Reggie Bush and the Heisman

[lucyanna girl]

I doubt he cares with that Superbowl ring on his finger.

Penny

 

[cm8]

He broke an NCAA rule - a rule that is borderline immoral. If the NCAA wants to punish him for breaking their stupid rule, fine.

But why should the private Heisman club punish him for breaking a stupid NCAA rule?? He was the most outstanding college football player, which is what the award is for. It's not for the most outstanding player who didn't happen to violate any of the thousands of NCAA rules and regulations.

His primary "sin" was getting his mother a nice place to live. If the NCAA thinks that evil, that's their business. No need for a private club to go along with such thinking.

 

[MannAboutTheWorld]

SEMI-RELATED TOPIC: If Kiffin can't manage institutional control over the simplest of courtesy calls, it doesn't bode well for his ability to manage a major Division I football program. Moreover, if he never figured out during his own tenure as an NFL head coach that assistant coach contracts have permission clauses, than he deserves to get sued. It's as if he didn't do anything but play Farmville during his office hours.

I preface this by saying I'm an ACC person and thus I'm indifferent about USC football, but enjoy the next 2-3 seasons, Trojans. Where not only will the lack of scholarships hurt, but if I were an SC fan I'd be afraid that this petulant man-child of a head coach will guide the program straight to the Death Penalty.

 

[AtlantaSue]

He broke an NCAA rule - a rule that is borderline immoral. If the NCAA wants to punish him for breaking their stupid rule, fine.

But why should the private Heisman club punish him for breaking a stupid NCAA rule??

It is a matter of integrity. If that is not high on your priority list then you will not agree with my opinion. In our family, just because you do not agree with the rules that are in place does not mean it is ok to break them. What kind of message does it send to the young fans if Reggie Bush doesn't take any responsiblity? And if the Heisman club lets him keep the trophy, then they are sending the same message. The fact is, Reggie Bush did not receive the award HONESTLY. If you want the sport to have integrity, then Reggie Bush should voluntarily return the trophy, and the Heisman people should not allow the most prestigious award in college football to remain in his possession.

 

[ICF]

SEMI-RELATED TOPIC: If Kiffin can't manage institutional control over the simplest of courtesy calls, it doesn't bode well for his ability to manage a major Division I football program. Moreover, if he never figured out during his own tenure as an NFL head coach that assistant coach contracts have permission clauses, than he deserves to get sued. It's as if he didn't do anything but play Farmville during his office hours.

I preface this by saying I'm an ACC person and thus I'm indifferent about USC football, but enjoy the next 2-3 seasons, Trojans. Where not only will the lack of scholarships hurt, but if I were an SC fan I'd be afraid that this petulant man-child of a head coach will guide the program straight to the Death Penalty.

Kiffin couldnt control the players at UT last year. If he can't control the kids in a town like Knoxville, TN....he's going to have a really tough time keep them under control in LA.

USC made a terrible hire in bringing in that guy. It's going to be interesting to watch him screw things up there.

 

[NewDCLGuy]

It is a matter of integrity. If that is not high on your priority list then you will not agree with my opinion. In our family, just because you do not agree with the rules that are in place does not mean it is ok to break them.

I believe integrity is about doing the right thing. It's not about "obeying the rules." I've broken the speed limit. I've bought something off the Internet and not reported it on my state taxes. I don't think either of those says anything about my integrity.

The NCAA has broken no rules in how it treats is players. It's easy to not break rules when you make the rules. But have they done the right thing? Have they acted with integrity?

The NCAA makes $billions off the players while creating rules that prevent the players from making a dime until the NCAA is done making money off them. It's the NCAA that has the bigger integrity problem - not the guy who got a nice place for his mom to live.

 

[FireDancer]

He should have accepted the free education as payment for his football as all athletic scholarship students should and not taken the gifts. It is up to the student to make their education a priority while on a scholarship. There are plenty of people who work full time jobs while in college to put themselves through school and if they can manage two major commitments so can athletes getting full rides.

All that being said I don't care one way or the other if he gives back the trophy. What is done is done and the school will be paying for their rules breaking. In the end had they (or their boosters or whomever) not extended the offer Reggie Bush couldn't have taken it, could he?

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

He should have accepted the free education as payment for his football as all athletic scholarship students should and not taken the gifts. It is up to the student to make their education a priority while on a scholarship. There are plenty of people who work full time jobs while in college to put themselves through school and if they can manage two major commitments so can athletes getting full rides.

All that being said I don't care one way or the other if he gives back the trophy. What is done is done and the school will be paying for their rules breaking. In the end had they (or their boosters or whomever) not extended the offer Reggie Bush couldn't have taken it, could he?

I agree. What's a free education at USC worth? Back then, what...$30,000 a year? Minimum, right? So Reggie essentially got paid 30K a year to play football. I know adults who are working regular day jobs and not getting that.

PLUS- don't forget, it's not just the nice house for his mama and a sports car for him... the "agent" also gave him $3000/month. Wouldn't you like a free $3,000 a month after your living expenses are paid to play with?

I know lots of people whine that the NCAA is making a bazillion dollars off these athletes. Probably true. But, I bet if you asked the 90% of college students who are going to college by earning the money themselves or with backbreaking student loan debt- they'd agree the "free ride" is a heck of a deal. It also enabled him to be a top draft pick and make millions every year in the NFL.

As a local Southern Cal resident, there were rumors of Reggie being on the take even while he was in school. If I (and my SC alum coworkers) heard that even back then, you betcha the University had heard it too, and looked the other way. So sad that Reggie's stubborn refusal to cooperate with the NCAA (or just pay back the agent that eventually rolled over on him) has cost today's students so much.

Now we know where Reggie's sad lack of integrity comes from- his mom and stepdad who were in on the illegal deals all along.

 

[AtlantaSue]

The NCAA has broken no rules in how it treats is players. It's easy to not break rules when you make the rules. But have they done the right thing? Have they acted with integrity?

Again, in our family, we teach that another person's bad behavior (or lack of integrity...) does not justify our own. I agree with you that integrity, while about honesty, also is about doing the right thing. That's why my opinion is what it is.