Reggie Bush volunarily forfiets Heisman

[rajncajn]

Personally, I think it was a good move by Reggie & the best thing for everyone at this point. I hope that now everyone can finally put this behind them and move on.

 

I know this is mostly a college issue, but I thought it'd be good for discussion here.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81a8...le=HP_headlines

 

Remorseful Saints RB Bush gives back 2005 Heisman Trophy

 

* NFL.com

* Published: Sept. 14, 2010 at 04:48 p.m

 

After months of speculation as to whether New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush would be asked to give back the 2005 Heisman Trophy, the former Southern Cal star made the decision himself Tuesday afternoon, saying he has decided "to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005" in a statement released by the Saints.

 

The Heisman Trophy Trust denied a report last week saying the organization already had decided to take away the trophy because of Bush's implication in the NCAA's investigation of USC's football program.

 

"One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005. For me, it was a dream come true," Bush said in the statement.

 

"But I know that the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it. I know that my victory was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates, the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans, and the unconditional love of my family and friends. And I know that any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name.

 

It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005. The persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting. In no way should the storm around these allegations reflect in any way on the dignity of this award, nor on any other institutions or individuals. Nor should it distract from outstanding performances and hard-earned achievements either in the past, present or future."

 

Bush, who helped the Saints win their first Super Bowl title in February, told new USC athletic director Pat Haden last month he was so sorry about his actions that he would give back the Heisman if he could. He vowed to stay on that course Tuesday.

 

"For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust.," Bush added in the statement. "I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.

 

"I will forever appreciate the honor bestowed upon me as a winner of the Heisman. While this decision is heart-breaking, I find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many. Those are gifts that can never be taken away."

 

Bush was at the center of an investigation that led to the school receiving NCAA sanctions that banned its football team from bowl games for this and next season and reduced its scholarships by 30. USC also forfeited 14 victories in which Bush played during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, and the school could lose its 2004 BCS national championship. Bush received cash and benefits from a sports marketer while at USC.

 

The school also removed all references to Bush from its sports complexes and promotional materials.

 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Riffraff]

Preemptive strike. Good move.

[BeeR]

 

He gave up something he knew was being taken from him.

[Pope Flick]

Astonishing, really, since it's clear they don't teach ethics at USC.

[dino88]

Voluntarily?

[Double Agent]

Big deal. It was going to be taken from him. He just tried to save a little face.

 

But on an upside he did bang Kim K.

[budlitebrad]

The Trust probably came to him first and gave him the option to forfeit it. He's been lying for years and still didn't accept the blame completely, citing the "persistent media speculation" as a reason for giving up the trophy.

[Chief Dick]

What a puss. He's not the first Heisman trophy winner to take money. He won it for his actions on the field.

 

And if the Heisman Trust will take it away from Bush and NOT OJ Simpson, then who the hell are they anyway.

[rajncajn]

Astonishing, really, since it's clear they don't teach ethics at insert every other top recruiting college in the BCS here.

 

Fixed for reality.

 

Voluntarily?

 

Yes.

[Skippy]

What a puss. He's not the first Heisman trophy winner to take money. He won it for his actions on the field.

 

And if the Heisman Trust will take it away from Bush and NOT OJ Simpson, then who the hell are they anyway.

Pretty good right there.

[Delicious_bass]

What a puss. He's not the first Heisman trophy winner to take money. He won it for his actions on the field.

 

And if the Heisman Trust will take it away from Bush and NOT OJ Simpson, then who the hell are they anyway.

Obviously, what OJ did was way worse than what Bush did, but OJ didnt go OJack the Ripper til long after his NFL days where over which is obviously even longer past his college days. Bush's transgressions happened while still enrolled which is why they are looking to get the trophy back as well as punishing the football program at SC.

 

IMO, giving the trophy back does little at this point. I'd be more impressed if he returned the money and/or donated some money to the program at SC so some of the athletes there now can get scholarships.

[satelliteoflovegm]

I'd have told those hypocrites to jam the trophy up their ass.

[rajncajn]

IMO, giving the trophy back does little at this point. I'd be more impressed if he returned the money and/or donated some money to the program at SC so some of the athletes there now can get scholarships.

From what I understand, it wouldn't matter how much money Reggie gave to USC, the NCAA still limits the amount of scholarships they can give out. USC doesn't need Reggie's money anyway, they've already made a ton off of him. I heard on a radio report yesterday that USC made over $15 million in jersey sales alone between him & Leinart that year.

 

I think this is a better start, but in all honesty the entire system should be revamped.

"I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.

[Bronco Billy]

What a puss. He's not the first Heisman trophy winner to take money. He won it for his actions on the field.

 

And if the Heisman Trust will take it away from Bush and NOT OJ Simpson, then who the hell are they anyway.

 

That's a terrible analogy, and I've heard it often on DEN sports talk radio.

 

Bush cheated while in college. He used his stature as a player to benefit monetarily in a significant manner. Simpson on the other hand committed his nefarious acts after leaving both college and his pro career.

