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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The shame of it all is that young man made the school millions of dollars and never even for a moment did they share any of those funds. but the kid gets a car (used at that) and now you take his trophy, boy it wasn't the car or any other item that allow this guy to run the yardage he ran, but it was that same effort of play that allow the school to make the millions wow. By the way the trophy was for his talent at running the football, this isn't a seriod case people, let the kid have the trouphy he earned. or the school should give back all the funds they earned from media coverage while Bush attended school there.
Take the trophy, give it back ..whatever. Anyone who watched college football in 2005 could see Reggie was the best collegiate player that year. Don't need a trophy to prove it.
Question? Should the University and Coaches return all of the money they received in 2005 also? Let's not act like they didn't know what he was receiving from who ever!
I understand the decision and I also understand why so many of the comments are crtical of Reggie Bush. However, I'd like to hear a lot more commentary about the hypocrisy of the NCAA, who makes untold millions from the names of these "amateur" athletes and similarly about universities like USC, who do as well. Please don't try and tell me that they had no idea about what could happen and that they took enough precautions with these athletes that are so new to the high powered, big finance world of "amateur college athletics". Plenty of blame to go around. This is not just about Reggie Bush.
Not saying what he did was right...but when will the "Trust" look into the past of all the other Heisman Trophy winners to see what possible improprieties they have committed involving agents and athletic boosters. I am pretty sure that most recent, if not all in the last 20 years, Heismans would have to be returned. This is dangerous ground.....and could turn into another Mitchell report.
Before you say stuff like that...PLEASE check out what went on at the University of Spoiled Children
.....And probably happens at most large Universities, with prominent football programs....and your point is?
Yeah, Nishi, that's why he's sitting in prison right now – poor OJ. Too bad it wasn't your dumb a$$ that night back in 94. Then you'd be singing a different tune. LOL
Reggie giving the heisman back will have about as much negative affect on his football career as it will on mine.
So if a USC film student gets an agent and gets paid to do a bit part in a major motion picture, is he or she ineligible to appear in student films for their classmates in the department? No. they are not.
Here's the thing about College Football – we don't hear the stories about the blown out knees, the concussions, the major injuries that impact the long term health and possibilities for the players. We don't hear about the kid who may have been able to make it as a pro, but blew out his ACL in his second year due to overtraining and didn't bother get his degree. Some of these kids take a beat down, just to play college football; a beat down that impacts the rest of their life. It's a risky sport, and there are risks for all the players. If you are a transcendent player, you should be allowed to be treated as a transcendent player even at the college level. There are no guarantees of a future, and their very presence drives an industry.
And I hate SC football.
The difference being that the film student still needs to keep up their grades to pass unlike most of the college athletes who, in essence, are assured of passing grades no matter what.
Also, your comparison is totally inaccurate. If a student wants to make money in an off campus venture, fine. The problem occurs when universities are bribing people to attend. I don't ever recall any university buying a film, or any other type of art student, an apartment, cars, gifts for their families and the like just so they will sign on the dotted line and attend. It's sad that anyone is making excuses for him. He accepted bribes to play, period.
This is just a simple case of yet another spoiled athlete getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar...
Free O.J!
to bohunkfootball – AMEN. That was both funny and right on time, LOL.
Vince Young was academically inelligble. GIVE ME A BREAK He got help in college with his test scores. wunderlick test he flunked.. Did play a great game though.
I hope the trophy is in mint condition. Can Vince request a new one?
You are all ridiculous. Reggie Bush was a great player at USC. Maybe he cheated, but the only people he cheated was the NCAA. He did not take banned substances or PED's. His play on the field was because of his hard work and drive to become a great football player. Who cares if he accepted gifts. Good for him. welcome to capitalistic America everyone. I hope he got some cool gifts and lived life comfortably. everyone should suck it up and move on. Give the man his trophy back you sour and stubborn popped collar NCAA bureaucrats.
http://chronicle.com/article/Pay-for-Top-14-NCAA-Executives/124358/
The NCAA,..and their moronic rules is another subject. These players are told and told and told I cannot buy it that he didnt know he was breaking the rules.
It's sort of like getting fired from your job because you were browsing on the internet, making a personal phone call, etc.
Who cares??? People are dying in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those are the true heroes, not these guys who can chase a ball.