Reggie Bush is in the news again, this time for all the wrong reasons. A Yahoo Sports investigation going on for eight months uncovered evidence that Bush and his family "appear to have accepted financial benefits more than $100,000 from prospective agents while at USC."
Please help yourself with the details from the above link, but the evidence is enough to convince me that Reggie violated the NCAA rules beyond reasonable doubt.
I'm interested because Reggie Bush is an ex-Trojan, and since I was once a UCLA Bruin, I can't keep quiet on the topic of the crosstown rival's Heisman running back.
Reggie Bush is a now a Saint — not a Saint defined by the Pope, who, unfortunately, is also facing the flak these days for spelling out the truth from some obscure book written during the hay days of Christian brutality.
Before Reggie became a New Orleans Saint, he helped the Trojans to a national championship in 2004. Then he won the Heisman in 2005.
Now we are retroactively dealing with a situation. Had he taken the favors then, should the NCAA make him and USC suffer now?
Take away his Heisman? As if the financial benefits made him the most amazing running back in the recent memory.
Take away the national championship from the Trojans? Please — I beg you. (But that was just the Bruin in me talking.)
I say, don't touch the championship. It doesn't make sense. There are tons of gift showers happening in college sports. We all know that. The coaches know that. The colleges know that. Every damn two-legged football junkie knows that.
This inquest shouldn't be just about Reggie Bush. All the college superstars, in all sports, have a skeleton or two in their closets.
According to the NCAA rules you cannot accept favors — not even from Don "make him an offer he can't refuse" Corleone. To make matters worse, the celebrity studs of the college get as much press as the pros and yet we expect them to live like ordinary freshmen and sophomores and remind them and their family of their responsibilities. How unfair is that?
I am not saying NCAA doesn't have the right to hypocrisy. By all means, they should feel free to be one, but they should stay away from crucifying their bread and butters for not being Jesus.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Greg Smitherman
Come on guy be realistic, taking and dinner here and there, or taking money here in there is probably going on right now in college football. But living in a $750,000 dollar home you can't pay for, taking $1500 a week (a week), limo rides is to much. BE REALISTIC!
2 - Jim Ausmanq
They should take away USC's elegibility for bowl games and at least two scholarships. If the NCAA does anything less, they might as well just admit that college ball is nothing other than a semi-pro farm league.
3 - Q Bit
Greg:
If you think "dinner here and there and taking money here and there is probably going on right now in college football", then you are mistaken. It's much more than accepting small favors, particularly when it comes to the superstars.
Reggie stretched it, very likely more than anyone else but that only makes him slightly more guilty than the rest of the pack.
Only picking him out of the line-up is nonsense.
NCAA and the colleges and the coaches and the rest of the suckers like us are no less guilty.
Remember what happend to Chris Webber at Michigan? Do you believe Webber and Reggie are the isolated cases?
I don't.
They are the victims of worse judgements. But there are plenty of bad judgements. Just that noone bothers to find out.
4 - Q Bit
Jim:
And I don't think they should unless they clean up the entire house of college football.
5 - sal m
the ncaa does not have the ability to revoke usc's national title, nor does it have the ability to take away bush's heisman.
the usc program is the only entity here that faces any sanctions.
6 - Q Bit
I don't think the outcome of the official investigations (it's a complicated process) will be any different from what the Yahoo folks already came up with. In that case, NCAA along with BCS would probably go for face saving penalties, and that could involve stripping USC off their National Title and severe sanctions on the USC program. I think as far as Heisman is concerned Reggie is safe.
7 - Georgia Prof
When ex-president Clinton was accused of being involved an extramarital sexual affair, people noted that he was far from the first president to have done that and since that was the case, forget it.
No one did.
The observation that ''everyone else does it'' didn't make it right then, and doesn't make it right now.
And it shouldn't
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
"the ncaa does not have the ability to ... take away bush's heisman."
