NCAA Clears Auburn in Cam Newton Investigation
Written by Bob Whalon, Wednesday October 12 2011
The NCAA released a statement on Wednesday stating that it has closed its 13-month investigation into Auburn's recruitment of Cam Newton and allegations that other players were paid while on the football team.
"The NCAA enforcement staff is committed to a fair and thorough investigative process," the NCAA said in the statement. "As such, any allegations of major rules violations must meet a burden of proof, which is a higher standard than rampant public speculation online and in the media. The allegations must be based on credible and persuasive information and includes a good-faith belief that the committee on Infractions could make a finding."
Apparently the NCAA did not find any credible and persuasive information that indicated that Auburn had violated any rules.
Auburn had conducted their own investigation and found that Cam Newton's father, Cecil Newton and the owner of a scouting service, Kenny Rogers, shopped Cam's services to Mississippi State out of junior college, but that there was no evidence that the player or Auburn knew about it.
The NCAA and the university conducted more than 50 interviews into whether or not Newton was paid and examined bank records, tax filings and phone and email records.
Cam Newton led Auburn to a national title and won the Heisman trophy before being chosen with the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers.
More allegations came to light when four former Auburn football players said that they had been paid while being recruited by or playing for the Tigers. Raven Gray, Stanley McCover, Chaz Ramsey and Troy Reddick said on HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" that they received cash in envelopes, book bags and even handshakes.
The NCAA interviewed Gray and his family but could not substantiate his claims. The three other players interviewed by HBO declined to be interviewed by the NCAA. Without those interviews, the NCAA had insufficient reason to conclude that any violations had occurred.
"We appreciate the NCAA and thank them for their professionalism and thoroughness during this exhaustive investigation," Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said "We are pleased to put this matter behind us."
Tags:
Recent Auburn Articles
- NCAA Clears Auburn in Cam Newton Investigation
- Auburn has Goal Line Stand for Win
- Cam Newton: Draft Day Fool's Gold
- Former Auburn Players Claim they Got Paid
- Nine NFL Teams Set to Meet with Cam Newton
- Four Auburn Football Players Arrested
- Did Participating in the NFL Combine Help or Hurt Cam Newton’s Draft Potential?
- Cam Newton Getting Paid Before He Actually Becomes Part of the NFL
- Cam Newton’s Dad Could Scare Off NFL Suitors
- Auburn’s Cam Newton to Turn Pro
Leave a comment
Not So Fast! To publish your comment, you have to login
Not Registered? Register now as it only take 20 seconds!
Click here to browse
0 comments