The Heisman Trophy Trust is expected to strip former USC running back Reggie Bush of his 2005 Heisman Trophy and leave the award vacant, Yahoo Sports reported. Two sources close to the trust said the organization is completing its investigation and will agree with the NCAA's finding that Bush accepted improper benefits while at USC and was ineligible during the 2005 season, according to the report. The NCAA cited USC for "lack of institutional control" and handed the Trojans four years' probation, a two-year bowl ban and a reduction in football scholarships. Bush would become the first player in the 75-year history of the Heisman Trophy to have the award taken away. In July, USC president C.L. Max Nikias ordered the school's athletic department to return its copy of Bush's 2005 Heisman to the Heisman Trophy Trust. Nikias also ordered the school to remove nearly all references to Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo, including murals, as part of the NCAA's directive to disassociate the school from the athletes. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/news/story?id=5542215
I don't know if they ran retro-actively award a Heisman but if they can, Vince Young deserves it. Personally, I think had the Heisman been given out after the national championship game there would be no doubt that Young deserved it over Bush.
It sounds like they will leave it vacant. If Bush had been ineligible, Leinart might have won (he came in third in spite of Bush running away with it) so to just hand it to VY seems odd. Of course, the whole thing is odd. I wonder if there's a clause that allows a Heisman to be taken from someone... if there isn't, I think it's a case of them awarding it and him keeping it as long as he wants irrespective of what the HTT does or says... Ed O.
I feel bad for Bush, but the evidence against him is overwhelming. Hopefully, stripping him of the award sends a message to other young athletes. Notice how greasy-Pete ran for Seattle?
Did they? Or did they say reports that they were going to take it away from him were incorrect? And by "incorrect" maybe they meant "premature". Guess we'll wait and see... Ed O.
