Reggie Bush has 2005 Heisman Trophy reinstated, but wants his good name back

[Applause] in the violent game of football Reggie Bush played it with Grace and grit Reggie Bush left side look out 30 20 10 forget it Reggie Bush touchdown and not just good one of the greatest College athletes of all time he's quick and fast you don't get quick and fast often first day I put football on my hands I knew I wanted to go play in the NFL and when I was in high school I said I was going to win the Heisman Trophy is that right yes the University of Southern California fighting Trojans were in the midst of an epic run they were college football royalty and Reggie Bush its golden Bard a mixture made for Hollywood his movie star smile a gladiator in C the Trojans capturing back-to-back national championships in the early 2000s Bush ultimately winning the most prestigious award in college football the Heisman the winner is Reggie Bush your the the accolades all Came Crashing Down amid allegations that bush received thousands of dollars in financial perks as a student athlete violating NCAA rules so for me being labeled a cheater um you know with no proof of that it was one of the toughest things I ever had to deal with you know because my entire upbringing I've been raised to stand on the truth the NCAA investigated alleging Bush and and his family received improper cash and perks like Free Housing eventually leveling harsh sanctions against USC a lot of observers felt as if the punishment that came down to USC was Far Beyond uh what the investigation found in terms of infractions they wanted to make an example out of USC so fundamentally the allegation was that you cheated true false false and no proof of it under a cloud of Suspicion Bush forfeited his Heisman in 2010 the the first and only player ever to do so what made you decide to give the Heisman back and one of the narratives that they are sticking to is that I volunteered it back but why would I do that I was stuck because I didn't know what to do and I couldn't believe this was happening to me cuz I had earned it how hurt Were You by that when that happened did you sh a te messed up with his reputation tarnished Bush says he lost out on lucrative endorsements brand deals and sponsorships losing it what do you think cost you millions millions of dollars easy now almost 20 years later a reversal of Fortune and a shot at redemption in April the Heisman trust choosing to give back Bush's trophy in part due to the 2021 Supreme Court ruling allowing College athletes to be compensated for their name image and likeness or nil for short there it is there it is what's that sir Reggie Bush University of Southern California 2005 and this is the original trophy it's just been in storage I guess that's what they told me surrounding him at the ceremony of fraternity of past Heisman winners we all there to support me guys who had signed off you know on me getting the trophy back I love seeing that it's a moment almost no one could have predicted years ago when the Scandal at USC blew up shortly after Bush's Heisman winning season by 2010 the NCAA investigation muzzled USC with a 2-year postseason ban SL 30 scholarships and vacated 14 game wins over two successful seasons including a championship the university also forced to disassociate from Bush for 10 years as a young kid and that's a pretty heavy steep penalty those 30 scholarships you knew in that moment there were kids who may never had the chance to play college football because of something you allegedly did that pains you think about this as a penalty I'm going to penalize kids who have nothing to do with your situation they don't know you they weren't even at the school same time period as you and their opportunities are being taken away last year Bush going on the offensive filing a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA after a spokesperson released a statement in 2021 suggesting that bush engaged in pay for Play Type Arrangements an allegation not included in their 2010 investigation what's the goal NCAA said I was paid to play okay let's go see cuz I know those facts don't exist and they know those facts don't exist so I'm interested to see what story or what they create I got my trophy I'm in the Hall of Fame but I'm still technically not reinstated by the NCAA and so that's also a portion of what this is about ABC News reached out but the NCAA declined to comment on Bush's lawsuit in a motion to dismiss the lawsuit the NCAA said it found Bush and his family accepted cash housing appliances and more from third parties while he was a student at USC and these impermissible benefits were and are commonly understood to be pay for play Under NCAA rules where do I go you got a a a phone number for where I can go get my reputation back is there a hotline you know it's the damage is done so when you talk about people who turn their back on you I would I imagine you're talking about some of the administration maybe your head coach P Carol MH yeah what's your relationship like with him now I don't have a relationship with him at all we don't talk why he just completely disappeared I was literally on my own you know as a 20y old kid you know trying to figure this thing out and got no help no support um from the people closest to me at that time that I thought were going to be the first ones in my corner Pete Caroll left to coach the Seattle Seahawks in January 2010 during the ncaa's investigation of USC Pete Carol was able to leave USC go right into the NFL and still be considered a great college coach and a great NFL coach without anyone really asking whether or not he was a cheater even though uh he was the person where the butt was supposed to stop during the running of his program in a statement about Bush Carol told ABC News the way I look at it now is nobody stepped up enough and I wish I could have helped the university and all of us took a hit but because of the Heisman regge got singled out way more than the rest of us we're all thrilled he at least got back to this point and deserves every bit of that recognition Reggie Bush left side Lookout never in dispute Bush's Talent on the field after college he was a top pick in the NFL draft the New Orleans Saints select Reggie Bush the unique thing about that time period is going on when I was being drafted to New Orleans and I got there 5 months after Katrina in September 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans thousands of displaced residents stranded at the Saint's home the Superdome suddenly a city needed Heroes and an NFL rookie needed a cause greater than himself and so here I am dealing with being labeled a cheater and being stripped of all my records all these things and on the other side I'm thrusted into a situation where you have an entire city that is looking uh for Hope anywhere to throw and Bush delivered in games like the 2006 NFC championship against Chicago can anybody catch Bush he's the fastest guy in the field and nobody will 20 15 10 5 byebye baby later helping the Saints beat the coat in the 2010 Super Bowl he sealing the deal to make the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl champs for the first time ever Bush stayed in New Orleans for four years before being traded to Miami Detroit San Francisco and finally Buffalo reportedly earning more than $60 million during his 11year long NFL career have you ever thought to wonder how much money Reggie Bush would have gotten if nil had been around there's million there's a no-brainer overall what's your impression of nil it's one more trick it's one more way for the NCAA to say all football players are taken care of they're all making money now see it's good it's all good now it's a trick man so nio works for the star player of the team today top college athletes can earn tens of thousands of dollars in name image and likeness deals with stars like bronny James catlyn Clark and shador Sanders making millions but Bush believes College athletes need more than just monetary support college football likes to to press that narrative that the head coach is now going to be this Father Figure and the coaches are The Pimps the coaches are the ones who are exploiting the kids that's harsh bro calling college football coaches pimps so the college football coaches make millions of dollars who's it paid for by Blood Sweat and Tears by the players the athletes reconciling his past bush is now venturing into fashion with his golf clothing line Travis Matthew I'm a huge golfer I have found so much peace in golf for my mental health and still grateful for all he's got I have amazing support you know from my wife my kids so when one of your kids asked the question of Reggie Bush so Dad how good were you what's the answer I just say I'm pretty good that's it I don't ever say like oh I was the best ever you know that's just not me