring to me. Academic issues at the school he attended two (two!) instituions ago should, to me, have nothing to do with his ability to play at Auburn—again, unless Auburn decides it is relevant.
I'm not naive enough to think that players don't get sold to the highest bidder, or that players don't cheat. College students cheat. College students like money. That's a fact of life.
I'm also not naive enough to think that Cam Newton can't be judged because of allegations. In the court of public opinion, you can be convicted on the flimsiest bits of evidence. Hell, you can be convicted without any evidence; rampant speculation can be enough until you demonstrate concretely that you are innocent.
What I want, and will continue to cry out for, though, is patience. Let the investigation run its course. Let the evidence come to light and breathe. Then we will decide if Cam Newton and/or his family broke the rules. If he or his family are guilty, then convict them and run them into the ground if you so choose.
Just don't put the cart before the horse.
