Tag: Reggie Bush

Should USC Heisman Trophy winners follow Johnny Manziel’s lead in defense of Reggie Bush?

This is a great question, is it not? What would it mean if Carson Palmer refused to attend the Heisman ceremony in solidarity with Reggie Bush?

The words of Johnny Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner, created a stir in the USC football community over the weekend. Trojan fans greatly respected and appreciated what Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner, said about Reggie Bush and the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Manziel said he would remove himself from the Heisman ceremony until Bush gets his 2005 Heisman Trophy back.

Aggies Wire had more details on the story:

If you’re like me or many others in Aggieland, you woke up Saturday morning to a bold proclamation posted to X by legendary Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Manziel, who was the first freshman in history to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012, will be stepping away from the annual ceremony. Manziel is taking an indefinite absence until former USC running back Reggie Bush reclaims the award he won in 2005, which he voluntarily forfeited in 2010 amid NCAA investigations.

USC lost it’s all time leading rusher and Heisman winner, Charles White last year, but it will be interesting to see if the six remaining Heisman winners — Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Caleb Williams — will make a similar statement in defense of Reggie Bush. It’s understandable that USC Heisman winners might feel their position on the matter won’t carry weight with the outside world, but it is still worth wondering how much value such a public statement might contain… if someone from USC’s glorious past chooses to take such a stand.

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Texas A&M legend Johnny Manziel elaborates on choice to step away from Heisman Trophy ceremony

“You can back a brinks truck up to my house and I still will not attend the ceremony or do ANYTHING involved until Reggie’s trophy is back.”

After announcing early on Saturday morning that he was removing himself from the Heisman Trophy ceremony in support of former USC running back Reggie Bush, Texas A&M legend Johnny Manziel elaborated on his decision on social media this weekend.

“You can back a Brinks truck up to my house and I still will not attend the ceremony or do ANYTHING involved until Reggie’s trophy is back where it rightfully belongs,” Manziel proclaimed via X. “This is about doing what’s right for everyone involved. Reggie’s play on the field inspired me to be the football player that I am.

“To the Heisman Trust, I hope you understand my position. You know that I have nothing but love and respect for that trophy and the people associated with it. It changed my life for the better, forever, and I will be eternally grateful for that until my last day on this earth. The bond and the brotherhood mean more than anything else. That’s truly what makes the fraternity so special.”

X user Dylan Powell (@PowellAnalytics) replied to Manziel‘s initial tweet and sarcastically said, “Should probably change that profile pic then too Johnny.”

“You never change something that’s rooted in your soul,” Manziel stated. “That Heisman means more to me than anything in this world.”

In the era of NIL, Manziel pointed out how much money former USC and LSU quarterbacks, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, respectively made in 2023.

“The last two Heisman Trophy winners made a combined 12 million last year, but Reggie can’t get his trophy back?” Manziel pondered.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Social media reaction to Johnny Manziel’s boycott of future Heisman Trophy ceremonies, standing with USC’s Reggie Bush

Johnny Manziel defended Reggie Bush and made a major Heisman statement. Everyone is talking about it.

Johnny Manziel stands in solidarity with Reggie Bush. Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy recipient, published a recent post on X which puts into action his recent opinions. Those opinions were expressed in interviews about USC’s Reggie Bush not having his Heisman Trophy returned:

“After careful thought and consideration I will be humbly removing myself from the Heisman trophy ceremony until @ReggieBush gets his trophy back. Doesn’t sit right with my morals and values that he can’t be on that stage with us every year. Reggie IS the Heisman trophy. Do the RIGHT thing  @NCAA the ball is in your court.

Much love JM2″

The social media reaction to this tweet has been extensive and as expected, very polarized.  Here is how social media reacted to the news:

‘Reggie IS the Heisman trophy’: Johnny Manziel removes himself from ceremony in support of Bush

“I will be humbly removing myself from the Heisman trophy ceremony until Reggie Bush gets his trophy back,” Manziel said via X on Saturday.

If you’re like me or many others in Aggieland, you woke up Saturday morning to a bold proclamation posted to X by legendary Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Manziel, who was the first freshman in history to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012, will be stepping away from the annual ceremony. Manziel is taking an indefinite absence until former USC running back Reggie Bush reclaims the award he won in 2005, which he voluntarily forfeited in 2010 amid NCAA investigations.

“After careful thought and consideration, I will be humbly removing myself from the Heisman trophy ceremony until Reggie Bush gets his trophy back,” Manziel stated on social media. “Doesn’t sit right with my morals and values that he can’t be on that stage with us every year. Reggie IS the Heisman trophy.

