Bo Knows Auburn Heisman Trophies

NEW YORK – If Cam Newton's shamed father Cecil couldn't be here, at least there was a suitable stand-in.

Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson laughed when someone wondered if he'd ever before been a body double. He was in on the joke, didn't mind if well-lubed hecklers kept shouting "Bo knows!" in his direction, had no problem answering questions about, well, you know.

"Marked it with an exclamation point," he said proudly. "There was never a doubt who'd get my vote."

Jackson has waited a long while for another Auburn football player to join him in college football's most exclusive club. A quarter of a century has passed since he won the Heisman Trophy, and the subsequent years were a whirl of playing pro football for some team called the Los Angeles Raiders and pro baseball and ice hockey (wait, that was just a video) and generally living a fine life despite dealing with a hip that ought to be attached to an 80 year old. He's not a fan of traveling but he had to be here Saturday night, not just because it marked the silver anniversary of one of his most magical moments, but because of, well, you know.

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"He's a fine young man and I'm very proud of him," Jackson said.

Down on the New York City streets, the clamor had rounded into a rather uncommon (even for New York City streets) madness, because in front of the Broadway theater that housed the Heisman candidates there were hundreds and hundreds and perhaps even thousands of fans clad in burnt orange and navy blue, and there was a marching band blasting music, and singing of songs that had nothing to do with holidays, and signs professing love, and soon even a Northerner knew: this was a Tiger Walk for, well, you know.

"I remember that well," Jackson said of the tradition that dates to the early 1960s, when Auburn players would leave Sewell Hall for the football stadium and fans lined Donahue Drive to wish them well. It's now an official part of the players' itineraries, an entrenched custom that follows the Tigers to road games and, apparently, to Times Square, where painted-faced revelers yelling "War Eagle!" barely warrant a second glance.

At times the festival outside sounded a bit like a European soccer match, which was perfectly fitting considering there's never been a Heisman Trophy ceremony quite like this one. Newton, the irrepressible Auburn quarterback, won it in a landslide, easily blowing past runner-up Andrew Luck of Stanford and the other finalists, Oregon's LaMichael James and Kellen Moore of Boise State.

Before the announcement, ESPN's Chris Fowler, the presentation's emcee, told the crowd, "Somebody's life is going to change," and it was impossible not to giggle. The event had all the suspense of a matinee showing of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Everybody knew Newton was nearly the biggest cinch of a winner in Heisman history, just as everyone knows the Grinch's heart grows three sizes and he, himself, carves the roast beast.

Upon hearing his name, Newton glanced down quickly, smiled wide, took congratulations from the three other finalists (who all said they'd have voted for Newton, too), climbed to the podium, and then had to pause and collect himself after thanking his beautiful mother Jackie and absent father Cecil because, well, you know.

"We love you Cam!" somebody yelled from the cheap seats, and Newton smiled again. Really, it's impossible not to melt just slightly if you're in Newton's orbit for even just a night. He's respectful, considerate, engaging. As Jackson noted, Newton has a smile that can light up a stadium, but it's more than that. It's the way he turns every query into a soliloquy about his incredible teammates and coaches, without whom (he is quick to remind us) he'd never have been able to lead the SEC in rushing with 1,409 yards, lead the SEC in passing efficiency with 67 percent completions, and finesse 48 touchdowns (20 rushing, 28 passing) while carrying the top-ranked Tigers to the BCS national championship game against No. 2 Oregon Jan. 10.

"It's just beyond me right now. I feel like I'm in a dream and I haven't woken up yet. It's a great award, a prestigious award. It's a blessing to have an opportunity to even be here, standing in front of you guys," Newton said in a post-ceremony press conference.

"I've said before, when he's playing he's a man among boys, but after the last whistle blows he's just a really great kid. A kid who deserves this honor. His leadership qualities are tremendous."
-- Bo Jackson on Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton Jackson listened to some of it, listened to Newton charm the ink-stained crowd, and nodded proudly. "It's not rehearsed or fake. Cam really believes he thrives because he has so much help from the people around him," Jackson said. "Cam Newton has changed the culture of Auburn football. The stands are packed and everyone has a great time, and at the end of the game when he comes over and gives thanks to the fans, that's all real. That's his personality.

"I've said before, when he's playing he's a man among boys, but after the last whistle blows he's just a really great kid. A kid who deserves this honor. His leadership qualities are tremendous."

