What's next for Reggie Bush?

Reggie Bush is a widely recognized name around Southern California, especially at the University of Southern California, his alma mater. Bush’s talents on the football field were recognized when he was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 2005. While at USC he also led his team to a National Championship and helped keep attention on the USC football program. This successful college football career led him to his current gig with the National Football League, where he was drafted as the second pick in the first round to the New Orleans Saints.

However Bush is now facing allegations that, if true, show a far less admirable side to the college football star. In January, “Tarnished Heisman,” a book written by Don Yaeger and Jim Henry, exposes allegations that Bush promised to be a client of Lloyd Lake and Michael Michaels’ newly forming marketing agency. Additionally Bush owed New Era Sports & Entertainment around $300,000, according to “Bush hit with book,” an article written by Jason Cole and Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports in December 2007.

I conducted an e-mail interview with David Wharton, a sports writer for the Los Angeles Times, and he said Bush is currently facing civil charges of fraud that Lake has brought against him, and Lake is asking for $3.2 million.

In this case, even though his alleged actions did not directly affect the games played, but if these allegations are proven true, he has seriously breeched ethical conduct codes. The question of punishment comes to mind with this case. Should he be punished now especially since he is already in the NFL? Should the school be punished? Most importantly, what can the National Collegiate Athletic Association do?

Article 16 of the NCAA Constitution, which is available online, clearly states and defines what athletes cannot receive or do while competing in a collegiate sport.

“A student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit,” (16.01.1-Elegibility Effect of Violation).

When it comes to being awarded after winning conference and National Championships, Bylaw 16.1.4.2 says that awards may be given each year, but there is a limit of $415 for a National Championship and $325 for a conference win.

Wharton said NCAA officials are trying to prevent athletes from receiving benefits like cash and other gifts.

“The rules that Bush is alleged to have broken get right to the heart of what the NCAA sees as amateur status,” Wharton said in an e-mail interview.

“You can make the argument that, without such rules, kids would be put up to the highest bidder, college sports would be dominated by the wealthiest schools and, in the process, attract a lot of unseemly characters.”

“Some people believe that young athletes - given the millions in revenues they generate for their schools - should be allowed to cash in on their talents. Others would like to keep college sports as close to amateur as possible,” Wharton said.

It has been said that Bush could lose his Heiman, and USC could lose the National titles he contributed to, which brings up a question of fairness. Should Bush lose his Heisman, is the book true; is it tainted? Should USC face any consequences considering the argument that they didn’t know what Bush had his hand in?

“The fairness issue is a tough one. Given that the allegations against Bush also involved his parents and often took place more than 100 miles from campus, should USC be held accountable?” Wharton said. “The NCAA demands that schools exercise "institutional control" which means that, to some degree, they are responsible for watching over their athletes. But how far does that responsibility extend? There's no set answer. It's something the NCAA will have to decide as the case progresses.”

Wharton also alluded to Oklahoma who also had recognized players in their program receive gifts, in which they had to forfeit their victories of a season, but later, the NCAA gave the victories back after an appeal.

Chris Dufresne, national football columnist for the Los Angeles Times said in an e-mail interview that a provision of being in contention for the Heisman, is being an eligible athlete. If it is found that Bush was ineligible, the Downtown Athletic Club could take that award away and possibly give it to the runner up, former Texas star, Vince Young.

“It is possible the DAC could strip Bush of his Heisman, but that's not to say it will. No one really knows for sure what would happen,” Dufresne said. “You have to remember that many Heisman winners with sordid backgrounds have been able to keep their Heisman trophies, most notably USC tailback O.J. Simpson, who stood trial for murder and though he was acquitted, he was found liable for the deaths of two people in a civil judgment.”

Dufresne also alluded to Billy Cannon, the Heisman winner of 1959 from Louisiana who also spent time in jail. He said if Bush is stripped, the DAC would also have to give an explanation regarding cases like Cannon and Simpson.

In regards to the effect on the NFL and USC, Dufresne said he thinks the NFL does not have too much interest because the allegations fall under NCAA jurisdiction. As for USC, Dufresne said the school has distanced itself from Bush somewhat.

“He is certainly not as welcome on campus as he might have been had these allegations not arisen. He was even denied a sideline pass for last year's Rose Bowl game against Michigan,” Dufresne said.

I looked into this, as Dufresne suggested, and in an article by Wharton and Gary Klein, “No sideline pass upsets Bush,” posted on Jan. 1, 2007, the article confirms this as it says that Bush reportedly said himself that the school was distancing itself from him as a result of the allegations.

The Bush case has yet to play out. He has been recognized for his talents and what he has brought to college football and now the NFL as a competitive athlete. We will have to see what unfolds when he is able to share his side of the story.