# Potential college football nuke: Cam Newton paid to play? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 5, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613 "2010-11-05T18:57:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/21 "2010-11-06T17:24:36Z")
I’m a biology grad student, and we are specifically forbidden to take any outside jobs or sources of money (excepting research grants, etc.) for the duration of our stipend. I don’t know about art students, but at my school, we are definitely restricted. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/22 "2010-11-07T05:29:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **Ogre** > The college football world is abuzz with the news that ESPN leaked last night: Auburn’s Cam Newton is being investigated about allegations that, while he was being recruited, his father pretty much actively sought money ($180,000) from prospective colleges. There is no known Auburn connection, nor is there any present evidence that Cam himself had any knowledge of what was going on. There are, however, many mysterious rumors from mysterious sources that this is the tip of the iceberg, and this will not end well for Auburn. There is already a lot of commentary out there speculating that this will cost him the Heisman, whether he’s eventually cleared or not. Come on Ogre, maybe you should begin again and start an [accurate](http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5765214) thread. I don’t know if he is guilty or not but the quote “his father pretty much actively sought money ($180,000) from prospective colleges” is patently false. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/23 "2010-11-08T01:23:08Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > How are they getting fucked, again? They are usually given a full-ride scholarship, and the opportunity to earn a college degree. They are given the opportunity to play a sport they love in front of a nationwide TV audience, which can vastly increase their future employability at the next level. They have no right to the money generated by the program, and no one is forcing them onto the field. They are there voluntarily. > > This argument reminds me strongly of the old horseshit saw that “graduate students are slave labor for the department”. What a load. Sounds good but most big time college programs don’t care about the graduation rates. They have to be forced to do anything about them. Student athletes go to high profile schools to get noticed by the pros. Many are spoon fed chicken shit classes to make sure they stay eligible. The school uses them and they use the school. But getting a degree is secondary to most athletes and schools. Attending classes is a distraction. The athletes are not too stupid to see all the money they help generate. They know they risk their health to bring the money in. They know coaches are paid millions . Why wouldn’t they feel a bit screwed. Teams bring in athletes who are criminals if they think they can help the team. It is not a high level agreement to receive an education . ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/24 "2010-11-08T01:50:00Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > How are they getting fucked, again? They are usually given a full-ride scholarship, and the opportunity to earn a college degree. They are given the opportunity to play a sport they love in front of a nationwide TV audience, which can vastly increase their future employability at the next level. Not to mention they get to reap all the personal spoils and gratification of being the VIPs of campus, as famous as anyone their age can be without being a rock star or actor, they get accustomed to VIP treatment everywhere they go; they get to live in better dorms and eat better food than regular students; they can fuck any girls they want - hundreds of the sexiest little college women you can imagine will be throwing themselves at them sexually; they get their asses kissed by students and faculty alike…man, I feel SO sorry for them. They’re slaves! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/25 "2010-11-08T03:41:06Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Division I schools make tens of millions of dollars off their football programs and the antiquated (and quaint) rules punish athletes very aggressively. Virtually anything that an athlete does to make money is probably illegal under NCAA rules. > > The sad thing is that the scum “agents” who are often at the root of these problems don’t get anywhere the same reprimand as the student athlete does. The vast majority of athletic departments operate in the red, as their 2 big revenue sports fund much of the operating costs for all the other teams. Consider the travel costs for schools in conferences like the Pac 10, Mountain West, Big 12 - they have to fly for nearly every competition, swimming, track, wrestling, etc., all the non revenue sports draw from the money brought in by the big 2. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/26 "2010-11-08T04:40:24Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > 1. I want Cam on the field, hale and healthy, when Auburn comes to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl. I think Bama wins regardless, and I want no excuses like we heard from the Longhorns fans last year. > > [Linky](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/?eref=sinav) What excuses? You WON the national championship. Congratulations, you deserved it. But the Horns WERE missing their best player. Ask Bill Belichick if Colt McCoy is any good! That’s not your fault and it’s not your problem. But why SHOULDN’T Texas fans be entitled to ask wistfully, “What if?” ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/27 "2010-11-08T04:50:59Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > That’s not your fault and it’s not your problem. But why SHOULDN’T Texas fans be entitled to ask wistfully, “What if?” Because, regardless of the outcome, such whining is _loser talk._ You know what would have happened if Alabama’s prized pony and heisman trophy winner had suddenly broken a leg in the first quarter? We would’ve put in Trent Richardson and ran up the score even more, because winners know it takes an entire team to win champsionships, and counting on a single player to carry your entire team into the end zone is a losing strategy every time. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/28 "2010-11-08T04:55:50Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > What excuses? > > You WON the national championship. Congratulations, you deserved it. > > But the Horns WERE missing their best player. Ask Bill Belichick if Colt McCoy is any good! > > That’s not your fault and it’s not your problem. But why SHOULDN’T Texas fans be entitled to ask wistfully, “What if?” “What if?” is fine. But I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard (family and friends in San Antonio), with 100% sincerity, that if Colt McCoy were in the game, Texas would have romped. To them, it’s almost like McCoy didn’t start at all, and wasn’t knocked out of it in the normal course of the game, by direct action of their opponent. Maybe if Mack Brown wanted Colt McCoy in one piece, he’d have taken it a bit easier on the quarterback option. It’s inexplicable. The Texas QB was in the game. He played. He just got his clock cleaned. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/29 "2010-11-08T06:01:39Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > “What if?” is fine. But I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard (family and friends in San Antonio), with 100% sincerity, that if Colt McCoy were in the game, Texas would have romped. > > To them, it’s almost like McCoy didn’t start at all, and wasn’t knocked out of it in the normal course of the game, by direct action of their opponent. Maybe if Mack Brown wanted Colt McCoy in one piece, he’d have taken it a bit easier on the quarterback option. > > It’s inexplicable. The Texas QB was in the game. He played. He just got his clock cleaned. No, he didn’t get his clock cleaned. He got his hand numbed. Big difference, though the same result (he couldn’t play). ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/30 "2010-11-08T20:43:32Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I’m a biology grad student I’m an Auburn grad with a B.S. in molecular bio. Biology is a science, and you and I both know that that means facts. Your OP has none - just speculation, “spin”, and outright lies. As a scientist, you should know better. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/31 "2010-11-10T15:19:43Z")
There is so much smoke around all the Cam Newton stories with the pay to play as well as the incidents at Florida. Who is behind this? This looks like a Karl Rove political campaign. Urban Meyer trying to get Newton benched? An agent trying to influence the Heisman committee? ---
**Author:** ![Moment\_Slayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Moment\_Slayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moment_Slayer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/32 "2010-11-10T16:50:09Z")
The research grants vs athletic revenue is an apples to oranges comparison. First the athletes are undergrads and very few undergrads contribute to research grants. In fact training undergraduate researchers typically takes away from getting funding - in time and missed opportunities. (btw I am a scientist and began research as freshman undergrad, have a PhD, fix a NIH postdoctoral fellowship and work in industry. I’ve been exposed to lots over 30 years). While a grad student I rec’d a scholarship and a salary. If I invented anything then I was entitled to a fraction of 50% of the revenue from that patent- although the univ owned the patent. Athletes get a scholarship yes but no other compensation. If their numbered jersey sells for $2m in revenue they do not get a dime of that money. If they get the school to a bowl - no cut of that revenue. This are things that are directly to their efforts. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/33 "2010-11-10T17:09:41Z")
