Reggie Bush: Now he’s thinking about dignity?

By Sue Green

Not wanting to tarnish the dignity of the award, Reggie Bush gives his Heisman back

Reggie Bush doesn’t have to worry about the Heisman officials stripping him of his trophy because he took the decision out of their hands.

Today the NFL all-star forfeited his 2005 Heisman win, and gave the trophy back in the wake of the USC football scandal, and subsequent slap-down by the NCAA.

Bush came under scrutiny over possible NCAA violations back in 2006 when Yahoo! Sports reported some possible benefits violations during the years he tore up the football field for USC.

The NCAA began investigating the accusations, and Bush denied any wrongdoing.

But his denial didn’t seem to have much impact on the final decision as the NCAA penalized USC by vacating the 14 victories in which Bush played from December 2004 through the 2005 season. That means they also had to give up the BCS championship win against Oklahoma.

The university also had to give up 30 football scholarships over three years.

In handing out its penalties, the NCAA said the University was penalized for a lack of institutional control. The report also cited many improper benefits that had been given out to Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo.

What is really sad is that Bush thinks he is doing the right thing *now* by giving the award back, saying he did not want the scandal to stain “the dignity of the award”.

“One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005,” said a statement released by Bush. “For me, it was a dream come true…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.”

Now he’s thinking about dignity?

How dignified is this? Reggie Bush is about to go down in another record book connected with the Heisman award. This is the first time in the award’s 75 year history that a player has forfeited the award.

What’s really sad is Bush was the best player on the field in 2005, just maybe not the best player when it came to off the field, or at least when it came to following the NCAA rules off the field.

So, what’s next? Well, Bush says he wants to work with the Heisman Trustees to establish an educational program. This program would help assist student-athletes and their families so they could avoid the mistakes that he made.

I guess it’s better late than never.

This post was originally published on KFrye & Girlfriends Talk Sports.