Ah, but the Downtown Athletic Club can.
9 - Q Bit
I never said what Reggie did was the right thing to do.
The point is should we punish Reggie for what he did? or should we take a serious look at the system before we search for scapegoats?
That "everyone does" is a part of the existing culture. Once in a while making someone pay because he/she went overboard might work as a short-term band-aid but it does not cure what is inherently wrong with the culture itself.
Clinton's case was different. I don't see the relevance.
10 - RedTard
Bush is still a Heisman back regardless of his parents bank accounts. Those gifts don't break tackles or traverss the field.
It would be nice to see the national championship go away though. Let's see, first they were a shoe in for three championships, the greatest college team in history and more in the league of Indy COlts or Pitt. Steelers than petty Div 1 schools.
Then Texas stole away that third title, down to two. Historians then pointed out that they didn't actually technically play in the first national championship game- it was a split, down to one.
Now everyone knows there paying their players - strike out the last one. USC, the greatest dynasty that never was!!!
11 - sal m
i know that the DAC and the elders of the heisman control the prize, my point is that the ncaa doesn't deal in punishments for individuals.
and another case that went away, is the oklahoma qb scandal...that kid was allowed to slink away and transfer to another school without any punishment despite lying to his school about the details of his "job."
this is the quintessential cheating scandal.
12 - Saboo
Maybe a lot of this goes on at colleges all over the country but the NCAA has to try to curtail it somehow. When a team is top ranked nationally & has been at the top for several years, they need to self govern themselves to try to prevent this sort of violation rather than to condone it or at best "just look the other way". The NCAA rules are there for a reason and these agents and it appears the Bush family blatently violated these rules. If these claims are substainiated, the NCAA must take action against USC or their whole rules system will be deemed a joke.
A similar circumstance several years back at Alabama occured when a defensive back talked with and took a small amount of money from an agent (he was contemplating going pro but returned for his SR. year). When the truth came out, all games that he played in (I think they went 10-1 that year) were forfieted and Alabama lost numerous scholarships. I would expect no less as USC. It may not be fair to the current athletes there at the time but its the only way to implement the rules.
As for the Heisman, you can't take the talent away from Bush & the NCAA can't take the trophy away. But according to rules, the athelete must be eligable which could eliminate Bush from being a receipient. That decision is up to the BCS and Downtown Athletic Club, not the NCAA.
13 - Pam
It can all be taken away by the NCAA and right or wrong means nothing to them. Reggie Bush had to have known what he was doing and his parents are as guilty as he is. If the NCAA does nothing they will have some explaining to do to every school they have nailed to the wall for much less. Time for the NCAA to pack up and go away.
14 - Stephen
So if the NCAA has no moral authority to take away anything what should be done? Do you want this cycle to continue? Oklahoma lost its starting QB this year because the program found out about NCAA violations from a car dealership and the school delt with it swiftly. If you think Pete Carroll or his staff did not know about what was going on you are insane. The NCAA needs to do something and make an example out of USC. I will be the first to admit that the NCAA makes a whole lot of money from these kids and give little in return, however when you agree to take a scholarship you agree to follow the rules. If you dont like the rules wait until you are the correct age and go to the NFL.
On the fairness point. It might not be fair to the kids in the program if USC gets shut out of bowlgames or looses a couple of scholarships (that just meens the kicker and punter will have to find a way to pay for college). Is it fair to the rest of college football that USC has people paying football players $1500 a week, which is more than a lot of people make doing a real job. Is it fair that Reggie Bush is in the NFL saying everything but "na na na you can do anything to me".
What the NCAA should do. Make a scholarship a legal contract. If you break the rules you are in breach of contract with certain fines so even if you are in the NFL you can get caught. Do not let student atheletes (not sure of spelling) do internships with sports marketing agencies. Do not let agents on the sidelines. Keep them away from the players.