I have a very hard time believing that every single top player has not been paid to play and every single top football program does not pay for players. Of course Cam Newton got paid to play, and any other team condemning him for it is just pissed that their offer was not good enough. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/34 "2010-11-10T18:14:43Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I’m an Auburn grad with a B.S. in molecular bio. Biology is a science, and you and I both know that that means facts. Your OP has none - just speculation, “spin”, and outright lies. As a scientist, you should know better. I’m not a reporter, dude. I was merely mentioning a prevalent college football rumor on my favorite message board, hoping to engender some discussion. I have absolutely no obligation to meet scientific standards of proof in this matter, and it’s a little bit ridiculous that you think I do. I have no particular desire to see Cam Newton banned (although I now think he will be, and Auburn will be slapped with heavy, HEAVY penalties). Oh, and it may turn out yet that my OP was accurate almost to the letter, given what’s coming out right now…that Cecil Newton told AU that “it will take more than a scholarship” to get Cam. It’s looking like his dad was the pimp the entire time, and Kenny Rogers was just an accomplice. Again, and I repeat, I HAVE NO STANDARDS OF EVIDENCE TO MEET. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SHIT. ON A MESSAGE BOARD. IF YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND THAT, STOP READING THIS THREAD. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/35 "2010-11-17T07:58:45Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Again, and I repeat, I HAVE NO STANDARDS OF EVIDENCE TO MEET. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SHIT. ON A MESSAGE BOARD. IF YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND THAT, STOP READING THIS THREAD. PhD or not, he’s still a barner. Bless his heart. ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/36 "2010-11-18T20:24:03Z")
Well, this story keeps getting better and better (unless you’re an Auburn fan, in which case you are excused to go cry in a corner). [This](http://www.illegalshift.com/2010/11/18/a-simpler-version-of-the-auburn-sec-fbi-cam-newton-cecil-newton-milton-mcgregor-scandal/college-football/) is a quick summary of the situation, and [this](http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/MessageTopic.asp?p=22778676&Pg=1) is basically the greatest rumor summary I’ve found. If even a quarter of this is true, Auburn is in big, big trouble. The only question will be whether the NCAA decides to SMU them or if it stops short of that. Of course, given rumors about the university _losing its accreditation_, I’d say the football team getting the death penalty might be the smallest of Auburn’s worries right now. I can’t wait until the full story comes out. This is going to end up being the biggest sports scandal in 30 or 40 years, at least in the US. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/37 "2010-11-18T22:19:24Z")
> [@TheFifthYear](#): > > Well, this story keeps getting better and better (unless you’re an Auburn fan, in which case you are excused to go cry in a corner). > > [This](http://www.illegalshift.com/2010/11/18/a-simpler-version-of-the-auburn-sec-fbi-cam-newton-cecil-newton-milton-mcgregor-scandal/college-football/) is a quick summary of the situation, and [this](http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/MessageTopic.asp?p=22778676&Pg=1) is basically the greatest rumor summary I’ve found. If even a quarter of this is true, Auburn is in big, big trouble. The only question will be whether the NCAA decides to SMU them or if it stops short of that. > > Of course, given rumors about the university _losing its accreditation_, I’d say the football team getting the death penalty might be the smallest of Auburn’s worries right now. > > I can’t wait until the full story comes out. This is going to end up being the biggest sports scandal in 30 or 40 years, at least in the US. From the first link above… > [@](#): > > It sounds like Auburn’s President wanted to sit Cam against UGA but was overruled by Athletic Director and boosters. How the hell does a President of a university let himself get overruled by ANYBODY? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/38 "2010-11-19T00:05:23Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > How the hell does a President of a university let himself get overruled by ANYBODY? Ummm…Auburn. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/39 "2010-11-19T02:53:43Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > From the first link above… > > How the hell does a President of a university let himself get overruled by ANYBODY? The boosters donate a shit-ton of money to the school. Follow the Benjamins. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613/40 "2010-11-19T04:20:41Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > I don’t know if he is guilty or not but the quote “his father pretty much actively sought money ($180,000) from prospective colleges” is patently false. It’s unproven, sure. But “patently false”? I assume you’ll be back with an apology if it turns out he did, in fact, solicit money. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-college-football-nuke-cam-newton-paid-to-play/559613.md?page=3)