USC Appreciates Reggie Bush's Reintroduction to the 2005 Heisman

USC Appreciates Reggie Bush's Reintroduction to the 2005 Heisman

In 2005, Reggie Bush accepted the Heisman Trophy.©Football | The Heisman Trophy Trust | April 24, 2024

Story ConnectionsLOS ANGELESTo commemorate a landmark day for college football, the Heisman Trophy Trust has awarded former Trojan Reggie Bush the 2005 Heisman Memorial Trophy today, April 24. 

 

Michael Comerford, President of The Heisman Trophy Trust, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments." "We concluded that the timing is ripe to restore Reggie's Trophy after taking into account the significant developments that have occurred in collegiate sports over the last several years.  We are overjoyed to have him return."

 

The Heisman Trust returned the Trophy to Bush and the replica to USC as part of the announcement. Bush will get an invitation to every Heisman Trophy presentation going forward, beginning with this fall's 90th event.

 

President Carol Folt greeted Bush's return to school shortly after he arrived at USC and encouraged him to pursue reinstatement. 

 

"Reggie and the Trojan Family as a whole have my undying gratitude. Throughout his remarkable career, he captured our hearts, and he deserved to have his well-earned distinction returned," Folt added. "We are looking forward to celebrating with him and his family and are proud we were able to stand with him as an advocate."

 

"We celebrate the rightful return of Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy on this historic day for the entire USC community," said Jen Cohen, the director of sports at USC. "Reggie's influence on collegiate football in general and at USC specifically is unparalleled. He is really worthy of every award and trophy he has ever gotten since he has shown the greatest heart and resilience throughout this process. We are appreciative to the Heisman Trophy Trust for enabling this. 

 

"What a historic day!" said Lincoln Riley, head football coach of USC. "For everyone connected to USC football, Reggie's return to the Heisman Family is a momentous occasion. Reggie's formal recognition of his athletic exploits as one of the best players in history makes us very happy. Being able to recognize all eight of our champions is remarkable since the Heisman and USC have long been associated."

 

Bush may now re-join the distinguished group of Trojan greats who have already won this trophy, including Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004), and Caleb Williams (2022), thanks to his restoration into the Heisman family. 

 

USC now holds the record for the most Heisman Trophy winners in college football after the news of Bush's readmission.

 

Bush won the Doak Walker Award, was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the AP Player of the Year, the Sporting News Player of the Year, and the Heisman Trophy winner in 2005. He was also a unanimous choice for the First Team All-American in 2004 and all-purpose selection in 2005. In 2004, the year his teammate Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy, he came in fifth place. Bush received the 2003 Freshman All-American title.

 

Bush led the Trojans to three straight national championship games during his three seasons at USC. The team won national crowns in the Rose Bowl in 2004 (a 28-14 victory over Michigan) and the Orange Bowl in 2005 (a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma). With only two defeats over the course of the three years, including a 41-38 Rose Bowl loss to Texas in one of the most famous games in college football history, the Trojans finished first in the final AP poll in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

 

During his career, Bush topped the NCAA with 222.3 all-purpose yards per game and finished fourth nationally in 2005 with 133.9 running yards per game. He also established an NCAA record with an incredible 7.3 yards per carry. He is second in NCAA history with 513 all-purpose yards against Fresno State in 2005. 

 

In addition to being a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year, Bush captained three straight Pac-10 championship teams. After leading the league in all-purpose yards in 2004 and 2005, Bush sits second in league history with 2,890 all-purpose yards in 2005 and fourth all-time with 6,552 career all-purpose yards.

 

In terms of USC career stats, Bush—who was captain of the team in 2005 and was named team MVP twice—ranks fourth with 1,523 kickoff return yards, sixth with 559 punt return yards, and eighth with 3,169 run yards. In 2003, he recorded 1,331 all-purpose yards, setting a record for freshmen at USC. During his career, he gained 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns from 433 runs, and 1,301 yards and 13 scores from 95 catches. He fielded 44 punts for 559 yards and three touchdowns and returned 67 kickoffs for 1,523 yards and one score. During his career, he also threw one touchdown pass for 52 yards.

 

New Orleans selected Bush second overall in the 2006 NFL Draft; he played for the Saints (2006–10), Dolphins (2011–12), Lions (2013–14), 49ers (2015), and Bills (2016). He was named to the First Team All-Pro in 2008 and led the Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. 2019 saw Bush's induction into the Saints Hall of Fame. In 2023, he received an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.