Cam Newton has won the Heisman Trophy after a season in which he played brilliantly but was also the focus of an NCAA investigation.
Newton won in a landslide vote Saturday night, easily outpointing runner-up Andrew Luck to become the third Auburn player to win college football’s biggest individual award.
Newton beat out Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, Oregon running back LaMichael James and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore.
The week before the Southeastern Conference championship, the NCAA announced that Cam Newton’s father Cecil Newton tried to pull off a play-for-pay scheme with Mississippi State, but there was no evidence that his son or Auburn knew about it. The NCAA decided Cam Newton would be allowed to play, but his father’s access to Auburn athletics would be limited. The sports governing body has left open the possibility that Cam Newton’s status could change if new evidence came to light.
Newton, who was not selected to the Football Writers Association of America’s All-America team, led the Southeastern Conference in rushing with 1,409 yards, scored 21 touchdowns and was the nation’s top-rated passer with 2,589 yards passing and 28 TD throws.
Newton was greeted by hundreds of Auburn fans when he entered the Best Buy Theatre before the awards show.
Fans clad in orange and blue and carrying signs with slogans such as “War Cam Eagle” arrived nearly an hour ahead of time to recreate an Auburn tradition. Fans normally line the path into Jordan-Hare stadium in a “Tiger Walk” for players before games.
Newton’s Tigers will play James and the Ducks in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Az. on Jan. 10.
Via: ESPN.com
