Separating Truth from Speculation: Why the Cam Newton Saga Should Not Affect the Heisman Race

Bringing the House illustration

With about one month and a half remaining in the college football season, the Heisman Trophy race remains intriguing not because the on-field accolades of competing stars are comparable, but instead because the off-field decisions of the award's front-runner are under intense scrutiny. If you have been living in a cave for the past couple weeks, or if you are completely confused by the Cam Newton saga, click here for a nice synopsis of the entire drama. I, however, am tired of sifting through rumors, reports, and speculation--I will let the FBI, the NCAA, and any other red-tape infested bureaucracy deal with it. Instead, I want to focus on the implications of the drama as it relates to Newton's Heisman Trophy bid.

At this point in the season, if you voted based on only on-field production, Newton would win the Heisman in a runaway. The numbers that he has posted are pretty surreal, even from a historical perspective. Listen to this:  Prior to his last game against Georgia, Cam Newton accounted for more touchdowns than 71 entire FBS teams this season. And he has done so in arguably the toughest conference in college football against teams like LSU, Arkansas, and South Carolina. It really does not matter who or what you throw at him--he finds ways to reach the end zone. Newton currently has 21 passing touchdowns, 17 rushing touchdowns, and 1 receiving touchdown.

What is even more fascinating is comparing Newton to the other Heisman candidates. His main competition is Oregon running back LaMichael James and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore. When you look at his skills and athletic ability, Newton is the hybrid of Moore and James. Furthermore, and perhaps even more impressive, when you look at the numbers, he is the aggregate of Moore and James. Look at the following comparison between Cam Newton and Kellen Moore, as passers:

Newton:  135-for-198 (68.2%), 2,038 yards (10.29 YPA), 21 TDs (183.58 rating)
Moore:    174-for-242 (71.9%), 2,588 yards (10.69 YPA), 24 TDs (191.15 rating)

Statistically, Newton and Moore are pretty similar. Obviously, Moore is better across the board, but you have to factor in Newton's competition and his running abilities. Next, let's look at the breakdown between Newton and LaMichael James, as rushers:

Newton:  206 carries, 1297 yards (6.3 avg), 17 TDs
James:     225 carries, 1422 yards (6.3 avg), 17 TDs

Again, Newton and James are pretty similar, and even more so than Newton and Moore, because in this case Newton and James have the exact same number of touchdowns and average the same number of yards per carry. In this comparison, you also have to factor in Newton's passing statistics. In both cases--Newton versus Moore and Newton versus James--the Auburn quarterback holds his own. And when you factor in both sides of his game--running and passing--it becomes no contest. The numbers say enough.

Speaking of numbers, look at where Cam Newton stands in comparison to some FBS teams in the following statistics:

Total Yards:

West Virginia - 3,375
Newton - 3,335
Pittsburgh - 3,329
LSU - 3,241
Washington - 3,132

Points Per Game*

Texas - 21.7
Newton - 21.3
Rutgers - 21.2
UCLA - 20.7
Boston College - 19.3

*Remember:  PPG for teams includes points from field goals and extra points; Newton's points per game does not

How ridiculous are those above numbers? I am literally comparing one player to entire teams. Unbelievable.

But of course, we must ask, how does the off-field circus affect his on-field production in the context of the Heisman race?

Taken directly from the website, the mission of the Heisman Trust is to "annually [recognize] the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity…Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work." As I demonstrated above, Newton is clearly the most outstanding college football player on this planet. His performances thus far have been excellent. His great ability is certainly the result of diligence, perseverance, and hard work. Now, what about that key word, integrity?

Newton is by no means a saint. His legal troubles during his brief stint at Florida have been well documented; he was cited for countless moving violations, he stole someone's laptop, and he was caught cheating on multiple occasions. But all that stuff happened in the past. Newton left Florida, enrolled at a junior college, and began anew at Auburn. We Americans value second chances. We believe in redemption and rebirth. And while Newton's past may color your view of his current situation, we shouldn't be too quick to judge.

My point is that as of right now, I give Newton the benefit of the doubt. We can't just assume that all of the rumors are true. Nothing has been proven yet--it is all hearsay at this point. Until the NCAA, the FBI, or our justice system makes an official ruling on the situation, we should act as though Newton and his father acted with integrity throughout his post-junior college recruitment and his time at Auburn. It's the fair thing to do. As a result, if we vote on what we know, instead of what we think, then Cam Newton is worthy of every first-place Heisman vote.