Cam and Cecil Newton, Mississippi State University and Auburn University: What do they have in common? I could spend hours trying to tell you all the details, but I will not bore you.
Basically, Cecil Newton, Cam’s father, accepted money from Mississippi State University for Cam’s commitment to the football program, according to two sources who recruited for MSU in 2010. The NCAA gave Cam “reinstatement” right after the issue was brought to their attention. This did not “clear” Cam from any allegations, but at the time there was no hard evidence that anything had occurred.
The NCAA now enforces a rule informally referred to as the “Cecil Newton Rule.” It states that no parent can solicit services for their son or daughter. If they are caught, they will be treated as an agent, which is under another NCAA rule.
Why do I bring this up? The Newtons got away with it. Whether you believe Cecil accepted the money or not (I do), Cecil, Cam and Auburn escaped unscathed. I am not pointing fingers at any parties involved, but why was nothing ever brought up again after the new rule was set in place two years later?
I wish more people understood that if you came out with the truth right away, things would go a lot smoother. Instead, things are swept under the rug and never brought up again.
Is that the right thing to do? Are the rules not in place for a reason? It seems like certain athletes feel they are above the rules. I get that they might be a phenom, but does that allow them to simply pass by without any consequences?
I could go on and on about why I think things should have been handled differently, but my main reason is that it is just unethical.
All this to say – tell the truth. Just do it. Things will always go smoother. People will stop speculating if the truth is revealed. I cannot promise the result will be what you want, but if things are willingly brought to someone’s attention, then chances are they will respect you for respecting the rules.
