by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
CNNSI is now reporting that the father of Auburn superstar Cam Newton was set to receive a payment plan in exchange for his son playing football for Mississippi State University. A booster for Mississippi State by the name of Bill Bell told ESPN.com that the payment plan was sent to him via text message from a man claiming to represent Cecil Newton, Cam's father.
Kenny Rogers, a former player for Mississippi State allegedly sent the text message, giving Bell the details of how Cam and his father wanted to be paid. They were to make a payment of $80,000 on the day of signing, $50,000 30 days after that, and another $50,000 30 days later.
Bell claims that Cecil was on a three way call with he and Rogers to discuss how the money would be transferred. He says that Cecil never asked for money directly. While the reports don't make any claims regarding the nature of Cecil's interaction with the others, they don't mention him objecting to conversations about giving him money.
