Running back Reggie Bush has decided to hand over the Heisman. Bush said in a statement earlier today that he will forfeit the Heisman Trophy.
“One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005,” the statement released by the New Orleans Saints reads. “For me, it was a dream come true. But I know that the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it. I know that my victory was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates, the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans, and the unconditional love of my family and friends. And I know that any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name.
“It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005.”
The NCAA passed down heavy sanctions on USC relating to improper benefits received by Bush and basketball player O.J. Mayo. The Heisman Trust was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but it was not clear if Bush was on the agenda. The group has been reviewing whether Bush should have his award taken away.
“For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust,” Bush’s statement continues. “I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.”
It’s the first time college football’s top award was returned by a recipient. One of the few guidelines given to Heisman Trophy voters is that a player must be in compliance with NCAA rules to be eligible for the trophy.
The eight-member Heisman Trophy Trust, based in New York, had said it would have to consider what to do about Bush, who won in a landslide vote over Texas quarterback Vince Young.
There was no immediate word from the Heisman Trust if the award would be vacated or given to Young.
During a Monday morning interview with Hannah Storm on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Vince Young, the runner-up in the 2005 Heisman voting, said he wouldn’t turn down the trophy if Bush lost it.
Allegations that Bush and his family had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from two California-based marketing agents were first reported by Yahoo! Sports in September 2006, months after Bush had already been drafted No. 2 overall by the Saints.
The NCAA and Pac-10 began investigating Bush and the USC football program soon after, and the running back immediately denied any wrongdoing.
But Bush never met with investigators.
One of the marketing agents, Lloyd Lake, sued Bush trying to recoup nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts. Bush was supposed to give a deposition in the case but never did and eventually the case was settled with Bush never having given his side of the story publicly.
Information from Espn.com, Yahoo!Sports and The Associated Press contributed to this report.