Reggie Bush and the Top 15 Awards and Records That Should Be Returned

Since USC announced that it would return Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy (the copy) back to the Heisman Committee because of the school's recent NCAA troubles, we at Bleacher Report starting thinking: what other athletes should return their awards or records because of either a scandal or they just weren't deserving in the first place?

Here is a list of the Top 15 players who should return their awards and records.

15. Shawne Merriman

As good as Merriman is, he is not worthy of his NFL Rookie of the Year Award because of his steroid use. Hey Shawne, GIVE IT BACK!

14. Brian Cushing

Another case of a player who didn’t “earn” his award. Cushing, like Shawn Merriman, used steroids during his rookie season and like Merriman, he also was awarded the NFL Rookie of the Year Award which many believed he didn’t earn because of his drug use.

Rather than take a stand, the NFL backed down and let Cushing keep the award.

13. Gaylord Perry

Perry, a Hall of Famer, admitted to doctoring up the baseball while pitching.

Should baseball be awarding him with a plaque in the Hall of Fame for cheating?

12. Lance Armstrong

Another case of he said/he said. Armstrong swears he has never used enhancement drugs, Floyd Landis claims he saw him do it.

If Armstrong is found guilty of any of these charges, he’ll be stripped of not only his Tour de France titles (as he should be), but more importantly, stripped of his dignity.

11. O.J. Simpson

O.J. should be stripped of his Heisman because he was convicted of a crime; and not the one you are thinking about, people.

10. LeBron James

Now, some people think this might be a little harsh, but MVPs normally go to the best player in the game. At times, James didn't show up in the Boston series this year, which proved to me that he is not ready for the title of best basketball player.

MVPs go down fighting; LeBron just went down.

9. Andre Ware

Andre Ware put up some monster stats in 1989 worthy of a Heisman, but like Danny Wuerffel of Florida, he was the product of the system he was in and putting up big numbers against some lackluster opponents.

Nowadays, that doesn’t wash with the Heisman committee.

8. Roger Clemens

It’s been rumored for years that Clemens was using HGH. He denies it, but it seems that the rumors are true. If they are, one of the greatest pitchers of all time should be stripped of his Cy Young Awards.

7. Danny Wuerffel

Danny Wuerffel is a great guy, but he didn’t deserve the Heisman. As we would find out later, Wuerffel was a system quarterback and system quarterbacks normally don’t do well in the NFL.

6. Mark McGwire

There is no way Mark McGwire’s home run record in '98 should stand; nor should Sammy Sosa’s records that season either.

5. Charles Woodson

Peyton Manning was robbed of the Heisman back in 1998 because the voters thought it was time for a defensive back to win. It should have gone to the best player in the game, which at the time, was Manning.

4. Barry Bonds

Unlike Clemens, no one really has concrete evidence yet that Bonds was using. But, if evidence is found, he doesn't deserve to keep his MVP Awards nor be credited with breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record.

3. Gino Torretta

You think if the Heisman voters could go back, that Gino Torretta would even come close to winning this award? Torretta proved that just because you put up good stats, doesn’t make you a good player.

In the 1993 Sugar Bowl, the Alabama defense and defensive coordinator “Brother” Bill Oliver showed the country just that.

2. Matt Leinart

If you are going to strip Reggie Bush of his 2005 Heisman, Matt Leinart should be stripped of his 2004 Heisman because of his involvement with that same team.

Not fair I know, but life isn’t fair either.

1. USA vs Russia Olympics 1972

Probably the most controversial moment on this list is the 1972 Olympic basketball game which the US lost to Russia on a bad call by the international referees. To this day, that US team, which featured players like NBA coach Doug Collins, refuses its silver medals.

If you would like to read more of Stacey's work go to College Football Confidential http://collegefootballconfidential.sports.officelive.com/default.aspx