LikeUntoGod
The Oracle
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/spo...aveHyde-blog+(Dave+Hyde+|+Sun+Sentinel+blogs)
So what are the facts? 1. Newton, whilst at Florida, was arrested by police after purchasing a stolen laptop. When it seemed as though he would be caught, he threw the computer out of his dorm window. On his arrest he was charged, according to Alachua County jail records, with burglary, larceny and obstruction of justice. The laptop belonged to a Florida student called Paul Loschak who reported it stolen in October of 2008. A week later he got an email from the school to say that his internet access was being shut down for using the file share programme Limewire, something he’d never installed on his computer. Campus authorities found that someone using Newton’s school log-in was using the computer and moved to arrest the then Gator back up QB. Loschak said he decided against pursuing the charges because he was graduating from UF in the spring and didn't want to return for court hearings. He also was afraid of retribution if Newton was kicked off the team, stating that at the time he was “more interested in my safety." Newton was required to attend anti-theft counseling, write an apology letter to Loschak and do 50 hours of community service in exchange for charges eventually being dropped.
2. That Newton was guilty of academic dishonesty whilst at Florida. He decided to transfer in the spring of 2009 because he wanted to play football. Understandable given his talent and the fact that he was behind Tim Tebow on the depth chart. However it was revealed in the late fall of 2010 that he was facing possible expulsion from the University at the time of his transfer after a Fox.com report that he had a “cheating issue” in his freshman year and then two more in his sophomore year. Whilst information about the freshman transgression is sketchy, as a sophomore Newton put his name on another student's paper and turned it in. Newton then turned in a second paper to the instructor, but that was later found to have been purchased off the Internet. Student conduct records are protected by law so it’s doubtful further information will be forthcoming.
3. Newton was guilty of a number of traffic violations during his time in Gainesville. Alachua County records again state that a Cameron Jerrell Newton with the Auburn quarterback's birth date of May 11 1989 had 12 tickets over a two-year period. All of them were for minor moving or non moving traffic violations: failure to stop at a red light, tag obscured/improperly displayed, unlawful speeding, failure to obey, passing in a no passing zone, drivers license not carried, running a red light, failure to obey, unlawful speed, drivers license not carried, violation of municipal speed limit and knowingly driving whilst suspended.
4. The most damaging allegations against Newton were those that came to light early in November and surrounded his father, Cecil Newton Sr. and his demanding of money from Mississippi State for Cam to sign there after leaving Blinn Community College. John Bond, an ex MSU QB said he was approached by a former teammate on behalf of Cam’s father, asking for $180,000 in exchange for sending his son there. There was a lot of intrigue surrounding Cecil Newton’s church, the Holy Zion Centre of Deliverance which has struggled to keep the city from condemning it due to the extensive repairs needed. The NCAA closely examined how Cam ended up at Auburn but ruled that he had no knowledge of any improper payments being made on his behalf and ruled him eligible to play. What’s interesting about this is the role of Dan Mullen, the MSU coach. I tried unsuccessfully to discover whether Cam’s brother, Cecil Jr. who plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was recruited by Mullen when he was at Utah in 2003-4. But what I do know is that when Cam himself was a high school junior in 2005, Mullen was integral in recruiting him to Florida. During that initial recruitment process, Cam’s father was quoted as saying: “Dan Mullen is a good friend of mine". It was a line that came up again when Newton was being recruited by the Bulldogs on leaving Blinn. On that occasion his choice was narrowed to three schools, MSU, Auburn and Oklahoma and Cecil was again quoted discussing his admiration for Mullen who was now HC at Mississippi State: “We are fond of Dan and Cameron is fond of Dan. Dan is fond of Cam. That may have the makings of a good marriage.” The abiding question for me is that is if the relationship between Mullen and Cam Newton was as strong as has been reported on both sides – Mullen’s wife and Cam were friends – why didn’t he go to MSU? It’s a question Mullen himself was asked himself on Rivals radio and the response was a fascinating insight: “That’s a long, long story. That’ll be in the book.”
So what are the facts? 1. Newton, whilst at Florida, was arrested by police after purchasing a stolen laptop. When it seemed as though he would be caught, he threw the computer out of his dorm window. On his arrest he was charged, according to Alachua County jail records, with burglary, larceny and obstruction of justice. The laptop belonged to a Florida student called Paul Loschak who reported it stolen in October of 2008. A week later he got an email from the school to say that his internet access was being shut down for using the file share programme Limewire, something he’d never installed on his computer. Campus authorities found that someone using Newton’s school log-in was using the computer and moved to arrest the then Gator back up QB. Loschak said he decided against pursuing the charges because he was graduating from UF in the spring and didn't want to return for court hearings. He also was afraid of retribution if Newton was kicked off the team, stating that at the time he was “more interested in my safety." Newton was required to attend anti-theft counseling, write an apology letter to Loschak and do 50 hours of community service in exchange for charges eventually being dropped.
2. That Newton was guilty of academic dishonesty whilst at Florida. He decided to transfer in the spring of 2009 because he wanted to play football. Understandable given his talent and the fact that he was behind Tim Tebow on the depth chart. However it was revealed in the late fall of 2010 that he was facing possible expulsion from the University at the time of his transfer after a Fox.com report that he had a “cheating issue” in his freshman year and then two more in his sophomore year. Whilst information about the freshman transgression is sketchy, as a sophomore Newton put his name on another student's paper and turned it in. Newton then turned in a second paper to the instructor, but that was later found to have been purchased off the Internet. Student conduct records are protected by law so it’s doubtful further information will be forthcoming.
3. Newton was guilty of a number of traffic violations during his time in Gainesville. Alachua County records again state that a Cameron Jerrell Newton with the Auburn quarterback's birth date of May 11 1989 had 12 tickets over a two-year period. All of them were for minor moving or non moving traffic violations: failure to stop at a red light, tag obscured/improperly displayed, unlawful speeding, failure to obey, passing in a no passing zone, drivers license not carried, running a red light, failure to obey, unlawful speed, drivers license not carried, violation of municipal speed limit and knowingly driving whilst suspended.
4. The most damaging allegations against Newton were those that came to light early in November and surrounded his father, Cecil Newton Sr. and his demanding of money from Mississippi State for Cam to sign there after leaving Blinn Community College. John Bond, an ex MSU QB said he was approached by a former teammate on behalf of Cam’s father, asking for $180,000 in exchange for sending his son there. There was a lot of intrigue surrounding Cecil Newton’s church, the Holy Zion Centre of Deliverance which has struggled to keep the city from condemning it due to the extensive repairs needed. The NCAA closely examined how Cam ended up at Auburn but ruled that he had no knowledge of any improper payments being made on his behalf and ruled him eligible to play. What’s interesting about this is the role of Dan Mullen, the MSU coach. I tried unsuccessfully to discover whether Cam’s brother, Cecil Jr. who plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was recruited by Mullen when he was at Utah in 2003-4. But what I do know is that when Cam himself was a high school junior in 2005, Mullen was integral in recruiting him to Florida. During that initial recruitment process, Cam’s father was quoted as saying: “Dan Mullen is a good friend of mine". It was a line that came up again when Newton was being recruited by the Bulldogs on leaving Blinn. On that occasion his choice was narrowed to three schools, MSU, Auburn and Oklahoma and Cecil was again quoted discussing his admiration for Mullen who was now HC at Mississippi State: “We are fond of Dan and Cameron is fond of Dan. Dan is fond of Cam. That may have the makings of a good marriage.” The abiding question for me is that is if the relationship between Mullen and Cam Newton was as strong as has been reported on both sides – Mullen’s wife and Cam were friends – why didn’t he go to MSU? It’s a question Mullen himself was asked himself on Rivals radio and the response was a fascinating insight: “That’s a long, long story. That’ll be in the book.”
