Reggie Bush Heisman No More

[Photo: Wikimedia Commons]

As of yesterday Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints, who played college football at the University of Southern California no longer has his Heisman trophy. Bush was awarded the Heisman in 2005 after a phenomenal year. However, with all of his fame that the college football field gave him, it seems like trouble was also at his door step. It appears that after years of investigation they have ruled that Reggie took money and incentives resulting in bush forfeiting his Heisman. In particular a story that keeps coming up about his family getting or living in a house free of rent and Reggie wearing a suite at the Hesiman Award Ceremony that was purchased for him. I am saddened to hear this for him, but we all have to play by the rules. The Heisman trophy is one of the most recognizable awards in sports, and to loose it would be very disheartening.

Everyone must play by the rules though. If the rules are to not take money or gifts from agents, boosters, etc. THEN DO NOT BE TEMPTED,  and flee from the temptation. It is like in our daily walks as a Christian that we are to flee from sin, and stay away from anything that could make us waiver in our walk with the Lord. Reggie Bush gave into the temptation that his growing fame brought him, and now he is having to pay the price.

I think there is major problems with punishments for these types of violations and/or infractions. The major problem to me it seems that the player that actually committed the infraction is getting off with very little. The school with whom he played for years earlier, and the kids that are there now that had nothing to do with the school at the time are being punished. So instead of a punishment for the violator the school is punished and the athletes that came to the school to compete for championships can no longer. Sometimes these kids transfer, or even worse than that they do not play at the top of their ability because what they came to the school for is no longer available. This results in the schools once dominant sports team having trouble getting student athletes and the program will begin to dwindle. All while the professional athlete in most cases gets of with a little slap on the hand.

I say fine the player, and do not punish the kids that had nothing to do with the situation. Then the money can be used for something more positive such as underprivileged kids that would love to go to college, but cannot because of financial struggles.

In regards to what should be done with the Heisman from that year… I say give it to Vince Young. He was second in votes, but also played against Reggie in the National Championship Game and beat Bush’s Spartans. Young I feel defeated Bush on the largest stage in college football and is well deserving of the Heisman Trophy.

I just think the Heisman committee and the NCAA need to find some better punishment for those kind of infractions. It just goes to show that you should always use good judgment in all situations. Reggie had to know that what was happening was wrong. As a former college athlete we are told what we can and cannot do ti avoid infractions with the NCAA. So Reggie new the rules. He broke them, and now he and regretfully USC and the players that had nothing to do with the whole situation are having to pay the price.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts on the whole Reggie Bush Heisman controversy.

Do you have any thoughts on the matter?