Reggie Bush getting 2005 Heisman Trophy back, Heisman Trust cites ‘enormous changes in college athletics’
Jill Martin (CNN) — Reggie Bush is getting his 2005 Heisman Memorial Trophy back after having had to relinquish the award in 2010.
In a press release Wednesday on Heisman.com, the decision by the Heisman Trust to reinstate Bush followed a deliberative process in which it closely monitored the “enormous changes” in the college football landscape.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Trust, said in a statement.
“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.”
In a post on Instagram, Bush wrote, “No one can take from you what God has for you,” along with a picture of his Heisman Trophy.
Bush won the Heisman, awarded annually to the most outstanding collegiate football player, in 2005 when he rushed for 1,740 yards on 200 carries and scored 18 total touchdowns for the University of Southern California.
USC’s Reggie Bush leaps over UCLA defender Marcus Cassel into the end zone at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Dec 3, 2005. The Trojans smashed the Bruins 66-19. Chris Carlson/AP
In 2010, Bush voluntarily gave up the coveted award after an NCAA investigation found he received benefits of several thousand dollars and a vehicle that were not allowed at the time and he was ruled ineligible as of 2004.
College athletes can now receive compensation for their name, image and likeness, known commonly as NIL.
“[The NCAA] had to be forced into this,” Bush told The Athletic in 2020 following the introduction of NIL. “Unfortunately, in this country, we’re very reactive. We’re not proactive. Something had to happen first for people to want to change it or for people to see that there is an actual injustice there. Unfortunately, I feel like it had to come with me.
“There are certain steps and certain events that open people’s eyes and change people’s perspectives on things. I think that was one of them. It was important for us to get here to where we are now. Hopefully, thousands and thousands of kids will benefit from this point going forward,” he added.
To Bush, one of the most electric talents in college football history, the decision to return the trophy marked a major moment of vindication after nearly two decades spent declaring he’d done nothing wrong.
The former Trojan running back reiterated that belief on Wednesday as he celebrated a decision he called “a personal victory” and “a validation of the tireless efforts of my supporters.”
“I want to make it abundantly clear that I have always acted with integrity and in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA,” Bush said. “The allegations brought against me were unfounded and unsupported by evidence, and I am grateful that the truth is finally prevailing.”
Bush will also be invited to future Heisman Trophy ceremonies and USC will receive a replica trophy.
Former NFL quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel thanked the Trust “for doing what’s right and welcoming a storied member of our history back into the fold.”
“There were many voices throughout this process that stood on the table for Reggie simply because of the kind of human being he is. I look forward to being on that stage with you this December @ReggieBush you deserve it” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Following his three seasons with USC, Bush played 11 seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, rushing for 5,490 yards and 36 touchdowns and catching 477 passes for 3,598 yards and 18 TDs in 134 regular season games. Bush helped the Saints win their first Vince Lombardi trophy in Super Bowl XLIV.
Bush won Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints in 2010.Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Fans were moved on Wednesday:
“Justice at last so happy for Reggie Bush,” one fan said.
“Beautiful,” another simply added.
“This makes my heart smile!” added another.
USC now officially has a recordeight Heisman Trophy winners in its history with Bush’s award being reinstated. Bush rejoins the Trojan Heisman club, which also includes Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004) and Caleb Williams (2022).
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What’s missing here is the total shady characters who made up the ncaa committee at that time. USC were weak not to litigate, thus placing usc in a downward spiral, that to this day, really hasn’t recovered. Yes, the USC hate we all know ( mostly fear of a comeback) is not going to garner any sympathy, but when rumblings of how corrupt the ncaa was and continues ( limited I agree) , I’m hoping most don’t minimize or bat away. We really let our kids down in that era.
If memory serves me correctly, a lot of the noise and bluster came from the University of Miami. Now if there ever was a school that was, shall we say, less than sanitary, it’s Miami. They were jealous of the fact their program had declined badly and wanted to see the downfall of SC. They were spanked by the NCAA around 2012 or 13 for the same kind of stuff but imagine if the NCAA had delved into the Hurricanes of the 80’s.
Good on Caleb for the photo. Respect for the OG #5
You’re right about Miami. They were who I was referring to. It was also the cast of characters who supported the Miami influence to rid USC of continued success. The USC hate really hasn’t subsided. Well perhaps a little since USC hasn’t been a natty contender for some time. If you read some of the national cfb blogs, it’s still there. Perplexing.
I didn’t see any noticable proof Miami was behind the USC bring-down unless you are referring to Paul Dees who was no longer associated with the “U” as AD. Dees was on a mission however as the hypocate of all hypocrites, using the power he was given to chair the sanctions committee. The fact that as most sports writers at the time admitted USC didn’t break a lot of the NCAA rules it was accused of, but that the envy programs across the nation held against PC bringing name celebrities to watch practices & games gave the Trojans an unfair… Read more »
USC stands alone to this day as a target of special malevolence and animosity. I think there are so many factors as to why that is true. It’s quite a topic and an amazing question that probably invites numerous plausible and wide-ranging answers and analyses. This irrational hatred towards USC used to bother me. But not anymore. I kind of relish it now, just because it’s an extraordinary place in CFB. There’s no other USC, just like there’s no other Coliseum, nor will there ever be. As a hard-core Trojan fan (definitely looking forward to tonight’s Draft), I’ve occasionally been… Read more »
With the Heisman back in Reggie’s hands, what’s next? For years the Heisman Trust wasn’t moved by Bush’s pleas for the return of his Heisman, and refused to return his 2005 trophy to him until the NCAA reinstated him. And despite the NIL rules changing, the NCAA said it wouldn’t be making any changes to its stats. Bush was still elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 despite his Heisman having been vacated, but his desire to reclaim his trophy had not diminished. In Aug. 2023 Bush announced he was suing the NCAA for defamation in the… Read more »
I would say the lawsuit will have an impact on his standing with the NCAA. If Todd McNair won his case Reggie can as well. A nice out of court settlement, Reggie and USC get all their stats and records back in lieu of money. If Reggie got that for USC he would end up the greatest Trojan ever.
