SEC Championship / Cam cleared

[RT Atlanta]

Up front: I am biased as my Tigers are playing the USC Gamecocks this weekend in what should be a good old fashioned slobberknocker.

Curious what folks think about the following:

1) game this weekend; and

2) Cam being cleared. Here's a good summary from Tony Barnhart (AJC) summarizing the status:

http://blogs.ajc.com/barnhart-college-football/2010/12/02/why-the-ncaa-got-it-right-in-the-cameron-newton-case/?cxntfid=blogs_barnhart_college_football

On the game, AU folks have been saying for the last few games that each game is the "toughest yet." I see that trend continuing this weekend as USC is a damn good team, is playing their best ball of the year right now and is more than hungry for their first SEC championship in football. AU better not sleepwalk during the first half the way it did against the tide or this one could be over. Hopefully, the Tigers play well and come out with the W. Cheers to a game with no significant injuries for anyone!

As to the ruling, AU alumni and fans have been much more of the 'wait and see' mindset and are obviously pleased with the current status. It sounds like Cam's dad came very close to doing significant damage to his son and his school from a football perspective. It will be interesting to see how things play out between MSU and the rest of characters that were involved in the "discussions" with Cecil.

War Eagle!

[TZ]

1. Typical NCAA shit

A high profile school gets a pass. If this was someone like TCU..OMG, they'd get close to the death penalty.

[Elwood P Dowd]

4. The NCAA allowed Albert Means to play at Memphis after his mother and HS coach was given $200,000

by an Alabama booster. They ruled him ineligible at Bama but cleared him to play at Memphis. Is Memphis a high profile school? The NCAA had absolutely ZERO evidence that Newton received ANYTHING. They had ZERO evidence that Auburn knew of any wrong doings during the recruiting process. If you look at all the athletes that have been declared ineligible this year by the NCAA, they ALL received some type of benefit such as cash, trips, etc.. Newton received NOTHING! The Newton case was nothing but he said/she said type of stuff between Mississippi State boosters and Newton's father. Newton's father admitted money was discussed, but none ever changed hands and he backed away from his son signing at Mississippi State. ESPN and the other tabloid sports media blew this shit WAY out of proportion.

The President of the NCAA explained this all today. There was simply ZERO evidence that Cam Newton or Auburn broke any NCAA rules. I imagine the facts from their investigation differ quite a bit from the rumors and innuendo being spread by irresponsible journalist in the sports world (ESPN especially) looking for headlines, website hits, and increased ratings.

[MadBadger]

6. But if the rules have always been "The Parent is the Child," then why isnt it in this case?

[KeepItReal]

7. +1. Newton's Dad *did* break rules

and stood to benefit based on where he decided to send his son to play football.

[Iggo]

8. No shit. Pat Haden's gonna be pissed...lol.

GO BRUINS.

[era veteran]

2. Go War Eagles

I think you will beat the Cocks. SEC Baby

[KeepItReal]

3. I just want to know how much Auburn paid...

They apparently outbid Mississippi State for Cam, right?

Hope AU enjoys the championship and bowl dollars. I have a feeling those wins are gonna be vacated. Which is too bad, because Auburn really handled biz on the field.

[Elwood P Dowd]

5. More BS.

Guilty until proven innocent based on lies, rumors, and innuendo being spread by what has turned into tabloid sports news by ESPN and others. After over 3 months of investigating, the NCAA has found NOTHING on Auburn in any of this. If Auburn outbid Mississippi State's $180,000, you would think the kid would at least have a decent car. He rides around Auburn in a little cheap Vespa motor scooter. Now, if the kid had signed with Mississippi State and all this stuff came out, they would be in serious trouble because boosters and former MSU football players were involved in the recruiting.