NEW YORK — Reggie Bush took the unprecedented step of giving back his Heisman Trophy on Tuesday, saying the scandal over improper benefits he received while he was a star running back at Southern California should not stain “the dignity of this award.”
The New Orleans Saints running back won the Heisman — awarded to the best player in college football — in 2005.
Returning the trophy has no practical effect on Bush since he’s already in the pros and a member of a Super Bowl championship team. However, it is the first time in the award’s 75-year history that a player has forfeited it.
USC was hit with heavy sanctions by the NCAA this summer after it determined Bush and his family had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from two fledgling California-based marketing agents. The NCAA ruled Bush was ineligible for the 2005 season, which opened the possibility that the Heisman Trophy Trust would take back the award.
One of the few guidelines given to Heisman Trophy voters is that a player must be in compliance with NCAA rules to be eligible for the award.
“The persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting,” Bush said in a 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.
“For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust.”
USC won 34 straight games and two national titles during Bush’s sensational three-year career. In 2005, he was spectacular, running for 1,740 yards, scoring 18 touchdowns and helping the Trojans reach the national championship game against Texas.
Whether the 2005 Heisman will be vacated or given to runner-up Vince Young of Texas remains to be seen.
“It doesn’t matter if he gives it back. Everyone still knows Reggie Bush was the best player that year. Look at the runs. He was clearly the best player,” said Johnny Rodgers, 1972 Heisman winner from Nebraska. “O.J. Simpson got accused of a murder, and they didn’t take his back.”
