2011 Recruiting

Here's what I have to say about this year's recruiting: It's the curse of Cam Newton for Mississippi State.

So Cecil Newton asked Mississippi State recruiters for money, this much we know is true. Now whether or not Auburn paid Cam Newton is irrelevant, the bottom line is that he changed his commitment from State to Auburn after MSU would not pay Cecil the money.

Now all of this stuff laid in the weeds until early November and we all know the drama that unfolded for the entire month thereafter. Is it true that Mississippi State reported the allegations against Cam Newton after he signed with Auburn? - Yes, so there could be some sour grapes, but since the facts of it are true that doesn't matter...Mississippi State followed protocol throughout the entire situation (yes, I am a Mississippi State graduate, but to the best of my knowledge this is true).

Now Cam Newton winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Auburn to the national championship might be enough for a State fan to think of Newton like the fish that got away. But since State had a bounce back season without Cam Newton and by all accounts State would have been playing for the national title if they had gotten him, it is a tough pill to swallow.

But that's not all Cam Newton did to State. Over the course of December and January recruit after recruit that Mississippi State had commitments from, decommitted and went elsewhere. We are talking about the kind of recruits that make you drop from a Top 15 class to Big East level. Why? Because of the propaganda coaches around the SEC are spewing that MSU is about to go on probation because of the Cam Newton scandal. I don't believe that for a minute, there's not enough evidence to even try State - but it doesn't matter what I think, only what the recruit's think.

Not to mention the fact that these player's parents now know they cannot ask the Mississippi State staff for extra benefits...they sure don't want to be branded like Cecil Newton was. So along they go, bypassing Starkville and up to Oxford. Hopefully this curse ends now and there is no probation or penalties in MSU's future. But yesterday was a bad day for a program on the rise.

JB