USC cuts ties to Bush after sanctions, will return his Heisman

[cardsfanmd]

per nfl.com


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...-bush-after-sanctions-will-return-his-heisman

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Shame.

I don't see how any of this goes against what he did on the field.

 

[Brighteyes]

Maybe the kid did do something wrong -- but it sure seems like he's getting the brunt of the punishment here.

Where are the sanctions for those who were theoretically older and wiser and more culpable?

 

[earthsci]

Shame.

I don't see how any of this goes against what he did on the field.

If the NCAA knew what that it was going on at the time he would have been ruled ineligible and not played.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

If the NCAA knew what that it was going on at the time he would have been ruled ineligible and not played.

I agree. 100%.

But the reality is that he was out on those fields, and did what he did.

 

[earthsci]

I agree. 100%.

But the reality is that he was out on those fields, and did what he did.

I respect your point but he shouldn't even have been out there.

I guess I'm kinda being a bitch about it because he isn't taking any responsibility for it. IMO it's all about poor Reggie.

Bush, who now plays for the New Orleans Saints, didn't admit any wrongdoing in public comments last month, but he expressed regret over the situation.

"This thing, regarding USC and the NCAA, is the closest thing to death without dying because I have such a great love and respect for the university," Bush said. "This has been one the toughest things I've had to deal with in my life."

Sorry that it's such a tough thing to deal with.

 

[joeshmo]

Where are the sanctions for those who were theoretically older and wiser and more culpable?

The school lost 30 scholarships, lost their title, wins, current players are allowed to transfer without having to wait the year long waiting period, 2 year bowl ban, coach is gone, AD was fired. Seems like a lot of sanctions handed out to people/organizations other then Bush.

 

[Pariah]

Sucks for Bush. The guy was one of the best college running backs I'd seen in a looooong time.

 

[Russ Smith]

Shame.

I don't see how any of this goes against what he did on the field.

He wasn't eligible to be on the field.

The most common argument is he likely wasn't the only guy being paid(see Maurice Pouncey allegations coming out yesterday for an example). The problem is that if you do what he did and get caught, you have no business complaining about the consequences.

Once he started paying people off to keep quiet it was obvious he'd done what Yahoo said he did, it was just a matter of how much the NCAA would find to nail USC for it.

 

[Russ Smith]

Maybe the kid did do something wrong -- but it sure seems like he's getting the brunt of the punishment here.

Where are the sanctions for those who were theoretically older and wiser and more culpable?

Well how does the NCAA sanction his stepdad or his mother? How do they sanction Pete Carroll? No matter what Pete says, this is why he took the Seattle job, he knew USC was going to get nailed and wanted to be out of college so he wouldn't face sanctions.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

If the Heisman committee wants to make a statement and strip him, let them do it

If the NCAA determines that those wins are vacated and his stats are vacated then do that as well.

However, there is something a little off about a university going great distances to distance themselves from a player over something like this ... as shown by their punishment they are just as culpable

Are they also going to make a big payment to charity to offset the money they received from any attendance he brought in, TV revenue from games that took more of an interest because of him, bowl games they played in which they otherwise may not of reached ... not to mention all those #5 jerseys that were sold (of course those aren't player specific...........)

 

[Russ Smith]

If the Heisman committee wants to make a statement and strip him, let them do it

If the NCAA determines that those wins are vacated and his stats are vacated then do that as well.

However, there is something a little off about a university going great distances to distance themselves from a player over something like this ... as shown by their punishment they are just as culpable

Are they also going to make a big payment to charity to offset the money they received from any attendance he brought in, TV revenue from games that took more of an interest because of him, bowl games they played in which they otherwise may not of reached ... not to mention all those #5 jerseys that were sold (of course those aren't player specific...........)

Oh without question USC is trying to throw Reggie under the bus here, but it's consistent with their statement that Bush did this on his own without their knowledge.

That's been the USC fan defense all along, he didn't do anything, but if he did, it was agents who wanted him to leave USC, not boosters who wanted him to stay at USC, so how is that USC's fault.

I'm surprised the Heisman folks didn't do this already, the rules for the Heisman have very clear eligibility rules and Bush violated those rules, knowing what we know now, he was not eligible for the Heisman. USC is doing the right thing, even if for the wrong reasons.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

All I know is.. If/when Carroll falls flat on his face with the SeaChickens, it will all be worth it.

At least to me.

 

[moklerman]

Oh without question USC is trying to throw Reggie under the bus here, but it's consistent with their statement that Bush did this on his own without their knowledge.

I think the way Bush has handled things has netted him this treatment from USC. I hope USC's actions inspire the Heisman folks to also do the right thing.

Not sure if the award should just be left vacated as a reminder or if it should go to Young who came in 2nd place that year but I don't think Bush should be able to keep his individual award when the school has had to vacate wins and everything else.

 

[Black Jesus]

Sucks for Bush. The guy was one of the best college running backs I'd seen in a looooong time.

He was best as punt returner/catching out of the backfield.

He is a unique athlete, but it is still hard to call him a runningback the way he was used, because he was also a great receiver and returner.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think the way Bush has handled things has netted him this treatment from USC. I hope USC's actions inspire the Heisman folks to also do the right thing.

Not sure if the award should just be left vacated as a reminder or if it should go to Young who came in 2nd place that year but I don't think Bush should be able to keep his individual award when the school has had to vacate wins and everything else.

USC's entire defense was if he did anything wrong, we didn't know about it. So this is consistent with that defense, we weren't involved so now we're distancing ourselves from him. AS soon as the stories surfaced he had taken money, they banned him from the sidelines or at USC events, their stance all along was distance ourselves from him.

I agree with the Bush stuff though, Reggie has refused to cooperate and paid off multiple people to keep them quiet, he hasn't in any way helped USC in this situation and I'm sure that has something to do with USC deciding to do all this.

The amazing thing is on the wearesc site right now there's a long thread on the football board about people should lighten up on Bush, and a thread on the basketball board about people should lighten up on Mayo. There are USC fans on both boards who think Mayo and Bush were good players and it's not fair to trash them now.

They are the same people blasting the NCAA for punishing players who weren't involved in the problems.

 

[Russ Smith]

FYI ESPN just had Gary Klein of the LA Times on their OTL segment
today. Klein says that disassociating from Reggie Bush(and Mayo) were part of the terms of the NCAA penalties. That is USC was required to disassociate
Bush(and Mayo) from the program, take down pictures, remove trophies. He didn't think they were required to literally return the Heisman, but they had
to remove it and he felt they were acting "symbolically" when they sent it back.