http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/12/qa_with_auburns_cam_newton_on.htmlQ&A with Auburn's Cam Newton: On his success, the NCAA, his father, his future and more
Published: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 7:16 A
Charles Goldberg/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times
NEW YORK -- Cam Newton is not like you and me, unless you have a Heisman Trophy, appeared on David Letterman and walked down the streets of New York with people shouting your name in the last 24 hours.
The Auburn quarterback was honored at a Heisman Trophy banquet here Monday night for a remarkable season on the field that has helped the Tigers to a 13-0 record and a spot in the national championship game.
But it's not been all fun and games. The personable Newton with his million-dollar smile was squired away by Auburn after news broke that his father, Cecil Newton Sr., tried to get money for his son to play at Mississippi State. Neither Cam Newton nor Auburn have been found to have been involved in such a deal.
Newton discusses his recent isolation from the public, talking with the NCAA, whether he'll return to Auburn for his senior season, his family and even where he's going to put his Heisman in this Q&A conducted before Monday's banquet.
Question: Will your life ever get back to normal?
Answer: I don't know. I think I've embraced me being -- I don't want to say 'different' -- but something that's in the process of being excellent testimony to share with others.
Q: What have the last few days been like in New York?
A: I can count the few hours that I've slept. The best thing about this is being around close friends and family members.
That's probably kept me grounded during these times because without those guys, there would probably be no telling what my mindset would be right now.
Q: There's been negative stories about you the last month. Do you try to avoid them on the Internet?
A: A lot of times people protect you. You have a lot of people coming up to you -- family members included -- that ask if you've read an article about yourself. That's something I really don't want to get into. A wise man once told me if you're not able to read the bad news, don't be in such a hurry to read the good news.
Q: So do you read the stories?
A: I don't think it's good for a person's ego. An ego is bad enough as it is. I don't want to pump that up.
Q: How was the last month when you didn't speak to the media and were often isolated from the public?
A: The most uncomfortable thing for me was not being myself. A lot of times I'm forced to be a serious guy. Before the limelight, I was a goofy guy and I had fun. Now, everybody is looking at Cam Newton waiting to see what his next move is. That limits the goofiness and makes me put that more-serious cap on.
I've been by myself or been in an isolated place. Honestly, I've found out a lot about myself. I'm not such a fun guy. I'm in the house trying to entertain myself, watching TV, just doing things. This is the life I signed up for, so I have to deal with the good and the bad.
Q: Did you want to talk and state your case in the last month?
A: Honestly I did, but, at the same time, I didn't want to get into the back and forth attack with somebody. I just wanted to let it all come out and, at the end, I wanted to make a statement.
Q: A lot has been made of your father in the story. Is it all fair?
A: The bad thing for athletes is we're always getting things thrown at us, but we're never able to come back. The media has the ability to put something out every single day, but an athlete has only so many hours to defend himself. I wanted to come right back to state my case, but the time wasn't right for me to do that.
This whole situation has done nothing but brought me closer to my family and with my father. Anytime I get a chance to spend time with them, I'm all for it.
Q: Where are you going to put your Heisman?
A: I don't know. That's up to my mom and grandmom. They've done all the other design of the house, so we'll see what they've got in mind.
Q: Will you return to Auburn for your senior season?
A: Honestly, I don't know. Right now, I'm caught in a whirlwind and I've got other things going on right now. I first want to tackle them one by one rather than jump around to '1,' '5,' '10.' I want to go '1-2-3-4-5.'
Q: Are there misconceptions about Cam Newton?
A: There probably are, and there are probably some misconceptions out there about you. I'm not about to walk down the streets of New York and say, 'What do you think about Cam Newton?' And then jump back and say, 'I'm not that.'
Q: How was it talking to the NCAA?
A: It wasn't something that I looked forward to doing. Honestly, I underestimated what kind of impact it really was for me. They said the NCAA is coming in to investigate, and for me, I didn't have anything to hide, so I was like, 'Let me go in and do it.' But after they interviewed so many people -- from coaches, to players, to my parents, to other family members -- it wasn't something I looked forward to.
After practice you realize they're still in there wanting to do the same interview. It's something that you want to stay away from.
Q: Do people really understand your father's position?
A: My dad is in a handicapped situation not being able to talk to anybody. When he did bring out the statement people still thought so many other things about him. That's hard for me to take, knowing that people have negative impressions of my father. It doesn't harm me at all, but it's always in the back of your mind that these people have those types of thoughts about him.
Q: You've won the Heisman and you've dealt with the off-the-field issues. Will you have a clear mind when Auburn returns to begin work to play for the national championship?
A: Absolutely. Before all of this, I was just a football player; and before that, I was a human being. I'm just going to remember where I came from.
He is going to do SO WELL in the NFL. He will wind up someone's franchise. Drop dead gorgeous, incredibly talented, incredibly poised, a fabulous leader... the next Peyton?
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