INDIANAPOLIS -- Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is eligible to play in the SEC title game this weekend, even though the NCAA says his father broke rules by shopping his son to another school.
The NCAA released its finding in a statement Wednesday. The college sports governing body had concluded on Monday that a violation of Newton's amateur status had occurred. Auburn declared Newton ineligible on Tuesday and requested his eligibility be reinstated.
Newton has been cleared to compete without conditions.
Auburn (No. 1 BCS, No. 2 AP) plays South Carolina (No. 19 BCS, No. 18 AP) in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday. With a victory, the Tigers will earn a spot in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game.
"Based on the information available to the reinstatement staff at this time, we do not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity, which led to his reinstatement," said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for academic and membership affairs. "From a student-athlete reinstatement perspective, Auburn University met its obligation . . . Under this threshold, the student-athlete has not participated while ineligible."
Said Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs: "We are pleased that the NCAA has agreed with our position that Cam Newton has been and continues to be eligible to play football at Auburn University. We appreciate the diligence and professionalism of the NCAA and its handling of this matter."
The NCAA won't say its case is closed on the Newton recruitment even though it clears Newton himself. Its statement notes that reinstatement likely occurs "prior to the close of an investigation."
The NCAA said in a statement that Auburn has limited the access Newton's father has to the Tigers' program, and Mississippi State has disassociated an unidentified individual involved in the case. The NCAA said its policy is not to comment on current, pending or potential investigations.
ESPN.com reported on Nov. 4 that a man, identified as former Mississippi State football player Kenny Rogers, had called former teammate John Bond and said he was represented the Newtons. Bond said Rogers solicited a six-figure payment to secure the quarterback's signature on a national letter of intent.
On Nov. 9, two sources who recruit for Mississippi State told ESPN of a pay-for-play scheme to gain Newton's services. The sources told ESPN that prior to Newton's commitment to Auburn, Cecil Newton told a recruiter it would take "more than a scholarship" to bring his son to Mississippi State, a request the source said the school would not meet.
After Newton committed to Auburn, another source said an emotional Cam Newton phoned another recruiter to express regret that he wouldn't be going to Mississippi State, stating that his father, Cecil, had chosen Auburn for him because "the money was too much."
Rogers initially denied talking to Bond, but told ESPN 103.3 radio in Dallas on Nov. 11 that Cecil Newton told him it would take "anywhere between $100,000 and $180,000" for his son to play at Mississippi State.
Rogers, who has worked with sports agent Ian Greengross and has a company called Elite Football Preparation, said Newton's father, Cecil, asked two Mississippi State coaches for money at a hotel in Starkville, Miss., in Nov. 2009 to secure his son's commitment to the Bulldogs. Rogers says the coaches declined the request, and Mississippi State said all of its employees acted properly.
Former Mississippi State football player Bill Bell, in an interview with ESPN.com on Nov. 17, said he told the NCAA he received a text message from Rogers claiming to represent Cecil Newton's father that outlined a payment plan designed to bring the quarterback to the Bulldogs. Bell said Cecil Newton never specifically asked him for money, but that Cecil Newton was present during three-way calls in which Rogers discussed a pay-for-play scheme.
Mississippi State notified the Southeastern Conference of the reported offer in January 2010. It followed up with more information in July.
"The conduct of Cam Newton's father and the involved individual is unacceptable and has no place in the SEC or in intercollegiate athletics," Mike Slive, the SEC commissioner, said Wednesday. "The actions taken by Auburn University and Mississippi State University make it clear this behavior will not be tolerated in the SEC."
Rogers, Bell and Bond were all interviewed by the NCAA during its investigation, as was Newton, his father and his mother.
George Lawson, an attorney who said he was representing the Newton family, told WSB-TV of Atlanta on Nov. 18 that he was "1 million percent" certain Cam Newton did not take any money. Lawson says if Cecil Newton discussed money, his son "knew nothing" about it.
"No money has been offered to Cam Newton," Lawson told WSB-TV. "Cam Newton [hasn't] asked for any money."
Rogers is scheduled to meet with officials from the Mississippi Secretary of State's office Dec. 9 to discuss the recruitment of Newton.
