LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The day after the Heisman Belief introduced that Reggie Bush is getting his forfeited 2005 Heisman Trophy again, the previous USC soccer star on Thursday held a information convention on the L.A. Memorial Coliseum to debate the “reinstatement.”
“I manifested this, I actually did,” Bush advised reporters. “I by no means believed any of the lies that have been being advised about me, unfold about me, issues that have been being mentioned about me. I by no means believed it for a single day.”
Bush gave up his Heisman following an NCAA investigation that discovered he obtained what have been impermissible advantages throughout his time with the Trojans. Faculty soccer gamers are actually allowed to revenue from their work in some ways, and the Heisman Belief determined it was time to maneuver previous the battle with some of the thrilling gamers within the sport’s historical past.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush again to the Heisman household in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” mentioned Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Belief. “We thought of the big adjustments in faculty athletics over the past a number of years in deciding that now’s the appropriate time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie. We’re so pleased to welcome him again.”
The Heisman Belief has returned the trophy to Bush and the reproduction to USC. Bush additionally shall be invited to all future Heisman Trophy ceremonies.
“I at all times knew and trusted within the laborious work that I put in on the soccer area,” Bush mentioned Thursday. “Not solely on the soccer area however within the locker room, within the weight room, within the movie room, on the observe area.”
Bush received the trophy awarded to the highest participant in faculty soccer after amassing 2,218 yards from scrimmage and scoring 18 touchdowns in 2005. His 784 first-place votes have been the fifth most in Heisman historical past, and the trophy was a crowning achievement for Bush after three seasons at USC as some of the dynamic faculty soccer gamers in a long time.
The Heisman Belief is returning the Heisman Trophy to Reggie Bush and a duplicate to USC after the previous working again had forfeited the award in 2010.
“You may’t get to this or a nationwide championship by dishonest, I promise you,” Bush mentioned, gesturing to the Heisman trophy by his aspect as he spoke at a podium.
The reinstatement of Bush provides USC a complete of eight Heisman winners, most of any college.
“When is the NCAA donna get on the appropriate aspect of historical past?” legal professional Ben Crump mentioned on the information convention.
“There are individuals who by no means dreamed this present day would occur,” Crump mentioned. “There are individuals who mentioned that this present day would by no means occur. There are individuals who tried to stop this present day from ever taking place. Effectively, we simply received six phrases to say to them, brother, we received your Heisman Trophy again.”
USC usually shows its replicas of the Trojans’ Heisman Trophies within the foyer of Heritage Corridor, its historic soccer headquarters, whereas the retired uniform numbers of its Heisman winners are displayed on big banners draping the Peristyle on the Coliseum throughout USC residence video games. Bush’s No. 5 jersey is predicted to be again among the many honored numbers this fall.
“What a historic day!” mentioned USC coach Lincoln Riley, who coached Caleb Williams to the college’s most up-to-date Heisman in 2022. “Reggie’s reintroduction to the Heisman Household is a particular second for each individual that has been related to USC soccer. We’re thrilled that Reggie’s athletic accomplishments as one of many biggest to ever play the sport can formally be acknowledged.”
The USC soccer program wrote “again the place it belongs” in a social media put up.
“It is a momentous day for Reggie Bush and your complete USC group as we have fun the rightful return of his Heisman Trophy,” USC athletic director Jen Cohen mentioned. “Reggie’s affect at USC and on faculty soccer as a complete is actually unmatched. He has displayed the utmost resiliency and coronary heart all through this course of and is so deserving of each accolade and trophy he is ever obtained. We’re grateful to the Heisman Trophy Belief for making this occur.”
The day after the Heisman Belief introduced that Reggie Bush is getting his Heisman Trophy again, the previous USC soccer star spoke out on the “reinstatement.”
Bush had his award vacated in 2010 after USC was hit with huge NCAA sanctions when it was discovered that Bush and his household obtained cash and items from fledgling advertising brokers who have been hoping to symbolize him. The sanctions have been the ultimate results of a protracted, antagonistic dispute between the NCAA and USC beneath former athletic director Mike Garrett.
USC obtained a two-year postseason ban and misplaced a whopping 30 scholarships beneath the sanctions. The NCAA additionally vacated 14 wins by the Trojans through the coronary heart of Bush’s profession, together with the 55-19 victory over Oklahoma within the Bowl Championship Collection title sport on the Orange Bowl following the 2004 season.
USC was even required to “disassociate” from Bush for 10 years following the NCAA’s resolution. The varsity instantly ended its disassociation when that interval led to June 2020, welcoming Bush again to the college.
The Belief mentioned in its assertion that its resolution adopted a “deliberative course of” wherein it intently monitored adjustments within the faculty athletics panorama. That included the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s 2021 resolution that questioned the legality of the NCAA’s amateurism mannequin and opened the door to athlete compensation; the power of gamers to be paid for his or her identify, picture and likeness; and the NCAA’s current proposal to take away the cap on education-related funds.
“Recognizing that the compensation of scholar athletes is an accepted observe and seems right here to remain, these basic adjustments in faculty athletics led the Belief to determine that now’s the appropriate time to return the Trophy to Bush, who unquestionably was probably the most excellent faculty soccer participant of 2005,” the Belief mentioned.
Public opinion has lengthy favored the return of Bush’s trophy. Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner from Texas A&M, mentioned on social media final month that he wouldn’t take part in Heisman festivities until Bush received his trophy again.
Manziel thanked the Belief on Wednesday “for doing what’s proper and welcoming a storied member of our historical past again into the fold. There have been many voices all through this course of that stood on the desk for Reggie merely due to the type of human being he’s. I sit up for being on that stage with you this December (Reggie Bush) you deserve it.”
Amongst others praising the choice have been Williams, the 2022 winner and the projected No. 1 choose in Thursday’s NFL draft; 2001 winner Eric Crouch of Nebraska; and 2011 winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor.
Bush was the No. 2 total choose within the 2006 NFL draft by New Orleans, and he performed for 5 groups over 11 seasons. He’s now a commentator and studio analyst for Fox Sports activities.
Final August, Bush filed a defamation lawsuit towards the NCAA for issuing a press release to media in 2021 that mentioned Bush had a “pay-for-play” association. That assertion was in response to media inquiries about whether or not Bush would have his statistics from his USC profession reinstated when NIL funds grew to become permissible. Bush contended the assertion solid him in a false mild.
“I wish to make it abundantly clear that I’ve at all times acted with integrity and in accordance with the foundations and laws set forth by the NCAA,” Bush mentioned Wednesday. “The allegations introduced towards me have been unfounded and unsupported by proof, and I’m grateful that the reality is lastly prevailing.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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