Cam Newton Reinstated For SEC Championship Game

I’m puzzled by this, unless my friend Occam’s Razor would say that the NCAA really does protect its money-making property (at least until said property no longer can make revenue for the NCAA or its members).

What an absolutely gutless ruling.
 
As long as the recruit has deniability that they didn’t know what their parent was up to, then anything goes.
 
Street agents just perked up and took notice of that ruling, I assure you. And the bag men at Oregon, Auburn, and in the rest of the SEC just smiled.

even if Cam knew what was going on, which I’m guessing he did, could he have done anything about it? Could he have said “hey dad, stop it now”, and would The Good Reverend even listened/cared?

not at all saying Cam isn’t just as guilty, but you see parents trying to make a dime off their kids all the time.

This is an absolute crock and does not smell right.

The NCAA never moves quickly (see Reggie Bush) and never rules in the kids’ favors even when they’re right. There have been countless athletes more deserving of eligibility that have been screwed over until they graduated and suddenly the NCAA has not only completed its investigation, but found dirt, determined there is no more dirt, and spared a would-be felon. Pat Dye’s $$ must have more reach than we thought.

I am puzzled as hell by this, although Bob’s explanation makes the most sense.

That said, I’d love to see Spurrier end the dream this weekend and make this story just go away…. and then 5 years from now Cam get declared ineligible anyway and Auburn carpet bombed with sanctions.

Is it too late for Reggie Bush to claim ignorance?

What a steamy, swirly crock of shit.

I thought it didnt matter. I thought that the parents more or less counted as the kid when it came to things like this.

Von -
 
If a parent is trying to sell you and you don’t want to be sold, you have your first opportunity in life to assert yourself as a man.
  
If you don’t punish families selling players, then you’re basically declaring an open bidding war.

“…there wasn’t sufficient evidence that Cam Newton…was aware of the pay-for-play scheme.”

This doesn’t constitute awareness?

After Newton committed to Auburn, another source said an emotional Cam Newton phoned another recruiter to express regret that he wouldn’t be going to Mississippi State, stating that his father, Cecil, had chosen Auburn for him because “the money was too much.”

Slugfest -
 
Obviously Cameron was aware. The NCAA is just being gutless. They can say that was hearsay.

I thought the NCAA regs stated that it was a violation for the recruit or his family to solicit money??? I.e. if someone not related says they represent a recruit and asks for money, its not a violation if the recruit didn’t know about it, but if a family member does so, its a violation whether or not the recruit has actual knowledge?

I think since the FBI is involved with this one, there will be alot more evidence at the end of the day. They can use the law to force testimony and get all the records that the NCAA would never be able to access. This won’t drag out as long as l’affair Bush.

WTF? Seriously, did anybody know he was ineligible? Did the NCAA drunkenly forget that they never broke the ineligibilty story only to sober up and declare him eligible.

Is this a case of Double Jeopardy where the NCAA can’t come back and make Auburn vacate the win if more evidence comes to light?

Man fuck this. A template was just provided for every wannabe street agent. Time to start recruiting around the boys high school lockerroom rather than the girls.

Obviously Cameron was aware. The NCAA is just being gutless. They can say that was hearsay.

Admission by party-opponent is not hearsay. #lawya

yeah, I hear ya Scipio. And the bidding war logic makes sense, but I guess I just didn’t realize that NCAA actually EVER made distinctions b/c the kid and the parent….was kind of playing devil’s advocate to maybe how/why the NCAA would come to this particular descision.

If Newton is declared ineligible, there’s a real good chance that a BCS Have-Not would appear in the sacred BCS Title game.

The Cartel has spoken.

Bonus points for this “Auburn declared him ineligible and we told them it was OK” fiasco giving both parties a fig leaf to hide behind in justifying non-nuclear sanctions when all the sordid details finally come to light in the coming months and years.

Crikey, what a joke. The NCAA is plumbing new depths, which is saying something for them. This reeks worse than the combined olfactory offense perpetrated by Pasadena (TX) and Amarillo.

Being a UGA fan I pull for the SEC in the bowl season, but this stinks. Auburn and OK are the two dirtiest programs in history and everyone knows what has happened here. Scipio is correct, every rogue program in college football just got the all clear.

The SEC rule is clear in that a player or guardian that seeks an improper benefit is by rule ineligible. AJ Green gets a four game suspension for selling a jersey ,that he owned, for $1000, go to a party in Miami and get 2 games sell your kid and get nothing. Really!

Patron Saint -
 
I believe the legal term I’m looking for is arson. Or libel. Or voi dire.
 
One of those.
 
What I’m saying is that I think Cameron Newton’s father killed a guy.

Dez Bryant was declared ineligible for half a season for lying about a non-violation. Cam’s old man sells his services and dude doesn’t miss a game.

Only one way this makes sense, Oklahoma State wasn’t undefeated and wasn’t one of the only two teams standing between a non-qualifying school (TCU) and the MNC game.

nobis60 -
 
Except that the NCAA and the BCS aren’t exactly allies. The NCAA would like to run the playoffs for football as they do with basketball. They wouldn’t mind a poke in the BCS’ eye.
 
I think the issue has more to do with the fact that this is coming on the heels of Reggie Bush, USC, and the growing sense that college football is slipping back into 1970s-1980s style Oklahoma recruiting machines. They can either deal with it by destroying another telegenic and charismatic Heisman candidate and derail the Auburn machine, thus highlighting just how out of control college football is, or they can look the other way and watch us all forget about this six months from now.
 
Lots of temptation to do the latter.

I guess those newfound teeth the NCAA used when dealing with USC were actually just dentures. They have now taken them out and put them back on the nightstand.

Guys, I understand that many of you think that the NCAA and BCS are the same thing, but they aren’t.
 
The NCAA is plenty motivated to prevent another reputational smear. Auburn and Cameron Newton’s stature are sufficient to understand their motivation without having to bring in shadow conspiracies.
 
In short: Auburn getting derailed right before the title game is more about the black eye this gives the game than some desire to freeze out poor TCU.

“What about the money? Surely you brought back the money?”

“I gave it to ease the suffering of the children of this war.”

“You see that’s what happens when you send a preacher.”

tdwalsh just nailed it.

The NCAA is protecting the steaming pile that is the BCS here. If Cam was not allowed to play, TCU might break into the BCS conference’s little annual circle jerk. And the BCS was designed to keep the thing we call NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP amongst the 6 BCS conferences only.

Seriously – is that all I had to do? Make sure my SON didn’t KNOW I was selling him to the highest bidder? DAMN – wish I’d known that a few years ago!

Help us Obi-Wan Superior, your our only hope.

So after listening to Auburn fans and employees chide the rest of us for three solid weeks, ultimately what they’re relying on is that Newton has plausible deniability with respect to his father’s illegal behavior. And to me the it’s not very plausible.

It’s clear to me that most of you have no idea what the BCS is.
 
Here’s your homework assignment:
 
 http://barkingcarnival.fantake.com/2010/11/30/death-to-the-bcs-a-book-review/

“The SEC rule is clear in that a player or guardian that seeks an improper benefit is by rule ineligible.”

Is this not the NCAA rule too?

Guys,
More will be coming out whether AU or the NCAA likes it or not. The feds have been wire taping some prominent AU boosters and former coach Pat Dye in connection with illegal use or TARP funds for a now defunct Alabama bank and bribery of public officials and could possibly have recorded some pay to play conversations as well as ATM cards for AU players

Scipio,

I hear you. But I am absolutely stunned here as to WHY the NCAA would be letting him play. Do you think for one second that if it came to light that Cyrus Gray’s dad had shopped him to A&M for $180,000 that the NCAA would parse the rule as they just did for Cam Newton.

Hell. No.

What other plausible reason is there for this? Kick the can down the road? When has the NCAA done that before?

The reason are obvious: the NCAA is incentivized to uphold the reputation of the sport and right now Auburn is the standard bearer. The Reggie Bush and USC stuff was crushing given that the program was NCAA’s face of college football.
 
In their estimation, they can’t afford another blow. I disagree and think they’re creating monsters they’ll have to slay down the road, but their psychology is pretty clear.

Cameron Newton is not only the most popular and best player in the country, but Auburn’s long history of institutional non-compliance would demand the death penalty if it was proven he was paid off.
 
The NCAA almost always kicks the can down the road. That’s their well-earned reputation. That’s why the USC punishments were shocking to most – most assumed they would skate. The NCAA has a long history of bringing the axe down on Murray State while hand slapping the name programs.

Scip, the NCAA is in a tough spot, in that as much as it would love to put a bullet in the BCS and skim the receipts of a D-I football tournament, it still must protect the interests of its members, including BCS members. (I would say it’s something like how a commissioner of a pro sport represents the game before the public, but actually works for the franchise owners.)

This would mean that, in a classic case of circular logic, the NCAA must protect the interests of Auburn, BCS or not, in order to influence Auburn and other BCS members either 1) that a football tournament is in everyone’s best interest or, more likely 2) that having BCS members break away to run a tournament (in football, basketball or both) on their own is baaaad idea.

This decision is among the most cynical I’ve seen in a long time, and it’s in the running for all time.

Bob -
 
Right. But I think you misunderstand what I’m arguing against. Read the posts above in which people are saying “OMG, the NCAA doesn’t want TCU because they want to protect the BCS at all costs.”
 
That’s an absurd understanding of the NCAA’s position and interests.
 
They’re incentivized to preserve the reputation of college football and Auburn being 11-0 with the best player in the country makes them a valuable property. Period. They could give a shit how it impacts the BCS per se – in fact, they’d gladly do anything in their power to destroy it if it didn’t mean compromising college football as a whole.
 
In my estimation, they’re wrong and they’re creating much bigger problems down the road, but the NCAA has not often been associated with courageous stands.

Scipio,

And so, when presented with overwhelming evidence from the FBI in 6 months, the NCAA is going to get a bigger black eye from the Newton scandal?

This scandal will greatly overshadow anything about Reggie Bush. At least with that one, the NCAA could say they didn’t know about it at the time. Now, they’ll have to admit they knew the guy was dirty and still let him play.

I see no upside for the NCAA in the actions they took here.

I see your point of the NCAA working to protect the integrity of the game. But the integrity of the game wasn’t damaged by the NCAA – it was damaged by that scumbag shopping his son around to schools. I imagine the member institutions are disgusted by this action.

Maybe, just maybe….The NCAA wants Oregon and Auburn to play for it all then right before kickoff paratroop in the stadium and rule both teams ineligible because of recruiting infractions. Then, on Easter Sunday after a couple months of fake deliberation they’ll declare TCU National Champions!!! That would be the swellest thing ever.

I’ll hang up and listen.

Ag_in_TX
 
No one said it will prove to be good for NCAA. Do you think that people and organizations always act in decisive, courageous, and ethical ways? There’s plenty of evidence that most do things that serve their short term interests over their long term.
 
The NCAA can survive any scandal or weakness. No one holds their feet to the fire. Oh no! Mean editorials! Blogs are angry! How will we carry on?
 
NCAA basketball is far dirtier than football, everyone knows who the cheaters are, and the sport is doing just fine, thank you.

Scip, we are in full agreement; this has nothing to do with sticking it to TCU.

What are the problems down the road that you see for the NCAA, Scipio?

Truthfully, we’re all chumps. That’s what this really boils down to.

I’m going to attempt to interpret the NCAA’s ruling:

I think if there was evidence that Auburn paid Cam Newton’s dad, Cam would not be eligible because whether he had knowledge or not, he was ultimately influenced financially to attend Auburn by an Auburn booster.

Evidence of an unsuccessful attempt to pay-to-play would not disqualify the amateur’s status at a seperate university, especially given the amateur was unaware of the attempted pay-to-play. This is the case with the Cam Newton issue – for now.

Regardless, it’s a stretch to believe that Cam Newton, who wanted to attend Miss St, and then was compelled to attend Auburn by his dad, was not ultimately part of a pay-to-play scheme with Newton’s dad & Auburn. It makes no sense otherwise.

NCAA basketball is far dirtier than football, everyone knows who the cheaters are, and the sport is doing just fine, thank you.

Arguable that basketball is dirtier. There’s a lot more money in football.

Bobby Time -
 
The NCAA just set clear precedent for every street agent, crooked guardian, or “advisor” and every corrupt program.
 
As long as there is plausible deniability, a middle man, and no clear financial transaction, you’re in business.
 
An Oregon vs. Auburn national title game is proof that street agents work. At least if you’re not worried about long-term consequences.

Go Steve Spurrier go!!!

Well, perhaps I’m tilting at windmills here, but I envision that this whole thing blows up when FBI evidence comes forward and the presidents of member institutions are so disgusted that they force the NCAA to do something about it.

But who am I kidding?

I find this whole thing so ripe because of what the NCAA did to A&M back in the late 80’s – early 90’s. Hey – we had it coming to us – so be it. And it made our athletic department better in the long run. But seeing other schools skate by for doing so much more must be like a bone stuck in the throat of schools like A&M. The double standard is repugnant.

Scip nailed it. It’s quite simple why they didn’t rule him ineligible. If they did they would almost have no choice but to give Auburn the death penalty or at least something close to it. Four year bowl ban, TV ban, massive scholarship reductions, etc.

This is honestly embarrassing. If I’m a current player or recruit, I’m telling my dad to get on the phone and start calling agents and boosters. There is absolutely nothing to lose.

Why didn’t they just sweep this under the rug like the Bush investigation? What was the point of a making a ruling right now? To be honest, I already forget about the Scam Newton saga. I just assumed they were going to make ruling 5 years from now. It’s pretty obvious that they didn’t want the media grilling Newton and Auburn during the Heisman ceremony and the national championship game.

I think you are being naive Scip if you think that the NCAA and the BCS are completely separated and don’t work together. Remember that if the BCS’ schools want to they can just leave the NCAA and form their own coalition. The NCAA needs the big schools, the big schools don’t need the NCAA that’s why the NCAA has not intervened and formed a playoff. Because if they did, the BCS schools would just pack up and leave. See the
NCAA v. Board of Regents of Univ. of Oklahoma case.

I get that this may look like an open season ruling to the corrupt, but what are the future consequences to the NCAA for allowing the corruption? As you pointed out, they already allow worse in hoops. Is it government intervention? Just curious where you see this going.

It is a ruling for right now only. The articles I have seen clearly state that if they find out he knew about it ot that AU paid him, they can come back and declare him ineligible.

I cannot conceive that there is a written NCAA rule that specifically states that if it is proven that a family member solicits something from any school for an athlete that it automatically disqualifies the athlete and that the NCAA would ignore that written rule and declare him eleigible while at the same time acknowledging that his Father did in fact know about the solicitation of funds by the SA from MSU. They are a lot of bad things, but they are definitely not that stupid! If someone can quote such a rule, then I humbly apologize for my ignorance.

AU’s lawyers forced their hand for what amounts to a TRO. About the only thing I can find positive out of this is that, at least for now, they don’t have proof that AU paid him, as many (Alabama fans) had alleged, and which I believe would have already come from the FBI tapes if it exists and the tapes are there. Unless it is proven they did, which would not suprise me but would disappoint me, then this is not like the Bush case at all where USC turned a blind eye to what they either knew about (most likely) or should have known about. Auburn, as ugly as their history is (they are in the SEC after all) did not cheat nor were they institutionally negligent as far as anyone can prove at this point. That may have had a bearing on the way this ruling went. Until someone proves they did pay him, Newton’s deniability is indeed plausible. Why would he have attended a school that didn’t pay him if he was part of the scheme or told some as yet unverified “source” that he did? There are plenty of other schools in the SEC or other places who would have been glad to oblige his father and him, but he went to AU to do them a favor? All of that typed out, as the Dawg guy points out, this isn’t over yet.

Man the backward logic of this: “We don’t want NCAA teams to appear dirty, we better help ensure that Oregon and Auburn play for it all,” is awesomeness.

Dumb and Dumber logic: “We’re in a hole Harry, we just gotta keep on digging.”

Bob in Houston, I think Scipio meant the blatant dirtiness of College B-ball via the AAU circuit. Phil Knight dollars is still small potatoes compared to World Wide Wes influence.

This case is by no means done. The NCAA will continue looking into whether or not Auburn gave the Newtons money, but they clearly are hoping we’ll all avert our eyes and this will go away.

Where things will be interesting long-term is with the FBI investigation. They have no interests in this investigation other than that federal investigators and prosecutors often make their names on big cases. So far with information that has been leaked, the feds have cause to poke their noses into three SEC football programs (AU, MSU, UF). Mike Slive is sweating bullets.

Looks like they just punted for now.

Unfortunately for the NCAA they arent going to be able to get the genie back in the bottle if Bobby Lowder and his Auburn Mafia guys get sent to the pokey for wire fraud, etc.

U.S. Dept. of Justice > NCAA.

magnus, if I were inclined to argue I would say that there are a lot more people chasing a lot more dollars than in basketball. It may be true that there are three times as many D-I basketball schools, but the distribution of the money isn’t a heck of a lot different.

There are more players to, um, satisfy in football, but football is probably one power more popular than basketball at most schools, and at Texas, about two powers more popular.

But this is for another thread.

U.S. Dept. of Justice > NCAA

In regards to breadth and power. Unfortunately with that comes a much larger beauracracy.

Trips Right will have 9 grand kids by the time this thing’s resolved.

No Bob, those are fighting words.

You make good points, BIH. That would be an interesting, albeit highly speculative thread.

THe FBI has no interest in Cam Newton’s eligibility. They care about crime.
 
FBI: By the way, we uncovered some more stuff about Cam Newton that you might be interested in as part of our larger investigation. Would you like to discuss it?
 
NCAA: We did our own investigation and are satisfied in our findings. We have no interest in discussing the matter further.

I wouldn’t dismiss the likelihood of the NCAA taking further action based on potential FBI findings. Granted, it won’t be swift but I think there are a few salient examples – what Michigan’s basketball program went through based a fed investigation into one booster. In that instance the fed’s case fizzled when the booster died, but Michigan essentially had a four year period of their program expunged by the NCAA after the fact. Again, don’t expect justice to be swift.

Maybe I’m just trying to convince myself that the right thing will be done since I’ve gotten no news on the employment status of a certain offensive coordinator. I’m going to go punch myself in the face now.

I think one of those long-term consequences that the NCAA is ignoring for the moment is if – or when? – Congress starts getting really serious about the tax implications of all these collegiate athletic programs.

The Gubmint is going to be needing a shit-ton of new money before too long, and as long as these colleges and their various related enterprises are raking it in and behaving like Citigroup or BOA, they’re going to have to watch their wallets. We saw how interested Orrin Hatch got over the NCAA and that was just Utah getting screwed over. Wait until someone important – in California, Texas or Florida – gets the shaft from one of these short-term NCAA decisions.

And because of Cecil Newton, congress might go for a two-fer and start checking out both universities AND churches.

I would take the bowl games’ 501c status tomorrow, that’s for certain.

If Newton was declared ineligible, how much money would that cost “college football” (ncaa, bcs, bcs schools and everyone else making money off what was once a beautiful sport and is now just a greed driven machine)?

If everyone really feels this was a crock of shit ruling to get the heat off the kid, the school and allow the focus to be on the games (ha ha), then what can we as fans do to make them realize the error of their ways?

I don’t care who gets in the championship game, as long as it’s a team that played fairly. I cannot believe the kid new nothing, and I have a hard time believeing the ncaa can make a ruling like this so quickly unless they just want to ensure the games go off without this distraction so they don’t hurt the cash cow. Who cares if Newton is ruled ineligible a day after the game and Auburn gets the death penalty. We want the world tuned in to watch this kid lead his team in the championship. Once the money is made (the game is played, the fans watch, the money is spent…), we can call him the dirtiest cheater in the world. Ruling bush and the trojans corrupt now does not hurt all that fame and money made in 2003-2005. usc was already falling off when they finally got penalilzed. Let em play now while the poker is hot. Ratings are up, money is flowing, who cares what happens tomorrow.

Per the govt needing money: With the red light camera’s no longer creating revenue it is now illegal to run yellow lights. Found out the hard way. Houstonites beware.

we deserve this shit …

I am not a lawyer and not even smart to play one here if I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express for a month so please excuse me for these stupid questions.

• Would a member school have a leg to stand-on if in the future they legally challenge the NCAA’s ruling regarding eligibility of a player and site this decision?

• How much longer until we start to see member schools hire that law firm from Chicago again and tell the NCAA to go pound sand?

• How much longer until the schools just say screw it and go semi-pro?

Scipio said “If you don’t punish families selling players, then you’re basically declaring an open bidding war.”

I don’t know where everyone’s been the last 5-10 years, but that’s already happened. At least in college basketball, I’d assume college football too though I don’t follow recruiting there as closely.

Oklahoma State came into the Metroplex and signed the top 4 players in one swoop in 2005 (Byron Eaton, Terrell Harris, Roderick Flemings, Gary Flowers). Now obviously I don’t have any first-hand information, but I played AAU ball against some of those guys and with a few of their teammates, and let’s just say how a brand new coach from Stillwater (Eddie Sutton) recruited these inner-city athletes was a topic of much conversation in Dallas basketball circles. His pops got run out of Kentucky on charges of paying players.

Google the employment history of Chris Duhon’s mom and Mario Chalmers’ dad. It’s all out there if you really want to look for it. How can you punish a kid for one of their parents getting a new job? Or their girlfriend driving a new car? The guy who got Joe McKnight’s girl a ride was just stupid enough to pay for it himself and not through an intermediary.

And honestly if UT were caught doing this, I’d really have no problem with it. The hits Cam Newton takes? Those are years he’s taking off of his life down the line. And what if he tears up his knee next week? Tyrone Prothro is working as an ATM teller. There are no guarantees in life. If Auburn paid $200K for Newton, that’s a hell of an investment. I don’t think it’s morally reprehensible behavior by any means.

Parents selling their children’s services without their knowledge/consent is OK now?

Probably because AU has enough dirt on everyone else to bring down most of the SEC. NCAA doesn;t want an implosion that potentially could get Congress involved. Take the smaller embarrassment to avoid far worse. Plus with all those other schools wanting to protect themselves there’s lots of money to buy off some favors from the Chicago mobsters that have ultimate say in the fed Justice Dept. This whole thing will probably blow over with just little guys being burnt hard and the meat of the matter ignored, like so many other scandals (far beyond sports.) I’ve seen this movie a hundred times, just different actors.

How could it be against their consent? Regardless of what their parents are paid, it’s the kids who are signing the LOI’s. Their parents can’t sign it for them. They can encourage their son to go to a school, but they can’t choose it for him. And you’d have to be awfully naive to not notice one of your parents coming into a lot of money.

E. Holder — That was my reaction too when this story broke. Auburn is definitely holding onto a deadman’s trigger right now. This is not a small private school without a lot of pull; this is one of the state’s flagship universities. The booster Lowden who everyone’s pointing their finger at, he used to run the biggest bank in the state. Auburn has real connections in the corridors of power, if they’re going down, they’re taking a lot of people with them.

Where is Julian Assange when you need him ?

I am soooo rooting for the Gamecocks this weekend.

Tjarks, great post. I find the outrage on this blog extremely puzzling. Does anyone actually think that 90% of the starting players in the top Div I football and basketball programs are actually “students”? Maybe back in the 70s…..

Lest anyone forget, both the NFL and NBA require that these kids spend at least 1y in a college program “working for free”, or rather, “auditioning for free”, in order to have a shot. Meanwhile, their “coach”, makes 3-5 million a year. Frankly, it’s criminal. Or maybe someone here can pipe up and tell me about the last time they worked for a year for free (or longer), with very slim odds of actually “getting the job”. And then even if they got the job, having a shelf life of maybe 2-3 years if they are lucky. While putting their bodies in serious jeopardy?

So naturally the kids will try to get paid, and naturally schools will cheat. It’s big business. Maybe the NCAA is simply realizing this is inevitable, so who cares if it starts a back room bidding war. Better than calling it what it is and having schools have to field a semipro team. That wouldn’t be too good for the “integrity of the sport”, now would it?

It’s just entertainment. You saying you don’t want to pay for it? Or are you saying that all the money you do pay should go to “the owners”?

Frankly, it’s criminal.

Cry me a river dude. a.) They get their tuition paid for. b.) By virtue of being on the football team they get alpha male status on campus. c.) They’re playing a game that millions of people play who have no expectation of ever making it to the NFL, which is to say it’s an enjoyable activity for many. Oh those poor scholarship football players, they’re like the American version of Darfur war orphans.

You aren’t understanding what I am saying. I am not making excuses for them. I am simply saying that the farm league system we call college football is a business, pure and simple. For everyone involved.

The top players aren’t there for the classes, or the groupies, or the love of the game. Please. They are there to get paid, period. Because of the NFL/NBA rules, they cannot go pro out of high school. Unlike baseball and hockey, which therefore no one watches at the collegiate level.

This is a very cozy fiction for everyone except the players. Your season tickets help pay for, or subsidize if you will, a free farm league for the NFL and the NBA. But the real subsidy comes from the players, who must try out for free for an extended period of time. This is what is criminal.

If Auburn paid $200K for Newton, that’s a hell of an investment. I don’t think it’s morally reprehensible behavior by any means.

This is not ’Nam, this football. There are rules.

Paying Newton’s father $200K was not objectively morally wrong, but it is against the rules of the sport. Which makes it cheating. Auburn has an edge in player acquisition that those schools that play by the rules do not have. I personally would rather that the teams that I root for win without cheating.

The NCAA is desperate to keep their exemption. They will do whatever it takes. The idea of amateur athletics is so laughable and embarrassing.

Personally, I hope Cam took money. Why should Gene Chizik, Dan Mullen, Urban Meyer, etc. get all the dough? If you think a scholarship and groupies is enough reward for these kids then you are either a communist or just naive.

I hate to use the race term, but this is modern slavery. Do you have any idea how much money Cam Newton has made Auburn, Gene Chizik, SEC, and Under Armour? Do you have any idea how much money Vince Young made Mack and it was for free? College athletics is a sham. Hopefully this is the tip of the iceberg.

Slavery? Really? That’s a pretty fucking ignorant statement considering Cam Newton will make more on signing day than most people will make in their lives. It’s a free audition, with a lot of perks. A free degree, choice tail, demigod status on campus, and national exposure to showcase your wares. Uncle Tom would have kicked Lincoln in the nuts if he started reading that Emancipation Proclamation shit if that’s what slavery was like. Hell, wtf am I doing going to work every day, I’d like to sell myself into slavery please.

I ended up writing a longer post over at Get Buckets after re-reading the comments here.

As someone who has been tangentially involved in both ends of the process (playing AAU ball with D1 recruits in high school and working as an academic tutor at UT), I’ll just say I only talked about the stories I could find independent verification for online. I’ve heard far worse, which really shouldn’t surprise anyone whose been paying attention to the increasing professionalization of college sports.

Slavery – you stupid ass. That’s an insult to anyone that was ever a victim of this back throughout history. But having seen some of your posts, it doesn’t surprise me at all. You seem to have some real issues dude.

Scip – you bitched slapped PT down about a month ago and he stopped this shit for a while. Can you smack him again, please!

Is the system perfect, not at all.
Some business guys (Bowls and Conferences) found a way to make money off college football. Good for them. Good for us. College football is more popular than ever and we get to watch a lot of great games. Does that mean these athletes deserve to get paid, fuck no. Do the swimmers get paid? The gymnasts? How many Chicks on the North Carolina soccer team go through this? Never heard of any myself. If the players don’t like it, they can go play in the CFL or Arena League. They don’t have to go to college, and most of the ones we see going through this type of issue aren’t really qualified. They just take up scholarship dollars we could be giving to actual deserving students. Really, how many of these prized football players could pass a real class schedule? I bet it aint high. And I am not talking about these made for athlete courses like “How to catch a football 101” (which we should send most of our receivers back through). Vince spent 4 years at UT and the dude still has problems reading and writing (anyone who thought that initial Wunderlick test was flawed has got their head in the sand). And I cringe anytime he gets a microphone in front of him.

Cheating is cheating is cheating. If you don’t like the rules, work to change them, don’t just break them. That makes you worse than the ones who created the rules. The no extra benefits for athletes is supposed to keep the have’s from paying for championships (kinda like what appears to be happening here). I hate to see all the former players now talking heads on tv (BJ Jones) spewing this crap about the players deserving to be paid. It’s horseshit.

I’m assuming that if Cam truly didn’t know, he (1) has already asked his dad about it, and (2) his dad either told Cam the truth or lied to Cam, and (3) either way, Cam is PISSED.

So either Cam knew, or Cam is know really pissed off.

So why hasn’t Cam come out with a statement? And why hasn’t Cam made himself available to reporters?

You know why.

Just to give more flavor to the Alice-in-Wonderland spectacle in front of us, I have to add that I actually agree with something that AgTex posted.

Next thing you know, we’ll have a black republican President.

I don’t want to relive the past, but what the NCAA did to A&M, TCU and SMU should be applied to the SEC as well. If it does come out that Auburn is dirty in any way, then they should be given the death penalty. Period.

But from a TCU football fan perspective, I want the Newton kid to play. If they win this weekend and go on to the title game, then more power to them. I don’t want the Frogs to back into the title game on the back of a cheating scandal; if probative evidence arises after the fact, then there will forever be the same kind of asterisk behind Auburn that USC now has. If you have to win it dirty, then you will never fully wash that mud off your hands.

You reap what you sow.

“Lest anyone forget, both the NFL and NBA require that these kids spend at least 1y in a college program "working for free", or rather, "auditioning for free", in order to have a shot. Meanwhile, their "coach", makes 3-5 million a year. Frankly, it’s criminal. "

“I hate to use the race term, but this is modern slavery.”

It may be hypocritical what’s going on, but it’s certainly not criminal or slavery. College athletes have it made and choose to attend a college. They certainly had a better quality of life than I did in college (Top Ramen noodles, part-time job to pay for room/board,etc, no money). Steven Smith never called me a slave. Where’s my rant?

Regarding compensation, one need only look at the D-League and Semi-Pro ball to see superior athletes than the average college team playing in front of empty seats. The reason why college athletics is so successful are the fanbase and tradition. Playing for the University of Texas means something. Playing for the Austin Toros doesn’t. Ultimately, it’s not about the players, at least 99% of them.

For the Top 1%, what’s the harm in treating them like everyone else. In fact, legally you have to treat them the same as a Women’s Crew rower. You can cry about the NFL’s 3-year rule and how it prevents the NFL from wasting millions on overrated, immature high school kids, but it’s probably a good thing preventing high school kids from getting hurt or washed-up prematurely. The NFL is a man’s league.

My point on DOJ and FBI is they have basically unlimited subpoena powers where the NCAA has almost none. They will not be able to ignore the new shit that will come to light, man.

I agree it could be a few years down the road and the cheating deal is collateral damage in their eyes, but it will be big damage.

My real concern is that if it becomes quasi-ok to pay players, Texas will absolutely be the last school to get in that game and we will suffer for it. Of course once its accepted practice, we will wage all out money war on those fuckers but will be coming from behind.

Why does it feel like we are about to enter the post Fred Akers dark ages where we arent on a level playing field?

Is this matter closed or would the NCAA open this back up pending further evidence produced by an SEC rival? Of course you will need to find an SEC with a clean skirt so outside Vanderbilt good luck with that.

It’s more than obvious that Prime Time is Jesse Jackson. Anti-Semitic jokes are hilarious, but kids getting $100,000 educations while tagging ass nightly is racist.

