Reggie Bush is a Trojan again in the eyes of USC.
The program welcomed its former Heisman Trophy winner back on Wednesday, ending a 10-year "disassociation" with Bush that was imposed by the NCAA after an investigation determined he and his family received impermissible benefits while he was still in school.
OFFICIAL: @ReggieBush is back! #FightOn pic.twitter.com/XcoKRg4Qt2
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) June 10, 2020
Bush's disassociation from USC was initially permanent, but a 2017 NCAA rule change reduced all previous lifetime disassociation penalties to 10 years, meaning Bush is now afforded the privileges and courtesies extended to all Trojan football alums,” according to a letter from USC President Carol Folt.
“I’ve dreamed of this day for 10-plus years, and I’m excited to come home!” Bush said in a statement.
The move comes as monumental changes to the NCAA's name, image and likeness rules are on the horizon. The new rules will allow all athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness, meaning the very thing Bush was punished for will now become permissible under NCAA rules.
Though Bush's disassociation is over, one thing remains stripped away – his Heisman Trophy. Bush voluntarily returned his 2005 award to the Heisman Trophy Trust before it could be stripped away, and he remains the only winner to not be recognized by the trust.
“To say that I don’t want the Heisman back would be a lie,” Bush said in an interview on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on FS1. “One hundred percent I want my Heisman Trophy back.
