Cam Newton, quarterback for the Auburn University football team, attended the University of Florida for two years before transferring to Auburn and during his time at Florida, he had three separate instances of cheating, according to Fox Sports.
Citing a person closely involved with the situation at Florida, Fox Sports reported that as a result of these incidents of cheating, Newton was facing the possibility of expulsion from the school. He was enrolled at the University of Florida in 2007 and 2008, when he then transferred to a junior college in Texas.
Newton, who has led Auburn to a 10-0 record for the season and a No. 2 ranking in the Bowl Championship Series standings, is currently a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. He has passed for 1,890 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions, as well as having 1,146 rushing yards and 15 scores.
“In the past 24 hours, a lot of allegations have surfaced that date back two years ago and further,” said Jay Jacobs, Auburn’s athletic director. “These allegations and rumors about Cam Newton are unfortunate and sad because they seem intent on tearing down the reputation of a young man who has done everything we’ve asked him to do.”
Newton, who was backup quarterback to Florida’s Tim Tebow during his time at the university, was accused of cheating in a class his freshman year, turning in another student’s paper with his own name on it, and purchasing a paper from the Internet. The second two incidents occurred during his sophomore year. Newton transferred to the junior college before his scheduled hearing in front of the university’s Student Conduct Committee, said Fox Sports.
“Any discussion of academic records is a clear violation of federal privacy laws,” said Jacobs. “We will not go down that path or stoop to that level as others have apparently done.”
