Cecil Newton interviewed by the Charlotte Observer

[Jumbo]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/30/2420296/cecil-newton-scandal-doesnt-define.html

Cecil Newton: NCAA scandal doesn’t define who I am
QB’s dad says he’s moving past NCAA’s finding that he sought money for his son’s services.
By Joseph Person
jperson@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Thursday, Jun. 30, 2011
BRADENTON, Fla. – About halfway through his throwing session Thursday morning at IMG Academies, Cam Newton spotted his father camped under a tent in the far corner of the field.

“What ya in the shade for, man?” Newton yelled.

Cecil Newton waved off the question and kept his position, from which he could watch two of his three sons practicing on adjacent fields. Caylin Newton, 12, a rising seventh-grader in south Atlanta, was participating in one of IMG’s football camps.

After standing at the forefront of a national firestorm last fall that resulted from his pay-for-play scheme for Cam’s services, Cecil Newton is content to stay in the background these days.

His oldest son is returning to pro football in the UFL. His middle son won a Heisman Trophy and a national title at Auburn after the NCAA cleared him, and was the No.1 overall NFL pick by the Carolina Panthers.

And though the investigation remains open, Cecil Newton is confident the NCAA will find no other improprieties.

“We really just want it to calm down, let the smoke settle, let the dust settle,” Newton said Thursday in a rare interview. “The truth is out there. They have it in their files.”

Cecil Newton remains the pastor of Holy Zion Center of Deliverance Church, whose financial records he turned over to the NCAA last year when it began looking into allegations he had solicited a six-figure payment from Mississippi State when Cam Newton was transferring from junior college.

The NCAA ultimately ruled that Cam Newton and Auburn did not know about Cecil Newton’s actions, and allowed Cam Newton to continue playing. While his son led Auburn to SEC and BCS titles, Cecil Newton was vilified and held up as an example of all that is wrong with big-time college athletics.

“What was in print didn’t totally define who I am as a person or as a father. And I’m confident over time that will be revealed through our (charitable) foundation and through a lot of our efforts,” Cecil Newton said.

“I don’t really want to go back and rehash that and speak along the lines of what I did or didn’t do, what was said, what should have been said. I really don’t even want to open that can of worms because the investigation, from what they say, is ongoing. I’ve been transparent throughout the whole process.”

Cecil Newton said he has had no recent meetings with the NCAA.

Several media outlets reported last year the FBI planned to look into the matter. Cecil Newton would not say whether the FBI is still investigating.

“I really don’t even want to put much into the suggestion of what might be federal or what might be this or that. I was cooperative with them. Nothing was hidden, and we’ve moved on,” he said. “A lot was said in a short period of time. But the people who know me as a father, as a parent, as a caring individual, they know who I am. The others will discover later. If they do, they do. If they don’t, they don’t.”

Asked whether he solicited money from Auburn, Newton said: “According to what the NCAA findings are, that’s what we’re going with.”

Cecil Newton said he weathered the controversy by praying and leaning on family members. He spends his spare time working out, and often accompanies his sons to IMG for training.

Cecil Newton Jr., an offensive lineman who played two games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009, was drafted by the UFL’s Hartford franchise this year. Cam Newton is working with former Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke at IMG in preparation for his first training camp.

Cecil Newton said he hopes his son can sign his contract and get to camp on time when the lockout is lifted.

“We just want to get to work. It’s been enough delays, enough (labor) negotiations,” he said. “We’ve got a good agent team together. They understand the negotiations. I’m sure ownership is going to understand it’s imperative that we get these numbers together, come to an agreement and get it moving.”

A rookie wage scale expected to be a part of the new collective bargaining agreement could cost Cam Newton millions. St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford received $50 million guaranteed as last year’s No.1 pick, but the NFL seeks to reduce the large bonuses and guaranteed money for rookies.

But Cecil Newton is confident NFL Players Association director DeMaurice Smith and his attorneys will “protect the interest of not only the first player picked, but Mr. Irrelevant as well.”

“I just want Cam to get out here, get on board with his team, do the right things on and off the field and the rest will take care of itself,” Cecil Newton added. “He’s played for so long for free that anything we make, man, is a blessing.”

Staff researcher Maria David contributed.



Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/30/2420296/cecil-newton-scandal-doesnt-define.html#ixzz1Qp9zScuC

[Townhallsavoy]

Wow.  Horrible choice of words.

The homer in me says that Cecil was saying that the NCAA has said there is nothing to show that Cecil and Auburn were talking about a pay for play scheme. 

The rival in everyone else sees this as another deflection from Cecil Newton.

[Kaos]

The less he says the better. 

At least Finebaum's got two weeks of topic, though. 

[Jumbo]

He sounds like a fucking idiot.

[jmar]

   
  :facepalm

And all of this time I thought that the hammer was a metaphor when in actuality, it is vacationing in Bradenton, Florida, has a face and can't shut the fuck up.




