The Fall of Troy

Reggie Bush was one of the most prolific, exciting and overall most talented college football players in the history of the game. He was a human highlight reel, with each touch of the football having the potential to be his top play on SportsCenter. Reggie Bush was a true champion.

However, after an NCAA investigation, it was ruled that Bush was ineligible to play. The investigation found that he had wrongfully accepted money, gifts and cars while he was still a student athlete at USC, thus making him ineligible to play college football in 2005. After the news of this scandal broke, almost immediately USC was punished by the NCAA; putting recruiting sanctions on the school, making them ineligible to play in post season play for 2 years, and forfeiting their wins from the 2005 season. Seems like a pretty steep punishment eh?

This last week, it was reported that the Heisman Trust Committee would strip Bush of his 2005 Heisman trophy, shortly after the Heisman Committee denied the report saying they were still unsure of the disciplinary action that would be taken. Seemingly tired and annoyed with the whole situation, Bush ended the speculation and forfeited his Heisman trophy on his own accord, the first time in Heisman history that the award has been returned.

This opens up a very interesting discussion, why is this scandal so wrong that both a school and a player should be so strictly punished 5 years later? Reggie Bush may have accepted money and gifts, but his play as a player was arguably one of the best ever. There were no human growth drugs or steroids that were taken into his body and he didn’t throw the BCS National Championship game against Texas because of gambling and yet he was punished far worse than other players in other sports.

Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettite were all found guilty of using steroids during their baseball careers. Major League Baseball can maybe keep those players out of the Hall of Fame at the end of their fantastic careers, but the Yankees World Series Titles still stand. If Reggie Bush and USC should be punished so many years later, why aren’t the Yankees being punished for letting cheaters play the game?

OJ Simpson, a former Heisman trophy winner in his own right, went through a grueling murder trial in 1994. While he was acquitted of the charges in court, a jury at the civil suit filed by the victim’s family unanimously found Simpson guilty. Just a few years ago, Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas trying to steal football memorabilia. His face was tarnished forever and people will forever think of him as a criminal. Simpson broke the law, but the Heisman trophy is still his.

If the NCAA and the Heisman committee can punish Bush for such a minor offense during his playing career, other players need to be punished as well. If Reggie Bush was the only player that has received money or trips illegally, then maybe he deserves to be punished. This is not the case.

A former Texas University football player that wishes to remain anonymous spoke about Vince Young saying, “During his time here at Texas, Vince never paid for a meal. Everywhere he went people were buying things for him and picking up tabs. Vince never had to use his own money.”

The NCAA has opened up ‘Pandora’s Box’ of punishments and sanctions; the standard has been set. If Reggie Bush and USC have to suffer the consequences of one players actions five years ago, then the NCAA must investigate every school in the country looking for the same infractions. They’ve set the standard, and they owe it to USC to investigate everyone.

-Jeff Hansen

Leave your comments and tell me what you think should happen to Reggie Bush and other playes that have been involved in scandals!