Cam Newton gives fan a thrill of a lifetime

[jtnc]

To 16-year-old Katie Brown Cam Newton really is Superman.

So when her hero ran across the end zone after his NFL record-setting 13th rushing touchdown Sunday at Tampa Bay and handed her the game ball, she was speechless and trembling with excitement.

"It was the most amazing moment," Brown said in a phone interview on Monday. For the game, she was dressed in a homemade black t-shirt she'd had made up the night before that said "Katie and Cam" on the front and "Mrs. Newton" on the back along with Newton's No. 1.

"I thought he was going to do his Superman celebration like he normally does, but then all of sudden he started running over and pointed right at me," said the teenager from New Port Richey, Fla. "I was in shock. I thought, I must be in a dream."

A few minutes later,however, she had to give the football up.

That ball, it turns out, is destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Newton's third touchdown of the game gave him 13 for the season, the most ever by an NFL quarterback breaking Steve Grogan's 35-year-old record.

Panthers assistant equipment manager Don Toner, knowing beforehand the importance of Newton's milestone, had the awkward job of asking Brown for the ball.

"The funny thing is when Cam scored and started running over there we're all yelling, 'Oh no, don't,'" Toner said with a laugh. "It was like watching it happen in slow motion. It was painful."

Painful because he knew he'd have to be the one to retrieve it.

At first Toner started toward the corner of the end zone, but then realized he still had the kicker's tee for the upcoming kickoff in his pocket. After he gave that up he grabbed one of the game balls from the ball boys and later snagged four hats out an equipment trunk on the sidelines.

Toner said Brown was understanding.

"I just asked her real nice, 'Would you mind exchanging that ball —we kind of need it,'" Toner said. "And she was real sweet about it. She didn't hesitate. She was so excited she was trembling. She was just giddy about what had just happened."

"It was some quick thinking on Donnie's part," said Panthers equipment manager Jackie Miles.

Brown said she didn't mind trading the ball.

"I was like, ok, no problem," Brown said. "I honestly believe Cam deserves to have that ball because it was his record and his achievement. He should have it."

Miles said the team plans to send Brown a care package in the mail.

All in all, it was an incredible day for Brown, who didn't even know she was going to the game until a few hours before kickoff.

She doesn't live far from Raymond James Stadium and had asked her father, D.J. Brown —founder and president of EyeDeal Equipment —if going to see Newton play could be her Christmas present.

At the time he told his daughter they couldn't afford the tickets, but secretly purchased four for Katie, her 11-year-old brother Noah and their mother Renee. On Sunday, he didn't tell her where they were going until they were on the way to the game.

"She was just so thrilled," D.J. Brown said. "I think she had an inkling though, because she had the t-shirt made up the night before the game."

Brown can thank the fans around her for getting an opportunity to meet Newton.

After a Carolina touchdown in the second quarter, several fans began shouting Newton's name while he stood with DeAngelo Williams around the water cooler rehydrating on the sidelines. Newton noticed the ruckus and finally turned to their section. When he did Katie turned around and showed him the back of her shirt.

"I pointed at my t-shirt and he just started smiling and shaking his head laughing," she said.

D.J. Brown said her daughter became Newton fan while he was playing at Auburn. They were watching a game together when Katie asked him, "Who's that guy?"

He told her.

"I told my father right there I'm going to be a fan of whatever team drafts him," Brown said. "So I'm a Panthers fan."

Brown said returning to school Monday at River Ridge High was a blast as several of her classmates had seen what happened on television.

"It was an amazing day," Brown said. "I was a really great early Christmas present."

Only one thing could top it, she said.

"I'm wondering if Cam can take me to my prom?" she said.

http://m.pbpost.com/pbpost/pm_32380/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=ZSuxpqMB

[Guest Irv]

Alot of people on this board should now feel ashamed about some of the stuff they said yesterday. You know who you are and you know what i'm talking about.

[DeeJay]

she got to hold history for a few minutes.

[God]

hawt

[jasonluckydog]

Why was that thread deleted about the ball?

[Cat'sGrowl]

They better not rip her off. Wouldn't be right to send her something silly in the mail.

"Oh, hey, Katie, we know you were given one of the greatest gifts a fan could ever receive, but we kind of need it, so can you give that to us and we will send you a keychain in the mail? We cool? Huh?"

I'm thinking sideline passes to every game we play in Tampa until the day she kicks the bucket, an enormous gift card for whatever Panthers apparel she wants, a game used ball signed by Cam, and maybe something really cool like getting to have dinner with the team the night before a game or something. It's only fair, as far as I'm concerned.

[Grammer]

At the time he told his daughter they couldn't afford the tickets, but secretly purchased four for Katie, her 11-year-old brother Noah and their mother Renee. On Sunday, he didn't tell her where they were going until they were on the way to the game.

"She was just so thrilled," D.J. Brown said. "I think she had an inkling though, because she had the t-shirt made up the night before the game."

Yeah... "just an inkling"

[jasonluckydog]

and several people here said that ball was not important and that she should of kept it or sold it.....

[Jangler]

Why was that thread deleted about the ball?

it went into a place it shouldn't have for this part of the board.

so let watch this instead of letting it happen again.

[jasonluckydog]

it went into a place it shouldn't have for this part of the board.

so let watch this instead of letting it happen again.

">

[rainwater]

They better not rip her off. Wouldn't be right to send her something silly in the mail.

Rip her off? She got a huge thrill by what Cam did. It isn't about the ball. Maybe she was excited Cam gave her a ball and had no plans to sell it on ebay? Not everybody sees things as dollar signs.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I don't understand how some of you get through life with how stupid you make yourself out to be on here.

[jasonluckydog]

I don't understand how some of you get through life with how stupid you make yourself out to be on here.

please elaborate...

[Cat'sGrowl]

please elaborate...

I'm referring to the post above mine.