Buh-bye, Heisman!

[FLW Buckeye]

Bush giving it back to the Heisman folks...

Updated: September 14, 2010, 5:01 PM ETReggie Bush to forfeit HeismanEmail Print Comments122 ESPN.com news services

Running back Reggie Bush has decided to hand over the Heisman.

Under pressure since his award winning 2005 campaign at Southern California was vacated, Bush said in a statement on Tuesday that he will forfeit the Heisman Trophy.

"One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005," the statement released by the New Orleans Saints reads. "For me, it was a dream come true. 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 NCAA passed down heavy sanctions on USC relating to improper benefits received by Bush and basketball player O.J. Mayo. The Heisman Trust was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but it was not clear if Bush was on the agenda. The group has been reviewing whether Bush should have his award taken away.

It's the first time college football's top award was returned by a recipient.

During a Monday morning interview with Hannah Storm on ESPN's SportsCenter, Vince Young, the runner-up in the 2005 Heisman voting, said he wouldn't turn down the trophy if Bush lost it.

"I definitely want it, I definitely want it,'' said Young, who guided Texas to the national championship. "But he won it fair and square definitely, and it's much respect to Reggie, man. He had a great career and he's already won a Super Bowl before me. I'm already mad about that.

"But at the same time I am definitely happy for him, man, and he is definitely the Heisman Trophy winner for that year. But if they send it over to me I am not going to say no to it," Young said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Although I felt Young should've won it, it should stay vacated. Discuss.

[Shoalzie]

It should stay vacated at this point...everyone can debate who deserves it but the guy that won it broke the rules and it should just go to someone by default. This isn't a beauty pageant where the runner-up gets the crown in the winner "disgraces" the award.

[Mace]

Vince Young? I don't think so. It should go to one of Iowa's 85 first rounders.

Seriously, keep it vacated to remind everyone in the future that Bush lost it for violating NCAA rules.

[Go Coogs']

I gotta hand it to Bush for giving it back before it was taken from him. I don't know, maybe the writing was already on the wall and he had no choice.

Young already grabbing for the trophy like a toy that was just returned to a box is kinda shitty IMO. He didn't win the trophy; Bush did. It's like sloppy seconds and if I were in VY's shoes, I'd have to chew on it if it was offered to me in a formal manner from the NCAA.

VY shoulda just said, "Hey, if its presented to me by the people who give out the award, then yeah, I'll probably accept it."

No need to say, "Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie!" before the damn thing has been sent back to the committee. Sheesh.

[Harvdog]

Personally, I think that Vince deserved the honor back in 2005. Take Bush off that team and they were still going to play for the MNC. Take Vince off of Texas and we are 8-4. He was the best player in College Football in 2005, period.

That being said, The Hypesman trust can take the trophy and shove it up their collective asses. I wouldn't take if it came with a blowie from Megan Fox. If they decide to give it to him, I would leave it at the school and not worry about it.

[FLW Buckeye]

I wouldn't take if it came with a blowie from Megan Fox.

Fag...

[R-Jack]

OK..........NOW I can await Toejam's response.

[SoCalTrjn]

Bush won the Heisman by the widest margin in the history of the award. who is to say the votes that went to Reggie wouldnt have gone to Leinart if Reggies parents had been found out before the award was given? If you think Vince Young never took anything he wasnt supposed take while at Texas, you're a fool.

[MuchoBulls]

I assumed this was a Jacory Harris thread.

RACK!!

[Harvdog]

Bush won the Heisman by the widest margin in the history of the award. who is to say the votes that went to Reggie wouldnt have gone to Leinart if Reggies parents had been found out before the award was given? If you think Vince Young never took anything he wasnt supposed take while at Texas, you're a fool.

Thank you for the wonderful retort, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf.



When USC is caught cheating....let's make some bullshit allegation about a school that actually follows the NCAA's rules. The difference between USC and Texas is that we have Compliance officers that actually do their jobs. If there was something going on, you don't think the NCAA would be here going in and out of Texas' ass with a fine tooth comb?

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[SoCalTrjn]

From the book, Tarnished Heisman:

"As NCAA Executive Director David Price pointed out to the authors, 'Charles Woodson of University of Michigan received benefits from an agent. That all became known publicly sometime after he had left the institution. We had no information that there was any institutional knowledge; therefore, we did not take any action against the institution or even bring charges.'"

Has Michigan returned its copy of Woodson's Heisman Trophy back to the Trust? Have they "erased" every memory of Woodson from their record book? Is their AD demanding an "apology" from Woodson? Does the President talk about the athletic compliance office's failure to detect actions of "high profile" players. Do they give a rat's ass whether he took money from an agent or not (Rhetorical question. Of course not.)