Sports . .
Karim Alammuri
SPORTS 3-6-5
Sports Editor
sports@thehilltoponline.com
Reggie Bush Fumbles Heisman Trophy by Deontay Morris Kellen Sims Contributing Columnists
New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush has been in the news for winning a Super Bowl ring, dating Kim Kardashian and helping rebuild the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. But lately his name has been tarnished because he received “improper benefits” while playing football at the University of Southern California (USC). Last week Bush made the decision to forfeit the prestigious Heisman Trophy. For the first time in this column, the writers feel differently about the matter. Here are both points of view. Kellen Sims: The University of Southern California lost out on the opportunity to play in bowl games, forfeited championships and loss scholarships, yet the man behind it all should just live his life normally? No, that is a ridiculous assertion something needed to be done to not only deter future misdeeds but also to punish all those involved. Reggie Bush and USC cheated, he accepted gifts and USC looked the other way. While what he did had no bearings on how he played in the game, he still cheated nonetheless. There is no way that
14
USC should have all these sanctions placed against them due to his actions and since he was now in the NFL, Reggie Bush should be allowed to keep his award. This is not an argument on whether college players should receive more benefits and get paid but rather a matter of what the rules currently state. That being said the rules are clear it is illegal to accept these benefits and I believe they had every right to remove Reggie Bush from the Heisman. If this was not done it would teach younger players that all they have to do is not get caught while they are in college because once they hit the pros no sanctions can be placed against them. If nothing is done to show players and schools alike that these actions are unacceptable and will lead to serious punishment, the cheating will just continue. Deontay Morris: Yes, its true Reggie Bush did receive “improper benefits” while playing college football for USC. But he is not the first nor will he be the last college athlete to receive money and other gifts. Charles Barkley recently admitted that he accepted monetary loans while playing college basketball at Auburn University. Chris Webber received money to play college basketball for the University of Michigan.
Something that isn’t being discussed is Matt Leinart, a teammate of Bush’s at USC lived in a luxury apartment for a measly $100 a month. No one is tarnishing his name and he isn’t receiving any media attention. The NCAA is ridiculous, yes, ridiculous. They make billions of dollars because of college students and they pick and choose when to enforce the rules. Bush is the first player in the history of college football to vacate the Heisman trophy, despite the fact that other former winners have done time in prison. If I was in his situation I would not have given back the award. He earned it and worked extremely hard for it; they would’ve had to force me to give up the trophy. He is being made a scapegoat for a common practice. Even though we don’t see eye to eye on the Bush controversy we both would like to see more dialogue on potentially paying student-athletes. The free tuition business model has been going on for decades. The NCAA’s revenue stream has increased exponentially since schools began giving out scholarships but it is unfair that this business model has remained the same for young people who put their bodies on the line. Reggie Bush was unstoppable
The Hilltop
Photo Courtesy of Daveblack New Orleans Saint Reggie Bush forfeited his 2005 Heisman tropy due to benefits he received while playing college football at the University of Southern California.
on the field and perhaps one of the greatest college football players of all-time those facts cannot be disputed, but in the end he knowingly broke rules. When people look
back on his college career he will still be seen as a great player. No one can take away his statistics and highlights.