Reggie Bush should lose his Heisman; Pete Carroll should lose his job
Article By mflorio.tsn on 11th June, 2010
This Sept. 17, 2005, file photo shows former USC coach Pete Carroll celebrating with Reggie Bush after Bush scored against Arkansas.
Now that the issue of rules violations at Southern California has burst open like the proverbial Trojan horse, overshadowing the legacy of coach Pete Carroll and a litany of wins during one of the most memorable eras for any collegiate program, the two main culprits — Carroll and former USC running back Reggie Bush — remain at a safe distance, each boasting a 2010 W-2 that will be in the neighborhood of $8 million.
For both men, fairness dictates that a consequence apply. Some would say Bush's lackluster NFL career already constitutes consequence enough. He hasn't been, isn't and will never be Gale Sayers. Then again, as Brian Urlacher would surely point out, Bush owns one thing Sayers never will — an NFL championship.
But while no one connected to college football can take away the team success Bush has enjoyed at the NFL level (even if he contributed far less to the outcome than his pay grade suggests), the folks at the Heisman Trust immediately should strip Bush of the 2005 edition of the award. Though many will argue that too much time has passed to justify retroactively taking away one of the greatest individual honors in all of team sports, the notion of getting it right should know no temporal limits.
Indeed, the plain text mission statement found at the Heisman Trophy Trust's website compels swift, decisive action:
"The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletics and to provide greater opportunities to th...
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For both men, fairness dictates that a consequence apply. Some would say Bush's lackluster NFL career already constitutes consequence enough. He hasn't been, isn't and will never be Gale Sayers. Then again, as Brian Urlacher would surely point out, Bush owns one thing Sayers never will — an NFL championship.
But while no one connected to college football can take away the team success Bush has enjoyed at the NFL level (even if he contributed far less to the outcome than his pay grade suggests), the folks at the Heisman Trust immediately should strip Bush of the 2005 edition of the award. Though many will argue that too much time has passed to justify retroactively taking away one of the greatest individual honors in all of team sports, the notion of getting it right should know no temporal limits.
Indeed, the plain text mission statement found at the Heisman Trophy Trust's website compels swift, decisive action:
"The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletics and to provide greater opportunities to th...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
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