NCAA gives Reggie Bush Back His Heisman Award
posted by Trevor Lloyd | May 3, 2024 | In SportsThe time of reckoning has finally come for University of Southern California football and college football fans. Former USC Trojan Reggie Bush is finally having his Heisman Trophy returned to him after 14 long years.
Bush received the award during his 2005 junior year with the Trojans. The former running back made an impact every time the ball was put in his hand. He rushed for over 1,700 yards and averaged over 8 yards a carry. In the passing game, he totaled 478 yards, receiving on 37 catches and was a weapon in the return game. Bush accounted for 18 total touchdowns that season.
Many fans and analysts alike think that the running back’s 2005 season was the best season an individual player in college football history has ever had. With all the stats in the world under his belt, it is easy for people to make an argument.
Bush was voted a unanimous All-American and was awarded the Heisman at the end of his junior year. He decided to forgo his senior year to declare for the NFL Draft, where he was taken second by the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
However, rumors began to grow around that time, that Reggie and his family had received money and gifts, which at the time was against the strict rules of the NCAA.
One sports agent came out and sued Bush and his family to regain money that he allegedly spent on them during his time at USC in 2007.Once the alleged violations became public the NCAA launched a three-year investigation on Bush and USC that started in 2007.
The investigation concluded in 2010 with USC being hit with heavy sanctions and severe punishments that saw the program lose 30 scholarships over a three-year period and prevented competing in the postseason from 2010-2012, while Bush himself was pressured to return his Heisman.
USC, also under the sanction, had to disassociate themselves with Bush for 10 years, with no mention of him in any form related to football his stats were to extent were erased from the record book USC and the institution was not allowed to even sell his jersey and the games he played in were labeled as losses. Bush became the first player in college football history to willingly return his Heisman.
After the disassociation period ended, Name, Image and Likeness Deals became a staple in college sports after the Supreme Court decided that the players could be compensated. Many thought that this meant Bush would get his award back, especially considering his violation was not performance-enhancing, illegal or immoral.
After three years of Bush advocating and a lawsuit, the former Trojan finally got what he had earned returned to him as it was announced that Bush would be recognized again as a Heisman Trophy winner.
Michael Comerford, the president of the Heisman Trust, made the statement: “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie …We are so happy to welcome him back.”
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