Why Do People Have It Out For Cam Newton?

Auburn University QB and leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy Cam Newton has dominated college football headlines in recent days but unfortunately it has little to do with his on the field play. Newton has been the target of a series of allegations regarding his recruitment last season while he played for Blinn Junior College and has also been accused of academic cheating while he attended the University of Florida.

The story arose when several recruiters from Mississippi State went of the record saying that Newton's representative demanded "more than a scholarship" in order for Newton to play there. They went on to say that Newton's camp was asking for somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 to bring the giant QB to Mississippi. As the story developed Mississippi state recruiters stated that both Cam Newton and his father Cecil admitted in separate phone conversations that they were seeking money in return for Newton's commitment.

Only a few days later an anonymous source came out with statements that Newton had been caught cheating 3 different times while at the University of Florida in what appears to be another last-ditch effort to bring down Newton before he has the opportunity to win the Heisman and perhaps the National Championship. Florida head coach Urban Meyer was questioned about the allegations but was adamant that he was not the source and refused to comment further. Auburn head coach Gene Chizik called the accusations "garbage" and was vocal about how disappointed he was in this whole situation.

I really have a problem with these people coming out with unsubstantiated allegations because they are clearly attacking Newton and the Auburn Tigers. No other SEC football recruiter has supported Mississippi States claim that Newton demanded money and even if they did there is simply no way to prove it. I'm not saying Newton is guilty of wrongdoing or not but I am almost certain that we will never see any proof as the only school that would have actually paid Newton would be Auburn and anyone affiliated with the University who might know something will certainly never endanger Newton's legacy.

The only people who have attacked Newton are supporters of rival SEC schools who in my mind are simply jealous of the tremendous success Newton has had in his return to FBS football. I think the Florida cheating claims are even more evident of that as I am sure the team's boosters would kill to have Newton back behind center to replace Tim Tebow.