If you’ve followed Twitter at all today, you’ll understand the reasoning behind the above headline quite well.
In the last hour or so, the Twitterverse was set ablaze -- and damn-near burned to the ground -- by a “report” that Cam Newton was set to be suspended by the NCAA within the next three or fours. The “report” emanated from Ian Fitzsimmons of ESPN radio in Dallas/Fort Worth, but there was just one problem; Fitzsimmons didn’t actually report what was being tweeted. The radio host merely stated on-air that the Newton situation with the NCAA, as big as it is, could change in (arbitrary number alert!) three or four hours. A listener/blogger misconstrued Fitzsimmons’ words, went to Twitter with his version of Fitzsimmons’ words and, well, basically wasted a whole bunch of people’s time chasing down what was essentially a bad relay of information.
It had gained sufficient steam and created such betting movement, however, that most of the major Vegas books have taken the Auburn-Georgia game off the board. It was also enough that, when combined with the latest bombshell to be dropped on the Newton imbroglio, head coach Gene Chizik was forced to clarify his quarterback’s status for Saturday’s game.
“I want to get this off the table up front: Cameron Newton will be playing Saturday against the Georgia Bulldogs,” Chizik said earlier this afternoon.
Auburn officials have stated on multiple occasions that they have no reason to question Newton’s eligibility. The latest spate of reports have apparently done nothing to sway them from their rock-solid stance that Newton is eligible and will continue to maintain his eligibility through the end of the season.
“We’ve prepared and focused just like we have any other week,” Chizik said. “Nothing has changed. … Our focus every week has been on the next opponent. This week has absolutely been no different.”
Well, except for the whole raging inferno of media-fueled controversy, this week has absolutely been no different.