 

 

[JR4AU]

Perfect example of a couple of things.

A: Always exercise your right to remain silent.  Even when you say the right thing, if you say it the wrong way, it's still bad. 

B: I tell police officers all the time, though few get it, that what you say is important, but it's just as important HOW you say it.

Cecil is a dumbass. 

[djsimp]

Good gosh man I could have gone years without reading that. O' Cecil sure doesn't have the media savvy.

[The Six]

Cecil, Sr. needs a big ole can of Shut the Eff Up.

Cam, please rifle a ball at yo daddy's mouf.

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

The less he says the better. 

At least Finebaum's got two weeks of topic, though.

He's already tweeting suggestive shit for all the gheys on twitter.  It'll be twisted...

Cecil needs to quit playing Obama and campaigning bullshit and say what's up, or shut the fuck up.  He sounded like an evasive idiot there.

[The Prowler]

Btw, I'm going with what Reece Davis said on that statement, "It was the only thing he could say.", inregards to any investigations still going on with the case...not dealing with Auburn.  He still can't speak specifically about the particular case. So, that question was a loaded...loaded.

"No comment" - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn.

"I'm going to wait until everything comes out..." - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn.

"I'm not sure if there's still an investigation going on, so I can't speak specifically about it, but I've told the NCAA everything, a while back, from our end....So, I'm going to leave it at that." - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn. (actually that wouldn't be that bad)

[jmar]

Btw, I'm going with what Reece Davis said on that statement, "It was the only thing he could say.", inregards to any investigations still going on with the case...not dealing with Auburn.  He still can't speak specifically about the particular case. So, that question was a loaded...loaded.

"No comment" - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn.

"I'm going to wait until everything comes out..." - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn.

"I'm not sure if there's still an investigation going on, so I can't speak specifically about it, but I've told the NCAA everything, a while back, from our end....So, I'm going to leave it at that." - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn. (actually that wouldn't be that bad)

He has no reason to speak on the subject unless he just wants to draw attention to himself.

[JR4AU]

Btw, I'm going with what Reece Davis said on that statement, "It was the only thing he could say.", inregards to any investigations still going on with the case...not dealing with Auburn.  He still can't speak specifically about the particular case. So, that question was a loaded...loaded.

"No comment" - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn.

"I'm going to wait until everything comes out..." - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn.

"I'm not sure if there's still an investigation going on, so I can't speak specifically about it, but I've told the NCAA everything, a while back, from our end....So, I'm going to leave it at that." - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn. (actually that wouldn't be that bad)

Wait...how is it Cecil doesn't know if there's an investigation going on?  HE"S the focus of this, so called "ongoing investigation".   How is it exactly that the NCAA is investigating whether or not Cecil or Cam got paid?  They have no subpoena power.  Cecil would have to give them financial records willingly, which he already has.   Has the NCAA simply stationed an investigator at Toomer's  Corner that is randomly asking passers by "Did you pay Cam or Cecil?"

But yeah, Cecil can't say shit that won't be twisted and contorted, and if he actually denies being paid, he'll be called a liar.  The ONLY thing the Updykes will believe is if he says "hells yes we got paid".    So, no use in talking to anybody about it.  Best left alone, and then he doesn't sound so fucking stupid. 

[Token]

“I don’t really want to go back and rehash that and speak along the lines of what I did or didn’t do, what was said, what should have been said. I really don’t even want to open that can of worms because the investigation, from what they say, is ongoing."

I KNEW IT!!!  BITCHES GONNA BURN!!!

[djsimp]

I KNEW IT!!!  BITCHES GONNA BURN!!!

Shut yo face, you terrorist.

[No Huddle]

Btw, I'm going with what Reece Davis said on that statement, "It was the only thing he could say.", inregards to any investigations still going on with the case...not dealing with Auburn.  He still can't speak specifically about the particular case. So, that question was a loaded...loaded.

"No comment" - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn.

"I'm going to wait until everything comes out..." - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn.

"I'm not sure if there's still an investigation going on, so I can't speak specifically about it, but I've told the NCAA everything, a while back, from our end....So, I'm going to leave it at that." - Uh Oh, Auburn is going to burn. (actually that wouldn't be that bad)

I've got to go with Prowler on this one.

[The Prowler]

Wait...how is it Cecil doesn't know if there's an investigation going on?  HE"S the focus of this, so called "ongoing investigation".

He was the focus, he MIGHT still be to a certain extent, plus Cecil isn't privy to any information other than what he has already given to the NCAA.  The NCAA isn't going to call Cecil and tell him that they are interviewing Coach A-Z and boosters A-Z about this or that.  So, he really wouldn't know what they are doing if it doesn't pertain to him.  I agree, he should've declined any interview...knowing that what he says or doesn't say will be twisted around to whatever the reader thinks or wants to see. Btw, Coach A-Z and boosters A-Z is regarding MSU not Auburn.