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Wow, you just knew Auburn couldn't sit back and let the NCAA inquest run its course. Gone are the days where schools issue the standard "no comment" line when asked by a reporter about an eligiblity issue or NCAA investigation. Down on the plains with it's magical season playing out like a hollywood script it is all about public relations and recruitin' and the pathetic boogs are getting hammered in the media and are paranoid Glam Cam's boy scout character is now being questioned. Hot off the press, here is the official statement from Jay Jacobs:
Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs defends Cam Newton, calls attacks on QB `sad'
Published: Tuesday, November 09, 2010, 10:24 AM Updated: Tuesday, November 09, 2010, 10:36 AM
Charles Goldberg/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times
Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs has come to the defense of his star quarterback.
Jacobs said in a statement Tuesday morning that charges of academic improprieties are designed to destroy Newton's reputation and called the stories "sad."
Jacobs' comments are the strongest yet from Auburn about its quarterback.
"In the past 24 hours, a lot of allegations have surfaced that date back two years ago and further. These allegations and rumors about Cam Newton are unfortunate and sad because they seem intent on tearing down the reputation of a young man who has done everything we've asked him to do,'' Jacobs said.
"Cam has been and continues to be completely honest with us. Cam is, by all accounts, a great kid. Any discussion of academic records is a clear violation of federal privacy laws. We will not go down that path or stoop to that level as others have apparently done. We will, however, emphatically say that Cam is eligible to play football at Auburn University both academically and athletically. I am proud of this young man and the progress he has made to be a better football player and a better man. We are truly blessed that Cam is a part of the Auburn family, and we support him 100 percent."
In another development, Cam Newton's father is angry that his son's academic standing when he was at Florida, which is supposed to be protected by federal law, has been brought to light in a charge of improprieties.
Cecil Newton Sr. says he's wonders why the story that says his son, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, cheated at Florida was brought to light.
"This is a character assassination attempt," Cecil Newton told
AuburnUndercover.com today. "Who stands to profit in the smearing and character assassination? Who is going to profit and why are they are going to profit? We sure don't. Any logical thinking individual should stand back and say 'what is really going on here?' "
"I think there is a group of people who have a hidden agenda and don't want to see him as a Heisman nominee, let alone the Heisman winner. All of a sudden, all this starts leaping out of the corner and out of the dark.
"I'm going to use every waking breath in my body to contradict that."
The Birmingham News contacted Newton, who said he was planning to release a statement later today.
There's more from Cecil Newton
here.
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