And, nearly two full months into 2011, we have a clear front-runner for Understatement of the Year.
During the whole Cam Newton imbroglio that threatened to envelop the latter portion of the 2010 college football season, Dan Mullen said next to nothing regarding Mississippi State’s role in Newton’s recruitment and the subsequent fallout from Cecil Newton attempting to sell his son’s talents to the Bulldogs for a cool $180,000. Now that the season is over and Newton is off to the NFL, the MSU head coach has opened up -- a little -- about the sordid, sorry situation.
Speaking to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger‘s Brandon Marcello, Mullen said he carries no regrets as to how his school handled the Newton situation, although he did allow that almost nobody touched by the scandal came away unscathed.
“I don’t regret how we handled his recruiting situation at all,” Mullen said. “How the situation kind of stained almost everybody, I don’t like that, because I care about Cam a lot. I’m proud of him and I’m happy for all of the things he’s accomplished.”
Mullen had a fairly close relationship with Newton dating back to their time together at Florida. It was that relationship that had many convinced he would transfer to Mississippi State after completing a season at the JUCO level in 2009. Instead, Newton somewhat surprisingly -- and at the behest of his father, reportedly -- opted to take his talents to Auburn, where of course he won the Heisman and a BcS title during his one season on The Plains.
Despite all that’s gone on -- and may continue to go on -- regarding Newton, Mullen maintains that he’s got the quarterback’s back if he ever needs it.
“I’m sure our paths will cross,” Mullen said. “Like I said, if Cam called me today and said, ‘Coach, I need a favor,’ in a heartbeat I’d do whatever I could to help him as a former player. I’ve always thought we were very, very close. In my opinion, nothing has changed in my feelings toward him. I don’t feel any different today.”
Of course, if the latest round of rumors involving Kenny Rogers are proven correct, Mullen may indeed feel a little different regarding the situation. Rogers, a former MSU player and alleged middleman in Cecil Newton’s pay-for-play scheme, is rumored to be in possession of an audio tape that supposedly doesn’t exactly cast his alma mater in the most favorable of light when it comes to the Newton situation.
With the NCAA’s investigation into Newton’s recruitment still ongoing, and the newest Rogers rumors -- HBO is reportedly engaged in conversations with Rogers and/or his people about appearing on the network’s “Real Sports” show -- this story is, unfortunately, far from over and in no danger of being relegated to the back pages just yet.