A statue of Cam Newton was unveiled today at Auburn, along with statues of Auburn's two other Heisman Trophy winners (Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson).

Newton showed up looking resplendent as usual. But here was the unusual thing -- he recited a poem that he wrote himself (he stressed that he wrote it himself several times, and I think he did. It sounds like he talks).

You can listen to Newton read the text at www.al.com or you can read it below (it's better when he reads it -- Newton naturally knows how to work a crowd).

Newton's poem (which apparently was untitled, but is completely about his time at Auburn and references, among other things, a one-point victory over Alabama. The wise man he refers to is Auburn coach Gene Chizik):

365 days, that was my tenure,

But for some strange reason it felt like I've always been here.



All the blood, sweat and tears it took to get this

I'll always honor and cherish this.



My road to the top had a couple of pit stops

But during my time at Auburn, the love of the Auburn family would not let my morale drop.



Greatness was what I strived for and greatness is what I got

The mentality of the Auburn man took me to the top.



Some people will never understand the feeling of what it means to be an Auburn man

But I'm lucky enough to be able to raise my right hand and be able to say “I can.”



My time at Auburn, I don't know if it could have been any better--

Man, was it great.

We won an SEC title, a national championship

And, oh yeah, we beat that team, 27-28.



As a wise man once said, “This place,” as in Auburn, “was great way before you were thought of,”

And this place is where I will always love


So as I share this day with two of Auburn's beloved

I want to end by saying “War Eagle” and “I believe in Auburn and love it.”