Ladies and gentlemen, Heisman voters everywhere: We have a statement game. Newton threw for 140 yards and rushed for 188 more in a home-stand barnburner, keeping the Tigers out front for a 65-43 victory over a top-flight Arkansas team.
Newton turned in another dazzling performance Saturday against Arkansas. He ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns. He passed for 140 yards and another score. When it was done, Auburn had scored 28 straight points in the fourth quarter for a wild 65-43 win over the Razorbacks, breaking the record for the highest-scoring conference game decided in regulation.
That was the fourth time Newton has run for more than 170 yards in a game, adding to his lead in the SEC rushing race.
Several Heisman contenders took a tumble Saturday, most notably Michigan’s Denard Robinson, Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez and Arkansas’ own quarterback, Ryan Mallett. All would end up on the sideline — Robinson and Mallett with injuries, Martinez because he was ineffective — and all three of their teams lost.
And don’t you just know that Newton’s old school would love to have him back. With Tebow off to the NFL, Florida has fallen on hard times. The Gators lost their third straight, and second at home, with Mississippi State’s stunning 10-7 upset at the Swamp.Newton has rushed for 860 yards and 12 touchdowns, the sort of numbers that inevitably make people think of Tebow. And like the former Florida star, Newton is no one-dimensional wonder. He doesn’t throw often, but when he does, it’s very effective. His outing against Arkansas left him 80 of 122 for the season, a dazzling 66 percent completion rate. He’s thrown for 13 touchdowns and been picked off only five times.
While Newton is good with the comparisons to Tebow, he doesn’t want it to go too far.
“We’re two different players, two different people,” Newton said. “Tebow is Tebow, and I’m Cam Newton.”
For Auburn — and maybe the Heisman voters — that’s good enough.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Plain and simple: The race belongs to Newton
Is it supposed to be this easy? College football is difficult, right? I mean, if it wasn't, everybody could play it.
Then why is it so easy for Auburn quarterback Cam Newton? Maybe it's not. Maybe he just makes it look easy.
Last week, I was in the minority. When 15 of us ESPN.com experts submitted our top five in the Heisman Trophy race, I was one of two who put Newton at No. 1. Just a hunch here, but that number will rise when Tuesday's updated poll is published. That number may be 15.
The Heisman Trophy goes to the most outstanding player in college football. That's Newton. And it's not even close.
What was that noise? Did you hear it? Sounds like it came from Florida. Yep, it's a Gators fan crying because Newton left. OK, so I didn't really hear anything, but can you imagine how Florida fans must feel watching the former heir apparent to Tim Tebow play for an SEC rival. And run. And throw. And lead. And win.
On Saturday against Arkansas, while his defense gave up big play after big play, Newton answered every bell, bailing out the D with his typically fantastic O. His arm, his legs, his head … those are the three (well, four) reasons Auburn remains undefeated.
Newton is 6-foot-6 and weighs around 250 pounds. He uses every inch and every pound. Did you see his first touchdown of the game? With powerful legs churning, Newton put his head down and sent a Razorbacks defender backward onto his back into the end zone. Newton followed him in for his 10th rushing touchdown of the season. Time after time Saturday, just like the week before at Kentucky and earlier in the season against South Carolina, Newton lifted his team and carried it on his shoulders. Third-and-long in a tight game, who made the play? Newton. In a shotgun formation, Newton took the snap, tucked the ball and ran. At least I think he ran. He must, right? It only looks as though he's jogging with ease, past, around and over defenders for first down after first down. He's patient with the football. When he runs, he calmly searches for and finds every hole. He led Auburn to a 65-43 win over the Hogs, running for 188 yards and three touchdowns. He threw a touchdown pass, too.
So good on the ground, Newton makes it easy for Auburn coaches to let him take care of business with those legs. But make no mistake, he can throw the rock, too. His passing numbers against Arkansas: 10-of-14 for 170 yards and a touchdown. Add it up: Newton accounted for four touchdowns on the day, giving him 25 touchdowns (13 passing, 12 rushing) on the season. Although the stats are jaw-dropping, they alone do not make a Heisman Trophy winner. Don't get caught up in the numbers. Just watch Newton, and it's easy to see, there is nobody in college football right now more outstanding than Auburn's starting quarterback. Although Saturday allowed one quarterback to extend his lead in the race for the Heisman Trophy, it saw two quarterbacks fall out of it. Right now, times are tough for everybody not named Cam Newton when it comes to the race for this season's Heisman Trophy.
Then why is it so easy for Auburn quarterback Cam Newton? Maybe it's not. Maybe he just makes it look easy.
Last week, I was in the minority. When 15 of us ESPN.com experts submitted our top five in the Heisman Trophy race, I was one of two who put Newton at No. 1. Just a hunch here, but that number will rise when Tuesday's updated poll is published. That number may be 15.
The Heisman Trophy goes to the most outstanding player in college football. That's Newton. And it's not even close.
What was that noise? Did you hear it? Sounds like it came from Florida. Yep, it's a Gators fan crying because Newton left. OK, so I didn't really hear anything, but can you imagine how Florida fans must feel watching the former heir apparent to Tim Tebow play for an SEC rival. And run. And throw. And lead. And win.
On Saturday against Arkansas, while his defense gave up big play after big play, Newton answered every bell, bailing out the D with his typically fantastic O. His arm, his legs, his head … those are the three (well, four) reasons Auburn remains undefeated.
Newton is 6-foot-6 and weighs around 250 pounds. He uses every inch and every pound. Did you see his first touchdown of the game? With powerful legs churning, Newton put his head down and sent a Razorbacks defender backward onto his back into the end zone. Newton followed him in for his 10th rushing touchdown of the season. Time after time Saturday, just like the week before at Kentucky and earlier in the season against South Carolina, Newton lifted his team and carried it on his shoulders. Third-and-long in a tight game, who made the play? Newton. In a shotgun formation, Newton took the snap, tucked the ball and ran. At least I think he ran. He must, right? It only looks as though he's jogging with ease, past, around and over defenders for first down after first down. He's patient with the football. When he runs, he calmly searches for and finds every hole. He led Auburn to a 65-43 win over the Hogs, running for 188 yards and three touchdowns. He threw a touchdown pass, too.
So good on the ground, Newton makes it easy for Auburn coaches to let him take care of business with those legs. But make no mistake, he can throw the rock, too. His passing numbers against Arkansas: 10-of-14 for 170 yards and a touchdown. Add it up: Newton accounted for four touchdowns on the day, giving him 25 touchdowns (13 passing, 12 rushing) on the season. Although the stats are jaw-dropping, they alone do not make a Heisman Trophy winner. Don't get caught up in the numbers. Just watch Newton, and it's easy to see, there is nobody in college football right now more outstanding than Auburn's starting quarterback. Although Saturday allowed one quarterback to extend his lead in the race for the Heisman Trophy, it saw two quarterbacks fall out of it. Right now, times are tough for everybody not named Cam Newton when it comes to the race for this season's Heisman Trophy.
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