Former USC running back Reggie Bush seeks to have Heisman Trophy reinstated after NCAA vote on player compensation

Southern California tail back Reggie Bush walks off the field holding the game ball after the Trojans defeated Fresno State, 50-42, at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Nov. 19, 2005. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)

by: Associated Press

Posted: Jul 1, 2021 / 06:44 PM PDT

Updated: Jul 1, 2021 / 06:45 PM PDT

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Former Southern California running back Reggie Bush has released a statement seeking to have his Heisman Trophy returned and collegiate statistics reinstated.

Bush issued a statement Thursday, which also marked the first day that current college athletes could benefit off their names, image and likeness.

“It is my strong belief that I won the Heisman trophy ‘solely’ due to my hard work and dedication on the football field and it is also my firm belief that my records should be reinstated,” Bush said.

Bush gave up his Heisman in 2010, becoming the first winner in the awards long history to do that. That happened after the NCAA stripped the Trojans of their 2004 national title along with vacating 14 victories from 2004 and ’05 after an investigation determined Bush had received improper benefits.

Bush added that he and his team have contacted the Heisman Trust and NCAA on multiple occasions without any progress.

“It’s been in Ohio as early as the mid-1850s at least, brought in as an ornamental plant because of its unique foliage and white flowers,” Gardner said. “It was actually planted in people’s landscaping, and it has been spreading.”

“We left multiple messages for Michael Comerford, the President of the Heisman Trust, but instead received a call from Rob Whalen, the Executive Director, who stated that Mr. Comerford would not be calling us back and that, in any event, they could not help us,” Bush said.

Former Heisman winners Matt Leinart, Mark Ingram and Johnny Manziel voiced their support on social media for Bush to get his Heisman returned. Leinart also starred at USC and is part of the Fox Sports College Football studio show along with Bush.