AUBURN, Ala. — All Auburn coach Gene Chizik would say Wednesday about Cam Newton is that the star quarterback will start for the second-ranked Tigers against Georgia on Saturday after the latest round of accusations. Newton’s friend Joe Haden and Newton’s brother, meanwhile, rose to his defense.
Chizik declined to answer questions about an ESPN report that Newton told a Mississippi State recruiter his father wanted him to go to Auburn because “the money was too much.” ESPN reported Newton and his father, Cecil, each had a phone conversation with a Mississippi State recruiter and acknowledged a pay-for-play arrangement. According to the report, one of the recruiters said Cecil Newton told him it would take “more than a scholarship” for his son to attend Mississippi State.
In a statement, Mississippi State’s athletic department said Wednesday that it first contacted the Southeastern Conference regarding “an issue relating to its recruitment of Cam Newton.” The statement said the SEC asked for specific information including interviews with university staffers. Mississippi State didn’t provide more information until July, citing “time-consuming eligibility issues” related to other sports.
The statement said Mississippi State has “cooperated fully” with NCAA investigators, but did not make any reference to the alleged phone calls between recruiters and the Newtons.
SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said there was no mention of the reported conversations in either of the school’s reports to the league.
Newton’s older brother, Cecil Jr., posted on Facebook the accusations are false and “a tool for haters.”
Haden, a Cleveland Browns rookie cornerback who lived with Newton for 1 1/2 years, said he believes his former roommate is only being targeted because he’s playing so well this season.
Are you ready for some Texas athletics?
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas regents are backing the creation of a so-called Longhorn network of cable sports programming.
The regents’ academic affairs committee publicly voted to allow school president William Powers Jr. to sign a deal.
ESPN has confirmed it is in talks with Texas to distribute the proposed network. ESPN and school officials have declined to discuss how much it would be worth or other details.
Footnotes.
After leading Connecticut to a 16-13 upset of West Virginia, senior quarterback Zach Frazer is back at the top of the depth chart as the Huskies host Pittsburgh tonight.
• Kentucky running back Derrick Locke said he will play Saturday against Vanderbilt after missing four games with a shoulder injury.
• Because of injuries, Louisiana-Lafayette will be down to its third-string quarterback — sophomore Blaine Gautier — for Saturday’s game at Florida Atlantic.
• Two longtime donors to Boise State athletics and academics are pledging $5 million toward an expansion project for Bronco Stadium. The Associated Press
