Reggie Bush: USC Heisman Trophy profile

Reggie Bush was stripped of his Heisman Trophy, a fact everyone knows, but the whole notion of a stripped or vacated award is the dumbest punishment in sports. Imagine stripping the Houston Astros of their World Series title for cheating. That wouldn’t change the fact that the Astros celebrated in 2017 and the Los Angeles Dodgers walked off the field in Game 7 sad and heartbroken that they didn’t win.

A real punishment for the Astros would have been to suspend Jose Altuve a full season without pay. That would have actually affected (hurt) the Astros’ ability to win a championship.

That point aside, what happened to Reggie Bush and his Heisman would not be an NCAA violation today, in the world of NIL. Bush would have been able to cash in on the opportunity to play college sports. As with the other things USC was punished for at the end of the Pete Carroll era, those violations look like such small potatoes today, in a larger context. It’s just one reason why Bush deserves his 2005 Heisman Trophy back.

Saturday, Caleb Williams should become USC’s first Heisman winner since Bush. The official record books say that USC has only six Heisman winners, but we know Bush celebrated winning the award 17 years ago. If you want to be technical and precise about it, fine: USC doesn’t have seven Heisman winners according to the official record book, but it does have seven men who have heard their name called as Heisman winners on Heisman Night. It has seven men who have posed with the Heisman Trophy after being declared the winner.

Saturday, Caleb Williams will make it eight, more than any other school.

Let’s look back at Reggie Bush’s 2005 season and his football playing career:

ELECTRIC

Reggie Bush of the USC Trojans breaks free for a 3rd quarter touchdown against the Notre Dame Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana on October 15, 2005. USC won 34-31. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images)

Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005, but later had it vacated.

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As Nick Shepkowski of Fighting Irish Wire has written, Bush should get the trophy back.

This is why we love Fighting Irish Wire.

CRAZY NUMBERS

Oct. 15, 2005; South Bend, IN, USA; Southern California Trojans running back Reggie Bush avoids the tackle of Notre Dame Fighting Irish Mike Richardson on his way to a touchdown in the fourth quarter of USC’s 34-31 win over Notre Dame Saturday Oct. 15 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2005 Matt Cashore

Bush put together an unworldly season in 2005. Here are his stats:

MONSTER SEASON

Dec 4, 2004; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC running back #5 Reggie Bush outraces the UCLA defense on his way to an 81 yard touchdown run during the Trojans’ 29-24 win over the Bruins on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. Photo by Joe Robbins-USA TODAY Sports(c) 2004 by Joe Robbins

Bush finished third in the nation in rushing yards and first in yards per carry with an outstanding average of 8.7.

HE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS MOMENT

FILE- In this Dec. 10, 2005, file photo, Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush of the University of Southern California smiles while posing for photos after a news conference in New York. Bush said Tuesday, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, that he is forfeiting his Heisman Trophy. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Reggie Bush earned more votes than Vince Young and USC teammate Matt Leinart en route to the Heisman victory.

NFL

Jan 8, 2011, Seattle, WA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush (25) runs with the ball during the first quarter of the 2011 NFC wild card playoff against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Bush went second overall in the 2006 NFL draft to the New Orleans Saints.

EPIC PLAY

Reggie Bush will always be remembered for his performance in the Rose Bowl. Here’s a video for old times’ sake.

TOP OF THE HEAP

Southern California running back Reggie Bush (5) pushes quarterback Matt Leinart (11) into the end zone for a final victory over Notre Dame, Oct. 15 2005 in South Bend, Ind. The play would become known as “the Bush Push”. USC has been the country’s best team over the last seven years, and might be the only one that could threaten Notre Dame’s grip on that cherished title: America’s team. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Reggie Bush finished his USC career with astounding numbers:

LENGTHY CAREER

December 19, 2010; Baltimore, MD, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush (25) runs past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb (21) at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens beat the Saints 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Bush played in the NFL from 2006-2016 and was a member of five different teams: New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers.

PRODUCTIVE

Jan 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush (21) scores on a touchdown run past Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Anthony Hitchens (59) and Sterling Moore (26) during the first quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Bush finished his NFL career with 5,490 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns, including two 1,000-yard seasons, one in Detroit and one in Miami.

AS HE SHOULD BE

Jan 4, 2006; Pasadena, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans running back Reggie Bush (left) and quarterback Matt Leinart arrive at the Rose Bowl for the Bowl Championship Series national championship game in Pasadena, CA. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 Mark J. Rebilas

Reggie Bush was on the ballot this year for the College Football Hall of Fame.

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION WITH THE SAINTS

Feb 7, 2010; Miami, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush (25) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire