How serious was Auburn about keeping Newton's apart? Plus: A Rebuttal...

Cecil and CamNewton/Courtesy: Vasha Hunt-Opelika-Auburn News

Brother Jon's better half isn't going to like this story, but we have to ask the question. Everyone else is.

No. We aren't making eligibility questions or saying that there was a payment involved. And no, we aren't saying that a father should be able to take in his son's great achievement.

But. Considering what's gone down with the NCAA. Considering that Auburn essentially "Promised" that Cecil Newton would have limited access to Cam Newton comes some interesting questions.

They come courtesy of the photo you see here. It appears Cecil Newton, despite being "Asked" not to come to the BCS Championship game, was actually there. Not only was he there, he was on the field. And miraculously, Cam found Cecil for a celebratory hug. That was caught on film.

For their part. Auburn is claiming they didn't provide Cecil with a ticket. Which would be believable if Cecil wasn't spotted....on the field. Most ticket-holders don't get to come out...on the field.

Again, we aren't making accusations here. But for some reason, Cecil's attorney, George Lawson opened his mouth to Christine Brennan of USA Today and is now making it worse. Said Lawson "Mr. Newton viewed the game from an off-site location and came to the stadium after the game when everyone was leaving to personally congratulate his son" He made it worse by adding..."He probably was at some sports bar or something like that. I don't know". George, if you are going to make a declarative statement like this, you need to have some facts...or "A" fact to back it up.


Read Brennan's full column in today's USA Today RIGHT HERE

Like we said, this under normal circumstances would be a touching, emotional moment. However, the circumstances make it a bit odd. We consider it newsworthy because of the big hullabaloo made over Cecil Newton being found guilty of trying of shopping Cam Newton to Mississippi State for $180,000.

It's also an issue because as a result of that, Auburn has gone on record, repeatedly, saying that Cecil Newton will not be allowed around their program. And while there are no "Specifics" as to what that means, the fact that the school went out of their way to say Cecil wouldn't be at the game makes someone look stupid. We aren't going to speculate as to who looks stupid, but do the math. Someone or some group isn't being real honest here and though we don't want to spoil the glory that the Auburn folks are basking in  right now, we question how sincere that someone or group is in upholding their words.

Here is a video of your BCS Champs, courtesy of ESPN:



From the other side:

Okay... who turned you in to Thayer Evans or Pete Thamel...???

Admittedly, TBH is pretty hot over the above assertions... even though, yes, it does make the school look bad...

But let's go with the facts as we know them...

Cecil Newton, the SEC, and Auburn agreed to disassociate. What that has to do with an independently-produced football game is beyond me. The game is, technically in the eyes of the NCAA, an exhibition put on by a third-party.

The Fiesta Bowl Committee has as much stroke in stopping anyone from dropping by their game as I do. And remember the report from Glendale as to how well the ticket-stripers were handling crowd control...???

It's here if you forgot...

Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan wanted the "Tattoo 5" to play for Ohio State in his game against Arkansas. The Razorbacks had as much say in that as the SEC did. Notice how much commenting Commissioner Mike Slive had in that issue...???

Answer: None...

Anyone can grab a ticket by any number of different means and pass through the frisk line as anyone else- reputable or otherwise... The only way we could stop getting in the door is if my picture is up with a red circle with a line through it at the gate.

If Auburn didn't want me to go, they couldn't stop me, either...

And, if we take Cecil Newton's attorney at his word, Newton found his way to his son after the game itself was over. Once again, if you're looking at someone to point fingers at- go after the yellow jackets who, probably, took the man at his word in his 15-minute window... and if Cecil Newton was in the ballpark, you don't think the four-letter network wouldn't be all over that fact ALL GAME LONG???!!!

If facts in evidence eventually point at the university and AD Jay Jacobs, who would be downright stupid to thumb his nose at the NCAA in light of everything going on right now, then I'll be the first to say I was wrong...

You want things to change...??? Have the relationship between bowl games and the NCAA altered so CEO's can't dictate rules of engagement to the building in Indianapolis- instead of the other way around...

Next thing I know, Phil, you're going to lump Bobby Lowder and Milton McGregor into all of this stuff...

