“I Got an Opportunity to Say What’s Up to Coach Prime and Shedeur”: Cam Newton Revisits Attending Travis Hunter’s Heisman Ceremony

Cam Newton had not attended the Heisman Trophy ceremony for 14 years, ever since winning the coveted prize in 2010. However, in 2024, Cam set aside his aversion to cheer for Travis Hunter, one of the former players from his C1N program — a 7-on-7 football league. On his 4th & 1 Podcast, Newton reflected on the heartfelt exchange he had with Deion Sanders during the ceremony.

Interestingly, the interaction with Coach Prime made Cam realize the magnitude of his own achievement from more than a decade ago.

“I got an opportunity to say what’s up to Coach Prime and Shedeur. And the first thing Coach Prime said was, ‘Man, I am so proud of you. But you ain’t — you won the Heisman. And it doesn’t really hit until you realize not a lot of people can say that they won a Heisman Trophy, which is the most prestigious football award’,” said Cam.

Newton had revealed on his podcast last week why he chose not to attend the Heisman ceremony for so many years. The Heisman Trust had told him that his father, Cecil Newton Sr., “could not come to the ceremony,” owing to NCAA recruiting violations. Newton took it as a sign of disrespect to his family.

In addition to this personal reason, Cam’s commitment to the NFL and his busy podcast schedule during December, when the Heisman event is held each year, kept him quite preoccupied. Newton admitted he didn’t “realize it had been so long since attending the ceremony”, and that he had been “booked and busy” right through. 

“Going back to the Heisman makes you realize and get to smell your flowers,” Cam added.

“If you put it into perspective, your favorite football player never won a Heisman. Think about that. With all due respect for all the players that have played—that award cements your legacy in college football. And I said to myself, ‘Dang, that was real’,” he elaborated.

In 2010, Newton earned the titles of SEC Offensive Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year, leading to a decisive Heisman Trophy victory. He guided the Auburn Tigers to a national championship win against Oregon, marking the school’s first title since 1957.

After this successful season, Newton declared for the NFL Draft, where he was chosen as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers. In 2011, he received the NFL Rookie of the Year award.