ATHENS, Ga. — Auburn star quarterback Cam Newton could clear an NCAA investigation if he did not know about negotiations going on about money to play at another college, according to an expert in the rules governing college football.
Ed Tolley, an Athens lawyer who often works for the University of Georgia, told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne that Newton may not be out of the woods yet.
"Obviously if the player didn't know, I think that's huge and makes a big difference," Tolley told Winne.
"I've not found in my 25 years of dealing with the NCAA that they're punitive just for the sake of being punitive," said Tolley.
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Newton is from College Park and attended Westlake High School. He's currently a contender for the Heisman Trophy as college football's best player.
Tolley said one of the key rules under scrutiny from the NCAA in their investigation of Newton is the ethical conduct rule.
"It requires knowing participation on the part of the player," said Tolley.
A source close to the situation told Winne that Newton's father, Cecil Newton, has made clear Cam Newton's hands are clean, and that Newton had no knowledge of conversations between his father and an ex-Mississippi State player about the possibility of under-the-table money if Newton signed to play at that school.
The source also told Winne that Cecil Newton has steadfastly maintained no money ever changed hands.
"You've got rule 16 of the NCAA manual and it prohibits a relative of a student athlete from receiving an extra benefit. How that plays into this case, if it plays into it at all, I can't say," said Tolley.
Tolley told Winne these individual cases depend on the details and this one is too close to call from his limited information, but he expects to see more problems at other schools.
"How many hustlers are out there trying to insinuate themselves into the lives of promising college football players? They're all over the place and the most recent phenomena has been former players," said Tolley. NOTE: WSB-TV investigative reporter Mark Winne believes it important to note he attended Auburn and remains involved in academic affairs there.
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