November 15, 2010
By Todd Helmick
Site Owner Todd Helmick maintains an Official Heisman Vote

NationalChamps.net 2010 Top 25 Heisman List

This may be the first official Heisman voter that has publicly removed Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton from his Heisman ballot. For those that may question the right of someone in this position to do so without any regard for due legal process..."I have done nothing wrong." Why should Cam Newton be removed from the Heisman ballot? "No comment..." Both Cam Newton quotes resonate with more than just irony.

What this scenario does is create more confusion and debate than the BCS poll. Arbitrarily, the simple fact is that there is no clear-cut "best player" - the consensus seems to be that a three man Heisman race between Kellen Moore, Andrew Luck and LaMichael James will go down to the wire. While Boise State has had difficulty as a team finding popularity in the poll system, Bronco quarterback Kellen Moore gets plenty of the attention from this voter. In a nutshell, he throws the best pass in college football, and he has arguably been doing it for three seasons. If Moore took off his Bronco jersey and transferred to a so-called big time BCS program, his performances and statistics would likely be just as spectacular. However, as mentioned, this race is super close. Enough games exist for someone just off the radar to wrestle the Heisman away.

Although a good lawyer would highly recommend that a person taking such a stand on the Newton situation remain silent, this is not a decision made in any legal courtroom. The Heisman debate takes place in a court of opinion, one vote at a time. This Heisman voter has made his opinion based on the facts presented. Most Heisman voters have already stated that if Newton is eligible to play, he has to remain eligible for all the rewards that come with his success. Knowing the Heisman Brain-trust would - based upon further developments in the case that offer clarity - possibly remove his honors at a later date if deemed necessary (as was the case with Reggie Bush), keeping him eligible is the road we should now take. Unfortunately, that is not how due process has worked for the many before Cameron.

See, there is plenty of precedence within this topic. It would be unfair to ignore such just because we might be talking about the guy who's the best player in the country. Think about this: if Cameron Newton played back-up linebacker, tight end or safety, he would have already been suspended. To that I have no doubt. When a player has either been accused of dealing with an agent this summer, been charged with a felony or DUI, been accused of academic cheating or even been accused of selling his game jersey...those individuals have ALL been suspended before having their day of judgment in a court of law. Regardless of how one feels, right or wrong, how is this situation (and why should it be) any different? Just because the young man in question is the top Heisman candidate and leading his team toward a possible championship?

Cameron and his father Cecil have not had any due process, just their situation presented through the court of public opinion via the press. Yet in the eyes of their legal council, to date, they and Auburn University have seemingly chosen to plead "the Fifth". That may work in a court of law, but given the short time frame at hand, it won't work in this court of opinion. The Heisman is nothing but opinion.