Bush returned Heisman, but does not admit guilt
New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush says that his decision to give back the Heisman trophy earlier this week was not an admission of guilt, but simply a way to finally end the ongoing controversy.
In 2006 rumours began to surface about Bush and his family receiving improper benefits during his time at the University of Southern California, causing an investigation that eventually ended with the Heisman
Trophy Trust stripping Bush of his award.
However, for some time after the ruling Bush refuted the allegations, saying that he intended to keep the award, which he said was won fairly. Nevertheless, after USC returned their replica of the trophy
more pressure was placed on Bush to relinquish the award. Finally ending with him doing so earlier this week.
Nevertheless, Bush maintains that he did nothing wrong, saying of the decision to return the trophy. “It’s me showing respect to the Heisman Trophy itself and to the people who came before me and the people
coming after. I just felt like it was the best thing to do, the most respectful thing to do because obviously I do respect the Heisman. I do respect all the things it stands for.”
Bush won by a large margin in 2005 over former Texas Longhorn quarterback and current Tennessee Titan Vince Young.
Young said he would not accept the trophy after it was taken away from Bush and the Heisman Trust decided to leave the award vacated for 2005.
Bush is now the first even Heisman winner to have the award taken back.
Bush said he wanted to dispel the negativity that was surrounding him by giving back the trophy, saying. “I felt just to kind of silence all the talk about it, all the negativity around it. I felt like this
would be the best decision to do right now so I could focus.”
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