Since, after all, they paid for the Newton's trip to Phoenix in the first place...

Rebuttal to Jon's rebuttal: 

Dude, it's a legitimate question. You could be spot-on right and it all could have been an odd run of coincidences and yes, you were there and the security was lax...at best.

I would maintain he could've easily been in a luxury suite or made to wait in the tunnel. It's not always "that" easy to pick someone out of a 70,000-plus crowd.  Either way, I don't buy...for a minute that "Nobody" knew he'd be there. If you are standing behind Cecil's "Attorney" statement, you ain't got much to stand on. Even he doesn't seem to believe what he's saying.

As for the "Third Party" exhibition. Again, not germane. The point is Auburn said Cecil would be kept away from the program. Period. Him being on the field is not being "Kept" away. You and I both have been on the field at the end of a bowl game. While the crowd does get on the surface. They are...always able to sort out the people with passes from the fans. And if Cecil was "Just a fan" with a ticket, he wouldn't have been able to get where he was.

Don't go Bobby Lowder or Milton McGregor on this. That is a lame-ass excuse that an alum would use to get away from the actual debate. This is the Newton's rubbing everyone's face in all that happened. No, there won't be any sanctions for this. Nor should there be. Heck, they aren't the first one's to pull one over on the NCAA and won't be the last. I don't hate them or Auburn. They did what they felt they needed to do. It's only an issue if you get caught. They were the best team in College Football this year. Hands down. No argument. And Cam was head and shoulders better than anyone else.

Just don't be accusing me...or anyone else of being naive and thinking that everyone is on a crusade against Auburn and the Newton's. We aren't. They played the rules and used them to their advantage. To that I say "Bravo"...

Rebuttal to the Rebuttal Squared:

Actually, a lot of folks are on a crusade against Auburn- our prime examples being Messrs. Thamel and Evans... and we jam on their lack of journalism all the time here at the HQ...

As we should... and should never stop...

We really should be focusing a lot of our attention back on Miss State and Florida- either or both of whom committed a felony in releasing the academic record of Newton in the beginning. The story should have been an un-story about his Gainesville activities and he has acknowledged he screwed up.

Where's the hue and cry over guys like Kenny Rogers and John Bond...? And where does the investigation from that standpoint where money WAS ACTUALLY DISCUSSED stand- a point currently unproven from an Auburn view as we know the facts in evidence today...

And, dude, other people not named Newton got onto the field after the game that were civilians... Hell, TBH and I sat behind the Auburn band and could have just as easily been there with Cecil. We'd have been easier bench presses for Cam then...

I'm just going with facts in evidence until it's told otherwise. The Duke Lacrosse case taught ((or, really, re-taught)) me something... present the facts as we know them and proceed accordingly. If facts change, then the story can change as well...
If Jay Jacobs, Gene Chizik, and the rest of the Loveliest Village are guilty of being accomplices in this as we go, then throw the book at them...

I don't have a problem doing that at all- and neither, for the record, does TBH: a died-in-the-wool alumna...

Let Auburn enjoy their title- everyone pissing on it is doing the sport a disservice until we have reason to do so...

Oh, and the Lowder-McGregor reference was done exactly for the reason you said... it doesn't have a damn thing to do with anything...

NEW: Rogers Admits Texts Were "Stupid Decision", Newton Attorney Speaks...

Embattled MSU alum/agent Kenny Rogers admits that he made "a stupid decision" when he sent Bill Bell a text of Cecil Newton's alleged payment plan to make sure Cameron Newton would attend Miss State.

Doug Zeit says Rogers sent the text after Cecil Newton told him to do it. Zeit says Rogers sent the text to Bill Bell requesting the 80/50/50 plan we talked about yesterday.

Zeit, however, also says no money ever changed hands.

Thus, the rub... or one of them...
What's that old question our mothers used to ask us about jumping off a building...???

The Newtons' family attorney, George Lawson, told Atlanta's WSB-TV that he is "one million percent" certain Cam Newton - who signed with Auburn - did not take any money. Lawson says if Cecil Newton discussed money, his son "knew nothing" about it.

