Johnny Manziel said he will boycott future Heisman Trophy ceremonies until Reggie Bush gets his back. The former Texas A&M star and Heisman winner has been adamant about the USC great having his trophy returned after he voluntarily gave back the honor in 2010. Bush won the award after his stellar 2004-2005 campaign in which he led the Trojans to an undefeated regular season that culminated with a gut-wrenching loss to the Texas Longhorns in the national title game. However, it was several years after that season that NCAA rules violations led to the loss of his award.
NCAA Investigation Led to Sanctions and Heisman Trophy Return
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2004-2005 season, rumors about improper gifts from an agent had begun to circulate. This led to an NCAA investigation which found that Reggie Bush had accepted cash and other items which were against the then regulations. In 2010, the NCAA sanctioned USC with damaging penalties and Bush was asked to return the Heisman.
Recent Rules Changes Leads to Former Star’s Push for Heisman Return
The last two years have seen massive changes to college football, in which players can now receive payment for the use of their name and likeness. Many players, including fellow USC Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, have cashed in on these changes, making millions in the process as Sports Illustrated had reported. These circumstances brought up obvious contradictions as pointed out in John Galletly’s article on gridiron heroics.
Manziel Views Bush Penalty as Hypocritical
Many view these recent changes as rendering the Bush penalty irrelevant and hypocritical. Manziel, who left college football for the NFL following his Heisman season, chimed in on the ridiculous situation. He expressed his thoughts that he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter;
“There is nothing I want to see more than for Reggie to get his Heisman back,” Manziel stated. “I think what the NCAA did in that situation is complete bulls–t. He is one of the best college football players in history and deserves to be on that stage with us every year.
Manziel Is Not The Only One
Many surrounding the USC program agree with Manziel’s stance. Some, like USC alumnus Brian Kennedy, who owns Regency Outdoor Advertising, going as far as display billboards with the demand “Give Reggie Bush his Heisman Back!”
It’s Not Over As Bush Files Lawsuit
For his part, Bush has not remained idle, as late last year he filed a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA. While it does not directly affect the Heisman Trophy since the award is issued independently by the Heisman Trophy Trust, many see this as an initial move to get his award back. In his complaint, Bush contends that the allegations that were made during the investigation were false. Some of those allegations included what Bush claims made him look like he was part of a pay-for-play strategy.
Manziel’s Boycott May Have Little Effect
Although maybe well-meaning, Manziel’s threat of boycotting the Heisman Trophy ceremony may not carry much weight. Manziel’s career was surrounded by controversy during his playing days at Texas A&M. This included claims that he illegally took money for autographs and other memorabilia, an accusation he later admitted to. His threat led to USC beat writer Scott Wolf joking that Bush may have a better chance of getting his Heisman Trophy back if Manziel promised to stay away from the award ceremony.
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