Overview
With a rich history, the coveted Heisman Trophy is given to the best college football player in the country each year. Reggie Bush, one of its previous beneficiaries, has, nevertheless, been the subject of controversy in recent years. Due to an NCAA inquiry into improper benefits, the former USC running back, who electrified fans with his performances, lost his 2005 Heisman Trophy. Johnny Manziel, another Heisman winner, has now made a daring statement. We get into Manziel’s reasoning for skipping the Heisman Trophy presentation until Reggie Bush’s prize is given back in this piece.
Table of Contents
The Heisman Legacy
The Heisman Trophy is a representation of quality, tenacity, and sporting ability more than just a mere honor. An exclusive fraternity made up of previous winners gets together on stage every year to welcome the newest member to its ranks. However, Johnny Manziel feels that it is a clear injustice that Reggie Bush is not a part of this hallowed custom.
Reggie Bush’s Fall from Grace
The 2005 season for Reggie Bush was extraordinary. With 1,740 yards gained through rushes, 16 touchdowns, and 37 receptions for 478 yards, Bush was the engine of an undefeated USC team. Fans were in awe of his astounding performances, and he deservedly won the Heisman Trophy. But accusations of receiving illegal favors cloud his legacy. Bush and his family got gifts from an agent while he was a student at USC, which is against the regulations governing student-athletes, according to the NCAA inquiry.
The Heisman Trust’s Dilemma
The Heisman Trust had to make a challenging choice. Bush was unquestionably brilliant on the field. However, the guidelines were unambiguous: receivers had to abide by NCAA standards. The Trust chose to remove Bush’s Heisman in 2010, therefore his name will always have an asterisk next to it in the records. However, hope persisted. The Trust declared that they would honor Bush’s prize once more if the NCAA restored his records from the 2005 campaign.
Johnny Manziel Takes a Stand
Let’s introduce Johnny Manziel, the talented quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy in 2012. Manziel, who is renowned for his daring play and endearing demeanor, declared on social media that he would not attend the Heisman Trophy presentation until Reggie Bush’s prize was reinstated. “It doesn’t sit right with my morals and values that he can’t be on that stage with us every year,” was his straightforward justification. The Heisman Trophy belongs to Reggie.
A Call for Justice
Many people connected with Manziel’s position. He pleaded with the NCAA to “do the right thing” and acknowledge Bush’s legitimate claim to the Heisman Trophy. The former Texas A&M standout made a principled stand for justice and ethics, not an impulsive choice. Manziel’s message went viral on social media, sparking discussions on the history of the Heisman Trophy and the necessity of applying it consistently.
Johnny Manziel will not be present when the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is revealed. As an alternative, he urges the Heisman Trust to reinstate the honor that is rightly Reggie Bush’s, calling for unity with the former USC standout. It will be interesting to see if the Trust takes this advice, but one thing is for sure: Johnny Manziel‘s boycott has rekindled the conversation about justice, morality, and the true meaning of the Heisman Trophy.
Why was Reggie Bush stripped of his award?
Reggie Bush voluntarily forfeited his 2005 Heisman Trophy title in 2010 due to reports that the Heisman Trophy Trust would eventually strip the award away. Let’s delve into the details of why this happened:
Allegations of Improper Benefits:
- There were claims in 2006 that Bush and his family had gotten improper perks in violation of the NAA.
- Bush and his family continued to insist on their innocence, but USC quickly asked the Pac-12 (then known as Pac-10) to look into the matter.
- The investigations were combined by the NCAA into a single, bigger probe that looked into the USC athletic program as a whole.
- Notably, O.J. Mayo, a basketball player at USC, was also dealing with comparable accusations at this time.
Lavish Gifts and Violations:
- A sports agent by the name of Lloyd Lake sued the Bushes for about $300,000 in 2007. Lake had given Bush presents and money.
- Investigators discovered that Bush received lavish presents from Lake and Michael Michaels, his business partner:
- A house without rent for his family
- A stretch limo and a suit for the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2005
- The NCAA took action against USC due to these infractions.
NCAA Sanctions:
- The NCAA imposed severe penalties on the Trojans in June 2010:
- Bowl games involving USC were prohibited in 2010 and 2011.
- Over the following three years, the team lost thirty scholarships.
- They forfeited their last two victories in 2004 (which included the Orange Bowl) and all 12 of their wins in 2005.
- Additionally, USC said that all artifacts bearing Bush’s name would be removed from the campus.
- A 10-year obligatory disassociation term between the institution and the star player was imposed by the NCAA, and it expired in 2020.
Consequences and Reflection:
Reggie Bush is still battling the fallout from his deeds.
“It felt like I died when I had to hear that there weren’t going to be scholarships for kids because of me or because of something connected to me,” he said in an interview from May 2020, describing the emotional impact. That still bothers me now. You just have to learn to live with it.
The Trust decided not to acknowledge a winner for the 2005 season, which is the only season in which one did not win, when he returned his Heisman Trophy.
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