One-time USC football great Reggie Bush will again be known as a Heisman Trophy winner, regaining the college game’s top honor after an improper benefits scandal tarnished his storied amateur career, officials said Wednesday.
The Trojans running back was named college football’s best player in 2005, convincingly winning the vote over star quarterbacks of the time such as Texas’ Vince Young, Bush’s teammate Matt Leinart, Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn and Penn State’s Michael Robinson.
But five years later, that honor was taken away from Bush in the wake of allegations that his family received benefits from an agent while he was still a student-athlete at Southern Cal.
USC had surrendered its replica of the trophy it had displayed on campus and Bush was no longer invited to Heisman Trophy ceremonies.
Heisman officials said it was difficult to maintain sanctions against Bush when modern college athletes are profiting from their name and likeness.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” Heisman Trophy Trust president Michael Comerford said in a statement.
“We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Austin Mullen contributed.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
