Auburn fans couldn’t believe their ears when they heard an ESPN commentator openly question if AU claimed Cam Newton as one of their own.
Newton, of course, had the greatest season any Auburn football player has ever had in 2010 when he won the Heisman and led the Tigers to the National Championship following an undefeated campaign. He broke the passing TD record with 30 scores and also had the highest completion percentage of any QB on the Plains to date.
That was lost on one of the commentators assigned to the Auburn-Oregon State 2022 Road to the College World Series Super Regionals, who was either looking to get people talking on social media with the statement (mission accomplished) or put his foot in his mouth from a thorough lack of understanding of Auburn football’s lineage.
Here were the sarcasm-filled reactions to the asinine on-air remark:
Did the ESPN broadcast just ask if Auburn claims Cam Newton? I can't tell if that actually happened or if my Undisclosed Illness is making me delusional.
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) June 13, 2022
Are the big ass statue and giant banner outside of Jordan Hare stadium not a big enough hint? https://t.co/lXVRkSlWlw pic.twitter.com/Z3XY11Gobw
— PrAaHe (@ICWeinerohcrud) June 14, 2022
having grown tired of obliquely antagonizing viewers via slipshod technical work, the Super Regional broadcast crew decides for the more direct approach https://t.co/66dDHa6RLN
— Jerry Hinnen (@JerryHinnen) June 14, 2022
this whole series is performance art from ESPN https://t.co/t1ircIGELq
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) June 13, 2022
Imagine claiming both Cam Newton and a College World Series baseball team, wow
— Justin Lee (@ByJustinLee) June 14, 2022
Cam Newton will always be remembered as an Auburn Tiger
Any conjecture claiming Cam Newton is actually a Florida Gator for having spent more time there is simply extreme straw-grasping.
Despite spending one season on the Plains, Newton has solidified his face appearing on no less than 10 local restaurants and owns a statue outside of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
So, um, yeah…Cam Newton is an Auburn Tiger forever.