Cam Newton Eligible to Play Despite Rules Violation
The NCAA declared Auburn quarterback Cam Newton eligible to play in the SEC title game. This despite the fact that the NCAA determined his father shopped his son's services to another school. The Heisman front-runner now has the go ahead to play without any conditions.
Auburn plays South Carolina this weekend in the Southeastern Conference championship. If Auburn wins, they will play for the national championship.
Newton's father allegedly approached Mississippi State University seeking $180,000 for him to play football for the University. There has not been any evidence tying Cam Newton to the alleged actions of his father, however. The NCAA interviewed Newton, his parents and others linked to the pay-for-play scandal.
"[W]e do not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity, which led to his reinstatement ... From a student-athlete reinstatement perspective, Auburn University met its obligation. ... Under this threshold, the student-athlete has not participated while ineligible," said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for academic and membership affairs, ESPN reports.
Jay Jacobs, athletic director of Auburn said that he was "pleased" that the NCAA declared Cam Newton eligible and that he may continue to play for Auburn. However, the NCAA has not gone so far as to say that the case against Newton is closed.
So this is good news, for everyone except South Carolina and teams on the BCS bubble. At least in the end, the winner will be decided on the field, instead of by an investigator far removed from the gridiron.
Related Resources:
- NCAA rules Auburn's Newton eligible for now after rules violation (USA Today)
- Cam Newton News: Auburn Lawyers Up, QB Stars Saturday (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
- Reggie Bush Stripped of Heisman Trophy Over NCAA Violations (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)