It’s Time To Give Reggie Bush His Heisman Back and Re-Retire #5

USC should re-retire Reggie Bush’s No. 5 jersey and the NCAA should return his Heisman…

While the former Trojans star fights to win back his 2005 Heisman trophy, his jersey number deserves the honor of being officially removed from circulation.

Mirjam Johnson (Southern Calif News Group —  Make it make sense.

On Saturday night in New York, Caleb Williams became either the eighth USC football player to win the Heisman Trophy, or the seventh. That either set a college football record or tied it.

It depended: Were you watching Chris Fowler on ESPN’s broadcast (he counted eight) or reading the Heisman Trust’s news release (seven)? Seeing it on Yahoo Sports (seven) or reading The Guardian (eight)? Getting your news from CNN (seven) or any of the Southern California News Group’s papers (eight)?

Confusing, no? And perturbing when you consider that in 2015, college sports’ governing body put Joe Paterno back atop the pile of the sport’s winningest coaches with 409 victories — 111 of which were restored after having been erased in the aftermath of the ghastly Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal at Penn State.

So the NCAA has the ability to replay a down.

But the kid who was stripped of his Heisman Trophy over dealings with marketing agents — dealings that Reggie Bush denies, by the way, and which would amount to a pittance compared with what’s permitted today — he’s still on the outside looking in.

Williams arrived in New York not just as the best player in college football this season, but a businessman — as a business, man.

The 20-year-old sophomore quarterback’s name, image, likeness reportedly is valued in the neighborhood of $2.5 million. He’s got partnerships with Fanatics and Leaf Trading Cards, with Hawkins Way Capital and Athletic Brewing Company, and he warmed up for the Heisman ceremony by announcing a new partnership with Celsius, a fitness drink company.

And then he picked up the coveted trophy in a boldly branded adidas x Gucci suit.

But we don’t have to squint too hard to see a connection between Bush’s ordeal and the current landscape that allows athletes like Williams to earn compensation commensurate to their celebrity value.

The NCAA punished Bush — and USC, for a “lack of institutional control” — because it found that his parents had been living rent-free in a home provided by a prospective agent and because he and his family were found to have accepted other improper financial benefits of more than $100,000.

Also, there apparently was a limousine ride to the 2005 Heisman ceremony — the horror!

The sanctions for those transgressions were steep: USC had to vacate 14 wins, including the BCS championship victory over Oklahoma, and the Trojans lost 30 scholarships over three years and got a two-year bowl ban, plus four years’ probation.

Beyond that, USC was to permanently disassociate itself from Bush. And so USC returned its copy of Bush’s Heisman Trophy and removed all of his jerseys and murals, on campus and at the Coliseum.

And here we are. Even though the NCAA thawed on permanently, allowing USC to announce in 2020 that Bush was welcome back, his once-retired No. 5 jersey still isn’t among those displayed at the Coliseum when the Trojans play.

O.J. Simpson’s is, though.

Make that make sense.

And factor in this: Bush has some allegations of his own about how the NCAA handled his case, calling the investigation “sloppy” and anything but thorough.

In a recent conversation with fellow former NFLers Brandon Marshall, Adam “Pacman” Jones and LeSean McCoy on their “I Am Athlete” podcast, Bush said investigators never even talked with his parents.

He said they would have explained that they moved into the San Diego-area house because a friend offered it, not as a perk, but to help in the short term, as a “last-minute resort,” after the townhome they’d been renting was being foreclosed upon and they, as tenants, were forced to move out.

Would that generosity have been available had Bush not been a sublimely talented football player? Maybe, maybe not. But Bush insists he broke no rules.

“Just half of the stuff they said I was doing, I wish I actually did,” Bush said, adding, “I wasn’t trying to monetize my name, image and likeness, that’s the craziest thing.”

If he’d been allowed to, Bush would’ve been a conglomerate in and unto himself.

Perhaps the greatest college football player ever, Bush was a scintillating talent at USC from 2003-05, a must-see star on teams that won national championships his first two seasons before the Trojans lost to Texas in the title game in 2005. He finished his career with 3,169 rushing yards, 1,301 receiving yards and 42 total touchdowns.

But it seems he had bad timing.

A decade later, Bush, 37, is lobbying the NCAA and Heisman Trust to restore his records and recognition, his good name.

His school could help. His university could do something equally as symbolic as removing No. 5 from its collection of retired jerseys.

USC could re-retire it.

The Sporting Tribune reported that USC athletic director Mike Bohn says that’s a possibility: “We are 100% in support of Reggie and that was demonstrated when President (Carol) Folt reinstated him the second it was permissible with his NCAA issue,” Bohn said.

