Report: USC plans to re-retire Reggie Bush's No. 5, place it among Trojans Heisman winners in Memorial Coliseum
Not that anyone could ever forget his play and accomplishments, anyways, USC has some plans to further memorialize former star running back Reggie Bush into Trojan athletics lore. According to The Messenger’s Arash Markazi, the Trojans have designs on re-retiring the No. 5 that Bush wore in college.
Many of Bush’s college accolades were stripped from him as a result of an NCAA investigation into impermissible benefits surrounding his time at USC. However, in the years since, there’s been a significant thaw, mostly as both sides waited out the NCAA before Bush could re-associate with the school.
Markazi noted that former USC athletic director Mike Bohn had told him he wanted to re-retire Bush’s number. USC recently hired Jen Cohen from Washington to be athletic director and Markazi reported that a ceremony to honor the former star “will come sooner than expected” under her leadership.
He also noted that the display of USC Heisman winners jersey numbers in the Coliseum has been rearranged. This is to be expected with current quarterback Caleb Williams having his jersey number, No. 13, festooned in the Coliseum. But Markazi posted a photo that has space for a pair of numbers to be retired.
And only two USC Heisman winners aren’t currently recognized in the display: Williams and Bush.
Bush is preparing to sue the NCAA for defamation regarding a 2021 statement
Bush will file a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA on Wednesday, according to a report from ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura.
Bush’s lawsuit stems from a statement issued by an NCAA spokesperson from 2021 that said Bush was involved in a “pay-for-play arrangement.” Bonagura promised more details on the lawsuit to come.
Bush had since vacated his 2005 Heisman Trophy, among other awards. USC was also penalized after an NCAA infractions case found that Bush had received impermissible benefits. The program vacated two wins from the 2004 season and all of its wins from the 2005 season, which included a run to the BCS Championship Game.
The Trojans were also banned from multiple bowl games and were docked 30 scholarships over a three-year period.
In addition to vacating his Heisman Trophy, Bush was forced to vacate the Doak Walker Award and the Walter Camp Award in 2005.
The former USC standout was absolutely electric, and his junior season was next level. Bush ran for 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior in 2005, while also catching 37 passes for 478 yards and two touchdowns. He was an elite return specialist, too, racking up 493 kick return yards and 179 punt return yards, as well as a touchdown.
In three years with the Trojans, Bush accounted for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns rushing, as well as 1,301 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He scored four times on returns.