The NCAA: Obsessed with their image?

Well, the NCAA has really screwed up. For the past two months, there have been allegations surrounding Auburn stud QB Cam Newton about possible academic cheating and for working with an agent. The first allegation that was released in October was that Newton cheated on tests during his tenure at the University of Florida. During the weeks that followed, a firestorm of possible NCAA infractions were brought out into the public against Newton. The one with the most clout was an allegation that Newton's father, Reverend Cecil Newton, contacted a Mississippi State employee and told them that Newton would need "more than a scholarship" to receive his son's talents, later know to be $200,000 dollars.

Here comes the twist to the saga of Cameron Newton. After months of contacting a multitude of sources and thorough investigation, the NCAA announced, well, pretty much nothing. Their statement was that "we do not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity, which led to his reinstatement". Even after finding much of the claims factual, the NCAA clears him to play. The only consequences are that Rev. Newton will no longer be able to attend Auburn football games. This is better than a slap on the wrist; it's more like a holding of a hand. The NCAA has now revealed a major loophole into the recruiting process, basically admitting that as long as the player eligible has no knowledge of the misgivings happening behind his back, he's OK. Now, it appears as though parents and agents can interact freely without permission from the student or the NCAA. Not good.

Also, I guarantee that if this was a back-up kicker for a school like Fresno State (they are really bad), the player would have been suspended and given a severe punishment of some sort. But since this is Cameron Newton, the Heisman front-runner and quite possibly the face of college football right now, nothing will happen in order to keep their own image as spotless as possible by keeping him in full effect. So the next time you tune in ESPN and see Newton celebrating with the Auburn faithful in the stands, know that the NCAA has compromised its own rules for their own image.