Still, nothing is imminent.

They should make it happen; it would only make sense.

ocregister.com

__________

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RialtoTrojan
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December 15, 2022 5:00 pm

USC played a 12-game schedule this year. If 2024 schedule makers split the season between home and away games that would 6 games or 7 games at the Coliseum (depending on UCLA and ND games) The big knock of moving to the Big 10 is the distance added to travel.  I wondered how much of a difference this would be. Again, ideal schedules would have the team traveling back east every other week. Using simple flight time and distance calculations provided by Google, here is a comparison of the two leagues. This does not include travel from the airport to the… Read more »

Steveg
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December 15, 2022 5:19 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

I have never seen where the distance is a big deal. They have time to do studies, plan, have meetings, sleep, eat, or whatever. Even the long flight to Rutgers is done by people everyday for business and somehow they get their jobs done. They would have to do it 3 maybe 4 times a season. I don’t understand why this comes up as I don’t see it as an issue. The same with the weather. Not an issue.

RialtoTrojan
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December 15, 2022 5:49 pm
Reply to  Steveg

I pointed out that NFL teams fly distances like this all season long do it’s great training for those players destined for the NFL. The average extra flight time is about an hour and a half that’s nothing in the grand scheme of things. It can take that long to get from USC to the Rose Bowl depending on traffic. As I said in the chart Ucla doesn’t count or 450 yards passing.

Chris
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December 19, 2022 8:22 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

A&M threw the big bag at him.

Steveg
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December 15, 2022 1:24 pm

Caleb Williams says he is confident he will be ready to play in the Cotton Bowl – 247sports.

TrojanRJJ
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December 15, 2022 9:18 am

A tale of two programs. When Coach Prime takes over the lousy CO program, he holds a team meeting and asks the kids on the team to hit the portal. When the Sacramento State coach takes over the lousy Stanford program, he begs his players to stay. I like LR approach a lot better than either of that used at CO or Stanford; he kept it private and met with the kids individually. Of course, I do not know what was said to the kids, but my guess is invitations to transfers were clearly given. My guess is LR did… Read more »

Chris
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December 15, 2022 7:47 am

There is a big difference in what we are doing this year over last in the transfer portal. We are offering and signing guys that are starters on other teams. They have lots of film to look at against college competition. Last year Riley needed bodies, even to just practice. Now he is looking for starters or guys who will get lots of snaps. I think as he recruits year after year the amount of portal guys will be less and less and we will start to take best available players instead of need based, like the Georgia, Alabama, Mich,… Read more »

Golden Trojan
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December 14, 2022 8:19 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Bowl games are even more of a crap shoot than ever before. You have players saving themselves for the NFL draft/combine. Now you have players bolting to the Transfer Portal. That is in addition to the unknowns of, does a team just want the season to be over, are they coming to party, or do they have something to prove. Tulane has something to prove. Pitt may as well. Does Utah have the horses to take on Penn St? What USC team shows up who knows. UCLA will lay an egg after being bored in El Paso for a week.… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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December 15, 2022 9:08 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Just as we predicted, the Regents approved the move but is going to force UCLA to pay reparations to Cal. The amount will be between $2-10 million per year, depending on what the Pac gets in its media deal. Newsome got what he wanted, a tax on UCLA’s increased revenue stream to help offset the economic disaster that is the Cal athletic department.

TrojanRJJ
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December 15, 2022 11:48 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

It will depend on what happens with the new contract. Remember, OR and WA want unequal distribution. I would think Utah would also. If nothing else, it should be divided based on viewership in Football and men’s BB, so it can vary from year to year. How much does Cal really contribute to the value of the media contract? I think there is a good chance that UCLA will get stuck with the $10 Million figure. I really think that the remaining Pac members will struggle to figure out how to split up the reduced revenue stream. Cal will always… Read more »

RialtoTrojan
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December 14, 2022 4:50 pm

CBS 2 just announced UCLA will be allowed to move to the Big10. Eye roll.

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 5:13 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

They realized they had nothing to stand on but they put on a good show. They had to add in a “tax” on ucla to subsidize the losers at Cal. From 2 to 10 million a year. Based on regents decision.

TrojanRJJ
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December 15, 2022 9:10 am
Reply to  Steveg

Steve, I always figured that is all that this grandstanding was about. My guess is the Cal Chancellor complained to Newsome who then raised the issue simply to get some of the money UCLA was making on the move to Cal. The Cal Athletic budget is a huge mess.

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 3:58 pm

Elija Hughes Edge rusher class 2023 name keeps coming up. Could be a good one.

