USC’s Reggie Bush Gets Heisman Trophy Reinstated After 14 Years

deadline.com:

The organization that hands out college football’s prestigious Heisman Trophy on Wednesday reinstated its 2005 award to USC running back Reggie Bush, an abrupt reversal by the group after one of college football’s most electric players of his era had the honor stripped from him in 2010 amid a wave of sanctions placed against the university by the NCAA.

Bush, who went on to play in the NFL and a career in sports broadcasting, had been increasingly vocal about getting his trophy back in recent years, saying he did nothing improper amid allegations that he and his family received improper benefits during his time at the Los Angeles university.

As part of the sanctions, USC was stripped of its 2004 national championship and banned from playing in bowl games for two years.

The Heisman Trophy Trust said that the “enormous changes” in college football were a big part of its decision to give back the trophy, given annually to the year’s best overall player. “We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” said Michael Comerford, Heisman Trophy Trust president, in a statement today. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie.