I'm not sure how bad, because if the NCAA has known about these details all year it's possible they looked and couldn't back up the claims, but it certainly looks really, really bad.
I'm thinking TCU fans may be as happy if not more so than Bama fans. Granted the NCAA will drag their feet even if this is legit.
Its a story spiraling out of control due to a sports media that is 50% percent website related where all you need is unconfirmed sources to run a story if that. The cheating is a non-story since the worse he could have gotten was thrown out of school, a school he was leaving anyway. The secondary figures like John Bond have changed their stories so many times, they are not credible sources. The recent allegations from Miss. State begs the question if the NCAA knew about it in January why is it coming out now magically before the Heismen voting and the Alabama game? Either the NCAA is incompetent or lazy in getting these things done and subcontracted the allegations via the blogosphere to stir the pot.
I am not saying this isn't true, but with every person calling into Rivals Radio some blog reporter saying they have proof of this or that then where the hell where you in August? Its only now that he is a star that the smear campaign begins. If it is true then the NCAA had better pull him now instead letting him dangle on the vine for the next three months where college football actually matters.
The media didn't have much reason to dig into his background until the season got going. The NCAA apparently did not give it a full investigation until recently as well. I don't think it's a smear campaign so much as he hit the spotlight and this stuff became newsworthy.
I will say the NCAA should have gotten on this sooner but we all know they don't move quick on anything. Well except UNC. I'm sure part of it getting out is sour grapes by Miss St, but I'd be pissed too if I lost a kid because I believed he was paid by another school.
Worst that happens is Auburn wins a national title with him this year, celebrates and gets a lot of money from alumni, and then 3 years later the NCAA changes a line in the official record books, long after anyone cares about the matter and Cam Newton is making slightly better money in the NFL.
Anyone who takes college football seriously as an amateur sport is insane.
Originally posted by spfWorst that happens is Auburn wins a national title with him this year, celebrates and gets a lot of money from alumni, and then 3 years later the NCAA changes a line in the official record books, long after anyone cares about the matter and Cam Newton is making slightly better money in the NFL.
Fans of USC and UNC might beg to differ right about now.
Originally posted by wmatisticI'm sure part of it getting out is sour grapes by Miss St, but I'd be pissed too if I lost a kid because I believed he was paid by another school.
I'm sure MOST of it is sour grapes by Miss State, if not all of it. The head coach at Miss St. is Dan Mullen, the offensive coordinator at Florida when Cam Newton was there. It is possible they thought they had an added bonus for Newton going there (although who knows if they actually got along at Florida). I wonder how many people even realize Mississippi State is 7 - 2 with their only two losses being against #2 and #5 (and they only lost to Auburn by 3). If Newton was playing in Starkville instead of Auburn then this week's Alabama game could have SEC title implications for MSU. Instead they could still end up fifth if they lose to Bama and Arkansas.