Former University of Southern California star running back Reggie Bush has decided to forfeit the Heisman Trophy he won in 2005, according to a statement on the website of his pro team, the New Orleans Saints.
The decision comes two months after the NCAA ruled Bush had violated rules by accepting gifts, cash and other benefits while he played for USC - violations that would have affected his eligibility.
"The persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting," Bush said in Tuesday's statement.
"In no way should the storm around these allegations reflect in any way on the dignity of this award, nor on any other institutions or individuals. Nor should it distract from outstanding performances and hard-earned achievements either in the past, present or future."
Last week, Yahoo Sports reported that two sources close to the Heisman Trust, which oversees the award given to college football's top player, claimed the trust eventually would rule it agrees with the NCAA's assessment that Bush was ineligible to play during 2005 - and therefore would strip the trophy from Bush.
The NCAA infractions committee in June also levied heavy penalties against USC's football program, vacating its 13 wins, include the team's Orange Bowl victory against the Oklahoma Sooners, taking away 30 school scholarships and banning USC from bowl games for two years.
In his statement, Bush said winning the Heisman was one of the greatest honors of his life.
"But I know that the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it," Bush said. "I know that my victory was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates, the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans and the unconditional love of my family and friends.
"And I know that any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name.
"It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005."
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What a shame. All's he had to do was play by the rules. I do understand temptation and getting things that you could never have before but this really is a shame.
You clearly dont know how college football administrations operate if you think this was all HIS decision. Google college fundraising and boosters.
Where were his advisors? His coach is now making big money in the NFL while the school pays the price and Reggie pays the price. Going from Nothing to All is difficult for the best of people. It's just a shame.
I accepted gifts when I played Div 1 basketball so what the big deal. Is it wrong that he got caught or someone gave him a gift?
Yeah, Reggie is paying the price. A Super Bowl ring, 8 million dollar salary for 2010, Kim Kardashian as your ex, all while simply being a backup running back. What a price he had to pay....
Uh, Reggie is paying the price? Pretty sure he's making quite a bit more money than his former USC coach. Reggie cheated and got caught. Plain and simple.
I hope they go ahead and send the trophy over to VY in Tennessee.
Great! Now Bush can help USC's other Heisman winner (OJ Simpson) look for the "real killer"
@ME: Then you're a lousy no good cheat too!
What a shame that the NCAA is still able to profit off of these guys and the players can't do a damn thing about it. I can't wait for the day when universities decide to leave the NCAA and form their own league. These players work their butts off and the universities and NCAA is making millions and then they get upset because they received "gifts." Please what a joke the NCAA is becoming.
OMG?! somebody made some money off their talents?! how dare they! Come on the NCAA does this because Bush got served a cake and NCAA is crying cause they weren't offered a piece with extra icing.
ASH,
I like your comment. Bush should have played by the rules, but, he did not.
DC in LA,
your comment is MISGUIDED and a reference to a FRUSTRATION you're harboring against O.J. Simpson. The article is not about O.J. Simpson.
You wrote, "now he (Reggie Bush) can help USC's other Heisman Trophy winner (O.J. Simpson), ad nauseum. The University of Southern California has had SEVEN Heisman Trophy winners including Bush and Simpson. They are:
Matt Leinart – 2004
Carson Palmer – 2002
Marcus Allen – 1981
Charles White – 1979
Mike Garrett – 1965
Again, it's too bad Bush didn't play by the rules. That's the article's point. LOL!!!!!
to the former div. 1 basketball player. it was wrong that he was given a gift and it was extremely wrong for him to accept any and all gifts. it's inconvenient for him, his team, USC and it's fans that he broke the rules that so many other players have to abide by, but not all do. and not all get caught. but he did. therefore, USC pays the ultimate price.
imho, there should be an extremely strict law that prohibits agents from contacting college athletes for any reason until said player has made their intentions public that they'll forfeit any remaining eligibility to enter the draft.
you may never get caught. you're already hiding behind a moniker that you broke the rules. you'll likely never man up to your indiscretions against your school until it benefits you. enjoy life, cheater.
I agree! Where were his advisors? It is a shame. I do agree ethics is important. But I have heard horror stories of kids playing for colleges who just do not have enough money to support themselves. They may get a sport scholarship but it does take a little more money to survive o a college campus beyond what the scholarship provides. Are these players allowed to work and have a job? I don't think so...! This is unlike other students on campuses across the country.
nebraskacub, i disagree. c'mon, man.. i hate the NCAA as much as you probably. this isn't about the NCAA making money off players. it's about equality. how the hell are some schools like Iowa State, Ole Miss, even smaller schools like Boise State, TCU, Cincinnati suppose to compete with the Texas', USC's, Florida's, etc... and their resources to pay athletes? that's what this is about.
being a husker fan, (i s'pose), i'm sure you understand the money that the Longhorns bring. y'all put your tails between your legs and bolted for the Big 10 where you have a better chance to win championships again. see you October 16th.
I think it was more than temptation for a “[student] athlete“… What were USC’s entrance SAT scores for 2005? What was Reggie Bush’s major and did he graduate? Is academia supporting students that can’t make it by their own will, passion and great effort and saying it‘s OK? If this keeps up our country might elect a [p]resident that doesn’t remember his high school years and ran for Congress unchallenged because Harvard made it so… Ooops it happened. Tell Reggie to keep the Heisman Trophy and the media will justify what happened!
Ash, you are correct. All he had to do was play by the rules. And to the person calling themselves "Me" – if you dont know what the big deal is, I am sorry for you. The fact that you accepted gifts when you played basketball should have consequences. If you dont know the difference between doing something that you know is wrong and being caught doing it makes me wonder how many people out there do not have honor and integrity. Life is worth living if you do the right thing, simply because it is the right thing. Not because you are afraid you will be caught or because you think if you do the wrong thing you will 'win' somehow. Most of the time I hear people justifying their actions, words or decisions with "I gotta do unto others before they do unto me" or "gotta get The Man". Believe me, you think you are getting away with something but you are just giving more power to The Man. Just like those who buy and take illegal drugs are actively supporting the drug cartels who are gunning down innocent men, women and children in their own streets and homes – and beheading people. Think what the long term consequences of your actions are – and not just how they affect you personally. Reggie has lost a lot of respect from many people – not because he "got caught doing what everybody else does" (which is not true anyway) – but because he did the wrong thing in the first place and at his age he should have known better! Temptation and peer pressure should never be a reason to do something. Nor should greed.
Can someone please explain this to me? Isn't he still the same trophy-worthy athlete whether he received financial contributions or not? Is not like he used steroids. The gifts make absolutely no difference in his performance.
Its just those pesky rules...that are for all the other people that always get in the way
I completely agree. I also think that penalties shouldn't be leveled at USC.
because he accepted gifts, according to NCAA rules he should not have been eligible to play in 2005 therefore never should have been considered for the Heisman Trophy.
I thought everyone knew in sports today, that CHARACTER is apart of any award.
Jamie, by accepting those gifts he became ineligible to play college sports and therefore, ineligible for any college football awards.
It has nothing to do with his ability or inability or whatever. But he broke the rulles and would have been ineligible to begin with if he would have gotten caught beforehand which obviously is the same as not being able to win the trophy. I hate people having sympathy for people like this. They are no better than anyone else and cant be rewarded when they break the rules espescially when they have the opporunity of a lifetime that most of us wish we had!
To be eligible to receive the Heisman award the player must be in good standing with the NCAA and at the time Bush was not. Therefore he was ineligible to receive the award in the first place.
Yeah, I don't know, cheating is cheating, no other definition right? If you're taking contributions, that's against the rules and is considered cheating. Should one be rewarded for that? Although in the state I live in a couple of "university staffers" were writing reports and completing tests for ball-playing students in order to keep them eligible. In the end the "staffers" got the boot and the players "tested out", (or in) whatever that means, and got to continue to "play ball". How does that work?
no he was not the same athlete, he may of got more sleep since he did not have to work, he could have gotten better prepaired for the game with a little Free money to help him along. Rules are Rules.
i agree, its a little petty, when you consider pro players actually performing enhancing drugs and don't have to give up their awards, but honestly vince young should have gotten the award that year anyway, his numbers were a lot better than bush's
then the real problem comes, what happens if one day the booster says, throw this game or I will rat you out.
If only Reggie Bush was a corporate vp or a hedge fund manager or a politician even, and not just a sports player, then he would of gotten away scott free, if history of punishment of wall street is any indicator. What a poor decision he made, playing football instead of being a money manager.
It's not a question of his performance; the problem is, there is no way of knowing if he would have won if other "professionals" (and once he accepted any unauthorized benefits, he became a professional as far as the NCAA is concerned) would have been allowed to play college football as well.
They only takin it away because he's black. You can bet they wouldnt take Tom brady's trophy away! Racism is alive and well in America.
The difference is he was bought by a school.
It's called a level playing field. Bush took money while other players weren't (at lest they didn't get caught ...). That makes him a no good cheater (along with those that gave him the money/gifts/whatever).
Accepting money or gifts by athletes, scientists, politicians, etc. creates a conflict of interest in which the donor now has a real or perceived influence upon the person accepting the gifts. "Play poorly" [so I can win this bet] or "take so-and-so out of commission" become believable scenarios when poor college athletes will do all kinds of things for more money. If rule breakers aren't held accountable for their infractions, the rules then become unenforceable for all other players and fair play becomes a thing of the past. USC program was ultimately responsible for the behavior of its players and will now be punished to make sure it and all other NCAA participants don't make this mistake again. Kudos for standing up.
I completely agree with Jamie; perhaps Reggie Bush should sign his name with an “x” and write abstract thoughts with finger-paint.
I totally agree with you, the gifts didn't perform on the field Reggie did. And this look like a case of the NCAA being an indian giver. Reggie take your Superbowl ring and contract and move on.
Jamie – it is not just about the performance. When you win such a prestigious award, you are a role model too. Younger athletes look up to you. Look up the qualifications to be eligible for the award then see if you understand. Without those caveats it would just be another award – not THE award.
This is a joke! What on earth took so long?
How self centered he was, is and will always be.
It's called being an athlete
Like every other human being on the planet. Being self-centered is part of the human condition... And every other creature on Earth, for that matter.
If you were him you would be also? Money changes people.
It's good that he's giving it back, but he knows what he did wrong without having to hear the NCAA ruling on the issue. He should have given it back sooner.
or to a Sooner.
No, Bob, the Sooners would've gotten rolled by USC with or without Bush.
haha just do your tires young man
Thanks Reggie!
who cares. give the guy his trophy.
Let 'em have the trophy - you have a Superbowl ring now! He can affort to buy a replica if it means that much...
Letting him keep his trophy after being found guilty would be spitting in the face of every athlete who followed the rules. It would also abolish all credibility of the NCAA. One of the biggest things that separates the USA from the second and third world is the relative absence of graft and adherance to rules. If you wish to live in a society with very slippery justice, move away and let some hard working person tired of crushing graft take your place. Do not start down the slippery slope.
Ha ha
Way to screw your team at USC as well.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAGU1Wc1muQ
LOL's
Jamie, it matters because college athletes (or their families) aren't allowed to get paid OR receive gifts while still an amateur player. It doesn't affect his playing, but it's illegal.
its not illegal. its against NCAA regulations, which are completely arbitrary.
He did all the running and scoring W/O any help. Is the NCAA going to give back all the money they got from his performance?
very good point...Wheres the money NCAAA!!!!
Actually he split carries with White. Wasn't the runner up in votes that year Vince Young? It is a shame that no player following the rules (or so we believe) gets the honor of reciving the award.
What a shame? on who? i mean, you're a young kid, talented... takes a few gifts that were GIVEN to him and not ASKED for by him... i dont think its his fault.. its the boosters
How do you know Bush didn't ask for the gifts? In fact, how do you know that Bush didn't say "Pay me or I go somewhere else." You're assumption of Bush's innocence is foolish.
How do you know Bush did ask for the gifts? In fact, how do you know that Bush did say "Pay me or I go somewhere else." You're assumption of Bush being guilty for these actions is foolish.
It wasn't boosters! It was a wannabe agent which is why is so absurd to penalize SC. It was Reggie Bush and an outside agent involved – not SC. They walk away and SC is left with obscene penalties. Nice work Reggie and the ncaa.
he would have got it all if he just waited until he could do it legally.
now, all this does is teach other kids that you can cheat, still get paid and then act like you are sorry...The NFL should make an example of people like him and kick him out of the league, but we all know that ain't gonna happen. Symbolism over substance, they make a big deal of gawking at a hot chick, but cheaters (Bush), Rapists(Big Ben), Murders(Ray Lewis) and all the other felons get a slap on the wrist.
Let's really clean up sports and get rid of any of these clowns who think they can do whatever they want simply because they are an athlete.
You live in a Bubble–all players should receive some stipend for their contributions to these million dollar programs
You forgot animal abuser Vicks
Mancho – They get that thing called a "free ride" for 4 years, that "should" be enough. Once you get that degree, that can't be taken away – unlike that trophy....
Lighten up...it's just a trophy - like I said before – He's got a ring now! Just like Kim K, that trophy can be passed on to sit on someone else's shelf ...-:) - oh...and she's still waiting for a ring
These athletes in big programs get scholorships to help them get a real (?) bachelor's degree and then have free tutors who force them to study so they don't flunk out of college (and concurrently the football program). When they are done with their 4 years (or some kind of degree) and if they did very well, that time sets them up for the draft, which may land them a multimillion dollar contract. Being paid for their performances as rookies during school on top of all that? Give me a break! I PAID to attend college myself and lived uber cheaply while there. If someone paid my tuition, you bet I'd do something for them. Besides, we know his degree is good because there wasn't a single phrase in Ebonics from his speech.
Why should Bush be punished for the sins and corruption of the university. If you were in his situation at the time could you really say you would turn it down? regardless of the money, Bush won the trophy because of his talent not his ethics
HELLO!!...all these schools..spend ALOT of time explaining to these guys what they can..and cant take.
Do you think that it's okay for govt officials to take kickbacks when awarding contracts? Perhaps they are just deal makers. If ethics isn't the issue, then what is?
"Why should Bush be punished for the sins and corruption of the university."
Are you serious? The university had nothing to do with this – repeat nothing to do with this. You obviously have no idea what the accusations were even about. It was Reggie Bush and an outside agent involved. The school took the heat which is why it's all so absurd.
Ya, he is the same worthy "athlete" as far as performance, which is what makes this so sad. But, he broke rules and if the NCAA had found out before his trophy run in 2005 then it would have went to Vince Young because Bush would have been ineligible. I guess it needs to go to an athlete who follows all the rules instead of 80%, Bush knew he would be a millionaire anyway come the draft. He should have known better than to take financial gifts.