Reggie Bush forfeits 2005 Heisman Trophy
METAIRIE, LA
The New Orleans Saints' star won the Heisman -- symbol of 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 returned 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 California-based marketing
agents. 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 persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating
back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting,"
Bush said in a statement released through the Saints. "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."
Just after USC was sanctioned, the eight-member Heisman Trophy
Trust, based in New York, said it was considering what to do about
Bush, who won in a landslide vote over Texas quarterback Vince
Young.
The trust met Tuesday; it had no comment.
"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 earlier this month.
Allegations of improper benefits to Bush and his family were
first reported by Yahoo! Sports in September 2006, months after
Bush had already been drafted No. 2 overall by the Saints.
The NCAA and Pac-10 began investigating Bush and the USC
football program soon afterward, and Bush immediately denied any
wrongdoing.
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. Eventually, the case was
settled and Bush never had to give his side of the story publicly.
In handing out its penalties, the NCAA cited USC for a lack of
institutional control. Its 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, under coach Pete
Carroll, beat Oklahoma in the BCS title game on Jan. 4, 2005, and
won 12 games during Bush's Heisman-winning season, which ended with
a loss to Texas in the 2006 BCS title game.
After the 2009 season, Carroll left USC to take over as coach of
the NFL's 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.
"Now that this is behind me I look forward to the future and
winning more awards and championships here in New Orleans! Who
Dat!" Bush tweeted.
Full statement from Reggie Bush
"One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman
Trophy in 2005. For me, it was a dream come true. But I know that
the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it. I know that my victory
was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates,
the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans, and
the unconditional love of my family and friends. And I know that
any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a
family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award
and each one is entrusted with its good name.
It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision
to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005. The persistent media
speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC
has been both painful and distracting. 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. Nor should it
distract from outstanding performances and hard-earned achievements
either in the past, present or future.
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. I would
like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a
positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an
educational program which will assist student-athletes and their
families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to
view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the
values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.
I will forever appreciate the honor bestowed upon me as a winner
of the Heisman. 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. Those are gifts that can never be taken
away."