Current Questions in the Cam Newton Saga

I'm not sure where we stand right now in the investigation, but this morning we find out the FBI is now involved, more and more people are starting to talk, some media members are asking for Auburn to sit Newton, and the NCAA appears to be moving now at warp speed.

Here are some questions I have, and if any can be answered, I think we are getting closer to some decision.

1.  Why is the FBI now involved?  Former Mississippi St. player and a source for some of this info, John Bond said he's scheduled to meet with the FBI next Tuesday and plans to turn over phone records and anything else the FBI asks for at that point. He said the FBI reached out to his attorney earlier this week wanting to talk with him about the Newton situation, in particular if kids were being shopped out to colleges with price tags on their head.

2.  What did Kenny Rogers have to say?  Yesterday, Rogers appeared on a Dallas, TX radio station and said in the interview that Cecil Newton told him that it would take “Anywhere between $100,000 and $180,000″ for his son to sign with Mississippi State.  The other quote he mentioned and I think this is a telling quote, he said Cecil Newton told him, "It's not gonna be free this time."

3.  Where did the Cecil Newton, Cam Newton's father get the money to fix his church?  And who fixed his church?  Cecil Newton kept getting extensions to bring his church,  the Holy Zion Center of Deliverance up to code.  Newton claimed the church would be brought to code “within six months” after being classified as a “new construction”.  NBCSports.com asks this question, “Is there a link between Cecil’s recent ability to upgrade his church to the accusations that money was involved with Cam’s college selection?”  For a church that had no money, how were they able to complete the renovations so quickly and under the radar?  Also, even though this work on the church was a large undertaking, it was reported that an unnamed contractor did the necessary work to the church Pro Bono.  Pro Bono, what?  Construction Permits had to have been filed, there has to be a paper trail.  NBCSports.com also mentioned that Cecil Newton may now own part of a construction company.  Make your own determination at this point.

4.  When will this wrap up?  So we all hope.

5.  Should Newton be held out of games at this point?  Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution thinks so, and others may be soon saying the same thing.  Bradley thinks since it’s an NCAA violation for anyone to seek money or benefits on behalf of a prospect, and there’s now at least the suspicion that Cecil Newton did, he should be held out of action.

6.  Are any of the reported phone conversations taped?  That is a big question, and we may soon get an answer.

 

"Witch Hunt" Against Cam Newton Continues

ESPN is now reporting on its website that Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and his father each had a phone conversation with a Mississippi State recruiter that acknowledged a pay-for-play arrangement for the prized recruit.

One of the recruiters said Cecil Newton told him before Newton committed to Auburn that it would take "more than a scholarship" for his son to attend Mississippi State. An unidentified source told ESPN that another recruiter received a phone call from an emotional Cam Newton after he committed to the Tigers, when he said his father selected Auburn for him because "the money was too much."

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.

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 saying someone claiming to represent the Newton family sought money during his recruitment by the school.

"I'm not going to entertain something that took place not three months, not six months, not a year but two years ago," 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."

Cecil Newton has called this a "witch hunt" against his son.

More Allegations Against Cam Newton

Foxsports.com today is reporting even more allegations about Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.  These happened while he was at Florida.

The story says Newton violated the honor code as a freshman by cheating in class. Then in his sophomore season, after his arrest, he allegedly turned in two separate papers that he did not write.

Newton left school and transferred to Blinn College in Texas before facing Florida's Student Conduct Committee, which could have suspended the quarterback or kicked him out of school.

"He knew that he was facing a bad outcome," a person told Fox.

The Newton Family continues to deflect these allegations saying they don't know anything about them.

Everything's Just "Ducky" at Oregon

Fresh off its 60-13 win over UCLA last Thursday night, Oregon remained the top team in the new Associated Press Top 25 poll released Sunday.

Meanwhile, Auburn moved up two spots to No. 3 after its win over LSU Saturday. Boise State remained at No. 2 after having this past weekend off. Auburn does hold a slight lead in the BCS standings but that can and will change on a weekly basis.

The big move in the poll came from Missouri, which jumped 11 spots to No. 7 after the Tigers knocked off Oklahoma in Columbia.

Oregon received 44 first-place votes, Boise State had 11.

How the BCS sees the Ducks could be another story. The six BCS computers haven't been very impressed with the quality of Oregon's competition through the first seven games of the season. The Ducks' computer ranking -- which is one-third of the formula the BCS uses to determine its standings -- stood at eighth last week.

Pounding a weak UCLA team probably isn't going to impress the computers. The Bruins have lost four Pacific-10 Conference games, three by four touchdowns or more. Their one marquee win, a 34-12 victory at Texas, looks a little less impressive every week Iowa State beat those same Longhorns on Saturday.

Auburn, which knocked off previously unbeaten LSU, is going to be a factor. Auburn does have difficult games with Georgia and Alabama remaining as well as a possible SEC Championship game.

Oregon's strength of schedule picks up as the second half of the season continues. If the Ducks keep winning, they should be sitting pretty.

The next five games will be a mixed bag. Beginning with Saturday against USC in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Arizona and Cal both signaled they are going to be tough hurdles with one-sided victories yesterday, and winning at Oregon State in the Civil War won't be easy.

I like Oregon's chances and the way they go about their business.

College Football Play of the Day

A beautiful college football Satuday today and not one great game, but lots of good games are on tap.

Two SEC road teams from the state of Alabama are the play today.

The first will be Alabama playing at South Carolina.  The line is Bama -7 and I like the Tide to roll by two touchdowns or more.  The Tide are the class of college football and South Carolina won't cause them any problems.

The other play today has to be Auburn.  Auburn is going on the road at Kentucky and is only -6.  Cam Newton and Co. will pull away in the second half to cover that -6.

Two plays today, Alabama and Auburn.