“Do the RIGHT thing NCAA the ball is in your court.

“Much love

“JM2”

Given the NIL era that we all live in today, that should’ve been introduced and regulated decades ago, Johnny is right.

The NCAA should not only restore Bush’s legacy but after everything they’ve put him through over the last 19 years, he deserves his own recognition ceremony in December. That is, of course, before junior QB Conner Weigman hoists the Heisman later in the evening and brings home College Station’s third illustrious trophy.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Johnny Manziel throws his support behind Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy fight

Johnny Manziel threw his support behind Reggie Bush, saying he won’t attend the Heisman Trophy award ceremony until Bush has his trophy back:

This is big of Johnny Manziel: the former Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&M quarterback announced Saturday that he will decline to participate in the award’s annual ceremony until Reggie Bush has had his own Heisman Trophy returned to him.

Bush, the former New Orleans Saints running back, won the trophy for his efforts at USC back in 2005. But it was taken away from him after an NCAA investigation found that his family had received recruiting benefits which were not allowed at the time — and which are now popular across the college sports landscape with the legality of NIL programs. Bush has since taken legal action to fight for the recognition that he earned, and to get his trophy back.

Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy himself in 2012, was one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football in his prime; love him or hate him, fans were watching the Aggies every week. While he didn’t find great success at the pro level, Manziel has remained a fixture in the college football world and at the Heisman Trophy ceremony each year. He’s voted for the award every year and taken the stage along with other past winners.

But he says that’s not something he can continue to do in good conscience while Bush is left out in the cold. Bush’s 2005 win is the only instance the award has been vacated in its 89-year history. If more of Manziel’s peers took a stand alongside him in support of Bush, it’s tough to believe the powers that be could hold up under such high-profile pressure.

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Johnny Manziel to pass on Heisman ceremony unless Reggie Bush is reinstated

Johnny Manziel is taking a stand for Reggie Bush

Johnny Manziel has decided to stick up for Reggie Bush.

The Heisman Trophy-winning QB from Texas A&M revealed Saturday on Twitter he will not take part in the award ceremony in December unless Reggie Bush is reinstated.

Bush had his 2005 Heisman win revoked by the Heisman Trust after a four-year extra-benefits investigation determined that he and family members, while he was a student-athlete, accepted cash, travel expenses, and a home in the San Diego area where Bush’s parents lived rent-free for more than a year and for which they were provided $10,000 to furnish.

USC athletic director is ready to display Reggie Bush’s retired jersey in the Coliseum

Jennifer Cohen and Reggie Bush are clear on where everything stands.

In an interview on the Peristyle Podcast last week, USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen clarified USC’s stance on Reggie Bush, stating, “To [USC], Reggie Bush is a Heisman winner.  Any and all ways we can honor and recognize that for him, that are appropriate for him, we will do.”  Beyond the clear support that Reggie is receiving from the athletic department, this statement provides clarity for the time when Trojan fans will finally see the No. 5 jersey back where it belongs.

Bush steadfastly maintains that he earned his Heisman Trophy on the field, a notion supported by anyone who witnessed his remarkable performances as one of college football’s greatest running backs. The peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the Trojans play their home games, proudly displays the jersey numbers of six of USC’s Heisman Trophy winners. However, two notable absences stand out: Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman winner, and Bush, whose No. 5 jersey was removed after the NCAA ruled that he and his family received improper benefits from a marketing agent while he played at USC.

It is worth noting that the NCAA rule under which Bush was penalized has since been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, adjudicating that it is a violation of a citizen’s rights to prevent said citizen from profiting by marketing his or her own name, image, and likeness. Therefore, if the rule is illegal now, it was also illegal then, rendering the case against Bush questionable at best.

Additionally, the entire NCAA investigation was put under a microscope by Judge Frederick Shaller during the related case of Todd McNair’s alleged involvement. Shaller called the NCAA investigation “malicious” and explained that the NCAA infractions report “contained material false statements…”  The NCAA spent 10 years delaying the trial with appeals, but finally settled out of court with McNair for an undisclosed amount.

In 2021 the NCAA remained in character and upheld that Bush was ineligible even though the rules have now changed, in spite of the Supreme Court ruling. The NCAA will not reinstate his 2005 season records. In turn, the Heisman Trust is hiding behind a rule that makes Reggie ineligible for the award if his playing records are vacated.