Information from ESPN.com college football writers Mark Schlabach, Chris Low and Pat Forde, along with ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad and The Associated Press is included in this report.
The NCAA released its finding in a statement Wednesday. The college sports governing body had concluded on Monday that a violation of Newton's amateur status had occurred. Auburn declared Newton ineligible on Tuesday and requested his eligibility be reinstated.
Newton has been cleared to compete without conditions.
Auburn (No. 1 BCS, No. 2 AP) plays South Carolina (No. 19 BCS, No. 18 AP) in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday. With a victory, the Tigers will earn a spot in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game.
"Based on the information available to the reinstatement staff at this time, we do not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity, which led to his reinstatement," said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for academic and membership affairs. "From a student-athlete reinstatement perspective, Auburn University met its obligation . . . Under this threshold, the student-athlete has not participated while ineligible."
Said Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs: "We are pleased that the NCAA has agreed with our position that Cam Newton has been and continues to be eligible to play football at Auburn University. We appreciate the diligence and professionalism of the NCAA and its handling of this matter."
The NCAA won't say its case is closed on the Newton recruitment even though it clears Newton himself. Its statement notes that reinstatement likely occurs "prior to the close of an investigation."
The NCAA said in a statement that Auburn has limited the access Newton's father has to the Tigers' program, and Mississippi State has disassociated an unidentified individual involved in the case. The NCAA said its policy is not to comment on current, pending or potential investigations.
ESPN.com reported on Nov. 4 that a man, identified as former Mississippi State football player Kenny Rogers, had called former teammate John Bond and said he was represented the Newtons. Bond said Rogers solicited a six-figure payment to secure the quarterback's signature on a national letter of intent.
On Nov. 9, two sources who recruit for Mississippi State told ESPN of a pay-for-play scheme to gain Newton's services. The sources told ESPN that prior to Newton's commitment to Auburn, Cecil Newton told a recruiter it would take "more than a scholarship" to bring his son to Mississippi State, a request the source said the school would not meet.
After Newton committed to Auburn, another source said an emotional Cam Newton phoned another recruiter to express regret that he wouldn't be going to Mississippi State, stating that his father, Cecil, had chosen Auburn for him because "the money was too much."
Rogers initially denied talking to Bond, but told ESPN 103.3 radio in Dallas on Nov. 11 that Cecil Newton told him it would take "anywhere between $100,000 and $180,000" for his son to play at Mississippi State.
Rogers, who has worked with sports agent Ian Greengross and has a company called Elite Football Preparation, said Newton's father, Cecil, asked two Mississippi State coaches for money at a hotel in Starkville, Miss., in Nov. 2009 to secure his son's commitment to the Bulldogs. Rogers says the coaches declined the request, and Mississippi State said all of its employees acted properly.
Former Mississippi State football player Bill Bell, in an interview with ESPN.com on Nov. 17, said he told the NCAA he received a text message from Rogers claiming to represent Cecil Newton's father that outlined a payment plan designed to bring the quarterback to the Bulldogs. Bell said Cecil Newton never specifically asked him for money, but that Cecil Newton was present during three-way calls in which Rogers discussed a pay-for-play scheme.
Mississippi State notified the Southeastern Conference of the reported offer in January 2010. It followed up with more information in July.
"The conduct of Cam Newton's father and the involved individual is unacceptable and has no place in the SEC or in intercollegiate athletics," Mike Slive, the SEC commissioner, said Wednesday. "The actions taken by Auburn University and Mississippi State University make it clear this behavior will not be tolerated in the SEC."
Rogers, Bell and Bond were all interviewed by the NCAA during its investigation, as was Newton, his father and his mother.
George Lawson, an attorney who said he was representing the Newton family, told WSB-TV of Atlanta on Nov. 18 that he was "1 million percent" certain Cam Newton did not take any money. Lawson says if Cecil Newton discussed money, his son "knew nothing" about it.
"No money has been offered to Cam Newton," Lawson told WSB-TV. "Cam Newton [hasn't] asked for any money."
Rogers is scheduled to meet with officials from the Mississippi Secretary of State's office Dec. 9 to discuss the recruitment of Newton.
Information from ESPN.com college football writers Mark Schlabach, Chris Low and Pat Forde, along with ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad and The Associated Press is included in this report.