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 2:59 pm

Tony Grimes, NC CB portal transfer is visiting USC today.

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 2:56 pm
Steveg
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December 14, 2022 1:59 pm

USC made their first O line offer.  Dillon Wade. Wade has offers since entering the portal from USC, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Louisville, Duke, Cal, TCU, Ole Miss, Auburn and Missouri. 

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 1:26 pm

Predictions the Flowe brothers from Upland CA going to AZ. Nothing firm yet.

Chris
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December 14, 2022 4:06 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

100% correct. If the college film looks good, they’re good. Not a guess.

Golden Trojan
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December 14, 2022 10:24 am

Just noticed I have received Mt Rushmore status. I appreciate the award and assure all I did not take improper financial benefit to get this!🤗💲💲💲

John Weld
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December 14, 2022 11:41 am
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  :wpds_wink: 

ATL D.D.S.
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December 14, 2022 12:59 pm
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Welcome to the rarified air of Mt. Rushmore. They never cashed my check when I thought I had to bribe Alan and John to go up in status. I don’t know how it works. It’s like becoming a member of Augusta National Golf Club (which I am not). If you ask about the process, they will blackball you!😁

Golden Trojan
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December 14, 2022 3:10 pm
Reply to  ATL D.D.S.

Good Point ATL, I should also add I did not provide any “improper” 😉 financial benefit either.

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 1:16 pm
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Welcome aboard. Of course our expectations from you will now be higher. But just enjoy the ride like we all have been.

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 9:42 am

Offers so far in the portal:
Offense: 1 offer
Defense: 13 offers – 2 commits

Chris
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December 14, 2022 10:33 am
Reply to  Steveg

And a punter!

TrojanRJJ
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December 14, 2022 12:09 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

So, we exchanged a 3 star true frosh DL from Bakersfield for a 2 team All Pac 12 DL. Good trade.

ATL D.D.S.
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December 14, 2022 1:01 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Looks like a tough nut! Hope he helps us.

RialtoTrojan
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December 14, 2022 9:31 am

Another part of the article that has been glossed over, is O.J. and making sense of his trophy. O.J. was convicted in the court of public opinion only. Found liable in a double jeopardy trial. The only man, without a gun, to be convicted in an armed robbery -conducted to recover personal property – because the state of Nevada set the gun carrying men free in return for testifying against O.J.
Proving the point, which is the Heisman Trophy is awarded for exploits on the football field. Not for, not being a turd in the court of public opinion.

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 9:23 am

Kyon Barrs commits to USC. Arizona DL transfer.

rleeholder1
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December 14, 2022 6:17 am

I’ve changed my stance and now am in favor of Reggie getting his Heisman back. The bottom line for me is that he earned it with his play on the football field. I’ve always felt he could have made some sort of public apology to the University, Coaches, Players, Alumni and Fans for what happened. He’s always said he did nothing wrong and that may be the case considering what other schools got away with at about the same time; e.g., the Cam Newton thing. Had he made a public statement early on and one that was carefully crafted, maybe… Read more »

Chris
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December 13, 2022 9:58 pm

About 7 years ago i was in Pullman watching my son play baseball and he saw Mike Leach walking by the baseball field. He and two of his teammates went over for an autograph. Leach signed his baseball hat, he still has it. I asked him what did he say, my son said Leach told him “dumb guys play sports and smart guys play music. You can get just as many girls by playing the guitar as you can playing baseball.” My son wasn’t sure if he was joking or being serious, but the coach stopped to sign autographs and… Read more »

UtahTrojan
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December 13, 2022 6:36 pm

The Heisman Trust can practice revisionist history all they want (hopefully it is reinstated). The facts are USC currently has 7 Heisman winner. But Eight Trojans have been awarded the Heisman. We can’t unsee what we have seen. Just like we can not unsee the Trojans completely annihilate the Sooners in the Championship game.

HOF19
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December 13, 2022 3:43 pm

7PM NY Metro Time (4 PM PT) ESPN U channel replaying Notre Dame vs USC .

Jamaica
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December 13, 2022 1:53 pm

I agree. The Heisman Trophy committee should do the right thing. It was public pressure, more like media pressure doing what they do best, cause a controversy so they can write about it, leaned on both Bush & the committee to give back his trophy. Otherwise it wouldn’t have been done. Bush didn’t have to volunteer giving it back but he did. the committee didn’t have to accept it back, but it did and the media got its piece of meat. Carol Folt should lead the way in recommending this wrong be righted. And move on.