Last year during the spring game, rumors circulated that Reggie’s jersey would be unveiled during the season alongside Caleb Williams’ jersey when a blank tarp was displayed as a placeholder among the other Heisman winners. Reggie has since clarified that he doesn’t want his number retired at the Coliseum until his Heisman Trophy, which he earned while capping a 34-game win streak at USC, is returned. So as Cohen said, No. 5 will be proudly displayed when Reggie has his trophy returned.  Reggie remains in litigation for a defamation suit against the NCAA.

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Reggie Bush shared a wild story about how his Heisman Trophy scandal cost him being the No. 1 pick

Reggie Bush’s Heisman mess even cost him in the NFL.

With college football’s new NIL system in place, Reggie Bush’s infamous Heisman Trophy scandal — borne out of “improper gifts” for his family — looks sillier every day. In addition to having his award vacated, it also apparently cost the former USC Trojans star a chance at being the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

In a recent episode of The Dan Patrick Show, Bush told a wild story about why the Houston Texans passed on him and let him fall to the New Orleans Saints at No. 2 overall in that fateful draft. According to Bush, former Texans general manager Charley Casserly told him that a private investigator hired to look into Bush’s background essentially slandered his character enough that it scared the team away.

Again, all of this was over a kid in his early 20s getting “gifts” that no one would blink over in the current college football landscape. For example, Caleb Williams reportedly made $2.7 million in NIL money last year, per On3.com. Yes, $2.7 million! That’s an average NBA player’s salary!

C’mon now.

Needless to say, while it worked out perfectly for him in New Orleans in the form of a Super Bowl 44 title, Bush losing out on a top draft pick status because of this madness is just thoughtless. Thank goodness cooler heads have prevailed to allow major college players to finally profit off all the work they put in for big programs.

USC legend Reggie Bush inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

Now let’s give back Reggie his Heisman Trophy.

The College Football Hall of Fame welcomed its Class of 2023 earlier this week. There was no bigger name on the list than USC’s Reggie Bush, the man who won the 2005 Heisman Trophy with one of the most spectacular college football seasons of all time.

USC fans obviously want the 2005 Heisman to be returned to Reggie. He did earn it, after all. He did hear his name called on Heisman night in New York. He might as well have the trophy associated with that moment. It seems pointless to deprive him of it. Yet, while that Heisman drama lingers without final resolution, we can all agree that Bush is an immortal in the life and history of USC football. What he did as a Trojan, and what he did in 2005, will never be forgotten by USC fans.

The excellence of Reggie Bush spoke for itself. He helped Pete Carroll’s dynastic juggernaut win 34 straight games. He led USC to a national title and to consecutive appearances in the BCS National Championship Game.

The excellence itself was impressive, but what set Reggie Bush apart is how amazingly entertaining he was. Few players in the history of college football have been as electric on a football field as Reggie Bush. Zachariah Branch has given younger USC fans a taste — a small one — of what Reggie Bush was like on a weekly basis for multiple years at USC.

Bush’s swerving touchdown run against Fresno State in 2005 not only sealed his Heisman win; it reminded older USC fans of O.J. Simpson’s legendary cutback run on the same Coliseum field against UCLA in 1967.

With the passage of time, Reggie Bush’s feats have become larger, not smaller. His memories grow in power instead of fading away. This Hall of Fame induction serves as an affirmation of that reality.

Now give him his Heisman back!

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Jameis Winston shares his picks for this year’s Heisman Trophy finalists

Jameis Winston, who won the award in 2013, shared his picks for this year’s Heisman Trophy finalists:

All former Heisman Trophy winners get a vote in choosing the annual award’s winner, and New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston knows who his finalists are. Winston, who won the Heisman Trophy back in 2013 with Florida State (where his jersey was retired over the weekend), shared his picks in no particular order at Monday’s Saints media availability session.

Declining to specify an order in the picks, Winston singled out quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Jordan Travis (Florida State), and Caleb Williams (USC) as the most outstanding players in college football this season, speaking with Nola.com’s Rod Walker and FOX 8’s Sean Fazende.

The current betting favorites to win the 2023 Heisman Trophy, depending on where you look, are Daniels and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. They have both been exceptional this season while playing at a very high level to improve their draft stock. Voting is still a week away, and finalists will not be announced until Monday, Dec. 4, with the winner revealed on Sunday, Dec. 10. So we’ll have to wait and see who wins. In the meantime, this is a good time to remind everyone that Reggie Bush still has not had the 2005 Heisman Trophy he rightfully won returned to him, so keep up the pressure on the NCAA.

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