CHARLOTTE — Cam Newton always had a flair for the dramatic. And that extended to the night his alma mater retired his jersey.
After a final two minutes of the first half of the Auburn-Georgia game that took 38 minutes to play, Newton took the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium to have his No. 2 jersey retired.
The ceremony honored one of the most dominant individual seasons in college football history, when the future Panthers legend led the Tigers to a national championship following the 2010 season.
Newton led the 2010 Auburn team to a 14-0 record and a championship, almost by force of will. He threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns, ran for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns, and, for good measure, added a receiving touchdown.
Also, the only other offensive player from that championship team to be drafted that year was seventh-round tackle Lee Ziemba (No. 244 overall, by the Panthers).
Current Panthers defensive tackle and former Auburn star Derrick Brown knows what it meant to the school.
"It was awesome," Brown said. "You know Cam's one season, everybody says it's just one season, but man, it was a legendary one, especially one down on The Plains.
"I know how the school definitely has cherished the moments that he made and led the school to, so I'm ready to celebrate that with him."
Of course, after being chosen first overall in the 2011 draft, Newton went on to win MVP honors for the Panthers during the magical 2015 season, when he led the team to a 15-1 record and a trip to Super Bowl 50.
October is a big month for former Panthers legends honored by their alma maters, as general manager Dan Morgan is going into the University of Miami's Ring of Honor as well.
