Past Heisman winners come together to celebrate Reggie Bush's trophy reinstatement
The college football community has rejoiced following the news that the Heisman Trust has reinstated former USC running back Reggie Bush‘s 2005 Heismany Trophy.
A small event was held where Bush was given back his trophy that he won 19 years ago. Fellow Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow shared this star-studded photo that includes 11 total winners including the likes of Steve Spurrier, George Rogers, Danny Wuerffel and more.
Bush was forced to give up his Heisman Trophy in 2010 after the USC football program was stripped of two seasons worth of victories that included the 2004 BCS National Championship. An NCAA investigation found that Bush received improper gifts, but amid the ever-changing landscape of college athletics and the birth of the age of name, image and likeness, the Heisman Trust felt it was the proper time to return his rightfully-won Heisman Trophy.
During his time at USC, was a two-time consensus All-American, a two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, a Doak Walker Award winner, a Walter Camp Award winner, the 2005 AP College Football Player of the Year and the 2005 Sporting News Player of the Year.
Bush logged 3,169 yards rushing, 1,301 yards receiving, 1,522 yards on kick returns and 559 yards on punt returns. He scored 42 touchdowns, doing so rushing, receiving, on a kick return and on punt returns.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was pivotal in the Heisman Trust’s final decision. Manziel has been vocal recently about Bush being brought back into the Heisman family.
“I do think Johnny Manziel’s public plea made a difference,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel said on the Pat McAfee Show, via On3’s Alex Weber. “The Heisman is an age-old institution that’s sensitive to criticism, and when one of their own came out that strongly I think that mattered.”
Tim Tebow, who ended up posting that picture alongside Bush and the nine other former athletes that reside inside the exclusive club, was just as pivotal.
“Coley Harvey reported today that there was a bunch of Heisman members who were together, Tim Tebow was among them, there was a couple familiar names there,” Thamel continued. “And they got together as part of this decision to bring Reggie back. So Reggie walked into a room today, to about 15 Heisman members, and they all greeted him down in Florida at an event.
“So it was a pretty special moment for Reggie to get reintroduced to that club. Now we’re all waiting the Heisman House commercials where he does the Undertaker and rolls back in.”