NCAA shows competence
The NCAA has finally shown some competence in its decision-making as it finally rectified a decade-long punishment that should have long been overturned. On Wednesday, the NCAA committee gave former USC star running back Reggie Bush his Heisman after taking it from him in 2005.
During his time at USC, Bush was a phenomenon the moment he stepped on campus in 2003, but took his stardom to another stratosphere in 2005 when he rushed for 1,740 yards on 200 attempts. With his stats, Bush was the overwhelming favorite for the Heisman, winning the award with 784 out of 892 first-place votes. After being drafted 2nd overall to the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 draft, it was reported at the time by Yahoo Sports that Bush was at the center of the USC pay-to-play scandal. It was reported that Bush and his family received benefits worth more than $100,000 from agents while enrolled at USC, which was against NCAA rules at the time. The benefits included weekly payments and a year of rent-free living at the California home of Michael Michaels, who was trying to start a marketing agency with Bush as his primary client.
After the NCAA investigation ended, sanctions were placed on the program, resulting in stripping USC of its 2004 Bowl Championship Series national title, a two-year bowl ban, and the loss of 30 scholarships over three years, and Bush deemed ineligible for the trophy.
But with the recent addition of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), many people, including past Heisman winner Johnny Manziel, all clamored for Bush's reinstatement as a Heisman winner. While it took some time, the NCAA came to its senses and gave Bush his trophy back.
"We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments," Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trust, told ESPN. "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."
Of course, Bush was happy to be back with his Heisman-winning family. "I’m thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I’m honored to return to the Heisman family," Bush said in a statement to ESPN.
