The Patriot Post® · Reggie Gives It Back

During the 2005 college football season, there was no doubt in my mind that Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush was its best player. For that he was awarded the Heisman Trophy, the biggest and best award that can be bestowed. But earlier this week he achieved an even higher plane when he gave it back. Tuesday Reggie Bush did the right thing.

Over the summer, in the way the truth is slow but sure to catch up with tawdry things, it was confirmed Reggie had violated NCAA rules as a player, that he had taken illegal payments and broken other rules while playing for the Trojans. Reggie was immediately declared ineligible for a season now long gone by the NCAA and a very ashamed USC administration returned the duplicate Heisman Trophy that once sat so proudly in its athletic department to New York.

It was then reported the Heisman Trust was considering vacating the 2005 honor, something that in today’s world of legal wrangling and court appeals could have made a bunch of lawyers almost as much money as Reggie now makes playing for the world-champion New Orleans Saints.

But in a great lesson for both the old and young lesser mortals who like football but cherish more all that is just and good, Reggie said to win the Heisman is akin of entering “into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name.”

Reggie Bush knows better than anyone what really happened back in 2005 and, in a humbling act of being who he really wants to be, he issued a heart-wrenching statement that should be read by all of us in our daily quest to be the best person we can be. Allow me to share the full statement of a wiser man’s remorse:

One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005. 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.

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 persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting.

In no way should the storm around these allegations reflect in any way on the dignity of this award, nor on any other institutions or individuals. Nor should it distract from outstanding performances and hard-earned achievements either in the past, present or future.

"For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust.

I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made.

I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.

"I will forever appreciate the honor bestowed upon me as a winner of the Heisman. While this decision is heart-breaking, I find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many. Those are gifts that can never be taken away.

As I said, there is no doubt in my mind that in 2005 Reggie was college football’s best player. But not until Tuesday did he prove he now has the character and the dignity to match the way he played five years ago.

When Reggie Bush gave up the Heisman, it became a lesson for us all because, at long last, he finally got the respect and admiration he deserves.