LOS ANGELES – Reggie Bush is very happy to receive his Heisman Trophy once again.
Now he also wants his reputation back.
The former Southern California offensive lineman says the return of his Heisman is the biggest step in what he sees as his fight against the NCAA to restore his good name and records from his incredible college career. Bush has clearly said he “never cheated” during his three seasons at USC.
“I never had any doubt it would happen,” Bush said. “Because I know the truth is on my side.”
Bush and his family celebrated the restoration of his Heisman honors Thursday during a news conference atop the venerable Coliseum, where Bush played for the Trojans before his 11-year NFL career. Bush and his three sons lifted the trophy together as his wife, mother and many supporters applauded.
Bush praised the Heisman Trust for his reinstatement, but the former tailback and his lawyers made it clear that his fight against the NCAA is not over. Bush has indicated that he does not plan to drop his defamation lawsuit filed last year against the NCAA over the governing body’s 2021 characterization of the circumstances that led to Bush’s troubles.
“It was more about being labeled a cheater,” Bush said. “The trophy… was taken from me (it was painful), but being labeled a cheater was much worse, because I never cheated and there is no proof of that, that I cheated.”
Bush won the Heisman in 2005 but lost it in 2010 after USC was hit with massive sanctions, in part related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports traders. The Heisman Trust restored the honor and returned the trophy to Bush in Jacksonville, Florida, on Wednesday, citing fundamental changes in the structure of college athletics over the past 14 years.
The NCAA also nullified 14 of the Trojans’ victories and erased many of Bush’s achievements from the record books in its sanctions. This decision still infuriates Bush, who clearly hopes that his lawsuit and public pressure can force the government body to change its position.
“This is a call to the NCAA to do the right thing, to get on the right side of history,” said attorney Ben Crump.
Bush, whose NCAA-mandated dissociation from USC ended in 2020, hopes to see his No. 5 retired in the Coliseum’s peristyle this fall. He also hopes to lead coach Lincoln Riley’s team out of the Coliseum tunnel, accepting the honor given to former Trojans.
But Bush says he won’t be satisfied until his name is also cleared.
“You can’t get to this, or a national championship, by cheating,” Bush said. “I promise you that.”
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