College Football Hall of Fame running back Reggie Bush was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner. He was given this honor in 2005 after three illustrious years at the University of Southern California (USC). The award was taken away in 2010 after an extensive investigation into USC. Then-coach Pete Carroll was essentially run out of Los Angeles and at least one staff member was fired.
Critics of the decision to strip Bush of the trophy include fellow Heisman winner Johnny Manziel. The former Texas A&M two-time trophy winner has openly admitted to receiving money improperly. There was never an investigation into the University nor a stripping of the trophy from Manziel. Since Manziel is white and Bush is black, this became sort of a racial thing in the eyes of many.
In today’s college athletics, it is okay to pay the athletes, and this is done primarily through a system called Name, Image, Likeness (NIL). The current college athletics landscape prompted the NCAA to restore Reggie Bush’s trophy. Bush responded to the news by thanking everyone who believed in him instead of salacious media headlines over the years.
SOURCES:
Reggie Bush gets 2005 Heisman Trophy back in formal ‘reinstatement’ – Yahoo Sports
Reggie Bush gets Heisman Trophy back 14 years after forfeiting – ESPN
Reggie Bush getting 2005 Heisman Trophy back, Heisman Trust cites ‘enormous changes in college athletics’ | CNN
Reggie Bush Got Heisman Back After Chance Encounter W/ Attorney At Gronk Pool Party
Reggie Bush finally gets back the Heisman Trophy he never should have lost