The HQ admits that while that may be all fine and good, Cameron Newton's eligibility may still be in question by the letter of the law if Cecil Newton can be found to have solicited the moneys in question from MSU.

Here's the interview Secret Squirrel, aka Auburn grad Mark Winne, had with Lawson.
It's Winne at his best...

More later... we have more to talk about...

DEVELOPING: Bell Texts Allegedly Set Newton Payment Plan

((HT: ESPN/Forde, Low, Schlabach))

According to the three-headed monster at the four-letter, Miss State mega-booster Bill Bell received a text from someone claiming to represent the interests of Cameron Newton that laid out a payment plan to securing Newton's services for the Bulldogs.

Bell, apparently, told this to the FBI when interviewed by them.

The man in question is believed to be Kenny Rogers...

During an alleged three-way telephone conversation, Rogers laid out the terms to Bell with Cecil Newton on the line as well. Newton, however, to Bell's recollection made no inferences or demands.

From the article:

"[Cecil Newton] didn't come out and say, 'I want $180,000,'" Bell said. "He inferred it and talked about it, but not directly. Kenny would talk about it in front of him, and [Cecil Newton] never corrected him or said, 'No, that's not what we're doing.'"

The text message claimed that Cecil Newton was requesting $80,000 the day after Cam Newton signed, $50,000 30 days later, and another $50,000 30 days after that. Bell admits the text messaged was saved on a cell phone that was damaged by water. He's trying to have it retrieved by the cell phone provider.

Bell had other conversations with Cecil Newton where Newton intimated that it would take more than the perceived Newton-Mullen kumbaya to get the QB to play in Starkville. Bell says he's coming forward to reiterate the idea that MSU did nothing wrong in the recruitment of Newton...

The HQ would like to add that while that may not necessarily be the case, Bell isn't talking about how any of this information came to light in the last few weeks, either.

That whole "breaking federal laws" thing...

Both Rogers and Bell are admitting that this is strictly having to do with the relationship Cecil Newton had with MSU. Auburn is not in play, and neither knows ((or seemingly cares)) whether or not Auburn has done anything wrong in bringing Cameron Newton to campus.

More when we know more...

Your Cam Newton Saturday Update

And yes, there is an update. Unfortunately, we are starting to think that nobody is coming out of this story looking good. Including Cam himself.

WSB-TV in Atlanta reported last night....and re-reported today that a "Source close to Cecil Newton" says he is admitting that he asked Mississippi State for money. Let's make it clear, the reporter for the story, Mark Winnie, is an Auburn alum. We are very familiar with his work from our time in Atlanta and while sometimes prone to histrionics, he generally knows how to tell a fair story.

Winne's story is RIGHT HERE

Here is what you probably need to read into this if it is indeed correct and true. One, Mississippi State is in trouble. On several fronts. They don't appear to have been totally honest about things and then there is the nagging question of "Who exactly are these recruiters" that they speak of?

Two, Auburn, at least on the surface, for now, hasn't been implicated. Unfortunately, you can't be guilty by past history and though there's isn't very good, so far, there is no indication they got the same offer from the Newton's.

Three, like the schools, the Newton's are manipulating the media. By this most recent allegation getting put out there, it more than likely will protect Cam from the NCAA by the plea of "He didn't know what Daddy did". Because we are cynical, we don't totally buy this, but it will be very, very hard to prove otherwise.

Fourth and finally is Cam himself. While an absolutely wonderfully talented football player, we don't for a minute believe that he is the angelic figure that Auburn is portraying him to be. Yes, he is the best football player in America and may very well lead Auburn to a national title, but it smells bad. Really bad.

Next up for this story will be the finding out if the allegations against Cecil Newton are true. According to the NCAA the asking for money by someone either representing or claiming to represent a potential athlete is a violation of their rules. Supposedly the stipulation reads something along the lines of "If it is proven the athlete was not aware of this, he shouldn't be held responsible." If, when and who that might happen, remains to be seen.

Oh, by the way, Newton started today against Georgia, check back later for our weekend "The Week That Was (TWTW)" for a game re-cap.

For those interested, here is the WSB-TV version of Mr. Winnie's story: