NEW YORK (AP) — Reggie Bush says he is forfeiting his Heisman Trophy.
It‘s the first time college football’s top award was returned by a recipient.
“While this decision is heart-breaking, I find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many,” Bush said. “Those are gifts that can never be taken away.”
USC was hit with heavy sanctions by the NCAA this summer after it determined Bush had received improper benefits. The NCAA ruled that 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 trophy.
The eight-member Heisman Trophy Trust, based in New York, had said it would have to consider what to do about Bush, who won in a landslide vote over Texas quarterback Vince Young.
There was no immediate word from the Heisman Trust if the award would be vacated or given to Young.
“My opinion would be; I would love for the Heisman Trust to look at a re-vote or give it to the second guy, which therefore would be Vince,” Texas coach Mack Brown said.
Allegations that Bush and his family had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from two California-based marketing agents were first reported by Yahoo! Sports in September 2006, months after Bush had already been drafted No. 2 overall by the New Orleans Saints.
The NCAA and Pac-10 began investigating Bush and the USC football program soon after, and the running back immediately denied any wrongdoing.
But Bush never met with investigators.
One of the marketing agents, Lloyd Lake, sued Bush trying to recoup nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts. Bush was supposed to give a deposition in the case but never did and eventually the case was settled with Bush never having given his side of the story publicly.
It took four years for the NCAA to complete it’s investigation. When it finally handed down its punishment in June, it was harsh.
The NCAA cited USC for a lack of institutional control. It’s report cited numerous improper benefits for Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo, who spent just one year with the Trojans.
The penalties included the loss of 30 football scholarships over three years and vacating 14 victories in which Bush played from December 2004 through the 2005 season. USC beat Oklahoma in the BCS title game on Jan. 4, 2005, and won 12 games during Bush’s Heisman-winning 2005 season, which ended with a loss to Texas in the 2006 BCS title game.
After the 2009 season, coach Pete Carroll left to take over the Seattle Seahawks.
In July, USC replaced athletic director Mike Garrett with Pat Haden, and one of the first moves Haden made was returning USC‘s copy of Bush’s Heisman Trophy.
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AP Sports Writer Jim Vertuno contributed to this report.
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Chialms
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:04pmI really don’t see the problem with this whole scenario. College athletics is every bit the business that professional sports is, and I think it’s perfectly fair to compensate those athletes who bring higher revenue to the school. They work harder, train harder, and have to balance their full academic schedule alongside the demands of their personal fitness and devotion to the team. Why are we teaching these kids that it’s wrong to benefit in the short term from hard work and dedication?
Granted, he broke the rules and as such will be reprimanded. My question is why are these rules in place? So long as a young athlete’s conduct falls within respectable bounds I see no need to limit their earning potential.
Report Post »Darl10372
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:53pmI’m glad he stepped up to the plate. I also agree with other posts about how athletes can get caught up in it before they realize it. I feel sorry also for the schools that have to face being banned from title games because of it when both the players and coaches involved have now moved onto bigger and better things. I would add that if there were consequences for the agents/boosters or however the label themselves maybe more would follow the rules. Start with any agent accused of giving benefits to players would be banned from business with the NFL or pro teams, any sport, until and unless proven innocent. If found guilty banned from business for life.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:53pmWanna solve the problem of “corruption in big-time college athletics”? Here’s your answer: Allow universities to pay their players salaries commensurate with their ability to generate revenue, just like in the “real world”. Athletes would be subject to the same stringent drug-testing and academic requirements that they are now (I know, some schools more than others). This should allow great college athletes to earn enough money to retire comfortably after college or pursue their more esoteric desires, if they choose. After college, the athletes that want to make ridiculous fortunes for their skills can go pro, where they will be encouraged to use whatever means necessary to be the very, freakish best. NO banned substances or training practices. We would be treated to 350lb quarterbacks and 500 lb linemen. Its a win-win-win for fans and players at all levels, except maybe the filthy, rich, drug-riddled future pros, but they’ll be so rich, who cares?
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:20pmThis is just a sad story to me. These young athletes are taken advantage of daily. Sure he did wrong but he did the big thing by giving the trophy back before being told to do so.
Report Post »back2reality
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:17pmDon’t you have better things to do Danglingbags then embarrass yourself every time you post something stupid? By the way, did you come up with your name while looking in the mirror or something.
Report Post »natstew
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:08pmHere’s the problem throughout college football:
Many poor kids get to college on a scolarship as the only way out of the “getto” culture and get caught up in the corruption of the boosters and pro scouts without even realizing it at first. By the time they realize what they‘ve done it’s too late, the boosters have them trapped in thir webb of corruption. If not boosters, it’s pro scouts. I feel sorry for the poor kids who naively get entangled in the mess.
I’m for segregating the athletic teams in seperate dormatories with, “House Fathers” to enforce strict rules. Don’t like it? Don’t play college football.
Either that or remove all financial restrictions and let it go wild.
just speaking my mind at the time.
Report Post »Now, the rich kids are anothe story alltogether. I don’t know which catagorie Bush falls under.
broker0101
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:05pmBut George W Bush gets to keep his Heisman, right????
Report Post »Temp21
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:00pmDanglinbags,
USC is in Southern California. The most liberal/Progressive state in the U.S.
Report Post »joshkennard
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 7:52pmHad a ****** one time in Seattle. She gave me an STD as part of “improper” benefits! Wish I could give it back! ;)
Report Post »Leslie_Benedict
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 7:30pmHilarious!!
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 7:28pmthis is of no surpirse that he was getting improper benifits. It happens all the time. with ALL kinds of people. The fact that he is giving it back before being told he must is good maybe he will also give back the cash and gifts he got before AND after..
Report Post »danglingbags
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 7:16pmCollege Football is Corrupt and very popular in Red States………..Hmmmmmmm!
Report Post »gregh1973
Posted on September 15, 2010 at 4:02pmThe problem is though, that the top layer from the Blue States sneak in to the Red states, corrupt everything and then sneak back with all the stolen goods! lol
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