Cam Newton remembers his first college championship - no, not the one at Auburn

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Borregos Salvajes can always brag of something only one NFL team has done this season.

Beating a squad quarterbacked by Cam Newton.

The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico posted a 35-14 victory over Blinn College during Newton's lone 2009 season at the Brenham, Texas-based school.

Newton, whose enthusiasm for meeting with the media during Super Bowl week has clearly waned after three sessions, perked up Wednesday when asked about that contest.

"That was an exhibition game!" the Panthers QB proclaimed loudly, a smile on his face.

Actually, it was a scrimmage that Newton remembers well — and for good reason. The outcome played a factor in Newton eventually winning his first college championship.

Blinn wouldn't lose again for the rest of the season en route to capturing the National Junior College Athletic Association title. Newton led the way with 3,488 combined rushing and receiving yards along with 16 touchdowns.

"It's a good thing it didn't go on our record," Newton said. "I remember that game being where afterward everybody was straight forward with each other. A players-only meeting took place. ... That bonding happened after that game.

"We believed in something at that point and didn't let anyone alter us from our belief."

Newton initially couldn't believe what he had gotten into at Blinn after transferring from the University of Florida after a laptop scandal marred his time there. The program at Monterrey was far more advanced than Blinn's despite being located in a country where American football is a secondary sport.

"We had like 60 (players) scraping and they had nothing less than like 100," said Newton, who would transfer from Blinn to Auburn at the end of the 2009 season. "They were so organized and had (matching) jersey colors and cleats. We can't even get matching leotards."