No mention of the fact that most if not all of the “evidence” against Bush was manufactured misinformation in an effort to tear down a football juggernaut. The trophy was rightfully returned to an innocent player, but the team has suffered on.
Amon-Ra St. Brown has just signed a 4-year, $120M extension with the Detroit Lions St. Brown, despite being badly coached when at USC, is now the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. Wiki — In his first game of his college career, St. Brown had seven receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in a win over UNLV. On September 15, 2018, St. Brown finished with a career-high 167 yards receiving in a game against Texas. St. Brown finished his freshman season with 60 catches, 750 yards, and three touchdowns. On November 9, 2019, he would record a career-high 173 yards in a… Read more »
Just watched the Bush vs Fresno highlights. The stadium and fans….will we get back to that level of electricity ever?
Beautiful!
What’s missing here is the total shady characters who made up the ncaa committee at that time. USC were weak not to litigate, thus placing usc in a downward spiral, that to this day, really hasn’t recovered. Yes, the USC hate we all know ( mostly fear of a comeback) is not going to garner any sympathy, but when rumblings of how corrupt the ncaa was and continues ( limited I agree) , I’m hoping most don’t minimize or bat away. We really let our kids down in that era.
If memory serves me correctly, a lot of the noise and bluster came from the University of Miami. Now if there ever was a school that was, shall we say, less than sanitary, it’s Miami. They were jealous of the fact their program had declined badly and wanted to see the downfall of SC. They were spanked by the NCAA around 2012 or 13 for the same kind of stuff but imagine if the NCAA had delved into the Hurricanes of the 80’s.
Good on Caleb for the photo. Respect for the OG #5
You’re right about Miami. They were who I was referring to. It was also the cast of characters who supported the Miami influence to rid USC of continued success. The USC hate really hasn’t subsided. Well perhaps a little since USC hasn’t been a natty contender for some time. If you read some of the national cfb blogs, it’s still there. Perplexing.
I didn’t see any noticable proof Miami was behind the USC bring-down unless you are referring to Paul Dees who was no longer associated with the “U” as AD. Dees was on a mission however as the hypocate of all hypocrites, using the power he was given to chair the sanctions committee. The fact that as most sports writers at the time admitted USC didn’t break a lot of the NCAA rules it was accused of, but that the envy programs across the nation held against PC bringing name celebrities to watch practices & games gave the Trojans an unfair… Read more »
USC stands alone to this day as a target of special malevolence and animosity. I think there are so many factors as to why that is true. It’s quite a topic and an amazing question that probably invites numerous plausible and wide-ranging answers and analyses. This irrational hatred towards USC used to bother me. But not anymore. I kind of relish it now, just because it’s an extraordinary place in CFB. There’s no other USC, just like there’s no other Coliseum, nor will there ever be. As a hard-core Trojan fan (definitely looking forward to tonight’s Draft), I’ve occasionally been… Read more »
With the Heisman back in Reggie’s hands, what’s next? For years the Heisman Trust wasn’t moved by Bush’s pleas for the return of his Heisman, and refused to return his 2005 trophy to him until the NCAA reinstated him. And despite the NIL rules changing, the NCAA said it wouldn’t be making any changes to its stats. Bush was still elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 despite his Heisman having been vacated, but his desire to reclaim his trophy had not diminished. In Aug. 2023 Bush announced he was suing the NCAA for defamation in the… Read more »
I would say the lawsuit will have an impact on his standing with the NCAA. If Todd McNair won his case Reggie can as well. A nice out of court settlement, Reggie and USC get all their stats and records back in lieu of money. If Reggie got that for USC he would end up the greatest Trojan ever.
No mention of the fact that most if not all of the “evidence” against Bush was manufactured misinformation in an effort to tear down a football juggernaut. The trophy was rightfully returned to an innocent player, but the team has suffered on.
Thrilled, just like all Trojans, that this wrong has rightfully been corrected. Now we want that championship & wins reinstated properly.
Amon-Ra St. Brown has just signed a 4-year, $120M extension with the Detroit Lions St. Brown, despite being badly coached when at USC, is now the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. Wiki — In his first game of his college career, St. Brown had seven receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in a win over UNLV. On September 15, 2018, St. Brown finished with a career-high 167 yards receiving in a game against Texas. St. Brown finished his freshman season with 60 catches, 750 yards, and three touchdowns. On November 9, 2019, he would record a career-high 173 yards in a… Read more »