Trophy Trust reinstates Reggie Bush
as 2005 Heisman winner
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[April 25, 2024]
Due to an evolving landscape in college football, the Heisman
Trust ran a reverse to reinstate 2005 winner Reggie Bush on
Wednesday.
Bush was honored in a brief ceremony attended by college football
dignitaries, who share his status as members of the Heisman club.
Tim Tebow, Earl Campbell, Eric Crouch, George Rogers, Steve Spurrier,
Ricky Williams and Archie Griffin were among the 11 fellow Heisman
winners in attendance.
Bush won the 2005 Heisman Trophy in his final season at Southern
California, where he amassed 3,169 rushing yards, gained 1,301
receiving yards and returned kickoffs and punts for a combined 2,081
yards. He totaled 42 touchdowns and also threw a 52-yard touchdown
pass.
"We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family
in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments," said Michael
Comerford, President of The Heisman Trophy Trust. "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."
The physical trophy was returned to Bush by the trust and a replica
will be given to USC, which returned its facsimile of Bush's award
in 2010.
"Personally, I'm thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners
and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I'm
honored to return to the Heisman family," Bush said in a statement
to ESPN. "I also look forward to working together with the Heisman
Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization."
In 2005, Bush was named first-team All-American and the Associated
Press College Football Player of the Year.
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Winner of the 2005 Heisman Trophy, Reggie Bush of the University of
Southern California, poses with the award in New York, December 10,
2005. REUTERS/Jeff Zelevansky/File Photo
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But he was stripped of his Heisman and his stats in
2010 after a four-year investigation by the NCAA showed that Bush
and his family took improper financial benefits, including cash and
paid-for housing.
When name, image and likeness legislation was enacted in 2021, Bush
asked the NCAA to reinstate his status. The Heisman Trust said at
the time it would consider giving back his trophy if the NCAA agreed
to reinstate him, but the organization declined.
In part due to a 2021 Supreme Court decision that questions the
legality of the amateurism model, the Heisman Trust said it was
forced to reconsider "reinstating" the 2005 award and welcoming Bush
back to the annual award ceremony. Fellow Heisman winners, most
recently former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and Notre Dame
wide receiver Tim Brown, said they would skip future ceremonies
unless Bush got his trophy back.
Bush was named to the College Football Hall of Fame last year.
He received 784 first-place votes during the 2005 Heisman Trophy
balloting, the fifth-most in Heisman Trophy history.
--Field Level Media
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