Cam Newton punishment

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Should Cam Newton be punished if he did not know that his father was asking for money?

[Surfah]

Should Cam Newton be punished if he did not know that his father was asking for money?

That's a tough one. If Auburn did pay off daddy without Cam's knowledge or consent I just don't see how you could punish the university without indirectly punishing Cam.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

This is a discussion heating up in Eugene, and it is interesting to hear some of the arguments both ways. I am not sure that you can say he did or didn't know what his dad was doing, but if he didn't there is no way he should be punished.

One guy just said that "Rules are rules and even you hippie-liberals have to learn that once in a while! Newton should be suspended."

[TripletDaddy]

This is a discussion heating up in Eugene, and it is interesting to hear some of the arguments both ways. I am not sure that you can say he did or didn't know what his dad was doing, but if he didn't there is no way he should be punished.

[statman]

I don't buy that he didn't know.

Didn't one of the MSU whistle blowers say that Cam called them back almost in tears to tell them that he wouldn't be going to Mississippi State, although it was really where he wanted to play, because there was "just too much money" at Auburn?

[cougjunkie]

Reggie Bush was punished when his parents took money.

[Paperback Writer]

Should Cam Newton be punished if he did not know that his father was asking for money?

Interesting to note that Cam Newton left the decision of where he would sign to his father [Cecil Newton]. In my experience, that's not very common. Obviously, parents have a lot of influence on where their 17-year old son commits to attend school and play football but usually it comes down to the choice of the player. But CAM Newton was a JC tranfer to Auburn, not a 17-year old HS senior leaving home for the first time. And it's uncommon to read a JC transfer stating that his college decision....is up to Dad.

From a legal standpoint, "knowing" probably doesn't have much to do with it. Did Reggie Bush know his family was living rent free in a really nice house?

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I know you took the whole summer off, but I was here saying that USC didn't deserve the punishment they got. It was me and Ted Miller holding court while our resident Southern Cali fans were MIA.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

My question is more of the ethical one, should a player be punished if they are unaware of actions their parent/guardian takes to get gain from their abilities.

I think players go where there parents say over where they might choose all the time. Often parents can see the big picture and playing at ____(insert blue blood of college football) is better than playing at _____(insert trendy/non-BCS team) is most of the time a much better decision.

[TripletDaddy]

I know you took the whole summer off, but I was here saying that USC didn't deserve the punishment they got. It was me and Ted Miller holding court while our resident Southern Cali fans were MIA.

ok, then I went back and changed my answer.

The NCAA is in a weird situation. They wanted to make an example of SC, then shortly thereafter had a slew of high profile schools run into compliance problems, several of them with infractions that were more closely associated with the school than Lake's involvement with Bush's parents. There was never any accusation that SC gave Reggie anything, only that it should have known what his parents were doing in SD.

In Auburn's case, we already have a school coming out and saying that it was approached by Cam's dad asking for cash. This puts Auburn in a very awkward situation, unless Cam's dad had a change of heart and didn't ask for a dime from the Tigers.

My guess is that nothing will happen to Auburn, but Auburn is going for broke on this one. This will be an all or nothing, so on the off chance that Auburn gets away with this (allegedly), might as well keep playing the kid and making a run at the title. If they are caught, the entire season will be nullified, so sitting him at this point makes no sense.

[OrangeUte]

i am assuming that a showing of proof is made that CN did not know. in that case, it's not his crime, so he shouldn't do the time.

[Coach McGuirk]

Taking the hypo at face. It doesn't matter. Cam and Auburn will be screwed if any exchange of rolled cash took place. Now if it is just the Miss st. supposed demand and that no money exchange took place, regardless of whether Cam knew or not, How do you punish that?

[Flystripper]

How will you ever know if he knew or not? My gut tells me that there is no way the kid didn't know.

I have gone back and forth on this with Reggie and honestly I don't feel too passionately either way. Right now I am feeling like he should be punished because I just don't believe that he didn't know and in this case the only way to punish the father is to punish the son.

Sorry kid you have some responsibility to keep your dad in check.

[TripletDaddy]

Taking the hypo at face. It doesn't matter. Cam and Auburn will be screwed if any exchange of rolled cash took place. Now if it is just the Miss st. supposed demand and that no money exchange took place, regardless of whether Cam knew or not, How do you punish that?

If there is a rule against that sort of solicitation, then that is how they would nab him. I don't know if there is such a rule, though. My guess is that something along those lines would exist.

[The_Tick]

If dad did recieve money, there is no way that you don't punish Cam and Auburn.

Because if you let it slide...you have just opened the door to NCAA approval.

Mom and Dad...keep the kid out of the loop and we are good to go.

Can't allow it to happen, regardless if the kid is in the know or not. Mom and Dad have to understand that their actions will have impact on their child.