In a strange series of events, the NCAA has cleared up a month-long controversy regarding the leading candidate for college football’s most prestigious award.
For now, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the NCAA and is eligible to play in the Southeastern Conference Championship game against South Carolina on Saturday.
Speculation around Newton’s involvement in a pay-for-play scandal has been rampant since news first broke in early November that Newton’s father allegedly tried to solicit a six-figure sum from Mississippi State.
The NCAA concluded Monday that Newton’s amateur status had been violated and in conjunction, Auburn declared Newton ineligible Tuesday. Blog: Newton decision a sad injustice
But on Wednesday, the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff declared Newton immediately eligible to play because there wasn’t sufficient evidence that either Newton or Auburn were aware of the attempts to secure money in exchange for Newton’s commitment.
Newton’s father, Cecil, took the heat for the issue.
According to the investigation, Cecil Newton independently tried to market Cam Newton as a commodity to Mississippi State in an attempt to get a six-figure dollar amount in return for Cam Newton’s letter of intent.
“The conduct of Cam Newton’s father and the involved individual is unacceptable and has no place in the SEC or in intercollegiate athletics,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. “The actions taken by Auburn University and Mississippi State University make it clear this behavior will not be tolerated in the SEC.”
Auburn has restricted Cecil Newton’s access to the athletics program, and Mississippi State has disassociated itself from “the individual involved in the case,” according to an NCAA statement. ESPN.com has reported the individual to be former Mississippi State football player Kenny Rogers.
The story is especially significant because of Cam Newton’s stellar play this season.
The College Park, Ga., native is the clear front-runner for the Heisman trophy after accumulating 3,632 total yards and 43 touchdowns this season, leading Auburn to an undefeated record in the regular season and a chance at a national championship.
“We are pleased that the NCAA has agreed with our position that Cam Newton has been and continues to be eligible to play football at Auburn University,” Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs said in a statement.
Before the NCAA came out with its ruling, Heisman voters may have been leery to cast a vote in Newton’s favor, but that may have changed now that he is unquestionably eligible.
With Newton in the fold, No. 1 Auburn is the far-and-away favorite in the SEC Championship Game this Saturday against No. 19 South Carolina (9-3).
With a win, Auburn would represent the SEC in the national championship game.
The Tigers defeated the Gamecocks 35-27 in their first meeting this season, with Newton accounting for 334 yards and all five Auburn touchdowns.