Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said he was excited when Mike Shula was promoted to offensive coordinator, and credited Shula for his development over the second half of last season.

Like veteran wideout Steve Smith earlier this week, Newton said continuity was key after former coordinator Rob Chudzinski left to become Cleveland's coach last month.

“It was very important. I think that's what they tried to do as far as keep everything as simple as possible, keep everything around the genre that we've kind of been keeping things. It's going to be very exciting,” Newton said Friday.

“I've been talking to (Shula) and he's been giving me some ideas to think about. I think it's going to be a working process, but at the same time we're going to have fun and take it to higher heights.”

Newton said his relationship with Shula was “unbelievable” during Shula's two years as quarterbacks coach.

“I think a lot of credit goes to him with me honing in to a lot of things that he's been coaching me up to do. I don't think it's going to be any different,” Newton said. “I think he's going to coach me even harder, especially with his microphone as far as coaching has gotten a little bit higher. And guys are going to have to listen to him now.”

Newton was speaking after an appearance for Gatorade promoting the importance of nutrition.

Newton returned to Auburn last month to begin working on finishing his sociology degree – a promise he made to his mother when he left school two years ago. Newton, who is a semester and a half short of his degree, said being back on campus was wild initially.

“It's smoothed out now. When I first got on campus, it was kind of a circus. But that's kind of what I expected,” Newton said. “But it's nothing but love, man. You go back and you see people's reaction. You take a couple of pictures and you see what it does to a particular person, and you appreciate it your influence.”