15 - Cam
The comments here are so funny. So many fans here hiding behind some weak commentary or arguement in trying to justify something that happens all over the country in college football. Those for sanctions etc are actually fans who want to see USC lose because there college program is horrendous in comparison. So they must believe there cheating or something. PAALLEESSE !
BOTTOMLINE: SAY WHAT YOU WANT. What happens off the field happens IN EVERY MAJOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM IN AMERICA. And if you think otherwise your an complete ignorant idiot. The Trojans have and are the best football organization in college football right now.It all goes in cycles. And some whinning ignorant writers are trying to discredit a team which recruits better and plays better then any other college team in America. Thats reality.
I don't care if Reggie Bush drove a Hummer to school everyday. Do you really think he is the only one out there ? Give me a freakin break ! What needs to change is the NCAA's power to control all funds that college players give them on a platter. If the NCAA goes after Reggie and the Trojans. Its like stabbing yourselves in the heart. USC is there bread and butter as was Miami when they were full of corruption in the 90's and Nebraska and Oklahoma and Ohio State and so on and so on.
Now if USC clearly cheated ON THE FIELD then you got a arguement. Or if the officials just outright BLEW IT as they did in Oregon game Saturday. You got a arguement..
But the NCAA is BIG BIG BUSSINESS . Grow up people ! College football is full of crooked money hungry presidents and crooked alumuni. Money is being passed everyday. Is it right ? NO !But trying to make a statement against USC will solve nothing. It will only show how corrupt the NCAA is. ITS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY people. But no one cares what goes on at Tulane or in Utah or Oregon State etc etc...
So Drop this BULL CRAP and try to build a team to compete with USC rather then WHINE and cry. Trying to discredit them based on this story is a freakin joke. Hell, Texas has players arrested with guns in there cars. Oh and they get a one game suspension BY THE TEAM and the NCAA DOES NOTHING to Texas. And how about the BS in Ohio State three years ago ? How about Miami's recruiting disorders in the 90's ? Give me a break. How hypocritcal .
No matter what happens here Reggie Bush EARNED the Hesiman and USC is the dynasty everyone is jealous of. Thats reality. Stop being crybabies and grow up. College football is a business and if you think otherwise you belong on some Island in the pacific. Drop it already..
16 - Bill
I see the , hey everybody doe it so it's ok, crowd is alive and well. No, it is wrong even isf everyone else dopes it and if you get caught then on top of dishonest you are stupid..so accept the punishment...but if UCS didn't know what was going on (a theoretical possibility) then it is a shame for the school to be punished as well...
The real problem is the semi-pro nature of college sports itself...abolish all athletic scholarships and leave college sports to college students...let the dumb professional jocks play in a minor league supported by the pros...
I had a student tell me this semester that he didn't need to worry about my stat class because he was on the basketball team...I told him if he wanted to stay on the team he needed to get his dumb jock ass in gear....I had an all-american goalie candidate from the soccer team placed on academic probation....play sports..great..I did as an under grad..but I also went to class and ..hmm..studied...
keep the 1-2 year wonder jocks out of academia and the place will clean up nicely
17 - Indian Sonny
The NCAA should lower the boom on USC if the allegations are true. They've slapped around many other great programs for violations over the years (Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, etc). These programs were hammered for lesser violations.
18 - Lawyer in Training
Two points: 1) The "It's just a loan" argument.
At some point or another, the Bush family has espoused something to the effect that all of the money and benefits they've received were just "loans" and that they would be paid back once RB went pro. Sad to say, but this may violate the NCAA rules regarding loans, since I'd almost guarantee that the "loans" were made because everyone knew he'd get out and make lots of money in the NFL. They weren't given because he was such a nice guy. See NCAA Division I Bylaws 16.11.1.2 and 16.11.1.3 for more information on improper loans affecting a student-athlete's eligibility (the link is provided in my URL; Rules referenced on pages 242-243).
