Cam Newton is perfectly comfortable as the center of attention. In many ways, he craves it. But when thousands of Auburn graduates walk across the stage this weekend, the Carolina Panthers quarterback won’t be among them.
“I’m not walking across the stage,” Newton told The Plainsman, Auburn’s student newspaper.
“Number one, I don’t think walking really solidifies anything for me. I have pretty much conquered the main reason why I’m here, and all I really need is a degree. Plus, I don’t want to take away anything from the people already graduating. After seeing the response coming from class, I wouldn’t want to take anything away from another person’s (graduation day).”
Newton has returned to the Auburn campus for each of the last three spring semesters. Every day he’s there, more autographs are signed and more selfies are taken. So with scenes like these, it’s easy to imagine the circus his presence at graduation would have caused:
Newton joins linebacker Luke Kuechly as a pair of Panthers stars graduating this month. Kuechly, who wrapped up his degree in marketing from Boston College, also decided against walking.
While Newton won’t get to go through the pomp and circumstance, he will receive that priceless piece of paper he promised his mom he would earn.
“When I do get my diploma, I’m going to put it right above my mom’s door, so she knows her words were not in vain,” Newton said. “All my awards that mean the world to me are implanted (in her house), and this is no different. If anything, it’s going right along next to the Heisman.”
According to Newton, that piece of paper isn’t a period. When his playing days are done, he hopes to use his degree to open a day care center.
“As I get more educated about sociology, and education as a whole, shame on me if I don’t use my influence in a positive way. Someone may look at my situation and say, ‘He may be financially set, but yet he’s bettering himself.’ Maybe I can encourage somebody else who is in my situation or is down and out [to] always strive for a better you and that’s what this was pretty much all about: making myself better.”