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October 15, 2010
Between the exhausting practices, film study sessions, team meetings,
classes, study hall and countless interviews each week, it's a wonder how
Cameron Newton finds time to do much else outside of school and football.
But he does.
In a town like Auburn that supports its college football team so
emphatically, Newton wanted to find a way to give back to the community during
his time on the Plains.
Newton, who has a goal of one day opening a day care center, wanted to do
something that would allow him to work closely with local youth.
Before Auburn City Schools went into session in early August, Newton
ventured over to Wrights Mill Road Elementary School. He met with principal
Lynda Tremaine and told her that he wanted to make difference with the
students.
Tremaine told Newton about the school's mentor program that allows adults to
work with children who need extra encouragement, whether for academics or
behavior. Newton was thrilled about the opportunity.
"I honestly had no idea who he was," Tremaine said. "I just
knew he was an awfully big guy when he walked in."
But Tremaine had her doubts when Newton told her he was the starting
quarterback for the Auburn University football team.
"I said, 'I know when football season starts you won't be able to make
it," Tremaine said. "'But
Cameron said, 'No ma'am, I'll work around football.' And thought, 'Ok, we'll
see.'"
Tremaine had four fifth grade boys in mind that she believed Newton could
help.
"We're all women at the school except for one male PE teacher,"
Tremaine said. "I thought these little boys could really benefit from
having a strong male role model who could steer them in the right
direction."
Newton usually visits the boys around
lunchtime each Monday, the team's day off from practice.
"And you should see the smiles
on these little boys' faces when they're waiting for Cameron to walk through
the door," Tremaine said.
They all meet in Tremaine's office where the boys show him their schoolwork
from the previous week. They also have a behavior sheet filled out by their
teacher that shows Newton if they are staying on track in the classroom.
"And it is serious
conversation," Tremaine said. "He goes through each page of their
work and he'll say, "Mmhmm... 65? Not good. What happened here?"
Newton also talks with the boys about good behavior and doing the right
thing.
"He holds them accountable too," Tremaine said. "He has been
bringing little bags of goodies for them as a way to offer extra encouragement.
He finds out what their favorite type of candy is. But he had to leave a bag
this week because each of his boys had gotten a behavior check.
He wouldn't give them their little reward. This is how seriously he's taking
this."
Once the season began, Newton's performances on the field earned him Player
of the Week honors from the Southeastern Conference and he is becoming a
fixture in Heisman Trophy talk. The Tigers are now ranked seventh in the nation
and each week the stakes are raised.
But Newton has stayed true to his word of visiting the school each week.
"If something comes up and he's going to be a little late, he'll
call," Tremaine said. "If he's got to come on a different day, he'll
let me know. I've been principal here for 14 years and have seen volunteers
come and kind of fade away. But Cameron is taking this very seriously."
Even though Newton was initially
going to work with just the four boys, he now lends his time to the entire
school.
"We use him as a reward for the boys and girls who do something kind
for somebody else, like showing great citizenship," Tremaine said.
"He'll meet them and congratulate them. So he's been encouraging to those
who have needed encouragement as well as those who are outstanding citizens as
well.
"Fifth-grade reporters recently interviewed Newton for the school's
televised news broadcast, Wright News.
"We focus on good character traits," Tremaine said. "So he
talked about doing the right thing and that we learn from our mistakes. He
offered some real good advice."
According to the teachers of the boys that Newton mentors, their academic performance
and behavior has improved tremendously since working with the quarterback.
"The teachers said they cannot believe the difference in their whole
attitude," Tremaine said. "He was made-to-order for our program."
The students recently had a day off school on a Monday, Newton's usual day
to visit. Tremaine said she was surprised that Newton's four boys were upset
about the long weekend.
"On Tuesday they showed up and said, "It's not fair! It was Monday
and we missed Cam!" Tremaine said.
Newton usually stays on campus for about an hour, but he offers to stay as
long as the teachers and children need him.
"Sometimes he'll have to leave if something comes up," Tremaine
said. "But he never makes like he's in a hurry. Teachers will come up to
him and say, 'I've got someone you need to talk to, do you mind?' Without
hesitation he says, "I'll be happy to." He makes time for all of
these kids."
Two weeks ago the school held a pep rally to get the community fired up for
the annual fundraiser, Wright Run.
Aubie was in attendance as well as Newton.
"The children were of course excited to see Aubie," Tremaine said.
"But when Cam came in, you would
have thought it was a movie star. And Cameron was just grinning from ear to
ear. I don't want to speak for him, but I truly believes that he enjoys what he
is doing here."
But there was one little boy who wasn't so excited to see the Auburn mascot.
"I had a third grade little boy sitting in the office," Tremaine
said. "I asked what was going on and he said, 'I am scared of Aubie.'
Cameron happened to be coming in and he heard that and said, 'You're scared of
Aubie?' He said, 'Yes sir, but I've got to ask you some questions.'
"Cam stayed in there and they had the most precious conversation. He
asked, 'How do you throw that ball like you do?' So here he's telling him, 'When
I was your age, I had to start practicing and I had to practice every day.'
It's just fun listening to him talk to the students."
Even though Newton's publicity regarding football reaches new heights each
week, he remains focused on his goal of helping the community. And he certainly
isn't doing it for the attention.
"He is doing this, without a doubt, out of the kindness of his
heart," Tremaine said. "He really wants to make a difference. He has
told his boys, 'You know there were times that I was bad when I was about your
age too,' but he lets them know that we learn from our mistakes.
"And he told me, 'If I can make a difference with any of these kids,
nothing would thrill me more.' And you can see that he means that in his
smile."
