Cam Newton weighs in on Texas fans booing Arch Manning: 'It's time for him to perform'

Given the preseason expectations for Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, it was hard to imagine he’d get booed by the home fans this season. Let alone that he’d get booed against UTEP. It happened, though, and now that it’s happened, Manning needs to find a way to bounce back.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton was on First Take on Monday. There, he shared his thoughts on Arch Manning getting booed, challenging the young quarterback that it’s now time for him to perform.

“This goes back to the similar situation with Brian Kelly,” Cam Newton said. “It’s the SEC. That whole fanbase has shifted right now because I look at the boos as, ‘We’re not booing you because we’re mad.’ It’s the accountability at the end of the day. Are you asking me, ‘Cam, have you ever been booed?’ Ah, New England. Big boo. Carolina, booed as well. Those are things fans have the right to say, ‘We’re not happy with how you’re playing and play better. Fix it.'”

Manning has struggled from Week 1 this season. Opening against Ohio State, that was largely overlooked then. Now, after continuing those struggles against UTEP, including throwing 10-straight incompletions at one point. For the season, he’s completing just 55.3 percent of his passes for 579 yards and six touchdowns to three interceptions. He’s also rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns.

Arch Manning is a quarterback who has long since been talked about, going back to his time in high school. There, he’d be the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2023. He’d garner attention for that, as well as for his family name, making him much talked about for his potential, even as he largely acted as a backup for his first two college seasons.

“This also has me feeling a certain type of way because, and I don’t want to bring Petty Cam out because I don’t want to go there… But what I will say is this, a lot of people have literally put him on a pedestal without properly vetting him. Put aside the last name. Put aside who he is or who he’s the son of or who he’s related to. He still hasn’t proven anything, and potential has never won an award. Potential has never won a football game. Potential hasn’t won diddly squat,” Newton said.

“There’s a saying that says if you live for the oohs and the aghs, you’ll die by the boos and the nahs. For that, this is a growth plan that Arch Manning has to go through in order for him to be the player that we know he can be, but it’s time for him to perform and live up to the hype.”

Texas finishes up non-conference play against Sam Houston State in Week 4. That’s another opportunity for Manning to bounce back. After that, the schedule only gets tougher with SEC play.