I’m no fan of USC, but the fact that he had to do this is ridiculous.
I don’t know what the answer is to the college star problem, and I’m generally in favor of institutions being held to a reasonable set of rules with respect to amateur status and whatnot as long as that’s the fiction we’re going to insist on in college sports. USC didn’t police its team well enough, and they’re paying the price. I’m fine with that.
I just don’t think it’s a good idea to penalize Bush personally for taking the opportunities he did. Will we pretend that there was no Heisman winner that year? Or that Vince Young was the winner? It looks like a temper tantrum by the club to me, a desire to try to hurt him now that he’s beyond the reach of any NCAA sanctions. That looks cheesy to me, and (in my view) makes the Downtown Athletic Club look worse than Bush.
Frankly, it astonishes me that so many are calling for even stricter rules, like lifetime NFL bans for people who do what Bush did. My guess is that, to a man, every person suggesting that kind of draconian sanction grew up with a shitload better financial situation than Bush. He was a standout, award-winning player, and was by popular consensus the best college player around in 2005. Even without the booster’s gifts, he’d have probably played at USC (he’s from San Diego). Did he use his status to benefit his family? It appears so. Did that meaningfully affect his school choice or performance? I doubt it.
College football isn’t amateur in any meaningful sense, not at the top-25 level, anyway. Colleges make millions on the backs of guys like Bush. I say leave him alone. Hounding him to give back this award and remove himself from the Heisman fraternity (a step they’ve not bothered to request of, say, O. J. Simpson) is just shitty.
Bullshit. He is ineligible to receive an award as he is a professional and not an amateur. THe trust gave him a choice, give it up or be the first guy to have it taken away. The question here is not what you think is right or wrong, the question is whether he is eligible for the award? VY go the only trophy that matters. Everyone saw who was better that night. USC should be banned from TV not this slap on the wrist they are getting. Your Bama lineman should be off the team like Dez Bryant was last year. Rules should be evenly enforced as should penalties. This is the main problem with the NCAA as I see it.
I didn’t expect everyone (especially you) to agree with me. In fact, I’d be surprised if ANY UT fan agreed with me.
That doesn’t mean I’m wrong. USC is responsible for USC’s employees’ behavior. Revoking the Heisman is just a tantrum. Nobody will ever believe that the 2005 winner is anyone but Reggie Bush.
No. This is an award for amateurs in an amateur sport. Bush took the money and perks and knew the rules. He was ineligible to receive the award because he was not an amateur. The records are vacated so the Heisman Trust had to get him to step down as 0 carries 0 yards and 0 TDs would look ridiculous next to the gaudy stats compiled by fellow winners. And do save the OJ comparisons. To my knowledge he did not violate any rules in 1974, and certainly did not kill his wife, that season. The “everyone cheats excuse so it is alright” is something I expect from the Sooners not the Tide. Though, I guess since you guys have paid your players and were punished for it I can understand you trying to rationalize. I would never want college football to be all about who pays more. It would take away many beautiful things about winning. It would destroy the beauty of James Madison beating Va Tech for example. If anyone had more to gain by this league morphing into a professional sport it would be my Team, the one who Nets 60 mmusd per year, about 2x that of ANY other team. Bush was a great player but he got caught breaking rules he knew and did so with no compunction or remorse. He deserves what he gets and USC is getting off light. Think of all the teams and fans this POS robbed. USC robbed the Horns of at least one final 4 appearance, so did calipari at Memphis and that still pisses me off.Any apologist is validating this lowlife behavior. It is wrong ask War Eagle.
Yeah, like I said, I didn’t think you’d agree, and I don’t think any UT fan would agree. A little Rawlsian veil of ignorance goes a long way in situations like these, but is hard to conceive of when you also see yourself as an aggrieved party.
As for “Think of all the teams and fans this POS robbed,” please. Spare me. I’ve said my piece here, and you yours, so let it drift.
What? Did Reggie Bush pose nude or something? He’ll always be Miss Heisman to me, too.
Mr. Kardashian if you are nasty.
This happens every time a gay black man wins the Heisman. ATTICA! ATTICA!
The sheriff is not a Wookie.