re: Mike Bianchi

quote:

---

Sort of.

The Bammer media (Cecil Hurt/Finebaum) is only "all in" to the extent they can use CamGate as a ratings bonanza. They'll say just enough to let the Barn fans think they empathize but really they're just milking it for ratings and newspaper sales.

---

quote:

---

If he was on ESPN last week saying this then I would be more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Not the case. It's hours before the voting closes and he's going on ESPN to say he won't vote for LaMichael James and Cameron Newton because of their past. He's not trying to change votes, he's trying to get publicity.

---

quote:

---

Cam Newton has failed the integrity test and will not get my Heisman Trophy vote.

No matter what.

I don’t care if he breaks Tim Tebow’s records, O.J. Simpson’s records or Red Grange’s records.

I don’t care if he runs for 4,000 yards and passes for 8,000 yards.

I don’t believe he deserves the Heisman Trophy.

You see there is this sentence in the mission statement on the Heisman’s website: “The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.”

Cam Newton meets one of those criterium but not the other. He has pursued excellence but not with integrity.

You see, he left the University of Florida after being in possession of a stolen laptop and throwing it out the window when police arrived. And now there are charges that a man who was allegedly representing Newton during his recruitment out of junior college (after he left Florida) was trying to secure money for Newton’s commitment to Mississippi State.

Former MSU player John Bond is a key a figure in the story.

“During the 2009 football season, I was contacted by a former football teammate, who represented to me that he was speaking for the Newton camp,” Bond told the Associated Press. “He told me that Cam Newton wanted to play at Mississippi State, but that a specified payment would have to be made.”

In the wake of Reggie Bush being stripped of the Heisman Trophy due to integrity issues, I’m going to stay away from casting my vote for Cam Newton. It’s not worth it to me. Newton has legal issues, potential NCAA issues and who knows what other issues on his resume.

There are plenty of other worthy Heisman candidates who have never been in any trouble and who are outstanding players. I’ll cast my vote for one of them, if you don’t mind.

Honestly, Newton wasn’t going to be my No. 1 choice even before the latest allegations. I have wrestled with the integrity issue all season in regards to whether I should vote for Newton. In the end, I decided, the laptop incident at UF would have been enough to keep me from putting him atop my ballot. Now, after the charges coming out of Mississippi State, he won’t be on my ballot at all.

Those are my feelings.

What are yours?

If you have time, please vote in the poll below.

(ADDENDUM TO ORIGINAL BLOG POST): I just found out that Oregon running back LaMichael James was arrested and pled guilty to a domestic abuse charge earlier this year. I will not vote for him either. I have a suggestion: In addition to providing passing and rushing statistics, maybe schools should also start providing Heisman voters with criminal background checks.)

---