I’ll never forget how oppressed Matthew Stafford appeared in those college pics: skank in one arm, beer in the other. Did you see what Tebow endured while slumming in Gainesville?

Oh wait, maybe PT is just referring to the black players who aren’t smart enough or have the wherewithal to do for themselves and make proper decisions?. Now that’s racist.

Now I don’t think PT is a racist, but dude can back himself into a corner like William H. Macy getting circles ran around Aaron Eckhart in ‘Thank You for Smoking.’

I agree with bigdukesix, as I often do.

‘him by’ Aaron Eckhart.

I didn’t even come up with the idea of modern college athletics equating to modern day slavery. A former NCAA president said that. The fact is that in every other sport apart from basketball and football you are able to turn pro as young as you want. Baseball players go pro right after high school. Tennis and golf players can go pro whenever they want. Soccer players become professionals at the age of 14. Of course it is a choice for these kids to go and play and nobody is coercing them to go play football or basketball. But they don’t have any other options if they want to pursue a pro career.

The NFL or the NBA don’t have to draft these kids out of high school. There is no rule that says you have to draft a high school kid. If he is good enough, then he is good enough. It’s same thing with the NFL.

PrimeTime — Obviously the use of “slavery” is a loaded word that is going to short-circuit any attempt at rational conversation, just like “racist” or “anti-semite” etc. I can see what you’re getting at, but unless your trolling, you have to watch how you say things. They are being exploited but “slavery” is ridiculously hyperbolic.

That being said, yes a lot of the football/basketball guys probably wouldn’t qualify to UT or most big-time schools as students. Why are we bringing them in than? Stanford doesn’t. If Vince really got a 6 on the Wonderlic than we were wasting his time in college classes at a top 50 university. Put me in the advanced physics (string theory etc) department at UT and give me a bunch of tutoring, it wouldn’t matter same thing. If we were worried about his intellectual development he’d be at a trade school or taking remedial classes at a community college.

So while they are putting in their 4 years in the program (not getting anything out of their scholastic experience and 80% not going to play in the NFL) doing really bad things to their bodies (almost all of whom are not at their natural weights, and lifestyle habits are hard to unlearn) and generating a lot of money for the school (and don’t say people would show up anyway — look at the FAU game this season), who is really winning? Men’s football and basketball subsidizes scholarships and training facilities for all the “non-revenue sports” in the athletic department mostly.

And what are “non-revenue” sports? Golf, tennis, swimming … Who plays those sports? What socio-economic background? If you look at it from that perspective, you might see why PT is talking like he’s Marcus Garvey right now lol.

Let’s be real … I worked my last 3.5 years at UT; I was involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities … But school always came first, I could talk to my boss or whoever and explain the situation with a mid-term or a class project or a paper and we could always work it out … Everyone knew and understand I was a student first.

Now let’s try to imagine that scenario in the football program. I can’t see Garrett Gilbert skipping out on watching 20+ hours of film the week before the OU game cuz he’s really struggling in Psych 325; I don’t see Rick Barnes letting Gary Johnson skip a road game at K-State cuz there’s a visiting professor he really wants to see that day.

It’s not an enforcement ruling – it’s an eligibility ruling. Valid until they change their mind. Which could be tomorrow morning if new information comes to light.

SEC will adopt a “Cam Rule” prior to signing day which eliminates the “did the kid know” burden of proof. If Daddy asks, the kid’s ineligible, everywhere. Period.

And the FBI and IRS will run this one down one way or the other. But until they do, there’s not much the SEC or NCAA can do under current rules. And when they do, it’s USC all over again. Mea culpas, returned trophies, blah blah blah.

I’m just waiting for the first string to unravel. Because that one string becomes Auburn, which then becomes a host of people angry Auburn people hiring private detectives and trying to turn in the rest of the SEC West…. you remember the good ol’ days, when half the conference was on probation?

Slive has to be freaking out. Good thing his TV revenue is locked in for a decade.

I’m not sure why the FBI would really care. From what I understand, they got involved because they were investigating bank fraud by some Auburn boosters. To put it mildly, they have MUCH MUCH bigger fish to fry that this.

The FBI doesn’t care, but they also don’t care if someone else uses evidence they uncovered — after they are done with it.

Bureaucrats…

are people, too. They want attention and promotions. If you think someone in the federal government isn’t licking their chops over this, you are crazy. Especially people who live and work in Georgia. And especially those with an eye on headlines, such as a DA.

A Memphis federal prosecutor is largely responsible for Alabama’s 2002 probation. There were no larger issues involved there — just a DA who thought that a booster throwing money at high school coaches to influence kids was worth a few million in federal expenditures.

Urban Meyer must be pissed.

Game on in the SEC. Even moreso.

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