2. The "Everybody's doing it so no one or everyone should get punished" argument.
This made me giggle when I read it. I'm not so stupid to think that there aren't dozens of other cases like Bush's out there in college sports. They should be investigated and handled the same way Bush's situation is being handled. A pair of issues pops up regarding this: first, there may be practical considerations as to why "every" violation isn't punished. Maybe the NCAA doesn't have enough enforcers to look out for this sort of behavior. Maybe the schools also act as policemen, and aren't fully keeping their end of the bargain up. Maybe there really isn't widespread corruption as many people think. The list is not meant to be exhaustive, but to prove a point. We don't know why other issues may not be addressed. We can easily guess why this one is: it has the attention of the national press AND Bush's very status as a Heisman winner has put him under the spotlight. Maybe if he wasn't such a good running back he wouldn't have been looked at so hard. Who knows?
Secondly: the very argument itself is ludicrous and irrational. The idea that because ultimate enforcement can't be had therefore no enforcement should be had leads to anarchy. If it were applied to the criminal justice system or to the economy, we'd have a free-for-all; anything would go because heck, we can't catch them all! It undermines the very enforcement system itself, and could lead to some very bad results.
Anyway, that's my two cents.
19 - Cam
Lawyer in Training wrote:
Secondly: the very argument itself is ludicrous and irrational. The idea that because ultimate enforcement can't be had therefore no enforcement should be had leads to anarchy.
RESPONSE:
Anarchy ? Excuse me ??? AGAIN it is happening all over the college football world every year and you think were on the verge of anarchy ? NO BODY CARES but these jealous agents who got nothing out of BUSH and some ignorant yahoo press writer.
That statement is what is silly and ludicrous.
You can't punish a team just because there players are prominent and talented so that everything they do is under a magnifying glass. So yes contrary to your opinion. You can't just attack USC and ignore the rest of the college teams ... that is hypocritical. For example how come know one is talking about the TEXAS cornerback who is playing now after being arrested with a loaded guns in his car ? Oh because he was not REGGIE BUSH or a USC Trojan. ????
Lets open the personal lives of every major ranked college teams players and dig dirt from them all. Because its out there.
That type of investigation would take years.
BUT it's OK to attack the Heisman trophy winner just because. PAALLEESEE !
And to compare this to those who are criminals is also a very poor analogy. This is college football. We are not talking about criminals.
Let it go people. The world is not going to change because Reggie Bush drives a Hummer or ate steaks every night last year. WHO CARES !
ONLY USC haters would care. Admit it people if your posting here your not a USC fan.
Because if you do care so much You MUST BE a fan who wants to see USC out of contention. Those who wish this must root for a team thats not good enough to win on the field. So take it out on the kids playing today who have nothing to do with 2004 or 2005 season. Reggie Bush is a professional now. IT'S over people. YOu cannot change history based upon some disgruntled whinning agents and a ignorant yahoo writer.
LET IT GO !
20 - Lawyer in Training
Enforcement of the NCAA Regulations should be made on a non-discriminatory basis. However asserting that the NCAA should not enforce violations against a particular school simply because other schools are also violating turns the NCAA regulatory process into a series of toothless suggestions that teams can obey or disobey at their whim. If there is no fear of being sanctioned, teams across the board will violate them, and the rules will mean nothing.
Maybe Cam is asserting that the rules already do mean nothing because enforcement isn't strict enough. That is a valid point. Maybe the enforcement system needs an overhaul so that programs at universities are all investigated with the same fervor. I would agree.
I don't know why the Texas cornerback isn't being talked about. Perhaps the media is partly to blame. He at least was punished (even if only suspended for one game), while Bush has escaped punishment.
Cam suggests that although we probably should investigate all the major schools for potential violations, but dismisses the idea because "it would take years." I guess now the NCAA is supposed to only investigate situations where they can produce immediate results? Some investigations take longer than others, but want of expediency should not be a deterrent to fairness and justice.
