Reggie Bush Wants Heisman Trophy Back Under NCAA's New NIL Rules
Former USC running back Reggie Bush would like to reclaim his 2005 Heisman Trophy Award.
Bush, who led USC to back-to-back national championships under then Trojans head coach Pete Carroll, was banned by the NCAA in 2010 for receiving impermissible benefits from a marketing agency while he was a student-athlete. His Heisman Trophy was vacated.
Bush issued a statement on Thursday saying he reached out to the Heisman Trust.
“Over the last few months, on multiple occasions, my team an I have reached out to both the NCAA and The Heisman Trust in regard to the reinstatement of my college records and return of my Heisman," Bush said in the statement.
"We left multiple messages for Michael Comerford, the President of the Heisman Trust, but instead received a call from Rob Whalen, the Executive Director, who stated that Mr. Comerford would not be calling us back and that, in any event, they could help us. We reached out to the NCAA on multiple occasions and received no help or got no response at all. It is my strong belief that I won the Heisman trophy "solely" due to my hard work and dedication on the football field and it is also my firm belief that my records should be reinstated."
Bush told The Athletic in 2020 that he could have used some additional money while playing for the Trojans as he did not have much money and was only receiving $1,000 a month in scholarship money.
"So, after you paid rent, that was $260 left over to last you for the month to try and cover what you ate and your utilities bill, phone bill,” Bush told the Athletic. “It’s almost impossible to do especially living in Los Angeles, so an extra $25,000 would’ve significantly changed my life in college. I don’t mean just changed it a little bit. It would’ve made things a lot less stressful because it’s stressful when you’re trying to figure out, how am I gonna eat? What am I gonna eat when the cafeteria has closed?”
Joe Pompliano of HuddleUp's estimates Bush could have made between $4 to $6 million annually with the NCAA's new NIL rules.
June 10 marked the one year anniversary of Bush being welcomed back to USC after a decade-long ban from USC by the NCAA.
Other previous college athletes like 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas tweeted that the NCAA should reinstate Bush's records and give him his Heisman Trophy back.
At USC, Bush rushed for 3,169 yards while recording 1,301 receiving yards, 25 rushing touchdowns and 13 receiving touchdowns.
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