The NCAA rejected Reggie Bush’s request to rethink penalties levied towards the USC soccer program — as a part of Bush’s effort to regain his Heisman Trophy — as a result of he was “not an concerned particular person” within the landmark case, CBS Sports activities has realized.
In a 2022 letter from the NCAA to Bush’s authorized crew, obtained by CBS Sports activities, the NCAA Committee on Infractions defined to Bush, “… you had been by no means formally charged by the NCAA enforcement employees” within the 2010 case.
The letter clarifies to Bush that the sanctions had been “an institutional penalty. Due to this fact, you do not need standing to hunt reconsideration. Your request is due to this fact denied.” The letter goes on to elucidate that the committee’s choice is ultimate. An analogous request was denied in 2023.
The Heisman Belief advised Bush it is not going to consider doubtlessly returning the 2005 trophy he voluntarily surrendered in 2010 till the NCAA reconsiders penalties towards USC.
Bush is just not talked about by title within the USC public infractions report regardless of this system being pressured to vacate statistics and faculty data achieved by the working again “wherein [he] competed whereas ineligible,” in response to the NCAA. The NCAA itself mentioned the case was “centered” round impermissible advantages given to “student-athlete 1,” who is basically assumed to be Bush. “Scholar-athlete 1” is talked about 340 instances within the 67-page report.
Penalties levied following four-year NCAA investigation included USC receiving a two-year postseason ban and being docked 30 scholarships. The college was pressured to vacate 14 wins wherein Bush performed. Bush was additionally disassociated from USC for a 10-year interval, which led to 2020.
Bush continues to push for the return of his 2005 Heisman.
School sports activities’ participant compensation local weather modified in July 2021 when title, picture and likeness legal guidelines would have allowed most of the impermissible advantages that had been deemed towards the foundations within the USC case.
Bush sued the NCAA for defamation in August 2023, arguing that his character was maliciously attacked by the affiliation’s assertion. Relating to that case, a reporter requested whether or not the NCAA would rethink the sanctions given its new NIL pointers. An NCAA spokesman mentioned, “NCAA guidelines nonetheless don’t allow pay-for-play sort preparations.”
Shortly after the NCAA instituted NIL in 2021, the Heisman Belief launched an announcement: “Ought to the NCAA reinstate Bush’s 2005 standing, the Heisman Belief seems to be ahead to welcoming him again to the Heisman household.”
Bush’s quest to regain his Heisman not too long ago resurfaced by way of social media. 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and legendary faculty basketball coach Rick Pitino each supported Bush’s efforts.
Manziel has attended the Heisman ceremony simply as soon as since he received the trophy in 2012. The previous Texas A&M star quarterback was suspended for the primary half of the 2013 season opener for allegedly accepting cash in trade for autographs.
“The NCAA, in my view, is making an attempt to run from this,” Bush advised reporters in December. “I really feel like now I used to be framed. How did USC obtain this huge penalty with no factual proof behind it?”
Within the June 2022 letter, the NCAA mentioned that Bush didn’t obtain a discover of allegations, and as such, was not “in danger” for particular person penalties.
“Due to this fact, as a result of you aren’t a celebration to the case, you do not need standing to request consideration of the holiday of data penalty,” states the letter as directed to Bush.
The letter additionally clarifies that the committee didn’t require Bush to surrender the Heisman, concluding, “The Heisman Belief is free to revive your award impartial of the COI’s choice.”
The NCAA mentioned reconsideration of penalties is “solely out there” to establishments and concerned people.
Bush returned his 2005 trophy to the Heisman Belief after sanctions had been levied towards USC. The Belief’s standing on Bush has not modified, a Heisman spokesman mentioned.
“For those who keep in mind, it was a couple of yr that I did not give it again,” Bush mentioned. “It was nearly like [I] was on the run. I should not have given it again. It wasn’t till they began speaking about submitting a lawsuit towards me for not returning the Heisman. They began throwing issues round within the media like that. I used to be scared, 21 years outdated. The world and the NCAA, it felt like, was towards me.”
In July 2021, former USC working backs coach Todd McNair settled a separate defamation lawsuit towards the NCAA stemming from the unique investigation. Bush advised reporters that settlement determine was $8 million.
