Why Did Reggie Bush lose his Heisman?

By Jason Bolton December 07, 2023 05:55

Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

One of the most prestigious honors in college football, the Heisman Trophy is an annual award that recognizes college football's most outstanding players. Reggie Bush, who famously won the award in 2005 after a monster season at USC, was later stripped of the honor in 2010 due to NCAA regulations being enforced at USC. In this article, we will discuss how Reggie Bush lost his Heisman and what impact that may have had on him.

Background on Reggie Bush

In 2003, Reggie Bush exited high school and arrived at USC, where he would soon make his impact known. Quickly becoming one of the most exciting players in the country, his blazing speed and ability to make defenders miss were second to none. He received various accolades for his work as a Trojan, including winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005. Stripped of the award only a handful of years later, Bush’s standing as a former Heisman became a hallmark of teh rest of his career.

NCAA Violations

Reggie Bush lost his Heisman Trophy primarily because he took money from boosters, which violated NCAA regulations at the time. Bush was also implicated in a school-wide scandal when illegal benefits went to him and his family during his time at USC going as far back as 2006. For those unfamiliar, the NCAA is the authority over college athletes, and at the time, it did not allow them to receive anything more than their scholarships for their services. Specifically, Bush and his family were accused of accepting cash and other things like free housing from agents and marketing people.

After the NCAA violations were disclosed, an investigation of Reggie Bush’s eligibility to play football at USC was launched. The inquiry revealed sufficient proof to conclude that the alleged infractions occurred, resulting in heavy sanctions against the football program. A two-year ban from postseason games, reduction in scholarships, and wiping out of all victories from Bush’s last two years at USC was ordered. The football team’s sanctions went on to heavily impact the program’s ability to perform successfully. The loss of scholarships combined with the postseason moratorium impacted the team’s potential to recruit the greatest players in the nation and compete at the highest level. In addition, winning losses discredited the USC football program’s reputation and morals, as it eliminated all victories from the Bush years. When the NCAA finally stripped Bush of his trophy in 2010, It was the first time in history that the call was made for the trophy to be stripped. It was declared that Reggie Bush’s penalties for violating NCAA legislation make it unfeasible for him to hold the Heisman Trophy, emphasizing the requirement to maintain integrity and fair play.

Conclusion and Public Opinion

Bush tried to get the trophy back, but his efforts proved unsuccessful. Furthermore, public perception of Bush’s personality and viewpoints immediately ridiculed him for his regular impulsive conduct and lack of self-control, a reputation that would follow Bush for over a decade later.

Redemption and Moving Forward

Determined to learn from his past, Reggie Bush took full control of his life. In fact, he has gone on to be pretty successful in the NFL, having been signed by various teams and making big plays on the gridiron. Bush, too, set about restoring his reputation and doing good works for charity through philanthropy in the local community.

Reggie Bush lost his Heisman Trophy due to NCAA violations at USC. Those violations landed the USC football program with harsh sanctions and got Bush his Heisman trophy revoked. The incident still haunts Bush to this day and stained the reputation of USC football for a while. But Reggie Bush found a way to turn it around because he chose to want not just redemption in his mind but finding some other reason for being alive and doing good.