Steveg
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December 13, 2022 2:40 pm
Reply to  Jamaica

Jamaica, I agree with you 100% but Folt and Bohn should stand up and continue fighting until the Trophy is reinstated. Along with them, the past winners should stand up for him also and publicly put pressure on the Heisman people to get it done.

usc50
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December 13, 2022 4:43 pm
Reply to  Jamaica

It is only right that Reggie’s Heisman be given back. He earned that trophy.
The NCAA slammed USC for something an agent did. At that time it was in infraction though a minor one compared to what happened with Miami, Tenn, and the like with much larger magnitude. And the punishment was a slap in the wrist.
Now with NIL is it commonplace and expected.
The NCAA should pardon Reggie for it is something everyone does now.
Everyone with the NCAA saying do it guy.

Petero
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December 13, 2022 1:35 pm

USC “Just Do It” restore it all to Reggie. Plan the event. Get Fox on board. Open 2023
@ ‘SoldOut” Coli …SJSU 8/26 No Secrets.. Reggie leads them out of Tunnel- his #5 in all glory. Announce it during summer, fill the Coli. What a start to USC’s farewell PAC 12 tour.

TrojanRJJ
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December 13, 2022 2:44 pm
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I like it. I think SC should celebrate Reggie (if he is willing to do so). ESPN has acknowledged Reggie is a Heisman winner. It will also make a great commercial. Dr. Pepper should be pushing it big time.

ATL D.D.S.
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December 14, 2022 6:47 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Reggie’s Wendys commercials are already doing a return Reggies “trophy” campaign–see the Pretzel Bacon add campaign. Lots of tongue-in-cheek there.

ATL D.D.S.
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December 14, 2022 6:48 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

If you call thumbing our nose to the rest of the conference waving goodbye, i am all for it.

Golden Trojan
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December 13, 2022 12:10 pm

So Reggie should get his Heisman back because what he did or accused of doing was illegal but now legal. He received improper financial benefits. Well some marajuana convictions are being removed because what was illegal is now legal. OJ never lost his trophy. Paterno got his records back. Heck, a guy is winning records by swimming on a women’s team! So I say yes, give him the fricking trophy back. Caleb probably got more from Adidas/Gucci for wearing that goofy suit than Reggie ever got. Now lets step out on that slippery slope and take a look. USC lost… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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December 13, 2022 2:41 pm
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Golden, I am going to disagree with you on this one. Reggie did nothing different than any other elite football player did during that time. Hell, Miami did far worse than SC during this time and Paul Dee, its AD, hammered SC. NOTHING happened to Miami for egregious violations. The SEC has been doing far worse for years. The reason Reggie gets back his trophy was because its taking away was the high of hypocrisy. He also gets it back because the process the NCAA used to convict him and SC was illegal and a set up. The trial by… Read more »

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December 13, 2022 2:47 pm
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Hey RJJ, how do you think USC would have done had they gone to court over the whole thing at the time it was going on? I know the admin at USC had zero balls to do anything at the time, but I always thought they may have had a shot in court.

TrojanRJJ
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December 13, 2022 8:53 pm
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Great case if they would have pursued it. Having Miami guilty of far worse offenses than SC under the guy head hunting SC would have been a trial attorneys dream. The NCAA would have settled quickly just like they did with Penn State.

ATL D.D.S.
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December 14, 2022 6:51 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

And in the spirit of the season, I still want to find where Paul Dee has been planted in his size 4XL coffin and take a leak right on that spot.

Steveg
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December 14, 2022 6:53 am
Reply to  ATL D.D.S.

The Doc wins the internet. Great post!!

ATL D.D.S.
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December 14, 2022 12:54 pm
Reply to  Steveg

😌

Steveg
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December 13, 2022 2:43 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Hey Golden, lets go have a battle with the powers that be but end it there, not start an entire war over it. But I agree, where would the lawyers stop.

RialtoTrojan
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December 13, 2022 5:26 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Golden when I lobbied for this article I mentioned Cam Newton. His dad took money to guide Cam to a school. The NCAA said, Cam had no control over his parents. So why is Reggie different? USC was shifting attention away from the middle of the country they would have had three consecutive NCs if the refs had been paying attention. The powers were not happy. But the point here is not that it’s legal now. According to the article what USC and Reggie did wasn’t illegal then. The fact that the whole punishment was based on fabricated evidence is… Read more »

Golden Trojan
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December 14, 2022 7:47 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Great posts all. For the record I say give back to Reggie and USC and all the schools and athletes that ever lost awards, records and stats due to “improper financial benefits”. What was improper is no longer improper. I would hope nobody sues to get money back.