Report: Trust Will Strip Reggie Bush Of Heisman
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In the aftermath of NCAA sanctions against USC for a "lack of institutional control," Yahoo Sports! reported Tuesday that the Heisman Trophy Trust plans to strip Reggie Bush of his 2005 Heisman by the end of September.
From Yahoo! reporters Chris Robinson and Jason Cole:
Two sources close to the Heisman trust said the body’s investigation is coming to a close, and will ultimately concur with the NCAA’s determination that Bush was ineligible during his Heisman-winning season in 2005. Because of that independent conclusion, sources said the trust will relieve Bush of the award and leave the honor for that season vacant. The sources said Bush met with Heisman representatives last month at the New York law offices of Emmet, Marvin & Martin.
Bush would be the first winner in the award's storied 75-year history to be stripped of his trophy. However, ESPN's Chris Fowler says the trust has yet to rule definitively on the issue.
"They haven't made a decision. No announcement is imminent," Fowler said Tuesday on SportsCenter. "They have not had any formal meetings about this."
Trust spokesman Tim Henning was similarly non-definitive, according to the ESPN report.
"The Heisman Trophy trust has yet to make a decision," Henning said.
USC has already distanced itself from Bush and the scandal that led to a two-year bowl ban, four years of probation and the loss of 30 scholarships over three years. In July, USC president C.L. Max Nikias ordered the athletic department to return the university's copy of Bush's Heisman and made it clear he wanted all references to Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo removed from campus.
Bush's Heisman capped a landmark season in which he rushed for 1,658 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He received a record 84 percent of first place votes, handily beating out Texas' Vince Young and teammate Matt Leinart to capture USC's seventh Heisman trophy.
Bush was also honored with the Doak Walker Award and the Walter Camp Award in 2005 and was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.
Texas coach Mack Brown said last week that he believes Vince Young should be awarded the trophy if Bush is forced to vacate it. Young finished second in Heisman voting in 2005 with 1,608 points, more than 900 points behind Bush.
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