The point I made about criminals did not imply that college football players were criminals. The point I made dealt with the enforcement mechanisms in place, and the faulty rationale that the NCAA should do nothing because it can't do everything. On the contrary, the NCAA should do the best that it can and do everything that it can to see that all violations are punished, whether it be a Division I school or a Division III school.
Whether I am or am not a USC fan is irrelevant to the idea of whether sanctions should apply to a player who breaks the rules and the team who knows he's breaking them and still allows him to play.
It is a tragedy that Bush has had the spotlight on him for so long. But with all of the benefits of the additional press for his performance on the field, so too comes the press about his off-the-field activities. I find it silly to think that as a figure who was in the public eye as much as Bush was for his accolades would start complaining when other acts which were not so great came out.
With the good, so comes the bad. Take it or leave it.
21 - MATigers
The main point here is the fact that the Bush family allowed it to happen... plain and simple. Everybody wants to talk about agents, marketing reps, boosters, etc.... Where is the "taking responsibility for your own actions?". The Bush parents are the ones that should be disgraced because they allowed it to happen and accepted the money. It is THEIR actions, along with Reggie Bush, that led to this whole story.... They couldn't wait another 12-24 months when Reggie would have signed his pro contract???? It makes me sick to hear all of the chatter about the crooked agents, boosters, "it's happening everywhere" story....the people that take the money need to be held ACCOUNTABLE for THEIR actions... don't blame everybody else....it is a simple answer from the athlete to the agent "Thanks but No Thanks"....
22 - Doc Pepper
I think it is only fair to pentalize the school and the player in this case. Look at what happend to an outstanding program SMU. What the NCAA did to them is just not right. All these other schools get away with this and it needs to be stopped or change the rules. I thing the players should get paid for the time but we need to make this a fair playing field.
23 - Cam
Some of you have good points....Lawyer, Doc etc etc. However, again if the NCAA is ignoring the actions in TEXAS ( WHO was ranked N #1 by the way when the cornerbacks were caught with loaded guns.) then they have no right to go after BUSH in other words or USC. Remember TEXAS made the one game suspension NOT THE NCAA ! So USC cannot very well suspend BUSH if he no longer plays college football either ! The NCAA has been MUM on the Texas situation ...WHY ? You tell me.
Its too late for this story. But it is not to late for Texas and there gun carrying cornerbacks to face NCAA violations.. The point is NO TEAM should be penalized for actions done by players who are not even playing for the college anymore.
Now if it is illegal recruiting of players. Or outright violations by the college university program that is a different story. But you cannot blame the present players for past activities.
It does no good for anyone involved. Sanctioning USC for Bush's actions has ZERO effect on BUSH. You can't say a team falsely won a National Championship because a player drove a Hummer or got steaks for dinner. Quite ridiculous ! Doc peeper made a good point. THIS whole NCAA rule of not allowing the players to make any money while the NCAA makes billions on them is what is ridiculous.Its big business people. But when a season is over ..It is over.
If the NCAA failed to find wrong actions WHILE THE PLAYER WAS STILL playing, shame on them. They had 3 years to do that with Bush. They can only blame themselves. Screwing college football programs as SMU was for an example is HOGWISH and shameful while the NCAA gets rich off these kids who risk injury in every game.
24 - Soonerman
Clearly alot of USC fans on here, I hate Texas worse than any of you but whats guns go to do with BUSH accepting 100s of thousand so dollars.
Apples and oranges USC Fans.
Tex should have expelled those player forever, but taking money is a NCAA matter
25 - Uniformity
Why is it the likes if a Notre Dame, USC, Nebraska NEVER punished to the extent of say SMU, Oklahoma, or a Florida. The NCAA either needs to get out of the business of passing punishment or do it EVENLY accross the board/country.
There is enough hypocrisy in "amateur" athletics, why not just get rid of the biggest one of all - The NCAA.