Two hundred carries, 1,740 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns, 8.7 yards per carry, 37 receptions, 478 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
This was the stat line of one of the best running backs ever to step foot on a football field, that player being Reggie Bush.
The 2004-2005 USC Trojans were arguably one of the best and most talented college football teams in the 2000s.
“When I first saw Reggie Bush at Martin Stadium when I was younger, it was one of the best experiences of my life; he can play some ball,” Michael Dunn said.
Every football fan knew the name Reggie Bush, no matter what team they supported. Bush was an electric running back who would run right by you or make you miss him altogether.
After the 2005 season, Bush was nominated as the Heisman trophy winner even though his team did not win the national championship. Bush had one of the best seasons ever by a running back to come out of the University of Southern California.
Shortly after winning the Heisman, the NCAA Board of Committee informed USC that they would have to revoke Bush’s Heisman because they discovered that USC was paying Bush and his family money to attend the college.
USC bought various things for Bush and his family. Bush’s earnings just through college alone were roughly 100,000 dollars. At the time, NIL deals and endorsements were illegal in college, and anyone caught in the act was punished severely.
However, it is not like how money affected Bush and how he played. It is not like Bush was gambling on himself or anything. All the college did was make his life a little bit easier. Though the college meant no harm, they still did break the rules, and consequences had to happen.
Though Bush was revoked from his Heisman, recently, the board of committee has looked into the situation, especially now that college athletes have the potential to make more than some professional athletes. After thoroughly examining the problem, the board of committee recently decided to give Bush his well-deserved Heisman trophy back.
When Bush first got revoked of his Heisman, sports fans were outraged and were even more upset after college athletes started making money off of NIL deals. But, after a long 18 years, sports fans can now go to sleep knowing that one of the best running backs of the 2000s will finally get his trophy back.
“Reggie Bush getting his trophy back is a very significant thing in the college sports world, and shows change and improvement in society as well,” Gerald Yeahquo said.