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Rhett Lashlee reacts to Auburn retiring Cam Newton's number

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh08/19/25griffin_mcveigh
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Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Oct. 11 is going to be a special day on the Plains. Not only will another rivalry matchup against Georgia take place inside Jordan-Hare Stadium but a program legend is set to see his number retired. Nobody else will wear No. 2 as Cam Newton is honored by Auburn.

Reactions have poured in, including from people who were a part of the national championship-winning season. One of them is current SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee, someone who was a graduate assistant at Auburn in 2010.

Lashlee gave his reaction to the announcement of Newton getting his number retired. “Absolutely deserving,” Lashlee said via X. “@CamNewton congrats.”

Unfortunately, Lashlee will not be able to attend any of the ceremonies. He will be busy with his own program, hoping to take SMU back to another College Football Playoff. The Mustangs will play host to an ACC opponent on Oct. 11, getting the Stanford Cardinal in Dallas.

There have to be some good memories from 15 years ago, though. Lashlee may have only been a graduate assistant but he got a first-hand look at Newton’s brilliance. A total of 4,327 yards and 50 touchdowns when you combine the passing and rushing stats.

Auburn wound up being the best team in college football, winning the BCS national championship over Oregon. An SEC Championship was acquired during the run, destroying South Carolina in Atlanta after an undefeated regular season.

“Cam was awesome,” Lashlee said in 2024 via The Drive With Josh Newman. “Incredible competitor, loved to play… Nobody prepared or worked harder than Cam. Even Friday nights, going to the hotel, he had his laptop on his lap still watching film. And he brought his team along with him. From what everyone saw on the outside, he earned it during the work week.”

Lashlee left Auburn for the 2011 season, taking a job to be Samford’s offensive coordinator. Two years later, he was back for the same role with the Tigers. He found success in 2013, coming close to once again bringing home a national championship.

As crazy and as wild as 2013 was, the 2010 season will likely always take the top spot in Auburn fan’s hearts. Lashlee knows how special a player he was. Some would even argue Newton seemingly brought home the title by himself. Either way, in just a few week’s time, the No. 2 will forever be hung up.