Cecil Newton: Conspicuously Absent at Last Night’s BCS Title Game

College football’s persona non grata warranted a brief, awkward mention during last night’s BCS title game. 

As was the case with his son’s Heisman Trophy ceremony, Cecil Newton wasn’t in attendance, basically because he’s banned from the program.

When discussing the issue on air, Brent Musberger made it sound like the Ol’ Man’s absence was the product of a consensus among reasonable people, Newton included. 

But Musberger’s take whitewashed he obvious sadness of the situation: a father being barred from watching his own son enjoy the biggest moment of his life because of cynical public relations considerations.

Cecil Newton has been made a scapegoat, but keeping him out of the building won’t fix what’s wrong with college football.

2011 NFL Draft: Is Cam Newton Destined to Be an NFL Bust?