 

It's really pretty simple: Bush's actions were directly tied to his college career during his college tenure. Simpson's actions were far removed and completely independent of his college career.

 

It really can't be that hard to understand, yet I find people making that maddening argument regularly.

[Hat Trick]

 

Classy move Reggie!

[Bronco Billy]

Classy move Reggie!

 

 

Might have been a bit more classy to not cheat in the first place, rather than preempt the inevitable by surrending what was going to be taken.

[Grogansghost]

He caused 30 fewer athletic scholarships to be given out. I don't have much sympathy for USC - they should have been in control of their program - but that's a lot of money to help kids get to school that won't be replaced because of Reggie.

 

Difficult for me to now view him as a stand up guy because he's returning a trophy that he was clearly ineligible for to save face. He's done nothing to address the damage he's caused.

Edited September 15, 2010 by Grogansghost

[rajncajn]

He caused 30 fewer athletic scholarships to be given out. I don't have much sympathy for USC - they should have been in control of their program - but that's a lot of money to help kids get to school that won't be replaced because of Reggie.

 

Difficult for me to now view him as a stand up guy because he's returning a trophy that he was clearly ineligible for to save face. He's done nothing to address the damage he's caused.

 

Not sure what he's supposed to do other than apologize, maybe give an example? And I wouldn't say he's exactly done nothing, again I quote:

 

"I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.

[Grogansghost]

The award operated for 75 years without any need for the "educational program" Reggie claims he wants to establish. Every college athlete already knows that he/she can't take money and remain eligible.

 

One tangible way Bush can address the real damage he's done is by donating 30 scholarships. Make the scholarships to UCLA if he wants to stick it to USC, whatever.

 

Bush will be fine.

USC will be fine.

 

I just think it sucks that there will be fewer scholarships for kids who had nothing to do with what happened. I think it's worse that people are patting this guy on the back for returning a trophy that he was never eligible to receive in the first place.

[tazinib1]

I could care less. The Heisman has been a joke in recent years anyway. The dude cheated, got his parents nice new toys then lied about it to this day. All it does for me is confirm my belief that D-Will was robbed.

[rajncajn]

The award operated for 75 years without any need for the "educational program" Reggie claims he wants to establish. Every college athlete already knows that he/she can't take money and remain eligible.

 

One tangible way Bush can address the real damage he's done is by donating 30 scholarships. Make the scholarships to UCLA if he wants to stick it to USC, whatever.

 

Bush will be fine.

USC will be fine.

 

I just think it sucks that there will be fewer scholarships for kids who had nothing to do with what happened. I think it's worse that people are patting this guy on the back for returning a trophy that he was never eligible to receive in the first place.

You can't really tell me that you believe for 75 years there has been no other winner that didn't accept anything under the table and how in the heck is giving UCLA scholarships going to help anyone but UCLA? Not to mention, as i said before, the NCAA dictates how many athletic scholarships each school can give.

Edited September 15, 2010 by rajncajn

[WaterMan]

Heisman is just a hype tool for draft day anyways.

[tazinib1]

You know what would impress me? A scholarship fund set up by Reggie Bush to fill the scholarships lost. Yeah..thats never gonna happen.

[STL Fan]

I absolutely hate it when people applaud a guy for admitting a mistake AFTER HE GETS CAUGHT. That's complete BS. You only get credit for admitting a mistake if it's a mistake no one knows you made. Throw this meaningless gesture on the same pile of dung with the "admissions of guilt" by guys like Mark McGwire, A-Rod and all the other guys that only admitted guilt after they were caught.

 

The Rocket is next . . .

[Grogansghost]

You can't really tell me that you believe for 75 years there has been no other winner that didn't accept anything under the table and how in the heck is giving UCLA scholarships going to help anyone but UCLA? Not to mention, as i said before, the NCAA dictates how many athletic scholarships each school can give.

 

I do believe that there are past winners who got paid illegally. Are you telling me that they didn't understand what they were doing? My point was that the "we shouldn't cheat education program" Reggie mentions is unecessary because he knowingly broke the rules. It wasn't due to a lack of being informed.

 

As far as the scholarships go, I know the NCAA controls how many athletic scholarships are given out. Regardless, as a direct result of Reggie Bush's actions 30 fewer scholarships will be given out over the next 3 years in the LA area. To me, replacing the scholarships that he caused to be lost would be the most meaningful gesture. I'm talking about Bush establishing academic or other merit-based scholarships. Maybe they can write essays on the evils of cheating and Reggie can judge them. I mentioned giving the scholarships to UCLA instead of USC, because USC was also complicit in this whole mess.

 

You asked what I thought he should do other than apologize. Replace the scholarships that he caused to be lost.

 

Also, exactly where does he apologize in that article? I guess I'm just missing it. He blames the media. He says giving up the award is heartbreaking. He expresses his wish to prove that he really was deserving and his goal of establishing an unecessary Heisman-anti-cheating-seminar. Nowhere does he actually admit any wrongdoing or apologize.

 

I really hope Reggie can create something positive from these events - but all his statements so far have struck me as self-serving PR.

Edited September 15, 2010 by Grogansghost