As he spoke in defense of Newton for, well, you know, Jackson would periodically adjust his hip and legs and whatever else still ached from all those years spent sacrificing his body in two sports. Newton was off giving interviews, telling people the Tiger Walk outside made him want to go play the national championship game right now, and we swear, no trails of smoke followed him.

Ask him once, ask him twice, ask him a million times and his answer is always the same: "I'm a person who did nothing wrong. Everything I did at this university, I did it the right way." That's what he said Friday and that's what he said again and again now that he was officially the 2010 Heisman winner.

You know, you have to know, that Cam's father Cecil Newton Sr., has been unearthed as a greedy preacher who tried to pimp out his son to Mississippi State for a satchel of gold. Investigators haven't found proof that the son was aware of his father's shakedown, but the NCAA did rule Cam ineligible for one whole day -- a weekday -- and Cecil's access to Auburn athletics has been limited. He stayed away from the festivities Saturday night so he wouldn't be a distraction, leaving Jackson and Auburn coach Gene Chizik to gladly serve as surrogate fathers.

Prior to the ceremony Newton said his father's absence "hurts me a lot because this is a once-in-a-lifetime deal," and later he said he didn't want to let go of his mother when he briefly hugged her upon winning the trophy. "It's been hard for me but it's been extremely hard for her just to see how much her son has been through," Newton said. "I just wanted to hug her the whole night, just to make her feel at ease, letting her know that it's over for this particular moment of our lives."

But is it? Though the NCAA did not find sufficient evidence to prove that Cam Newton or anyone at Auburn knew of the pay-for-play scheme, the sport's governing body has left open the possibility that Newton's status could change if new evidence is discovered. Just three months ago, Reggie Bush, winner of the 2005 Heisman, was forced to return his trophy after the NCAA found he accepted gifts and cash while attending USC.

This is why some voters -- 105 among the 886 who returned ballots chose not to list him among their three selections -- felt queasy about awarding Newton the Heisman even though he clearly was the most dominant, most exciting, most excellent college football player this season. With a linebacker's build and a tailback's speed, he carved defenses with such alacrity -- his efficiency rating was a phenomenal 188.2 -- it was like watching the sea part whenever he had the ball and glanced downfield.

He was the first SEC player to run for at least 1,000 yards and pass for at least 2,000 in the same season, and unless Heisman voters are psychic and know beyond a shadow of a doubt the NCAA will eventually tie him to his father's crime, it seemed cruel and wrong to punish him before the fact. (And that messy business Newton got involved with when he attended Florida, the allegations of cheating and the stolen laptop? The Heisman is not judged on a body of work throughout a college career, just the most recent season).

Newton had a quick grin and a snappy comeback when a reporter asked if he was concerned he might have to eventually return his trophy. "Two letters for you, my friend," Newton said. "No."

"That's the way to handle it, with a smile and the truth," Jackson said. His return to the Heisman ceremony for the first time since he won it in 1985, narrowly beating University of Iowa quarterback Chuck Long, was quite "interesting, considering all the controversy," he said. It was the sure bet of seeing a fellow Auburn Tiger lift the trophy that drew Jackson to New York, along with urging by his wife, who told Bo it would be a shame if he missed this 25-year milestone. He long ago left behind the fame and burning lights that came with being a global icon, trading an extraordinary sporting career for a quiet, happy and honorable life with his wife Linda and their three children (two attend Auburn) in suburban Chicago, where Jackson runs several businesses, goes to bed by 9 and rarely attends professional games.

Jackson and 1971 winner Pat Sullivan, another Auburn Tiger, made a pretty compelling force field against anyone who dared suggest Newton might eventually be declared ineligible this season, a ruling that would strip him of all awards and force Auburn to vacate the SEC title and, possibly, the national championship.

"I met Cam at the start of the season so I haven't known him that long," Jackson said. "He's a courageous young man. He's the type of guy I would want on my team. I think he's the type of guy that anyone would have on their team."

Outside, on the cold streets of New York, the party of the burnt orange and navy blue tribe raged. "War Eagle!" they yelled and hooted, and "Cam rocks!" they cried, and they lined up for more wobbly Tiger Walks through Times Square. It was, as Bo Jackson himself agreed, a whole lot of "crazy fun." He seemed glad he came.